Illicit Desires (English. R18)

4. The Third Wheel

FAYE

For the past three weeks, there was only one kind of taste my tongue could taste - bitterness.

That night I got off the hospital, Cora made it sure that we would go directly to their apartment. Since my muscles were still shocked because of the accident, she took care of me and supported me emotionally and mentally.

Now, my body felt much okay. But the wound that Jason had left deep in my heart was still as fresh as the tears coming out of my eyes now.

"Thinking about him again?"

Hearing Cora's voice, I blinked and wiped my cheeks. Then I realized that the pancake I was frying was nearly on its coal state. "Oh, s**t!" I gasped, turning off the burner immediately. Although hot, I gripped on the pan's handle and threw it on the kitchen's basin. The smell of burnt flour caused me to groan in frustration and I leaned against the kitchen counter when my leg muscles contracted.

"I'm terribly sorry, Cora. Guess still not in shape. If you want to send me to police because I almost put your kitchen on fire, go ahead," I sighed, catching my forehead.

She laughed. "Are you crazy? Why would I do that?" Shaking her head, she came over to me and placed her hands on my shoulders. "Honey, don't waste your energy thinking about Jayson. Life is short, so moved on and be happy. You still have friends to turn to, all right?"

Easy for her to say. She wasn't the one that had been fooled. She was right though. I needed to enjoy life. I was just twenty-six and I didn't want to end up miserable at this age.

She volunteered to prepare for breakfast and our morning turned quite well. There were only the two of us in the house since Todd was out of the town. Their studio had this pictorial shoot somewhere in Miami for two days. Cora told that as we washed the plates a few more minutes later.

Once the kitchen was sparkling clean, we transferred to the living room and lounged on the sofa. Cora picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. We watched a movie called The Fault in Our Stars quietly. But when Augustus confessed his love for Hazel Grace, I'd found myself muttering furious words. Hell, there was no such thing as love in this world. Not even in another world. For me, love was nothing but sickness. If it hit you, then you're dead.

After that damned movie, I heard Cora sniffed.

"Oh, God. Why does Augustus need to die?"

I c****d my head to her side and grinned at her tear-stained face. "Don't be surprised. Love kills people."

She snorted and sniffed again. "Bitter."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.

A few seconds later and the next movie took its place. I sighed in dismay when the title flashed on the screen. "Seriously Cora? A Walk to Remember? Another 'love' murder?" Before she could even protest, I snatched the remote from her hands and pointed to the TV screen, tunning it to the news channel.

"Hey, you can't do that!"

"Oh, yeah? I already did," I laughed.

But then, when my sight shifted to the ongoing news, my smile melted when I spotted someone very familiar on the screen.

There was a reporter intruding a bistro and the cameraman followed him as they entered.

"Good morning, guys. Kyle here! Welcome to our new episode of Inside L. A.," the reporter gushed. "Today, we're here at Road Side and guess what I've found..." The camera got his focus on the stage. "The rising pop-rock band here - The Reckless Band! They're rehearsing for this night's gig!"

"Jayson." I gritted.

"What the hell? You mean Jayson's popular enough to catch attention from the media already?" Cora squeezed my hands.

"Believe it, Cora. That jerk has some influence."

I could sense the building irritation chilling down my spine. It was freezing my body to move. Then when the camera caught Tara and Jayson kissing, my nose flared in madness. My eyes heated up that I needed to shut them close or else I wouldn't be able to control my self from knocking down the TV with those fuckers inside it.

"This is absurd," I muttered, getting off the sofa. I walked out of the apartment to get some fresh air. When the crisp breeze blew, my face felt the coldness. I realized that my cheeks were already wet by tears. "Why are you still doing this to me, Jayson? I already let go of you, but why are you still hurting me?" I knew that asshole wasn't here to hear me out. But still, I needed to let out what was on my heart, or else I would surely explode like a bomb.

"You know what, Faye..."

I heard Cora faked a cough behind me. I turned to face her and my brows contracted upon seeing her staring at me like a dumb.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

'Aren't you tired of weeping over your ex," she asked, pressing her arms in a knot over her chest. "Oh, God. Faye. Why don't you change your mindset? You can't avoid him forever," she said, handing me some tissue.

I accepted it and wiped the tears on my face. "What do you mean change mindset?"

"Let's go back inside..." Taking a deep breath, Cora got my hands and gently pulled me toward the house. We sat on the sofa. I stared at the TV and I exhaled in relief when the news about that goddamn bistro was over.

"You are hurt because he cheated on you. But what if you get yourself a guy too to focus on."

I looked at her in disbelief. "You think it can solve my problem? Cora, rebound's not the answer. If I'm going in a relationship again, that's because I'm ready. Not just lonely."

She paused. But the way she looked deep in my eyes, I knew what she wanted to bring up when she suggested I needed another guy.

Cora touched my hands. "Faye, you don't have to love that guy you hanging out with. It's just for fun, you know!"

I exhaled harshly. "For real, Cora. What do you really want to say?"

She blinked and bit her bottom lips. "I want you to sleep with Todd while we fly to Berlin."

"Wait, what? Berlin?" I was expecting her to say that. But still, hearing it from her honest lips made my stomach flip. "Why the hell are you guys going to Berlin?"

"Wait, you don't know?" She looked at me as if I was the most ignorant being on earth. "Hey! Henry e-mailed us last night. He's inviting us to their wedding."

I frowned even more. Hell, my mind was full of information. Cheating Jason. Sleeping with Todd. Going to Berlin. Attend a wedding!

"All right!"

"H-huh?"

I was brought back from nearly shutting down when Cora raised from the couch and stretched her arms. "Seems like you are not in the mood to attend Era's wedding..." She let herself fall on the couch and embraced me. "...which is a good thing."

"Why?" I asked.

"You'll see, Faye."

I had no idea what Cora meant by that. Anyway, she might be right. Because if she and Todd would go to Berlin, the shitty idea of sleeping with her guy would be out of the picture eventually.

o0o

It was one week ago since Henry sent us the wedding invitation. Although the free lodging and vacation tempted me a lot, I declined politely. I really admired that man, though. He was really loyal to our friend Era. They had this great age gap but that didn't stop them from ending up together.

Such true love. The kind of love that wasn't for me.

I woke up the next day with swollen eyes. Remembering last night, before I got to sleep, I saw images of Jayson and Tara almost nude on IG. f**k these bitches and their scandals. I guess I needed to depart from all kinds of social media to avoid negative aura.

Getting out of the bed, I went downstairs and strode directly to the kitchen. I'd spent so many tears last night so now I only wanted to drink a glass of water, not food. Just by the idea of intaking, solid things made my stomach turn upside down.

When I reached the kitchen door, my feet froze and my eyes almost popped out from their socket due to that scene I was just witnessing on the dining table.

"That's it, Todd! I'm... I'm almost there!"

I spun in nanoseconds and raced towards the living room. Sitting uncomfortably on the sofa, I turned on the TV. However, it still couldn't drown out the sound of s*x drifting from the kitchen.

Before I knew what happened next, the half-nude Cora was already sitting beside me. She wrapped her arms around my arm and leaned on my shoulder. Heaving heavily, she smelled like sweat and s*x. "Oh, I didn't know you're awake. Are we that loud?"

I looked at her and smiled uncomfortably. "Not even hearing a bit."

"You're lying!" Cora ran her fingers through my hair and whispered in my ear. "Don't worry, dear. Next time, you'll be joining us."

"Will you stop that, Cora!" I unwrapped myself to her and stood from the couch. "For your info, the world doesn't just revolve around f*****g. And about your suggestion, my answer is no! I'm not getting involved with your s*x activities!" I shouted.

My heart was broken.

Hell, why did I keep on seeing people hooking up? Was this how the world goes now - f**k around and go merry?

The worst part was the sight of the Cora and Todd having s*x a while ago heated up my core. It even made my inner channel throbbed painfully. They made me so f*****g turned on badly. And now I couldn't hide how flushed my face was as I left her dumbfounded.