The room remained unlit.
Dim moonlight seeped through the window, casting a soft, misty glow. Kurenai sat on the edge of a chair, her legs tightly pressed together, her posture tense. She clutched a bag in her hands, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Am I insane? What am I doing…?
She silently berated herself over and over.
"Um…" Kurenai mustered the courage to speak.
"I've washed your shirt, and… I'm leaving it here," she said, placing the bag beside her on the table.
Ren was reclining on his bed, one leg bent, watching her with a quiet gaze.
"Why did you bring it over so late?" he asked.
Her heart skipped a beat as she hastily replied, "It just occurred to me suddenly. I'm sorry if I disturbed your rest."
Ren's gaze stayed on her, calm and unblinking. "Do you not hate me anymore?"
"Why… why would I hate you?" Kurenai murmured.
"Didn't you say you wanted me in prison?" Ren continued. "For kissing you?"
"Don't… don't bring that up!" She looked away, twisting her hands in her lap as she whispered, "It's in the past now. Just let it go."
Ren got off the bed, causing her to jump. But he simply walked over to the small refrigerator nearby.
She exhaled a quiet sigh of relief until he handed her a drink.
She stared, taken aback, before glancing up to see him holding a can in each hand.
"T-Thank you." She held the drink tightly between her hands.
Ren cracked open his drink and took a sip. She looked down at hers, rubbed her thumb along the cool surface for a moment, then opened it and took a sip.
Peach-flavored. Cool and refreshing.
Ren finished his drink in one swig and tossed the empty can into the trash. Kurenai watched him, then tilted her head back and took slow, steady gulps to match his pace.
When she finished, she looked up to find Ren standing beside her, watching her intently.
Her cheeks turned a faint pink. "W-Why are you staring at me?"
"Because I want to." His voice was calm. "You're beautiful."
"…"
A wave of heat flooded her face. She pressed her lips together, setting the empty can down on the table beside her.
"Well, I've brought your shirt, so I'll… I'll be going now." She stood up and took a few steps toward the door but hesitated, stopping just before she reached it.
She collected herself, ready to say her goodbye, but as she turned around, she realized Ren was standing less than a foot away.
Startled, Kurenai instinctively moved back, but her retreat was cut off by the door. She had nowhere to go, her back pressed firmly against it.
"What… are you doing?" Her voice was shaky with a hint of apprehension.
Ren smirked, noticing the hint of vulnerability on her face, a rare expression he hadn't seen in a while.
"What do you think?"
Her heart pounded so loudly it drowned out her thoughts, her chest rising and falling with her quickening breaths.
"I should go," she murmured.
She attempted to slip past him, but he moved closer, his knee brushing against her legs, blocking her path.
"Don't… don't do this," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Ren raised a hand, his cool fingers grazing her neck and tracing down to her chin.
"I… I only wanted to bring your shirt back…" she stammered. "Do you really have to torment me like this?"
Ren looked into her eyes. "Don't you know why you're here?"
"No! I don't…" she insisted.
"I haven't even said what that reason is, so what are you denying?"
"…"
She bit down on her lip, a surge of shame and embarrassment rushing through her.
You jerk…
She suddenly felt his hand pressing against her stomach.
"Don't…" she gasped, her voice barely audible.
Ren ignored her, his hand moving along the fabric of her dress, his cool touch making contact with her bare skin.
A shiver coursed through her as the warmth of her skin clashed with the chill of his hand, pressing firmly.
"Stop!"
She squeezed her eyes shut, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm… I'm not ready…"
"Ready for what?" he asked, his tone steady.
"…"
Her lips quivered as she bit down, unsure of how to respond.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance," he murmured, his fingers brushing her chin.
"If you feel wronged, go ahead and cry."
"Three seconds. If I see tears, I'll let you go."
"…"
Ren lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him, making it impossible to escape his gaze.
"Three."
"…"
"Two."
"…"
Had he reached "one" yet?
She didn't hear it. Before she knew it, Ren's face was mere inches from her own.
"Mmph…"
His hand that had been resting on her stomach moved to her back, holding her tightly against him. She could feel the door behind her pressing into her as his other hand settled at her waist. Ren pulled her close, his presence overpowering.
A dizzying sensation enveloped her, clouding her mind and numbing her senses. She felt as if she were falling into an abyss from which there was no escape.
Falling deeper and deeper…
She didn't know how long had passed, but a sharp pain on her lip jolted her out of the trance, whether it was heaven or hell.
Ren released her, licking his lip that still held traces of blood, and let her go.
Kurenai collapsed to the floor, completely drained.
Is it… over?
"You can leave now."
Kurenai looked up at him, dazed, as his voice reached her ears.
He was already back on the bed.
She got to her feet, hastily straightened her clothes, and turned to flee the room.
…
On the street.
The cold night air helped Kurenai clear her thoughts.
Her lip still throbbed, the taste of blood and that faint peach flavor still lingering on her tongue.
She stood there on the empty street for a long time, then finally turned towards her own home.
Once inside, she closed the door tightly.She slipped off her dress and walked into the bathroom.
In the mirror, she saw herself—her hair slightly disheveled, her lip wounded and vividly red.
Had she… been crying earlier?
She touched her eye, finding no trace of tears.
Then why did he let me go…
She looked down, lost in thought.
Damn it, what am I thinking? Am I crazy? What am I even doing tonight…
She slapped her face to try and clear her head.
"Hah…"
Taking a deep breath, her hand instinctively moved to her abdomen. When she left earlier, she had only swapped her nightgown for a dress, and hadn't worn any underwear.
Of course, he must have noticed…
But then, it didn't matter now. Everything that could be seen, he had seen. Everything that could be touched, he had touched.How had things escalated to this point between them?
To go out of her way just to return a shirt, just to see him once more. Wasn't she supposed to hate him?
Kurenai recalled Ren's question.
You don't hate me anymore?
Why… don't I hate him anymore? Since when?
She turned on the shower, letting the cold water run over her in hopes of clearing her mind, but the icy water only seemed to feel like countless hands running over her skin. Kurenai stood under the cold water, unable to find any calm.
Have I… fallen under his spell?
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