Caleb sat on the edge of his bed, replaying Solana's words in his head. "She's not even your type. You could have her, Caleb. Don't let it slip away." Her challenge hung in the air, lingering like a weight he couldn't ignore.
He couldn't get the thought out of his mind. What was he really waiting for? Why was he hesitating?
With a frustrated sigh, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. He needed to talk to someone.
Twenty minutes later, he found himself sitting in a quiet corner of a bar, his friend across from him, nursing a drink.
"You called me out here, man. What's going on?" his friend asked, raising an eyebrow.
Caleb ran a hand through his hair. "Solana keeps pushing me to go after Sarafina. She says I should stop overthinking it and just make my move. I mean, she's literally throwing herself at me."
His friend took a long sip of his drink, then set it down slowly. "What's the problem then? If she's throwing herself at you, why are you holding back?"
Caleb frowned, staring into his drink. "I don't know, man. Maybe I'm just not sure if it's the right thing to do."
His friend chuckled. "Look, if she's already showing interest, then what's the hold-up? If you want her, go for it. Solana's right. You can't let the opportunity slip away."
The words hit Caleb like a punch to the gut. His friend was right. He had been stalling for too long.
"Alright," Caleb said, standing up. "I'll do it. Thanks, man."
He threw some cash on the table, nodding to his friend before walking out of the bar, his mind set on what he had to next.
Caleb stumbled into his house, the alcohol in his system making his head heavy and his body sluggish. His eyelids drooped, exhaustion pulling at him, but just as he was about to collapse onto his bed, a thought nagged at him—Solana's words.
Before he could second-guess himself, he found himself at her doorstep, knocking.
The door creaked open, and there she stood, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Considering my words?" she asked, tilting her head.
Caleb exhaled sharply. "Yeah. I've thought about it. I'm ready. I won't let you slip away… not like Sarafina. She never really gave me what I wanted anyway."
Solana's smirk widened, and she stepped aside, inviting him in. Caleb walked in, sinking onto the couch, So where will we be meeting,uou know it will be a secret for now he said,ready to seal the deal until a sound made him freeze.
His blood ran cold as Sarafina stepped out of one of the rooms, her gaze cutting through him like a blade.
His breath hitched. "What… what are you doing here?"
Solana crossed her arms, her voice dripping with amusement. "It's a loyalty test."
Caleb's heart slammed against his ribs. No. No, this wasn't happening.
Sarafina's lips curled into a bitter smile, but her eyes burned with fury. "You didn't even hesitate," she spat. "You would've cheated on me with my friend? What a shame."
"Sarafina, let me explain"Caleb started, but the words died in his throat. He had already failed. She wasn't going to listen.
"I'm done," she said coldly. "Don't ever reach out to me again."
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist in desperation.
A sharp crack echoed through the room as Sarafina slapped him. Once. Twice. The sting burned, but the pain in his chest was far worse
Caleb shot up from his bed, his breath ragged, sweat clinging to his skin. His chest rose and fell in rapid beats as he glanced around. The familiar walls of his bedroom greeted him.
It was a dream.
A dream… but it felt too real.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. The vivid nightmare left an unsettling weight in his gut.
Maybe, just maybe, Solana's proposal wasn't as tempting as it had seemed.