Shun stared at his phone, the call from Cercis still echoing in his mind. She had clearly been confused, slurring her words and ordering beer, thinking she had dialed a delivery service. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, concerned but hesitant. Visiting a woman’s apartment while she’s intoxicated feels deeply inappropriate to him.
He needed to do something. Cercis isn’t just anyone; she is someone he cares about. He picked up his phone again and dialed Amaranthine. Amara is competent, reliable, and most importantly, a woman—someone who could help Cercis without any awkward implications.
"Amara, I need a favor," he began as soon as she answered.
"Of course, Shun. What do you need?" Amara’s voice was calm and professional, as always.
"I just got a call from Cercis. She's really drunk and she... she mistakenly called me. I'm worried about her, but I don't think it's appropriate for me to go to her place like this. Can you head over and make sure she's okay?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Amara replied, "Absolutely. Text me her address and I'll head over right away."
Relief washed over Shun. "Thank you, Amara. I owe you one."
"Don't mention it. I'll let you know once I get there and check on her."
Shun hung up and quickly sent Amara the address. He paced his living room, glancing at the clock every few minutes. It wasn’t long before his phone buzzed with a message from Amara.
"I'm here. She's a bit of a mess but safe. I'll stay with her until she sobers up a bit."
As Amara steps into Cercis's apartment, the faint scent of alcohol in the air is eminent. Cercis opened the door for her and she was stumbling around, her face red and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Where's my beer? I ordered it!" Cercis cried, her voice thick with drunken frustration. She stomped her feet, looking around the room as if the beer would magically appear.
Amara felt a pang of awkwardness, not entirely sure how to handle the situation. "Cercis, it's Amara. Shun sent me to check on you. There’s no beer delivery. You called Shun by mistake."
But Cercis didn’t seem to comprehend. She continued to search, her movements erratic and desperate. "No, no, no! I need my beer!" she wailed, collapsing onto the couch in a fit of tears.
Amara, feeling out of her depth, pulled out her phone and dialed Shun. "Shun. Cercis is... really not doing well. She's looking for the beer she thinks she ordered and she's very upset."
Through the phone, Shun could hear Cercis's cries. His heart tightened with worry. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Just try to keep her calm."
Hanging up, Shun grabbed a pack of canned apple juice from his fridge, hoping the resemblance to beer might help. He drove quickly, anxiety growing with each passing minute.
When he arrived, Amara opened the door and Shun stepped inside, holding the pack of apple juice. Cercis looked up from the couch, her eyes red and puffy, and blinked in confusion. Then recognition dawned.
"Sean!" she cried, stumbling towards him and wrapping her arms around his torso, burying her face in his chest. Shun hugged her back, patting her head gently.
"It's okay, Cercis. I'm here now. Look, I brought you something," he said softly, showing her the cans of apple juice.
Cercis pulled back slightly, looking at the cans with a mix of confusion and relief. "Is that my beer?" she asked, her voice small.
"It's something better," Shun replied with a gentle smile, opening a can and handing it to her. "Try it."
Cercis took a sip, her face lighting up just a little. "It's good," she murmured, leaning back into Shun's chest.
Amara, feeling like an intruder in the intimate moment, quietly slipped into the kitchen, giving them space. She busied herself with tidying up, though her mind stayed on the scene in the living room.
Shun continued to hold Cercis, speaking to her in soothing tones until her tears subsided and she seemed more at peace. As she started to doze off, Shun carefully laid her down on the couch, covering her with a blanket.
Amara reappeared, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Is she okay?" she whispered.
Shun nodded, standing up and stretching his back. "I think so. Thank you for coming, Amara. I couldn’t have done this without you."
Amara smiled softly. "Anytime, Shun."
Shun, still worried about Cercis, just couldn’t leave her alone, so he made himself comfortable at the other couch, guarding her as Amara quietly left.
At the crack of dawn, Shun opened his eyes from slumber, he quickly rose up, making sure Cercis was okay. Cercis is still fast asleep and the sight of her made Shun breathe a sigh of relief. He crouched down and started to tuck strands of hair covering her face. He softly stared at her sleeping face for a moment before quietly leaving the apartment.
Cercis woke up on her couch, clutching her head as a wave of excruciating pain washed over her. The events of the previous night were a blur, fragments of embarrassment and confusion flickering in her mind. Despite her hangover, she knows she has to pull herself together; it’s her first day at Jerry’s agency after being permanently transferred as a form of cruel punishment.
She dragged herself to the bathroom, wincing at her reflection. Her hair is a tangled mess, and her eyes, red and puffy, squinted against the harsh light. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would bring some semblance of normalcy to her appearance, but it did little to help.
At the office, people stared at her, judgment clear in their eyes. She felt their gazes piercing her, making her skin crawl. An assistant at the entrance, a young woman with a sympathetic smile, guided her to Jerry’s office.
"Mr. Sandoval isn't here yet. You can wait inside," the assistant said, opening the door for her.
Cercis nodded weakly and stepped into the office. The room is spacious and tastefully decorated, with a large desk and a comfy-looking couch. She sank into the couch, pulling out her phone in an attempt to distract herself by continuing her novel. But her eyes were heavy, and the words blurred together. After battling it out for a while, exhaustion won, and she curled up in a fetal position, falling into a deep sleep.
A few minutes later, Jerry arrived. He paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of Cercis asleep on his couch. A slow, amused grin spread across his face. He approached her quietly and tried to wake her with a gentle shake.
"Cercis," he called softly, but she didn’t stir.
He shook her a bit more firmly, but she remained fast asleep. Chuckling to himself, Jerry took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of her sleeping form, unable to resist the opportunity. He reveled in the moment, enjoying the power he held over her, knowing she was already in a vulnerable position.
As he laughed, the sound was enough to partially rouse Cercis. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open to find Jerry standing over her, phone in hand. Confusion turned to embarrassment as she realized what had happened.
"Good morning, Cercis," Jerry said, his tone laced with amusement. "Rough night?"
Cercis struggled to sit up, her face flushing with mortification. "I...I didn’t mean to fall asleep."
Jerry tucked his phone away, his smile widening. "No harm done. Just try to be a bit more presentable next time. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
Cercis nodded, swallowing her pride. "Yes, sir…whatever."
As she stood and tried to compose herself, the reality of her new position sank in deeper. She’ll have to navigate this new environment carefully, but for now, all she can do is focus on surviving the day ahead.
The day is dragging on painfully for Cercis. As Jerry’s new personal assistant, she’s forced to follow him around, his constant meetings and interactions feeling like an endless parade of fake smiles and insincere greetings. Cercis, still grappling with a splitting headache and the lingering effects of her hangover, couldn’t even muster the energy to pretend to care. She moved through the motions, her face a mask of disinterest, inwardly hoping that any damage to Jerry’s reputation would serve him right.
They found themselves at a trendy restaurant during a break. Jerry, always the charmer, effortlessly secured a table. Cercis slumped into her chair, immediately pulling out her phone in an attempt to drown out the world. As they waited for their food, she scrolled through social media, her mind barely processing the content until something caught her eye.
There, on her feed, posted by Jerry, were snapshots of her sleeping on his office couch. Her heart dropped into her stomach, fury quickly bubbling up. She slammed her phone down on the table, her eyes boring into Jerry.
"Jerry, what the hell is this?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.
Jerry looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "What’s what?"
"Why did you take these photos of me sleeping? And why did you post them?" Cercis hissed, leaning forward, her fists clenched.
Jerry chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, those? I thought you looked cute. No big deal."
His nonchalance only fueled her anger. Cercis stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Cute? You think this is funny? This is embarrassing!"
Jerry’s smile faded as he saw the fire in her eyes. "Cercis, calm down. It’s just a joke."
But Cercis can’t calm down. The mix of her pounding headache, exhaustion, and old wounds ripped open left her seething. Without another word, she stormed out of the restaurant, ignoring the stares from other patrons.
Jerry, taken aback, quickly followed her. "Cercis, wait!"
She didn’t wait. She kept walking, her pace quickening as she navigated through the crowded streets, her mind a whirl of anger and old memories. She finally turned into an alleyway, coming to a halt only when she was sure they were out of earshot.
Jerry caught up, his breath coming in short gasps. "What’s your problem?" he snapped, his frustration boiling over.
Cercis whirled around, her eyes blazing. "My problem? You! You’re the problem! Did you really think I’d forgotten? First, you used me back in high school—don’t you remember? Then you took away the job I worked so hard for! And now, you publicly humiliate me just for a laugh? I’m not your plaything, Jerry!"
Jerry's face hardened. "You’re overreacting. It was just a post."
"Overreacting?" Cercis laughed bitterly. "Rightfully so!"
Jerry grabbed her arms, pushing her against the brick wall of the alley. "Shut up, Cercis. You don’t know the whole story."
The force of his action startled Cercis into silence, their faces inches apart. But as Jerry stared into her eyes, his anger seemed to melt away. His grip loosened, his hand moving to caress her cheek. "Cercis…"
For a moment, the tension between them shifted. Jerry leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. But just as he was about to kiss her, Cercis snapped back to reality. Her hand flew up, smacking his face away with a sharp crack.
"Don’t you dare," she spat, her voice trembling with rage and something else she can’t even name.
Jerry stumbled back, shock and something akin to hurt flashing in his eyes. He rubbed his cheek, the red mark of her handprint already forming. For a moment, they stood there, breathing heavily, the weight of their shared past pressing down on them.
Without another word, Cercis turned and walked away, leaving Jerry standing alone in the alley, watching her retreating figure with a mix of regret and unresolved feelings.
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