Chapter 114: Chapter 114
I wiped the mirror one last time and nodded to myself. Damn, I didn’t know this place could look this clean. The floors were sparkling, the dinner table free of beer cans and noodle spills. For once, everything looked decent. Now, I had to check on Kim.
I grabbed my keys and stepped outside, then hurried down the stairs. There was one door open—and it was Kim’s. Workers were moving her stuff out.
Kim stood in the doorway, watching them. When she saw me, she gave a small nod but didn’t say anything. I glanced inside. Even the couches were gone. The little rug they had, too. And fuck, my dinner table from hell was missing. They took that too, huh?
"Hey," I said, breaking the silence.
"Hey." Kim’s voice was flat. "So... I guess this is it?"
"Hmm." I muttered. "I guess... wow, they’re taking everything, huh?"
"Unfortunately." She exhaled, shoulders slumping. "Shit."
"Have you talked to Tom?" I asked. "Maybe his mom would let you keep some of the stuff—"
"No," she cut in. "Fuck Tom."
Seeing her getting worked up, I decided to shut my mouth. I couldn’t even imagine how she must be feeling—betrayed, small. I guess I could relate, though. When Lily left me, I thought everything was over. But I didn’t realize it was just a blank page, a chance to start over.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs, and we both turned. Jasmine appeared, yawning as she came down.
"What’s all this noise? It’s only nine..." She froze when she saw us. "Kim?"
"Jas," Kim said with a tired smile. "Sorry to wake you. The workers aren’t exactly quiet."
"What’s going on?" Jasmine asked, her eyes darting between us. "Are you moving out?"
"More like getting kicked out." Kim’s voice was bitter.
"Wait, what? How? Why?" Jasmine’s eyes widened.
I stepped away and peered through the corridor window. I could see workers hauling out a couch and some chairs, using one of those elevators—they called it a ’dumbwaiter,’ I think? Whatever it was, it didn’t look very gentle.
I lingered there for a second, then went back to Kim and Jasmine.
"...and that’s why I’m getting kicked out," Kim finished.
"Fucking Tom..." Jasmine muttered, fists clenched. "How could he?"
"Yeah," Kim said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought he really loved me... guess I was wrong."
"You can stay with me, if you want." Jasmine’s offer was immediate. "I’ve got an empty bedroom."
"I appreciate that, Jas," Kim said, shaking her head. "But Evan’s already opened his place to me. I don’t want to be a burden to you."
"Wait, but you’re okay with being a burden to me?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Kim smiled, though it was brief, then the expression faded. Poor Kim—getting kicked out because of Tom’s mother. That was just... low. Really low.
"Evan’s place, huh?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "I’ve been there. At first, I thought there was a horse living with him. The place was a huge mess, Kim."
"Hey, I cleaned it up," I muttered.
"I opened his fridge once to grab a cold water. And what do I see? Beers. No wonder he never gets drunk—he’s probably just used to it by now."
"Stop scaring away my new roommate," I grumbled.
I saw Kim’s interest go up, but to not lose focus, I ignored it for now.
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WOMEN - INTERACTIONS
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Jasmine: Interest: 27 / 40★
Kayla: Interest: 5 / 20
Tessa: Interest: 20 / 40★
Kim: Interest: 10 / 20
Delilah: Interest: 20 / 20★
Cora: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★
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Progress:
★☆☆☆☆ - 20 Interest: Milestone reward
★★☆☆☆ - 40 Interest: Milestone reward
★★★☆☆ - 60 Interest: Milestone reward
★★★★☆ - 80 Interest: Milestone reward
★★★★★ -100 Interest: Milestone reward
===============
Select a woman to track progress.
╰───────────╯
Kim chuckled, then turned to grab her bag on the ground. "I’ll make do. Come on, there’s nothing left for me here. Let’s go."
I nodded. "Yeah. Let’s go."
I took her bag from her, and she gave me a grateful nod. We headed up the stairs, with Kim and Jasmine following behind me.
We went upstairs.
I unlocked the door, and we all stepped inside. Moving to the center of the room, I stretched my arms out wide.
"How’s it? Clean, huh?" I said, a bit of pride creeping into my voice. "Took me all night."
Kim smiled. "Yours is a lot smaller than my flat."
"Yeah. After the fourth floor, east-facing flats are smaller. And cheaper, too."
"Didn’t know that."
"Only one bedroom," I said. "I’ll use the couch, don’t worry. I’m used to sleeping there anyway."
"I wouldn’t do that to you, Eva—"
"You can," Jasmine said, patting her on the shoulder. "Come on, drop your stuff and let’s go hang out."
"Hang out where?" Kim asked. "I don’t work, Jasmine. I pretty much have no money."
"It’s on the house!" I said, setting her bag down. "Come on. Let’s go!"
❤︎❤︎❤︎
The sun was high and brutal, it had to be one in the afternoon, maybe a little past. The amusement park buzzed with kids screaming, metal grinding, music blaring from too many speakers at once. Somewhere, popcorn burned. It was that kind of day.
I looked up, shielding my eyes with one hand. Jasmine and Kim were strapped into one of those deathtrap rides—some rattling steel train that launched into the sky and screamed back down again. I didn’t know what it was called, just that it was loud, fast, and not for me.
"Well," I muttered, watching them disappear over a loop. "They look happy, huh."
I took a slow drag from my cigarette, held it for a beat, then crushed the butt in the bin next to me.
The ride hissed to a stop minutes later. Jasmine and Kim stumbled off, laughing too hard, legs wobbly like they’d just escaped death—which I guess they had.
"My fucking GOD!" Kim blurted, collapsing onto a bench. "I thought I was... wow. Oh shit... WOW."
"You coward," Jasmine groaned, dropping beside her, still a little dizzy. "Why didn’t you come with us, Evan?"
I shrugged. "I like it when my feet stay on the ground. That ride? No thanks."
"Co-ward," she teased, spelling it out like it stung.
Kim cracked up—but then her laughter caught in her throat and broke into sobs. No warning. Just laughter, then crying.
I stayed standing, unsure what to do. Jasmine reached over, wrapped an arm around Kim’s shoulder. Kim let her head fall there, trembling.
"I’ll... grab some water," I said after a second. My voice was quieter than I expected. "Be right back."
Jasmine looked up at me and gave a small nod. "Okay."
I found a vendor tucked between the Ferris wheel and some rigged ring toss game, the kind that smelled like old grease and cotton candy. Bought a cold bottle of water and made my way back.
Kim took it with a quiet "Thanks," unscrewed the cap, and drank deeply. She let out a breath, wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"Sorry," she said after a moment. Her smile was cracked, but it was there. "Come on, don’t let me ruin the fun. Let’s have some more fun!"
Jasmine clapped her hands. "That’s my girl!"
I watched as they stood up, all bright eyes and shaky legs, trying to walk off whatever just hit Kim. Their laughter felt lighter again. Real.
I followed a few steps behind, but my mind had already started drifting—back to Sarah, and to Mike. The mess I need to clean up. The one I wasn’t sure I could.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Mendy.
And of course, once again, Penelope picked up instead. "Hello?"
"Hey," I said, keeping my voice low. "I, uh... was just checking in. How’s Mendy doing?"
There was a pause. "Stop calling us."
"Look, I feel terrible, Penelope," I said. "Please, just—"
Click.
The line went dead.
I stared at the screen for a second, then shoved the phone back in my pocket. Shook my head, exhaled.
"Shit."
"Hey, come on, Evan!" Jasmine called over her shoulder. She turned back with a grin, pointing past the popcorn stand. "Let’s go to the haunted house!"
I followed her finger. There it was, in all its peeling-painted glory—a crooked black shack squatting at the far edge of the park, fake cobwebs strung across the jagged roof, a plastic skeleton nailed above the entrance like some budget guardian. A speaker looped a haunted moan that sounded more bored than terrifying. The whole thing looked like it’d fall over if you breathed too hard on it.
"It’s not even night," I said. "It wouldn’t be scary."
"It’s dark inside," Jasmine argued, bouncing on her heels. "Come on, please!"
I smirked. "Fine." I glanced at Kim. "You okay with that?"
"Never been in one before," Kim admitted, wiping a strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were still a little flushed from earlier, but the color looked better on her now. "Wouldn’t say no to trying, though."
"Alright then," I muttered. "Time for us to get scared, I guess."