I thought about it for a second. Rose was smart. Strong. She knew what Mike was like. And Sebastian was no pushover.
"Okay" I said finally. "I trust Rose."
Sarah gave a small smile, like she was glad I wasn't panicking. "Good. Now complete these papers work on the coffee table. We don't have time to waste worrying."
* * *
I worked on the papers for the past half hour, sorting through the endless stack on the coffee table. It was a lot more than I expected, forms, schedules, budget notes. I had to admit Rose was impressive handling all this on her own most days. Sarah too, buried behind her laptop screen, typing without pause. They made it look easy, but it was exhausting.
Still, I kept getting distracted. My mind wouldn't stay on the work.
Every few minutes my thoughts drifted back to Rose. Out there with Mike and Mr. Sebastian. I knew Sebastian was supposed to be there the whole time, but that didn't stop the worry from gnawing at me. It sat heavy on my chest like a weight I couldn't shake off.
I trusted Rose completely. She was strong, smart, careful. But Mike... I didn't trust him at all.
After reading that blog, the way he talked about women, calling it "taming" like they were animals he broke until they obeyed. It made my skin crawl. He wrote about kissing her so casually, like it was nothing. I still couldn't get that image out of my head. The thought of him trying it again, finding some moment alone.
I just hoped Mike kept his hands to himself. With Mr. Sebastian there the whole time, he had to behave. Right?
Time dragged on while I worked through the papers. I finished as fast as I could, but Rose still hadn't come back. She should have been here by now. The errand wasn't supposed to take this long.
"Fuuuh... Sarah, I'm done." I let out a long breath, tilting my head back against the sofa and closing my eyes for a moment. The work had tired me out more than I expected.
"Hm?" A soft, smooth touch brushed my hand.
"Sarah...?" I opened my eyes slowly.
Sarah had moved to sit right next to me on the sofa. One of her hands rested lightly on mine, warm and gentle. The other arm draped casually over the headrest behind me, close enough that I could smell her faint perfume.
"Brother-in-law," she said with that teasing smile, voice low and playful as she leaned in a little closer. "Are you still thinking about Rose?"
"How can I not?" I muttered, turning my head toward her. "She's out there with that bastard."
Her face was so close now that I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin. My cheeks heated up fast. I'd never been this near to Sarah before, and seeing her up close like this, I realized how much she resembled Rose, same soft features, same bright eyes. Of course they did; they were cousins.
"You worry too much," she whispered, her breath brushing my ear. Before I could respond, her hand slid around my arm, pulling it gently against her. She pressed closer, squeezing my arm between the soft swell of her breasts. The warmth and plush give of them seeped through my sleeve, making my pulse race.
"She's my girlfriend, it's obvious I get worry." I knew I shouldn't feel anything. Rose was my girlfriend. But Sarah's body was right there, curves pressing in, her perfume light and sweet in the air. My mind went blank for a second.
"Do you ever think about me too?" she asked, voice even softer, almost a murmur. Her fingers traced slow circles on my forearm, sending little sparks up my skin.
I swallowed hard. "Sarah..."
"It's okay to admit it. We're alone right now." She shifted nearer on the sofa, her thigh brushing mine. Her lips were inches away, eyes half-lidded, that teasing smile turning warmer.
"It's not fair, you don't even reply to my message." My heart hammered. I could feel the heat from her body, the way her breasts rose and fell with each breath against my arm. She leaned in more, tilting her head, lips parting just a little.
We were so close I could almost taste her breath. But then Rose's face flashed in my mind—her smile, her worried nod before she left.
I pulled back sudden, breaking the moment. "It's... it's been a long time since she left. I think I should go... check on her now."
Sarah paused, eyes searching mine for a second. Then she let go of my arm slow, smile fading but not gone.
"Yeah... you're right," she said soft, leaning back.
"Go find your girlfriend." She pouted, crossing her arms that made her breasts bulge out more.
I grabbed my bag from the floor, and left the council room. The hallways were mostly empty now, with classes long over and only a few students lingering around lockers or heading to after-school clubs.
I checked the gym first, pushing open the heavy doors and scanning the empty court.
Nothing.
The sports field outside was deserted except for a couple of younger guys kicking a ball around lazily, their laughter echoing in the open space. No sign of Rose, Mike, or even Mr. Sebastian.
'Where could they be?' My stomach twisted tighter with every empty place I checked. The equipment check shouldn't have taken this long.
I headed toward the equipment shed behind the gym, the place they usually stored sports gear and spare stuff. The door was cracked open. I pushed it wider, heart pounding in my ears.
Empty. Again.
Just stacks of orange cones, folded banners leaning against the wall, old mats rolled up in the corner. Dust floated in the air from my movement, catching the light from the single bulb overhead. No one.
I let the door swing shut behind me with a soft thud and stood there for a moment, breathing hard. The worry was turning into something sharper, closer to panic.
What if Mike had found a way to get her alone? What if Sebastian had left them for some reason?
My phone buzzed in my pocket, vibrating against my leg.
A text from Rose.
Rose: Sorry Alex, I got really tired after all the running around.
Rose: I'm Heading home first. I Didn't wanted to make you wait.
I texted back quick, fingers fumbling a little.
Alex: You okay? What about Mike?
She didn't reply for a minute.
Rose: I don't know, He went with Mr. Sebastian to check something else.
Alex: Alright,I just wanted to that. I'm heading home too.
I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against the shed wall for support. The cool metal felt good against my back. The weight lifted off my chest completely.
She was safe. Heading home. Everything was fine. I turned away from the shed and started walking back toward the school gate.
The evening air felt cool against my face. The sun was low, turning the sky orange, and the campus was almost empty.
My footsteps sounded loud on the path. The worry was fading, but a small knot stayed in my chest.
To be continued…
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