Leila groaned as she sat up, feeling the full weight of last night's choices crashing over her. Her head pounded with each pulse, and she squinted against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

Her messy hair was tangled, her eyeliner smudged from the night before, and she was still halfway in her clothes, her t-shirt twisted awkwardly around her torso. Regret settled in quickly, mixing with the stale taste of tequila in her mouth.

Just as she started to gather herself, a wave of nausea hit, sudden and intense. She threw off the blanket and stumbled out of bed, making a beeline for the bathroom. She barely had time to sink to her knees before she was sick, clutching the cool porcelain as she let out everything her stomach had to offer.

Footsteps approached, and Grace appeared around the corner, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. With a sympathetic look, she knelt beside Leila and held her hair back, rubbing gentle circles on her back. "You and me both," Grace said, grimacing slightly. "I've been up since five, puking my guts out. It'll pass soon... I think."

Leila managed a weak smile between retches, grateful for Grace's presence.
When the nausea finally subsided, Leila sat back, leaning her head against the wall and taking slow, deep breaths. Grace stayed beside her, leaning back too, looking equally worn out but with that ever-present mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So... last night," Grace said with a grin, nudging Leila's shoulder. "Can we talk about Luka for a second? Like, how cute is he?"

Leila laughed weakly, feeling slightly better just from Grace's energy. "He's definitely cute," she admitted, "and you two seemed to hit it off. I was a little...distracted by other things, though."
Grace smirked knowingly, waggling her eyebrows. "Oh, I noticed. You and Jesci were, like, glued together the whole night! I could tell he was completely into you." She nudged Leila's shoulder. "So? Details?"

Leila flushed, shaking her head as she tried to piece together everything that had happened the night before. She remembered bits and pieces: the closet, the intensity in Jesci's gaze, the warmth of his hand on her waist. It had all felt like a whirlwind. But now, in the clear light of morning, she wasn't sure what any of it meant.

Grace gave her a supportive squeeze. "Don't overthink it. Last night was fun, and I'm pretty sure he's just as hungover thinking about you this morning."
Leila chuckled, but her mind drifted back to Jesci. The memory of his touch lingered, and despite the headache and nausea, she felt a strange thrill.

Leila took a deep breath, her mind a hazy mix of memories and emotions. As she leaned her head back against the cool bathroom tile, she tried to recall the details of the night without too much overthinking. Her mind kept pulling her back to Jesci—the way he'd looked at her, that intense, almost possessive gaze that left her heart racing.

"Alright," she finally said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'll admit, he was... intense. But it was meaningless fun, right? Just... meaningless fun."

Grace raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Leila, if 'just meaningless fun' left you looking this dazed, then I think there's more to it than that. C'mon, tell me everything—what happened when you two went into the closet?"

Leila laughed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It wasn't... I mean, we kissed, and it was—wow," she admitted, barely able to find the words. "But it was more than that, too. I don't know... he wanted more and to be honest so did i''

Grace squealed, clapping her hands together. "Oh my god! I knew it! You cheeky minx,  I could tell there was something between you two! I'm telling you, Leila, Jesci Krookes doesn't look at just anyone like that."

The mention of Jesci's full name and reputation sent a flicker of doubt through Leila. "But you don't think it's a bad idea, right?" she asked tentatively, searching Grace's face for reassurance.
"Bad idea?" Grace scoffed. "Are you kidding? You have to take some risks! And honestly, Jesci's popular for a reason—there's a whole vibe there. Besides, you're smart; you're not going into this with your eyes closed. Just enjoy it and see where it goes."

Leila nodded, feeling a small swell of confidence. Grace was right—she deserved to let go, to let herself have fun and explore something that made her feel alive. Jesci was a mystery, but maybe that was part of the allure.
Grace nudged her with her shoulder. "Anyway, once we're done purging our regrets from last night, I say we go grab some greasy food, sit around in sweats, and watch something trashy. What do you think?"

Leila chuckled, reaching up to squeeze Grace's hand in appreciation. "That sounds perfect. Thanks, Grace. Really."
Grace grinned, giving her a wink. "Anytime, babe. We've got each other's backs—no hangover, heartbreak, or mysterious bad boy will change that."
—----
Jesci took a deep breath, pulling himself out of the hazy memories of the night before, particularly the moment in the closet with Leila. The lingering taste of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against his—it was all still vivid, a reminder of the thrill he hadn't felt in a long time. A small smirk played at the corners of his mouth as he let himself savor the memory, feeling a surge of excitement pulse through him, even manifesting a bit lower than he intended.

He bit his lip, exhaling slowly as he ran his hand through his damp hair. His curiosity getting the better of him, he picked up his phone from his bedside table, Unlocking it to check for any messages. Part of him hoped there'd be something from her, some acknowledgment of the connection he couldn't shake. But the screen was blank, apart from a few other notifications that he ignored.

As he locked the screen again, a sudden knock on the door startled him, making him curse under his breath. He rarely got spooked, but his thoughts had been too wrapped up in Leila to stay on edge. Pulling the towel more securely around his waist, he cleared his throat and called out, "Yeah, one second."

Taking another deep breath to regain his composure, he made his way to the door, bracing himself for whatever interruption lay on the other side.

When he swung open the door, he was met with Macy, standing there with her usual air of confidence, eyes sharp as she took him in with a slightly raised brow. "Well, look at you, Jesci. Early morning workout or... something else?" she teased, her gaze dropping to his chest and the damp hair that hung over his forehead.

Jesci shot her a smirk, leaning against the doorframe. "Just a shower," he replied casually, though he could still feel the trace of his own lingering excitement. "Didn't expect company this early."

Macy shrugged, stepping past him and making herself comfortable on his bed without waiting for an invitation. "Maybe I'm just full of surprises," she said, leaning back and giving him a challenging look. "Besides, I heard you were at Dane's party last night. Thought you'd have a story or two to share."

Jesci leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms. "Why, jealous you missed out?"
Macy gave a dismissive wave, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Please. The only thing that would surprise me is if you actually found someone there that held your attention for more than five minutes."

Her words hit a nerve he hadn't expected. Memories of Leila flashed in his mind again, the way her innocent curiosity had drawn him in, her shy smiles, and the unexpected spark between them. "Maybe I did," he replied smoothly, unable to resist.

Macy's eyes narrowed slightly, her usual air of amusement dimming. "Interesting. Well, don't get too comfortable with that idea," she replied coolly, almost as if sensing the change in him. "We both know you're not exactly the settling-down type."

Jesci shrugged off her comment, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of knowing she'd struck a chord. "People change," he replied, though he wasn't entirely sure how much he believed that.
With a lingering glance, Macy stood up "Just remember, Jesci," she whispered, her voice low "old habits die hard."

Jesci didn't answer, his silence only spurring Macy to move closer, testing his limits. But as she did, Jesci's mind wandered back to the girl who had left him feeling a spark he hadn't felt in a long time—a spark he didn't see in Macy's eyes anymore.

She brushed past, leaving Jesci alone again, but not before planting a seed of doubt that wormed its way into his mind. He stared at the closed door, his smirk fading as he wondered what it was about Leila that made him feel like he could actually be something different... if only for a moment.

Jesci took a steadying breath as he made his way downstairs, trying to shake off the encounter with Macy. The faint murmur of voices drifted up from the kitchen, and as he turned the corner, he was met with the sight of his parents. His mother looked up first, a polished smile spreading across her face as she saw him. She opened her arms, stepping forward to embrace him in a hug that felt more obligatory than genuine.

"There's my boy," she murmured, patting his back. Jesci returned the embrace, though it lacked warmth; they both knew this was more for appearances. When she pulled back, her perfectly manicured hand smoothed a wrinkle from his shirt, a practiced gesture that seemed more like she was adjusting a display piece than greeting her son.

Across the kitchen, his father was standing by the coffee machine, sleeves rolled up just enough to show off his gleaming gold Rolex and matching wedding ring. The contrast of luxury against his sharp, composed demeanor was intentional, each detail curated for effect. Jesci cleared his throat, nodding his way.

"Hey, Dad."

Without looking up, his father poured coffee into a pristine white mug, his gaze focused on the morning paper beside him. Ignoring Jesci's greeting entirely, he grabbed his cup, took the newspaper, and headed towards his office without so much as a glance.

His mother noticed the faint flicker of disappointment cross Jesci's face and offered him a sympathetic smile. "You know your father," she said softly. "It's been a long morning of travel. He just needs a bit of time to adjust."

Jesci scoffed, unable to hide his frustration, and rolled his eyes. His mother's smile faltered, replaced by a small frown as she watched him. "You could show a little more gratitude, you know," she said, her tone slipping into that familiar, rehearsed disappointment. "We work very hard to provide you with everything you have. Your lifestyle isn't something that just appears out of nowhere, Jesci."

"Yeah, I'm sure you do," Jesci replied, barely masking the sarcasm in his voice. He turned toward the counter, grabbing a banana and began to peel it as his mother's expression grew more exasperated.

"And when are we going to see Macy again?" she asked, her voice softening with what almost sounded like real interest. "I haven't seen her around here lately. She's such a lovely girl. So good for you."

Jesci rolled his eyes, biting back a retort. If only his parents knew the side of Macy he saw—the cold, detached manipulation behind the charm. "You won't be seeing her," he said flatly. "We're done."

His mother's face fell, clearly disappointed. She let out a sigh, looking at him like he'd just confessed to making a terrible mistake. "Jesci, don't be foolish. Macy is good for you. You'd be silly to let her slip away. She has such potential... a girl like her could do wonders for you."

Jesci's grip on the banana tightened as he took a bite, forcing himself to remain calm. He knew that in his mother's eyes, Macy represented the kind of image they wanted for him—a polished, put-together girlfriend who fit seamlessly into their world. But they didn't know Macy the way he did, didn't see the hollow manipulations behind her carefully crafted smile.

With a sigh, his mother turned away, shaking her head in disappointment. "You should think things over, Jesci," she said quietly. "Don't let a good thing slip through your fingers because you're stubborn."

He watched her leave the kitchen, the click of her heels fading down the hall. Left alone, Jesci took another bite, the kitchen feeling emptier than before. The weight of expectations lingered, but he pushed it aside, swallowing the bitterness that seemed to settle in his chest.