Chapter 52: CRACK A JOKE

I stepped inside, closed the door, and locked it. The key landed on the dinner table with a dull clink as I dropped onto the single couch.

The apartment looked the same as always. To my left: the small dinner table, then the cramped kitchen a few steps further. To my right: the open bedroom door. Straight ahead and slightly left: the bathroom. One continuous, depressing space. I was so sick of this place.

I rubbed my face with both hands.

That woman on the track. The perfume. The same expensive scent Sarah had noticed the day Star was here. Someone had been inside my apartment without me knowing. The thought kept circling.

I shook my head. I needed a distraction.

Leaning forward, I opened the system interface and started scrolling through available quests.

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NEW QUEST

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[!] MISSION:

Noisy

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> OBJECTIVE:

Learn why Sarah and

her husband fought.

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> REWARD:

+110 EXP

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I stared at it for a few seconds, then accepted.

The moment I reached for my phone to try Sarah again, a familiar angry voice cut through the thin walls from outside.

"Fuck! Who the hell sliced my tire?! FUUUCK! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! GOD DAMN IT!"

I smirked. "Fucking cunt."

A few seconds later I heard him on the phone, clearly calling someone about the tire. Perfect.

I got up, headed to the bathroom, and took a quick shower. Once I was out and dressed in clean clothes, I checked the bedroom window. Hubert’s car was still there with the flat tire, but he was gone, probably already in a taxi heading to work.

Now was the time.

I fixed my hair in the mirror, left my flat, and climbed the stairs.

"Alright." I knocked on the door. "Let’s go."

It opened a moment later.

Sarah stood there looking drained, the leftover tension from whatever fight she’d had with Hubert still sitting on her face. She was wearing a thin white tank top that clung to her chest, the fabric soft and a little loose around the neckline, and a pair of dark hotpants that sat low on her hips and left most of her thighs bare. No bra, that much was obvious from the way the tank top moved when she shifted her weight. Her hair was slightly messy, like she hadn’t bothered fixing it after the argument.

Even tired and upset, she looked good.

I kept my expression neutral.

"Hey."

"Oh, hey," Sarah said, stepping aside. "Come in."

I stepped through the doorway.

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TARGET: Sarah Angi

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[ RELATIONSHIP ]

> Partner: [Hubert]

> Loyalty: 0%

> Dependence: 37%

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[ SYSTEM SYNC ]

> Favor: 0% [?]

> Threat: None

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x2 Sexual Encounter EXP

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> GRIEVANCE LOG

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Dependence updated just from being invited in. Nice.

Sarah rubbed her forehead and gave me a tired look. "I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk yesterday. You were... kind of a hero last night."

I waved it off. "It was nothing. I know how it feels to get roughed up. That woman, though... Karim nearly did a lot worse than just hit her."

"Yeah..." She exhaled. "Crazy stuff."

A short silence settled between us.

"Sit, please," she said, gesturing toward the living room.

"Thanks."

We moved over and sat down, Sarah across from me on the other side of the small coffee table. She still looked worn out, the thin tank top and hotpants making her seem even more vulnerable somehow.

"Want some tea? I just made a pot."

"I’m good, thanks." I cleared my throat lightly. "I, uh... heard Hubert outside a few minutes ago. He sounded pretty pissed."

"Someone slashed his tire. He had to take a taxi to work."

"Yeah, I caught that part. But he sounded extra grumpy today. Did you two have a fight?"

Sarah’s eyes flicked away for a second. "I... couples fight, Chance. It’s normal."

"I’m all ears if you want to talk about it," I said quietly. "No pressure."

She was quiet for a long moment, clearly turning it over in her head. Then she let out a slow breath and leaned back against the couch.

"It was about my drawings again," she said. "I was sketching last night after... everything calmed down. Just trying to clear my head. He came in, saw the sketchbook, and started up. Said I was wasting time. That I should focus on ’real’ things instead of scribbling like a teenager."

I stayed silent, letting her continue.

"He took the sketchbook. Said he was going to throw it out if I didn’t stop. We argued. It got loud. I eventually got it back, but..." She shook her head. "It’s always the same. He doesn’t get it. Drawing is the only thing that actually feels like mine."

"That’s messed up," I said. "It’s not like you’re ignoring the house or anything. You’re allowed to have something that’s just for you."

"We fought today... AGAIN." Sarah gave a small, humorless smile. "Try telling him that."

"I would, but I don’t think he’d listen."

"It’s like a gamble with him. One day he is normal, one day he is... ugh."

"Yeah... I know a lot of gambling. And that guy is just... one wild card."

"You know a lot about gambling?" She asked, voice quiet.

"Oh, you have no idea, Ms. Angi."

She let out a quiet breath that was almost a laugh, then looked down at her hands.

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MAIN MENU

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NAME: Chance Brooks

LVL: 11 [218/614]

RANK: Homewrecker

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[ CORE STATS ]

> CHA: 25

> END: 11

> PER: 25 (-2)

> LCK: 4

> IBE: 10

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[ ENERGY ]

> LUST: 200/200

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[ACTIVE PERKS: Expand]

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SIN POINTS: 1420

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The quest EXP had landed. More importantly, she was talking. Opening up. The cracks in her marriage were getting easier to push on.

I kept my expression soft and attentive.

"You don’t have to stop drawing just because he doesn’t understand it," I said. "It’s yours."

Sarah looked at me for a second longer than usual, something unreadable in her eyes.

"Well... if any of the drawings survived," I said carefully, "mind if I take a look?"

Sarah hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. I hide the main sketchbook from him. He’s only ever found the loose ones." She glanced at me, almost apologetic. "They’re... kinda bad, though. You’ve already seen some of my stuff, but I’m still basically a newbie."

"Hey. At least you’re doing something that matters to you." I kept my tone light. "I’m trying new things too, working out, trying to get healthier. You’re doing the same in your own way. I included you in my runs... only fair you include me in this."

That earned the faintest smile. "Okay. But if you laugh, I’ll cook you in the oven."

"Wow. Harsh. What if I cry because they’re terrible?"

She scoffed, the smile growing a little, then stood up and disappeared into the bedroom. A few seconds later she came back with a worn sketchbook and sat down beside me, closer than before. Our thighs were almost touching.

She opened it.

The first page was an anime-style girl with long silver hair and a sword, standing in the rain. Clean lines, a little shaky in places, but the expression on the character’s face was surprisingly good.

"This one’s from Blade of the Hollow Moon," she said quietly. "I liked how the main character always looks calm even when everything’s falling apart."

"She’s got a strong look," I said. "The eyes came out really well."

Sarah flipped the page. The next drawing was softer, a boy and girl sitting on a rooftop under a sunset, the girl’s head on his shoulder. More detailed shading this time.

"That’s from After the Last Train. I just... liked the quiet moment. Nothing big happening. Just two people existing."

I nodded. "Feels peaceful."

The third page was different. A woman in a loose shirt, one shoulder bare, looking back over her shoulder with a half-lidded expression. More confident lines. A little skimpy compared to the others.

Sarah’s ears went slightly pink. "That’s... just practice. Anatomy and fabric. No specific series."

"It’s good," I said honestly. "Better than the others, actually. You can tell you spent more time on it."

She closed the sketchbook halfway and exhaled. "That’s most of what’s left. I had more, but... he burned a bunch of them. You already know about that."

"Yeah. Sorry."

We both leaned back against the couch. The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. Just quiet. I glanced sideways at her. The thin tank top, the way her hotpants sat on her hips, the soft curve of her chest rising and falling with each breath. She looked unfairly good like this, tired, unguarded, sitting right next to me.

Our eyes met.

Neither of us looked away for a second.

Then Sarah set the sketchbook on the coffee table, scooted a little closer, and rested her head on my shoulder. She leaned back again, settling against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

My eyes widened slightly.

I slowly raised my arm and settled it around her shoulders. She didn’t pull away. In the quiet apartment I could actually hear my own heartbeat.