100 Days to Seduce the Devil

Day Seventy-Seven…

~~*****~~

[ At Aiden's Place… ]

Aiden was sulking in his room the whole morning. He didn't have the motivation to work after what transpired yesterday. 'Is this what they called love sickness?' Aiden muttered to himself.

Feeling a little bit bored doing nothing, Aiden contacted Stephen. He needed a drinking buddy today. He hadn't moved on yet from Cherry's rejection. Then he saw her dating another man. That was so unfair.

"Hey Steph, hope I'm not interrupting anything. If you've got some free time, how about swinging by my place? I'm thinking we could use a bit of unwinding, you know? Let's crack open a few bottles and enjoy our day," Aiden warmly extended an invitation to his best friend.

He was supposed to go bar-hopping last night but he was still not in the mood. In the end, Aiden just stayed at home, doing a movie marathon.

Meanwhile, Stephen didn't reject Aiden's invitation. Just like Aiden, he needed something to escape from his loneliness. He was still in the middle of moving on, accepting the fact that he couldn't be the man for Jane.

"I'll go there. I think I need some booze today," Stephen replied.

"Oh great! I'll wait for you!" Aiden immediately got off his bed and went to his bar counter, preparing for their drinks.

After a few minutes, Stephen arrived, ringing the doorbell.

"Right timing, Bro. Come. Let's drink." Aiden handed him the canned beer as they both settled down in his living room.

"To be completely honest, the reason I asked you to come here today is because, well, I've been giving it some serious thought... I think I need some counseling." Aiden started the conversation.

Stephen paused for a moment, casting Aiden with a strange look. "Are you serious?"

Aiden pouted his lips while nodding his head. "I just lost my confidence as a man," he declared exasperatedly.

"What are you talking about?" Stephen didn't know whether to laugh or not. "Sigh! Don't give me such a look. I'm serious. What should I do? Cherry just simply doesn't like me. How can I forget her?" Aiden complained, looking so pitiful. "Do you think this is my karma for being a Casanova?"

Stephen responded with a gentle, reassuring chuckle, his hand coming to rest on Aiden's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Hey now, don't tell me you're throwing in the towel already? This is the first time I've seen you being problematic because of a woman. I think Cherry makes a significant impact in your life."

"Do you think she is the one for you?" Stephen asked Aiden with a teasing smile on his lips.

"Bro! I'm asking you how to forget her. Yet you are asking me if she's the one for me. Do you want me to be heartbroken for so long?" Aiden glared at Stephen.

"Even if she doesn't share the same feelings for me, I won't attempt to erase her from my thoughts or my heart. She's too precious to be forgotten," he openly expressed, his sentiments directed towards Jane. His words held a depth of emotion, revealing the sincerity of his feelings for Jane.

Aiden's ceaseless chatter came to an abrupt halt as Stephen's words reached his ears. Glancing over at his friend, Aiden discerned a subtle sadness in Stephen's eyes. It became evident that, on this particular day, Aiden was not the sole bearer of a broken heart.

Observing the melancholy in Stephen's expression, Aiden decided to address the unspoken turmoil. "Is it Jane and Nathan that have left you feeling heartbroken? Do you genuinely have feelings for her?" Aiden posed the question directly, seeking to unravel the complexities of his friend's emotions.

A faint smile played on Stephen's lips as he took a thoughtful sip of his beer. His response was measured and sincere, reflecting the depth of his sentiments. "It's painful, but I'm genuinely happy for her. I've witnessed the positive changes and significant improvements in Jane's relationship with Nathan. All I want is for her to find happiness, even if I'm not the reason for it."

Aiden couldn't help but sigh, expressing a mixture of understanding and defeat. "You're quite the martyr, Bro," he remarked, acknowledging the selflessness embedded in Stephen's sentiments.

"But you also deserve to be happy," Aiden added. "You have been a good friend to both of us. I also wish that you find your happiness, Stephen." This time Aiden was the one who patted Stephen's back.

"You don't have to worry about my happiness. This is part of growing up." Stephen raised his canned beer for a toast.

The two continued drinking for five hours until they got drunk. They just wanted to unwind. They were in a messy state when Kathleen showed up. It turned out, Aiden texted her in his drunken state. He told her about Stephen being heartbroken. When Kathleen saw the message, she immediately headed to Aiden's place.

"Oh my. Both of you are such a mess!" Kathleen gasped in surprise.

Empty beer bottles and crumpled snack wrappers littered the room. Aiden, with an unsteady grin on his face, attempted to stand up and hug his cousin who had just arrived.

"Kath! W-welcome! I've been waiting for you," Aiden slurred with tipsy enthusiasm, his words slightly muddled and punctuated by a hiccup.

Stephen, equally disheveled, leaned back on the couch, chuckling uncontrollably. "Aiden is drunk."

Kathleen narrowed her eyes at both men. "Both of you are drunk." She had the urge to reprimand the two. She didn't expect that she would see their messy and drunken state upon her arrival.

"Don't get near me. I'll punch you!" Kathleen warned Aiden when he tried to embrace her. Meeting Kathleen's deathly glare, Aiden reflexively stepped back.

"Bro, my cousin is scary!" Aiden stumbled when he ran in Stephen's direction, seeking protection. Both friends erupted into laughter while Kathleen shook her head helplessly.

"I'm bringing you home." Kathleen declared as she approached Stephen who was sitting on the couch.

Aiden giggled once more. "Yes. Send him home. Take good care of him, Kath. If you can do it, heal his broken heart! Hahaha!"

Stephen, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, grabbed the couch pillow and threw it toward Aiden.

Thud!

He hit Aiden's face, sending him sprawling on the floor. "Ouch! That's so harsh. Bro!" He complained.

Kathleen could only massage her temples. She felt like she had to babysit two drunken adults. She took care of Aiden first. Kathleen guided her cousin to his bedroom. "Naughty guy, you should sleep!"

"I don't want to sleep. I want to drink more. I'm not yet drunk!" Aiden stubbornly said, childishly turning left and right on his bed.

Kathleen smacked his forehead and said, "Behave! Otherwise, I'll tell Uncle you skipped work today just to get drunk. You will be grounded for a month."

With her threat, Aiden stopped whining and tried to behave. After tucking Aiden on his bed, Kathleen returned to the living room. Stephen remained seated on the couch, his laughter subsiding into a goofy smile.

"Alright, it's time for some water," Kathleen declared, watching Stephen helplessly. She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water, placing them in front of intoxicated Stephen.

"Drink this to sober up a little. I'll send you home in a while." She handed over the glass of water before sitting next to Stephen.

As he sipped on the water, Kathleen couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. "You guys really know how to party… I mean, getting this drunk so early. It's not even nighttime yet," she teased, earning a sheepish grin from Stephen.

Intent on cleaning up the messy living room, Kathleen moved toward the scattered bottles and discarded snack wrappers. Just as she was about to immerse herself in the task, Stephen's hand suddenly closed around hers. Startled, she turned to look at him, her heart quickening its pace against her chest. 'Why? Why is Stephen looking at me so intently? What is he going to do?'

Caught in the unexpected moment, Kathleen's mind raced with a cascade of thoughts. The air seemed charged with a subtle tension, leaving her wondering about the nature of Stephen's sudden focus. 'Is he going to kiss me?' she pondered, her imagination running wild with the possibilities.

Before she knew it, Stephen pulled her into a warm hug.

Kathleen: "..."

Badum! Badum! Badum!

Her heartbeat raced even faster.

His Mistress is His Ex-Wife