Chad found himself feeling undecided, with two thoughts lingering in his mind, warring against logic…
One part of him, and this part he found strange, didn’t want Bree to get off him. The girl had started off suspicious and potentially malicious ever since he’d woken up without his memories, yet every interpretation of her actions had been positive towards Chad.
Well, except for the part where she hid his phone in the ceiling boards and helped sneak it out. She’d been playing double agent and was now revealing the truth about her loyalties… or at least, that’s what Chad would have liked to believe.
The other part of Chad wanted to find out if it really was Cherry at the door, and let her in to figure out her part of the story. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel some sort of attraction towards her, though right now Bree had managed to create a sense of attraction he found hard to compare with Cherry.
His curiosity rose even more when he realised the subtle attraction he had towards Cherry didn’t make any sense. It was something he’d felt the instant he laid eyes on her in the lecture room, and he couldn’t explain it.
Chad stood from the bed and grabbed a robe to cover himself. The erection Bree had caused would not be coming down any time soon. “Happy?” he asked, gesturing to the winding bulge of meat threatening to tear his pyjama pants.
“Very…” she licked her lips, “If the person knocking turns out to be some lost neighbour, know that I will help you take care of this.”
She had inched closer to caress the thick bulge. She then placed a kiss on his cheek in time with another knock at the door.
This time, Chad rushed away from Bree and went to answer it. They’d stalled long enough.
At the door, he peeped through the hole and saw a dishevelled red mop of hair. Cherry hugged herself tight, covered in a large coat and looking too cold to be outside.
A spark of fear shot through him as he opened the door to let her in. “Hey… what are you doing out so late?”
“I had to come.” Cherry hurried into his arms.
Chad’s brain hit pause… She smelt good, and her embrace felt like something out of a movie. Like he had known her touch for years longer than he’d been alive… yet at the same time, he was acutely aware of how much smaller she was than Bree.
Her breasts pressed into him, vividly present, yet not overwhelmingly so.
Behind the pair came a scoff. Cherry caught the sound and saw Bree shaking her head, “Colour me shocked, Cheer!”
“What’s ‘she’ doing here?” Cherry asked, venom in her tone, “She works for Brian.”
“I know,” Chad answered, “She told me as much a few moments ago. Tea?”
Cherry took the time to look between them before nodding and removing her hands from Chad’s neck. Before she could really let go of him, though, she had noticed something pressing into her, and her mind had done numerous calculations already.
‘Was that… No, it couldn’t have been,’ she thought to herself. He turned before she had the chance to confirm what she’d felt.
As Chad went to the kitchen to put a pot to boil, Cherry closed the door and approached Bree. “What’s your game here?”
“Game? I’m trying to undo your hypocrisy, honey,” Bree answered, “Though I must thank you. I would never have gained the confidence or had the chance to approach him if it hadn’t been for you.”
“I think this would be a more productive conversation if we didn’t begin by jumping at each other’s throats,” Chad tried.
“You say that, yet she’s the reason you lost your memory,” Bree countered.
Chad rubbed his temples. He already knew this… and Bree was aware of that, yet she pointed it out anyway, “Both of you should sit down. Cherry, I’m sorry about Bree. She’s not your biggest fan, and I’m curious about a lot of things, but first, I have something I think you should listen to…”
Without wasting time, he pulled out his new phone and scrolled through to the recording of Bree’s conversation with Brian. The recording started mid-conversation, but he was sure there was enough inside to aid Cherry.
🎵
“As long as I need to get rich off that Factor of hers. Clive already made the Suppression Potion. We need only use it as leverage if she figures this out,” the male voice echoed over the speakers.
“And Chad’s blood?” Bree’s voice answered
“Oh, that one’s contaminated. Found a weird Time-warping Factor tainting it. Clive couldn’t extract the Factor well with all the interference,” Brian came again.
🎵
Cherry’s face was turning paler the longer the recording went on. Each line was packed with more evidence of betrayal and truths of what she’d been denying for a long time.
Yet it continued.
🎵
“Shit,” Bree cursed, “Tell him to figure it out, just in case.”
“Relax!” Brian chuckled, “Chad’s lost his memories, from what you’ve told me. I see no reason to fear him anymore.”
“Brian, he’s strong. Whatever Clive’s potions did, they made him insanely strong, too…”
🎵
As it so happened, Cherry now knew the source of this strength, as well as the confidence Chad had seemed to carry around when his behaviour began to change. He’d not been worried about facing Brian at all. It explained why he was only worried about people with the Strength Factor.
🎵
“Oh?! You would know, wouldn’t ya? He must be a beast!” Brian chuckled through a sentiment that made Cherry shiver. “Don’t worry, girl! Chad’s all yours. You’ll get the next round of Expansion potions tomorrow and continue to live this weird fairytale you’ve crafted for yourself. Keep him in line, though. We don’t want him near Cherry.”
“Does she like him?” Bree snarled.
“Not sure.”
“Not sure? You’re her f*cking boyfriend.”
“And since when has that ever meant anything?” Brian clicked his tongue, “She’s been acting weird ever since she had that date with him. I can only do so much to make her forget him and keep that money flowing. Be grateful that we’re spending this much on your services. Each one of those potions is fetching a decent 100k.”
🎵
Author's Note: Cherry returning to the scene of the crime(drugging Chad), lol... Anyone getting yandere vibes from Bree? (Yes, the author doesn't always know where the story might go. I certainly hadn't seen Chad's mission getting this complicated.)
Bonus images here: