Erik leaned against the stone wall, his head spinning. Amber had kissed him. It had been brief, just a brush of her lips against his—but it had felt like an electric shock. He could still feel the warmth of her breath on his skin and the softness and sweetness of her lips on his.
He was left in a state of pure bliss and felt a warmth spreading through his body—a sense of satisfaction and contentment that he had never felt before. It had been a moment of pure connection, a spark that had ignited something deep within him.
But he couldn't let himself get too caught up in the moment. He had feelings for Amber, but so did he for Emily, and he didn't want to hurt his friend. Initially, he was very attracted to her, but that feeling became a pure friendship after some time. But now, after the kiss, he wasn't so sure anymore.
Maybe there was something more there that he had been overlooking all this time. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to sort out his thoughts and understand what he wanted to do.
But his mind was a jumbled mess of emotions, and he couldn't seem to make sense of anything. He felt guilty for even considering Amber when he had feelings for Emily, but at the same time, he couldn't deny the spark he had felt when she kissed him and how happy he felt about it.
Just as he was about to give up on trying to sort out his feelings, he heard a familiar voice behind him. However, he didn't know what to think about the owner anymore. The voice's owner suddenly put his hand on Erik's shoulder, and the young man turned to see who it was. He was right; that was Uncle Benjamin.
He felt a knot form in his stomach at the sight of the man, whom he suspected had been keeping an eye on him for Becker, and that probably lured him out of his home, with lunch as an excuse, as soon as he got the system.
As he turned, Erik observed the man he so much loved, as a son could love his father. Benjamin was a man in his mid-thirties with dark skin and a smooth and rich complexion that reflected his heritage. He was about 1 meter and 70 centimeters tall and had a slim, athletic build, which was a sign that he was active. He had a neatly trimmed goatee on his face, which drew attention to his chiseled jawline and made him look rough and tough.
Benjamin's most striking feature was his long, black hair, which fell in a thick, lustrous mane, reaching down to his mid-back. He often kept it tied in a sleek ponytail, which gave him a distinctive and sophisticated look. His hair had a natural wave to it, and it framed his face, drawing attention to his expressive, almond-shaped eyes that were a deep, warm brown, and seemed to hold a certain wisdom and intensity. His military attire and his many medals gave the man a respectful aura, which Erik, though, couldn't stand anymore.
"Hey, Erik!" Benjamin greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Uncle Ben…" Erik said, "How are you?" The two exchanged pleasantries.
"I'm fine," the man said. "How are things going?" Benjamin asked.
Erik hesitated for a moment before answering. "They're going well, thank you…"
Benjamin looked at him with concern. "You seem a bit tense. Is something bothering you?"
Erik forced a smile. "No, everything's fine. But I have something on my mind." Erik referred to his suspicions about him, but the man misinterpreted.
Benjamin nodded understandingly. "Is it because of the girl that just kissed you?" Benjamin asked.
"Did you see that?"
"Yes…" Benjamin said, "Is she your girlfriend?"
Erik shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He didn't want to talk to Benjamin, not when he was still suspicious of him.
"I don't know," Erik replied.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I've not taken a decision yet, she just confessed to me, but I've not given her an answer."
Benjamin then sighed. "Look, Erik, you must take a decision soon. It is not okay to play with other people's emotions. Give her closure if you can, whether a good or a bad one…"
"I know that…" Benjamin sighed. He knew love problems weren't easy to solve, especially at that age.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me," the man added.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine, really," Erik said, trying to sound convincing.
Benjamin studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Erik, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I want you to know I care about you. Your father was like a brother to me, and I would do anything to help you."
Erik's resolve wavered at the sincerity in Benjamin's voice. He really hoped he was wrong about him; after all, he didn't have proof he asked him to go to lunch only to keep him away from his home. However, the possibility was there, and he didn't want to take any chances. It was painful to think that the only person who had cared about him in the past and had been his only human contact for years could do something like that to him.
"Thanks, Benjamin. I appreciate it," Erik said.
Benjamin smiled. "Anytime, my boy."
The two chatted a little bit, catching up on what had happened to them in the last period, but after a while, Benjamin was called by some people and had to leave. Benjamin walked away, leaving Erik with a heavy heart and even more confusion than he had before they met. After that, the awakener returned to the ballroom to spend the rest of the night with his friends and enjoy life for once.
Erik took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to push away the thoughts of Amber and Benjamin. He needed to focus on the present.
He heard their laughter and chatter growing louder as he approached the room. He grinned to himself, content to be around such good people. They had been there for him through thick and thin, always supporting him when needed.
As he approached, his friends noticed him and greeted him warmly.
"Hey, where have you been until now?" Floyd asked.
"I just had some stuff to take care of. A lot of people wanted to talk to me tonight," Erik replied.
"Where they serious talks or…?" Erik shrugged, not wanting to bring the mood down with his own problems.
He then turned to his left and saw Amber talking to Gwen, who had a hand on her back and was probably trying to console her. She put on a tough facade in front of the others, but it was clear she was not okay.
"We will talk about that later…." Floyd whispered in Erik's ear as he saw him looking at Amber.
"Yeah…"
He then looked to his right and saw Emily talking to Martha. He really wanted to go to her, but at the same time, he wanted to go to Amber. In the end, he decided to stick with the boys since there was nothing he could do about the situation.
Erik and the others then threw themselves into the night, dancing and joking with each other. They took silly photos together and shared inside jokes. They ate and talked to many interesting people.
For a few hours, Erik forgot about his worries and let himself be carried away by the laughter and joy of his friends. He felt alive and carefree, like he could finally let go of his troubles and just be in the moment.
As the night wore on and the party started to wind down, Erik felt a sense of contentment settle over him. He knew that the problems he faced wouldn't disappear overnight, but he felt better equipped to deal with them now. He had the support of his friends, and he knew they would be there for him no matter what.
As they left the party and stepped into the limousine, Amber arranged for them to bring them back to the Red Palace. Erik couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, even though Amber was with them, riding in the car and heading back to their temporary home. He had enjoyed himself but was ready to return to his own world. He settled into the plush leather seats and let out a deep sigh as the car pulled away from the mansion.
As they drove through the city, Erik gazed out the tinted windows and watched the scenery change around him. They left behind the sprawling mansions and villas, the quiet streets, and the tree-lined boulevards and entered the city's heart. The buildings grew taller and taller until a forest of towering skyscrapers surrounded them.
The city was alive with light and movement. Neon signs glowed in every rainbow color, casting a kaleidoscope of light onto the sidewalks below. People hurried through the streets, the glow of their smartphones illuminating their faces. Cars honked, and engines roared as they raced through the crowded skies.
Erik watched his surroundings as the limousine weaved its way above the bustling city. It was a vibrant, living organism pulsing with energy and life.
As they approached the Red Palace, Erik stopped to observe it becoming bigger and bigger. The building was the tallest in the city, a gleaming steel tower and red glass stretching up to the clouds. It was an awe-inspiring sight, and Erik couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he gazed up at it.
The limousine pulled up to the entrance of the Red Palace, and Erik and his friends stepped out onto the garden, and like that, the day ended. However, tomorrow would be a difficult day since a man was coming to find him.
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