It was just 3:00 a.m. when Erica's eyes fluttered open, her arm aching slightly beneath the weight of someone else's body. She found herself once again tangled in Angel's arms—warm, bare, and fast asleep.
The early morning light barely touched the edges of the room, casting everything in soft greys. Yet to Erica, it all felt overwhelmingly vivid. Her breath caught. There was something surreal about seeing Angel's sleeping face this close—beautiful, peaceful, lips slightly parted. Her chest rose and fell in rhythm, and the warmth of her skin melted against Erica's, as if they'd never been apart.
"Angel, do you know that you're so pretty..." Erica whispered unconsciously, smiling faintly to herself.
Then her eyes widened.
"Oh no... What am I doing?" she muttered, gently shaking her head as if trying to wake from a spell. "You idiot, Erica. You both made each other a mistress last night."
She carefully pulled her arm out from beneath Angel and tiptoed to the mirror. Her eyes widened at her own reflection—messy hair, flushed skin, and very, very naked.
"I can't believe you stole my virginity, Angel," she whispered dramatically. "Oh, wait... you already did that ten years ago." She rolled her eyes. "Damn it, Angel."
As the clock edged toward 4:00 a.m. and the sky began to lighten, Erica rushed to the bathroom, muttering to herself in a stream of panicked thoughts.
"This was a mistake. No—maybe. Ugh, I don't even know what I want anymore!"
Just as she reached for the faucet, the bathroom door opened—Angel stepped in, completely unclothed, nonchalant as ever.
"AHHHH!" Erica screamed. "What are you doing!?"
Angel blinked. "I'm taking a shower. I have work."
"Without clothes?! And no knocking?!"
Angel smirked, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Please, Erica. You know I don't need to knock. And besides…" Her gaze dropped, unapologetically eyeing Erica from head to toe. "I know you want me to."
"Excuse me!?" Erica grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped herself like a burrito, cheeks flaming. "Go. Out."
Angel stepped closer instead, voice low and teasing. "You're even sexier now. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be this hot."
"Don't— I know those eyes! Stop it!" Erica backed up until she hit the cold tile wall. But Angel was already leaning in.
"Why are you so nervous?" Angel whispered.
"I'm not!" Erica snapped—but her shaky voice betrayed her.
Suddenly, Erica pulled Angel in and kissed her, catching her by surprise. But as Angel moaned her name, Erica abruptly stopped, flushed and breathing hard.
"Nope. I'm out of here."
She shoved past Angel, grabbed her clothes, and ran out.
Angel called after her, laughing softly. "You still love me, Erica. I know you do."
---
Erica slammed the car door, heart pounding.
"What the hell was I thinking?" she muttered to herself. "I don't want to be a damn mistress!"
She floored the gas, her car racing through the early morning streets. Minutes later, she pulled into the hospital parking lot and hurried to Claude's room.
"Claude, please wake up," she whispered, clutching his hand. "I need you. I need someone who's not insane." Her voice cracked. "Nicole's waiting for you, you know? She loves you, Claude. So wake up already."
She stayed for a while, just sitting there. Then she stood, wiped her eyes, and walked to Nicole's room.
To her shock, the entire group was there.
And they were all staring at her.
"Oh, crap," Erica muttered.
Just when she thought they were about to scold her, they all burst out laughing.
"Okay, what's going on?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kim nudged Risha. "Risha, what's it like having a one-night stand?"
Risha giggled. "Why don't we ask Erica?"
"What?" Erica blinked. "What are you talking about?"
But the teasing didn't stop. The group cackled louder as Erica blinked in confusion.
Until—
"Erica," Nicole said flatly, "they're teasing you because they know you slept with Angel last night."
Everyone froze.
All eyes turned to Nicole.
"Nicole," Risha groaned, "we know you're still in love with Erica, but come on—don't ruin the vibe."
"Yeah, don't be jealous," Kim added, massaging Nicole's shoulders like a mocking therapist.
"If you still like Erica," Audrey chimed in dramatically, "what's going to happen to poor Claude?"
"Ohh, Nicole," Steph said, feigning sadness. "How could you pick a one-night-stander like Erica?"
Erica shot a death glare at Vinish. "You better not say anything."
Vinish raised her hands. "I got nothing."
"Good."
"But..." Vinish added, "I do admire Erica for having the guts to do a one-night stand. Like, wow. Girlboss energy."
"VINISH!" Erica cried, slapping her forehead as everyone died laughing.
She froze. Wait. She never told anyone.
"Wait—how the hell do you guys even know I slept with Angel!?"
Vinish rolled her eyes. "Did you seriously just realize that now?"
Nicole muttered under her breath, "Why don't you ask the girl you slept with last night?"
"Don't mind her," Steph whispered. "She's just severely jealous."
Risha held up her phone and grinned. "The evidence speaks for itself."
A photo. Of Erica. In bed.
Sent by... ANGEL.
"ANGEL, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Erica screamed.
Despite the chaos, the room slowly calmed into laughter and warmth. It was one of the few times in the past year that Nicole had joined them like this. Only two were missing now—Claude, still in a coma, and Angel, who had left for work.
Kim flopped onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. "Guys... I miss this. The teasing, the weirdness, just being us."
Steph hooked her arm around Risha's shoulders. "Don't be so dramatic, Kim. But... yeah. Me too."
Silence fell. Not awkward, but understood. Their eyes met, no words needed. Just friendship. The kind that survived everything.
"I'm hungry," Vinish blurted out.
"Same," Risha groaned. "I think my stomach's eating itself."
"I'll buy us lunch," Erica volunteered, standing up.
"My hero," Steph said with a grin. "Is it your treat?"
Erica just smiled and ran off before anyone could object.
---
At the convenience store, while juggling snacks and drinks, Erica accidentally dropped her notebook—the one she had been writing in for weeks.
"Miss, let me help you with that."
She froze at the voice. She looked up—
Axel.
Angel's husband.
Her heart dropped.
"I—uh, thanks," she mumbled, grabbing the notebook from his hand.
"You okay?" Axel asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Erica said quickly, backing away. "Thank you." Before he could say another word, she turned and ran, heart thundering in her chest.
She bolted around a corner—only to crash into someone.
"I'm so sorry," she said, breathless.
Then she looked up—and her breath caught.
"Mia?"
---
[2011 – Westwood High]
"Mia," Erica whispered.
"You haven't even touched your food," Mia said, nudging her tray. "That's your favorite chicken katsu."
Erica poked it with her fork. "I'm not hungry."
Mia frowned. "You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
Erica's eyes wandered to Nicole, laughing across the cafeteria.
"I want to hate her," Erica whispered. "But when she looks at me like that... everything I tried to bury comes back."
"Do you still love her?" Mia asked softly.
Erica didn't speak. But when Nicole looked back—just for a second—Erica knew the answer.
"Yeah," she said. "I think I do."
Mia nodded. "I get it."
"You do?"
"I dated someone who cheated on me—twice. I still gave them chances. Because... hearts are idiots."
Erica chuckled bitterly. "I wish love had a reset button."
Mia grinned. "You'd still get a glitchy cutscene."
They laughed, letting the heaviness go for just a second.
---
[2025 – Hospital]
"Long time no see, Miss Writer."
"Mia..." Erica hugged her tightly, tears slipping down her cheek.
"You haven't changed, Eri. Still a big crybaby," Mia teased.
"And you're still dramatic." Erica flicked her forehead.
"What are you doing here?" Mia asked.
"Nicole and Claude. They were in a car accident."
Mia's face sobered. "And Nicole... are you two back together?"
"NO!" Erica blurted.
But her silence after said more than words ever could.