The Red-Light Area

Pleased to have you come and relived to let you go

I chuckled and stumbled at the patio as I spotted a car in the opposite driveway. I watched a man stepping out of it followed by a skinny woman. It was Peterson, my ugly fatty neighbour who was walking to his apartment with a brunette. He was a scorer, always bringing different woman every night. Raien believed him to be a s*x maniac who ‘pays’ for what he gets and then throw the woman out as if they mean nothing. He has spotted him dropping and picking girls from the red-light area many times and had shaken his head in disgust. As for I, I admired his nonchalant behaviour with women.

“At least he is sensible enough to not ruin his life on a single woman.” I muttered to no one. “Genius!” I threw a fist in the air and whistled.

“How many pounds for this one, Andrew?” I yelled at Peterson who stopped in his tracks, gruntled something under his breath, rolled his eyes and went away without bothering to look back, but I did not mind at the rude display of hatred, for the brunette smiled at me before hurrying away.

I winked at no one and went inside the apartment before I could freeze to death as I sang Jason Derulo.

“Dumb Da da Di Dumb…I am pustid in love.” I laughed getting inside the shady apartment that’s lights are dim, the air conditioner wasn’t functioning and that’s dishwasher was broken. “You don’t know what happened after that,” I started as soon as I spotted Raien, but was rudely cut off by his yelling.

“Of course, I don’t. I don’t know that you went to a passage at the back of the mansion that led to a misty lake where you had a meaningful conversation. It was cold and she was barely wearing anything. You offered her your cardigan. She offered to share it and that’s how you sat side by side. You leaned closer, she leaned closer and boom! You kissed her.” He huffed, rolling his eyes.

“You know us so well, Raien Mathew. You are going to be the best man. I promise that.” I slurred in a singsong voice and jumped on the half-torn bean bag. “She was my first kiss. I can’t forget that.”

“It’s your turn to cook, Paige,” Raien yelled annoyed from the kitchen before stomping to the living area as he threw a cushion at me.

I smiled cheekily at him before grumbling. “Do this one for me. I will do the dishes and cleaning in the morning. You can wear my underwear. I swear! Just this one, Raien.”

“Hey, I don’t want to wear your underwear. That’s gross!” Raien scrunched his nose as he threw another cushion at me.

“You should. You will have to, Rainey.” I slurred in a barely audible voice.

“Why would I? I have my own.” He shouted, throwing his hands in the air which I found very cute.

“Please baby! You will have to do it for me.” I replied, voice husky. “Talking of underwear. Raien, my love you never told me of your size. How big are you?” I sat straight as I asked, looking at him curiously.

“Why would you want to know that…man, you are hardly yourself. Go clean up. I am ordering pizza.” He shook his head defeated which I found cute again. Raien was cute indeed! I had realized that. He was short and round, like a potato with hazelnut curls and dark amber eyes.

“Umm…Paige, why are you staring at me like that? Go get changed!” He ordered and started to walk away, but I caught his hand stopping him.

“I was thinking, Raien that…”

“That?”

“That we both are single with no girl interested in us and I see no chance in near future. We have been together for years and understand each. How about if we…sodomize and live like a couple.” I suggested, seductively eyeing his butt and he instantly touched it, perhaps in shock or contemplation. I couldn’t figure his expression out.

“You disgusting asshole­! Have you lost your brain? You are drunk, Paige.” Whooped Raien.

“Come on, Rainey! Think about it. We can be a wonderful couple.” I insisted but was interrupted by my phone ringing. I chuckled at the timing and fumbled with the phone.

“You aren’t picking it up…stand up. You are hardly yourself, gonna mess s**t up! It can wait till morning.” Raien huffed putting his hands on the hips as I smiled sheepishly at him and pulled the phone near my ear and was about to pick the call without looking at the caller’s ID when he launched at me to snatch it away.

“You aren’t picking it up!” He huffed annoyed as he tried to take it away.

“Leave it! It might be urgent.” I laughed like a manic but did not let the phone go. My grip was tight and so was Raien’s. We fought rolling on the floor when the grip loosened and the phone flew at a distance.

The call was accepted and was put on speaker. We looked at each other and waited for the person to speak as we sat on the cold floor glaring at each other.

“Hello.” I heard a familiar feminine voice and instantly was jolted back to my senses. I hurriedly collected my cell phone from the floor and sat upright. Raien must have sensed something too for he fell silent and listen intently to the caller as we waited for the voice to speak again.

“Hello, Pia? Am I talking to Pietro Boselli?” It was Kiara. Her one sentence alone made me feel a lot better than a dozen bottle of liquor. She was panting and I was too.

“Hello?” She spoke again, awaiting a response but I wasn’t in the situation to give any.

“Pietro, this is Kiara. Kiara Aronson. Your…your ex-girlfriend. I hope you have remembered me. I saw your missed calls. I…thought…” She said in a measured tone. There was an urgency in her voice, but no warmth or affection that I was craving to listen.

“I have never forgotten you, Kia,” I spoke softly, surprising my self at how tender I sounded. There was a long pause on the side, so long that I had to double-check if we were still connected.

“I…I want to meet you, Pietro. Only if you don’t mind seeing me again. I…Ahem! Are you…will you? Atri is under custody. I need your help. Please!” Kiara stuttered making me smile at how unsure she sounded. It was so unlike her.

“Can we meet?” Kiara asked and I had an urge to pinch myself. I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t dreaming. I looked up at Raien, not knowing how to answer. Should I answer in affirmative? Should I decline?

Raien shrugged his shoulder, leaving me on my own─ helpless and vulnerable. I cleared my throat and barely managed to choke out a “Yeah!” for she spoke again. “Fine! Come in the red-light area in an hour. Apartment 109. I will be waiting for you there. Please come, Pietro. It would mean everything to me.” Kiara said in one go and disconnect the call without waiting for a reply, leaving me to wonder if I was making the right choice by trusting her with my heart again.

~~~

“Man, you nailed it!” Raien chuckled, holding a plate full of Beef-Quinoa stuffed pepper, stuffed to the brim with Mediterranean flavours. My mouth watered at the sight of it. He had also cooked spicy Chicken Thighs with apricots and olives─ to complete the menu, there were ginger lavender-infused vodka slush and Honey almond Ricotta spread with peaches.

“Poor girl! Thought she had the upper hand, got smack in the face. Her companion. Mr Parker? His face was hilarious when you told him about the janitor incident. Did you really do that?” I nodded my confirmation and eyed the food lustily. I saw his eyes turning into a soccer ball as he exclaimed.   

“Oh, never mind! Life is gonna f**k her again and man it f***s brutly. Her brother is to be tried within in three days.” Raien spoke, wiping the plates, but stopped when he saw my questioning gaze. “Man! Don’t tell me you are unaware. It’s all over the media. Where is your cell phone?”

My cell phone! I took it out of my pocket and immediately turned it on; it rang several times as the it boots up, and each time my heart turned over. On the flat screen I saw the wallpaper appearing first, then a few automated apps took over after which names of the people who have been trying to get in touch with me appeared. I scrolled through the list, but reply to none of them. They were six in total. The first few ones were from our colleagues from the police station. Then there was Vensmith aka Vanderson Anderson followed by digits I could not recognise. I hoped for someone “identified” to appear, because that would be her, Kia. Since, she wanted to show me something that was important for her brother’s case there was a hope of getting another urgent calling. To my dismay, it didn’t appear.

I didn’t check the social media as was told and put the phone on table.

“Her face was priceless! Especially that leftover part was hilarious. I didn’t expect that. Bravo!” He laughed, settling on the table as he helped me with the vodka slush. It had been hours since I had met Kiara in the apartment, yet Raien could not stop laughing. He was pleased with the way I had behaved with her for he was expecting otherwise─ maybe, I was supposed to fall at her feet.Is it something that lover do? Kiss each other's feet? I shook my head to clear the thoughts and concentrated on Raien and food.

We were having dinner before we had to start for the police station for the duty. After the meeting, I had switched off the phone and straight away hit the bed─ the tiredness and overwhelming emotions had engulfed me into a peaceful slumber within minutes, the best one after a long time as I slept smiling at the small victory.

“You would know, Kiara…how does it feel to trust a person who couldn’t justify the expectations. I will make you taste your own medicine.” I had said as I secured the pictures from apartment 109 in a hard drive for something within me told me that it would be needed soon.

“I feel good too, Raien. I don’t feel as lonely as before.” I smiled, putting my teeth at the display. There was a peace in the atmosphere or perhaps it was within me, my soul was dancing.

“See! I told you. Clinging to the past can never do you good. Instead of chasing after your ex, you should learn from her.” Raien interjected my happy moment as he stared at me attentively. I asked him what he meant by learning from Kiara and whether he knew what he was referring to.

“As much as I hate that girl for betraying you, I admire her for being a strong woman. You should really learn tactics from her and that patience was commendable.” The man spoke, making me stop chewing and stare at him in utter disbelief. I couldn’t believe that I had just heard him complementing Kiara. She was ‘the woman’ for him─ the woman who had destroyed his friend and turned him into a pathetic loner. 

“Hey, don’t look at me like that! She really is a strong woman. Just put yourself at her place─ her husband is dead,”

“Fiancé!” I corrected him but was badly ignored as he continued.

“Her brother is accused and ready to be convicted. She has been cheated on, humiliated at front of the entire world. The politician Ahura is ready to destroy her brother’s life, but she is fighting against everything. Instead of weeping like a toddler, she is standing against all the odds like a warrior.” Raien finished, making me cauterize.

Although, I knew everything. I was aware that every single sentence was correct and pure truth, only listening to it from someone else’s mouth made a difference. It felt more real and…joggle. The feeling of protecting waved within again, as it used to be years back. 

I might have been zoned out for long for the loud call brought me back to the surface. “PIETRO...Umm…hurry up! We are getting late.” I was snapped out of my thoughts as Raien cleared his throat. He might have smelled something for he interjected. I looked at the watch, it was a quarter to nine, it read and indicated that he had enough time to enjoy the delicious Mediterranean cuisine, saving our soul was in hurry.

“Eh, Why Mediterranean cuisine today? What’s special? Anything special?” I asked, helping myself with chicken thighs, changing the track of our conversation. I didn’t want to spoil the evening. “Anything interesting?”

“Cheers to my friend overcoming his weakness and a new beginning. This is for you, Pietro.” Raien smiled, raising a toast in the air and I mimicked his gestures. “You have been extra enthusiastic and chirpy. You have been extra you. It feels good, you know…to have you back in all colours.” He added jubilantly.

I thanked Raien for his thoughtfulness and enjoyed the deliciously appetizing meal. We had had small chats between except we didn’t touch the topic of the murder case.

“Lock the door! I will check the car.” I told Raien as I went out, tugging the revolver in the case.

“Pietro you left your phone on the table. It is ringing.” I heard Raien yelling and searched my pocket to be sure, indeed, I had forgotten my phone on the table.

“Bring it, Rainey and check who it is. Might be Vensmith Anderson─ he had been under pressure of filing the dairy report. Will nag me again for some help.” I replied, shaking my head when deep down I knew that it was something important that could change my life forever and that it will commence a new beginning.