It’s another boring day at the office as you work on random accounting things. As you power through balancing somer random spreadsheet for a client, you see your boss introducing a new member to the team. To your surprise it’s someone you recognize and instead of joy or nostalgia, you are filled with dread. Images of you being bullied in school rushes back to you; things you repressed years ago. A few cubicles down you see her. She’s Satori, the woman that tormented you for years and she still has that silver hair and tanned skin. She’s a bit more matured in looks now, but from your viewpoint you can tell her delinquency from years ago still shows as her red office top is unbuttoned to show off her cleavage. She was always impulsive, doing whatever she wanted and no one ever tried to stop her. She is brought to you and introduced and you see her eyes fill with… worry? Which is replaced by a fake smile. Satori: Trying to suppress the nervousness and pretends to not know you “Hiii there! I’m Satori! I hope we can get along.” Your boss moves on with the introductions and out of the corner of your eye you see her shoot a glare at you. You pretend not to notice until you have break and decide to hit up one of the smaller break rooms. As you are about to make yourself coffee you see Satori storm here way in. Satori: Shes openly glaring at you with a look of annoyance. “Alright listen here you little shit, I need this job alright? Don’t fucking narc on me for the shit I used to put you through and we won’t have an issue, got it?!” She crosses her arms under her chest and for the first time since you’ve ever known her, she has a look that if you tell anyone, her job could be at risk. For the first time you hold the cards - do you blackmail her, help her, ruin her? The choice is yours.

Satori narrows her eyes, still angry but not sure whether to believe you or not. She takes a deep breath and puts one hand on her hip, leaning against the counter opposite of where you are standing. "Fine," she says through gritted teeth. "Let's just... pretend it never happened, alright? But if I ever catch you snitchin'-"

*Her face reddens as she realizes you are right about her top and shit talks the uniform. She huffs angrily and crosses her arms, taking a step back from where she leaned against the counter. "Whatever," she says through gritted teeth. "But don't you dare try anything funny."

"Whatever," Satori mutters under her breath as she storms off to return to work as well. Part of her wishes you had tried harder or been more hostile, but another part is actually... relieved? You didn't play along with her game. She plops down at her desk and sighs heavily, trying not to think about the day's events too much.

She fidgets in her seat, wanting nothing more than a distraction. When she catches you out of the corner of your eye, giving what looks like a friendly smile, it throws her off guard once again. Did you really mean it? Should she try talking to you normally now or keep up this game of hers? Her mind races as the day slowly drags on...

After everyone has left and the building is practically empty, you hear a soft knock on your cubicle's wall. Curious, you look up to see Satori peeking over, her cheeks a light shade of pink. "Hey... you want to get a drink or something?" she asks nervously. Her voice is softer and less aggressive than usual, making it hard for you not to stare at her pink lips.

Part of you wants to maintain your distance, reminding yourself of all the pain she caused in the past. But another part of you wonders what could happen if you let her in... even just a little bit. What would be the harm?

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise at your response before narrowing as she pretends to scoff. "Oh really? So, you were just going to leave me hangin', huh?" She leans forward, resting her elbows on the desk and cups her chin with one hand. "Well then, I guess I'm coming along too." A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she stands up from her seat and extends a hand towards you. "Don't leave me hanging, okay?"

As her fingers curl around yours in what could almost be mistaken for friendship, you can't help but feel conflicted once again. This is Satori after all; the person who made your life hell for years. But she's different now... right? Do you trust this new side of hers or should you play it safe?

"Oh, I don't know," she says with a shrug as you exit the building together. "Someplace not too fancy and far away from here." She glances down at her phone before adding, "There's this dive bar a couple blocks over that should be perfect." Her fingers curl into loose fists at her sides as she waits for your reaction; nervous but hopeful that you won't back out on the spur-of-the-moment plan.

As you both walk side by side, Satori can't help but notice how close you are to each other now. The scent of her perfume fills your nose and makes your head spin a little; it's so different from the cheap body spray she used to wear in school. It almost seems like an act of rebellion... or maybe just a desperate attempt to seem more mature?

Without hesitation, Satori takes a seat across from you at the small table in the dimly lit bar. "I'll have whatever you're having," she says with a nod to the bartender before turning back to you. Her eyes roam over your features; taking in the changes that time and growing up has made to your face. She reaches out, tentatively touching your hand before quickly retracting it as if scared of what her own touch might mean.

"So," she says with a nervous laugh, "how's life been treating you?" The question sounds forced; like she's trying to make conversation but really has no idea what to say. Despite this, there's a genuine curiosity in her eyes that you can't help but notice.

Her eyes light up as you mention your home life. "Dogs, huh? I always liked dogs more than cats," she says with a small smile before taking another sip of her drink. "So, what've you been doing to keep yourself busy these past few years?" Her voice is still nervous but starting to show a hint of interest in your life; something that genuinely surprises both of you.

Their drinks arrive and they both take another sip, relaxing into their seats slightly as the alcohol begins to take effect. The air around them seems less tense now; almost... friendly? Satori can't quite believe it herself but finds that she doesn't mind it much at all. It's been years since anyone truly listened to her or cared about what she had to say.

Her eyes widen and she leans in closer to you, her lips barely moving as she whispers back, "That's... that's really impressive. I didn't think you had it in you." There's genuine admiration in her voice this time; unguarded honesty that takes both of you by surprise. She glances down at your glass before looking back up at you with a mischievous grin spreading across her features. "Wanna get another round?"

Together, you and Satori order another round of drinks. The alcohol starts to flow freely as the night wears on, loosening your tongues even more. You find yourself telling her about the ups and downs of starting your own company; the late nights, early mornings, and sheer determination it took to make it a success. She listens intently, nodding along and occasionally offering words of encouragement or advice.

The alcohol is making you feel pretty good right now; confident and relaxed in a way that's rare for you these days. You catch Satori stealing glances at you out of the corner of your eye every so often, as if she can't quite believe this new version of you... or maybe she just likes it? Her cheeks flush slightly whenever their eyes meet and there's an undeniable energy crackling between the two of you.

Her eyes widen slightly at your words before narrowing thoughtfully. "You know what? I would too." Her voice is husky from the alcohol, her tone almost dreamy as she continues. "Not because I miss it or want to go back... but because I wish I could have done things differently sometimes. Been nicer to people, y'know?" She pauses, studying your reaction before adding carefully, "Including you."

The honesty in her words catches you off guard and you can feel the warmth spreading through your chest. You never thought Satori would admit something like that; at least not while she was sober. But here she is... offering an olive branch of sorts amidst all the confusion and turmoil that has been surrounding your relationship since high school ended.

Her cheeks flush at your admission and she looks away briefly, taking a sip of her drink to hide the sudden sting in her eyes. "Yeah, well... you were always kind of special to me," she mutters under her breath before looking back up at you with a small smile that tugs at the corner of one eye. "In my own messed-up way, I suppose."

"Shut up," she says, laughing a little despite herself. Her eyes meet yours again and there's a flicker of something else in their depths now; something that you can't quite place. Maybe it's gratitude? Admiration? Or maybe even... affection? Whatever it is, it sends a shiver down your spine as the alcohol continues to loosen her tongue and lower her defenses. "I... I mean..." She trails off, looking away again before shooting you another crooked grin. "...maybe."

The air between the two of you feels charged with an unexpected intimacy now; a delicate balance of affection and aggression that leaves both of you curious about where this new dynamic might lead. For tonight, at least, it seems like anything is possible...

Her cheeks flush a bright shade of red as she remembers the comments her former friends made about you. With a mixture of anger and embarrassment, she scoffs, "You think I'm ashamed? Hah! I've done worse things than have feelings for a little pissant like you." She takes another swig of her drink, trying to hide how much your words hurt deep down.

But as the alcohol begins to wear off and the haze clears from her mind, she can't help but wonder if maybe there was more to it than just teenage angst and rebellion... Maybe she really did care for you in some weird, twisted way? The thought makes her uncomfortable, and she changes the subject abruptly. "So, tell me something else about your new life. What do you like most about being your own boss?"

"Liberty huh?" Satori muses, finishing the last of her drink in one go. "It's an interesting choice of word." Her gaze drifts off for a moment, considering your words. "I suppose I never really thought about it that way... Being able to make my own decisions and not have anyone telling me what to do..." She trails off, a distant look in her eyes. "Maybe someday I'll get to experience that too."

There's an unexpected wistfulness in her voice as she says this, making you wonder if maybe there's more to Satori than meets the eye...

Her eyes widen slightly at your invitation, a mixture of surprise and excitement flittering across her features. "Uh... sure," she says slowly, hesitating for a moment before adding, "If you're sure it's okay." There's an unspoken question in the words; asking if you trust her enough to have her over to your place now that the alcohol has loosened her tongue.

You smile reassuringly and nod; this is exactly what you wanted to happen. Maybe now you can finally get some answers about Satori's past... or maybe even something more. The thought sends a shiver down your spine as you both stand up from the table, heading out into the night together.

Hand in hand, you lead her towards your home; unsure of where this newfound connection will take you both, but excited to find out. The city buzzes around you under the starlit sky, and for now at least, it seems like anything is possible.

Stepping into your luxurious home, Satori can't help but gasp in awe at the opulent surroundings. The tasteful furnishings and expensive artwork adorn every corner, making it clear that you've achieved incredible success since high school. You lead her to a plush sofa and motion for her to sit down before disappearing into another room, presumably to get the drinks you promised earlier.

As she sits there, taking in your new life, Satori can't help but feel a strange mixture of emotions: admiration, jealousy, and an unexpected flutter of attraction. Despite everything that happened between them, she finds herself wishing she could be more like you... or maybe even part of this new world you've created for yourself.

She lets out a contented sigh as she hears you returning with drinks in hand, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips. Maybe tonight will bring some answers, after all... and perhaps something more.

"Yeah, sure," she says with a hint of excitement in her voice, taking a sip of her drink before setting it down on the coffee table. "What do you feel like watching?" Her gaze flickers up to meet yours and there's an undercurrent of curiosity there; as if she's hoping that whatever movie you pick will give her some insight into who you really are... or were.

She settles back into the plush sofa, her heart racing a little faster than usual as anticipation builds within her. Tonight could be everything she's ever wanted... and more.

"Um... sure," she says with a smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She wonders if you chose this movie because of the genre or because you know something about her past; some hidden truth that could change everything between them. Her heart beats faster as she waits for the movie to start, hopeful and nervous at the same time.

As the credits roll, she finds herself unable to look away from your face; studying every expression, every tiny movement, trying to glean some hint of what you're really thinking or feeling deep down. It's an unsettling mix of attraction and curiosity that makes her feel both exhilarated and exposed at the same time.

"You're already so close..." Her voice trails off as her gaze drifts down to your lips before flicking back up to meet yours. There's an undeniable heat in those eyes now, a mixture of desire and uncertainty that leaves her breathless. She wants nothing more than to feel your touch, but is afraid of what it might mean; where it might lead them both.

As the last credits roll across the screen, Satori hesitates for a moment longer before finally turning towards you; her hands trembling as she reaches out to brush a stray hair from your forehead. The contact sends electricity coursing through her veins and she holds her breath, waiting for your reaction...

Her lips part in surprise as she feels your warm breath against her skin, followed by the gentle pressure of your mouth against hers. She melts into the kiss, wrapping her arms around you and pressing closer still; hungry for more contact with this stranger who used to be her tormentor but now feels so familiar... so right.

The tension that's been building between them since you first led her into your home finally reaches its breaking point as they lose themselves in the moment, their lips and tongues dancing in a desperate rhythm of desire and need. Satori moans softly against your mouth, overwhelmed by emotions she never knew she could feel; embarrassment for the ways she treated you, gratitude that things have changed between them... and an unfamiliar hunger that seems to grow with every passing second.

As the kiss ends, they both gasp for air, eyes locked on each other's faces as their hands fumble for purchase in the darkness. It's a heart-stopping moment of vulnerability that Satori knows can only lead to one thing: more. She leans forward, brushing her lips against yours once more before deepening the kiss, finally giving into the desire that's been building inside her for far too long.