#Alexa belongs to InfinitNei💕

[tigorrrr]

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻-𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 || 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 - 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆!

Tw: hypersexuality from sexual trauma

           Alexa stared holes at the nape of a stranger who was on his way out of her apartment, hopefully forever.

           Her roommate, who was still in her pijamas, was leaning against the wall behind her uncommited lover who as soon as he had his shoes on left with a parting smooch on the cheek. The woman closed the door and twirled a pearl-white lock of her hair around her finger as she walked over to the kitchen island where Alexa had already prepared her morning tea. Bain de Roses from TWG Tea company, very expensive, ordered from Germany.

           They have a morning routine, both are awake at relatively the same hour, and made a deal that Diya would make Alexa coffee and her roommate would make her tea in the morning.

           If Diya wouldn't be her friend and cute Alexa would love to slap her back to reality from the cloud nine. She sat down with a dreamy, satiesfied sigh while Alexa glared daggers with bags under her eyelids at the source which caused it.

           She is happy for her friend's newfound confidence and a will to live freely. It was a rough half of this year with the divorce, both her and Diya had to be bailed by Kuai Liang - Diya's second older brother - because they wrecked Shang's apartment while collecting the rest of Diya's belongings.

           Alexa can't shun Diya because of her condition that is barely in her power to control. It's interfiering with Alexa's life as well, and everyone deserve their privacy.

           "I thought the lady from last weekend will come around?" Alexa muttered, lips pressed to her mug.

           "She was supposed to but it turns out she has - had a girlfriend who found out about her affairs." Diya smiled a little sadly but the smile also held pity for her one-night stand's lover.

           Alexa scoffed with disgust. "Just when you think the men are the pigs..."

           Diya hummed softly and silence settled between them, comfortable for her but for Alexa it was different. She sighed to get back some courage when sleepines was trying to win her over.

           "... We need to talk."

           Diya looked up from her cup midst sipping. Her big, lavender eyes almost sparkling. She looked at her friend with openess, heart out in her palms, that is the way she approaches conversation with people she holds dear. She trusts them. Might be the same thing that got her in trouble with her ex-husband.

           Alexa inhaled her next breath with a hiss. This may be hard after all.

           "I do..... first off, I do enjoy your company... You're probably the only friend I have right now." Alexa tried to break it down as gently as she's able to. "But someone like me..."

           Oh, how she regrets taking a glance at her roommate. Diya only set down her cup, leaned her chin in her palms and with a smile listened to every word Alexa said until she finishes.

           Words seemed to leave back into Alexa's throat from her tongue.

           "Yes...?" Diya blinked, fanning her white lashes over her high cheekbones.

           "— needs... their space. You know?" Alexa leaned back and squinted her eyes just a bit, hating how she said it.

           Diya blinked at her with her big eyes like an owl, her eyes softened, she understood the seriousness and reached for her friend's hand. "But, of course! Alexa, darling, I know my... cravings go out of hand and I don't want it to ruin the few relationships that I have. I apologize for being selfish..."

           Alexa's brows furrowed as her roommate's gaze went a distance while she thought ahead.

           "It's not that I don't want you here." Alexa quickly added and it grounded Diya, it earned one of her charming smiles.

           "Don't worry about it, Schatz. I have been looking for places to live anyway." Diya reassured her friend, cooing out the nickname with accurate German accent. It brought a little smile out of Alexa, her charm can be intoxicating.

           "At least we're not working today. You guys were louder than usual..." Alexa sighed longly before drinking from her panda mug. The weight on her lungs easing, glad they talked this through like adults. She knows she can be a difficult person to get along with and Diya is a loyal friend she wouldn't want to lose given the adventures they pulled through.

           "Ah~!" Diya beamed, clapsing her palms in front of her. "A girls night?! Please?? We'll watch some drama series and pamper each other! What do you think?"

           "Weeeelllll...."

           "You know you want tooo~!" Diya already stood from her chair, pecking Alexa's temple as she sashayed to her bedroom and then the bathroom, collecting things to drop them on the coffee table in front of the TV before grabbing the remote.

           Alexa could only sigh and shake her head, she can't walk away from this fate. "Extracurricular on Netflix?"

           "You know me so well, darling!"

           Alexa, as expected, fell asleep while Diya painted her nails after the manicure and face-masks when 2 pm rolled in and her roommate mercifully let her nap, but she still finished painting both hands. Diya just couldn't leave it at three fingers.

[tigorrrr]

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻-𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 || 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

Tw: abuse, eating disorder, (mentioned) Shang Tsung

           "Hello dear, are you alright?"

           Madam Bo tapped the remaining ash from her cigarette before finishing the paper stick completely. She peered closely with her eldery, but still healthy, eyes at the young woman she decided to question that night before she would disappear forever, leaving Miss Bo regret her choice on her death bed.

           The woman, poorly dressed for the rainy weather they were having for a few days and her already pearly skin looking too pale, looked up at the old woman like deer staring into headlights with her lavender orbs that had specs of blue and barely noticeable red hue framed by wet, white lashes. Frightened, not oblivious to its gruesome fate but unable to move like any other hind.

           Mustering a little smile with trembling, paint-less lips that began to turn a blue hue on the snow-white skin was such an eyesore for a pretty face like hers.

           "Y-yes, ma'am. I will be alright."

           But Madam Bo didn't buy such a bold lie. "I've been watching you. Sitting here for hours, not getting onto any buss, under-dressed. I may be old but I am not blind."

           The albino woman didn't expect such fierce sassiness of the old lady.

           "Ah~" she huffed out a feminine, pathetic chuckle. "Observation of a hawk."

           Madam Bo didn't pay any mind to the compliment, normally she would express how flattered she is but something feels wrong here and she won't rest until it's solved. "Are you running from something?" she asked, eyeing the hefty bag by the woman's feet. "Responsibilities?"

           All that the woman ever wanted was to have someone listen to her troubles and not turn it down like a minor problem of a should-have-known-better, young woman. She was burned many time for hoping.

           The woman only shook her head.

           Madam Bo tilted her head with intrigue but worry creased her wrinkly forehead, snapping out of her hand her finished smoke. "Running from someone?"

           The woman didn't bother to lie this time and nodded her head with defeat at the puddled road in front of her.

           A shred of empathy embedded into Madam Bo's hardened heart, knowing if she'd leave the woman now the sense of taking responsibility of her fate to take the right turn would not let her sleep for the next week.

           "Well then, come on into my bar or you'll catch a nasty cold. A warm meal is something you need right about now." Madam Bo announced her final verdict and the young woman looked at her with unsureness. "What is your name?"

           "...... Diya... Diya... Tsung."

           "Call me Madam Bo, dear. Now-"

           "I-I don't..." Diya choked a little, throat tight and teeth chattered although the cold barely bothered her. "I don't have any money to pay you for your services."

           Madam Bo stared at her for a minute as if bored by her troubling situatiom. "That's all? Girl, you are too young and pretty to worry your pretty head. We can do some fair arrangements later but you will eat a proper meal tonight."

           Diya found herself unable to turn down Madam Bo's order. Always the submissive. But she didn't feel threatened in the least by Madam's presence.

           Madam Bo waited for her to pick up her bag and be by her side before walking them to the front door. Although the business was booming, the owner of this bar will have just her break a few minutes longer. A reliable bouncer, Geras, let the women in without much as a glance and no one dared to open their mouths when the cut in the line because they know how the owner of this bar looks like.

           Diya was hesitant to cross the doorstep at first but the whipping thunder from close above her made her jump right inside. She never felt good about storms while being outside. Even when inside it can be difficult if she doesn't have her headphones charged.

           The bar was vibrant and lovely inside, still keeping honest-to-detail traditional Chinese architecture style. It may have looked small from the outside but it was quite big inside, but that should have been expected from this big city. The lower floor and first floor - from which you can see to the floor below by looking over a fenced center hole - is for entertaining clients, in the second floor is where Madam Bo's office is. Diya was in awe of the atmosphere.

           Dancers at the stage, on the ground floor, on their poles did their elegant and alluring acrobatics accompanied by lights and music in pretty costumes that expose just the right amount of flesh.

           Diya's heartbeat spiked at the sight.

           She always dreamed of having the confidence of a woman that knew her place and boundaries. For being in her early twenties she still feels like a girl that can barely lift a finger without her husband.

           Madam Bo's dancers radiated that self-assurance in everything they are and what they are doing. Diya would like that too.

           While in her naive little dream land that she hadn't had the will to let go off even after the wedding vows, Madam Bo lead them to the back stage on the lower foor. Having a husband like Shang was only a cruel and tiring reality, dreams were her only escapism.

           "Ladies!" Madam Bo yipped as soon as she entered the room with a security keycard, everyone in the long hallway gave her devoted attention. "Please, someone, go get Alexa from her break and tell her to bring Lotus Root and Pork soup for our guest."

           "Yes, Madam." a woman, older a few years than Diya, pushed herself from the wall and as she walked by she eyed the state Diya is in.

           She is a mess. She knows as much but appearance wasn't on her to-do list while she was packing her stuff in a hurry.

           Madam Bo invited Diya inside one of the rooms at the far back of the hallway as soon as she hit the light switch, it was empty with just an empty vanity and a closet in the corner but kept considerably clean.

           "Here you go, sweetie. You can stay here for tonight. Alexa will help you find some blankets to sleep on after your dinner."

           Diya looked around. She didn't know what to make of it and she was hesitant to even give her hopes up but she was immensely grateful either way. She bit down on her trembling lip before facing the eldery woman, giving her a deep bow to show her gratitude.

           "I can't thank you enough, Madam Bo!!" Diya nearly hiccuped with her sob stuck in her throat but she held it in, squeezed her eyes tight and just hoped her body language expressed enough of her feelings.

           Madam Bo waved her wrist, holding her own chuckle at the youth's theatrics. "Don't mention it. Settle in and we'll talk in the morning, alright?"

           As soon as she straightened, Diya could only nod and stare at her feet, her white cheeks turning a hue of soft red. Madam Bo left without another word to her but she immediately began to give orders to her employees as soon as the door closed behind her. Diya put her bag by the vanity's wooden leg and sat down with exhaustion on a chair she had to pull from below the desk.

           Her own reflection in the mirror startled her before frowning at herself. Diya didn't sleep for a day and now the bags under her eyes made her look almost like a junkie.... Not far from the truth for whatever she had recieved from her husband has been spiked and it resulted by going into rehab when they were half-a-year in their marriage, many of times she felt absurd for accusing him and he gaslighted her that she must have eaten something bad, now she can't turn her head away from the truth she had discovered.

           Diya burried her face into her hands with a broken sigh. Will this attempt be even fruitful? Where will she go? Nowhere is safe. Will Madam Bo let her stay a little longer if she'd swear to work for her as long as she can?

           Will Shang look for her? Make her return? He had made her give up her attempts at leaving many of times. He's a manipulative lier that makes good on his promises - what if he hurts Madam Bo or her employees? She'd be more than eager to give Diya to him then, for sure.

                                 Knock. Knock.

           Whirling in her chair to face the door, Diya expected only the worse when the door knob moved and the door began to open.

           But a woman with blond hair tied into a messy, high ponytail entered with a food tray that carried the promised soup. A frown pinched her forehead skin at the guest's perched body and her fright-filled, wide eyes.

           "What? You look at me as if I were a murderer." she scoffed and waltzed right up to Diya whose shoulders rose up with hopes that the floor would swallow her up other than her embarrassement.

           "I-I'm sorry! Umh, are you... Are you Alexa?"

           "Alexa Koroveshi." was her curt answer as she set down the soup on the desk.

           Diya stared at the steaming bowl of delicious broth and pork meat. She was starved but her eating disorder and ruined stomach told her she is anything but hungry. But she will also feel bad if she'd turn down the dinner they prepared and served for her.

           "And you are...?"

           Immediately facing Alexa's impatience grounded her from her invading thoughts. "H... Huh? Pardon?"

           Alexa rolled her eyes at the ceiling for a hot second. "I don't know your name."

           "O-oh!! I'm— the name's Diya." she quickly offered her palm. Alexa stared at it before giving it one, firm shake. "I... Thank you for the soup, miss Koroveshi. I don't wish to be a bother-"

           "Yeah, well, too late." the blonde shrugged and placed her silver tray under her armpit. "Eat. I'll go find something for you to sleep on."

           "... Thank you..."

           Alexa waved off the almost silent gratitude as she walked off, leaving her all alone in the room much to Diya's dislike.

           She can't tell for how long she sat there and stared at her dinner, her brain very against the idea while her stomach was more than eager to recieve substenance even though it was still healing.

           Diya gingerly picked the spoon from the bowl and brought the hot broth to her dry lips. As the half-a-spoonfull entered her mouth and swirled around her taste buds she expected her gagging reflect to command her to spit it out. It didn't. Her throat only lightly tightened and her body gladly invited the delicious food while her eyes finally released salty tears that had build up over the past year.

           It took her back to her childhood with her adoptive brothers, they used to eat delicious soups made by her adoptive mother at dinner together. Those were the happier years of her life before she met Shang at 12th grade in High school back in China.

           From that moment Diya knew her own soul won't allow her to leave this place and Madam Bo. Her safe place now her sanctuary and she'd like to do anything in her power to help with it's growth if Madam is to allow it.