Entangled in Lust

1. An Unexpected Incident

The laughter and chatter of my friends from the cafeteria echoed down the classroom hallway. The sounds were faint, yet audible, even though two classrooms separated them from me. It was just two rooms away from where I was. But that day, I chose to stay here—in the quiet classroom. I was too tired to care. My head rested on the desk, my arms crossed as a pillow. I was exhausted. My eyes were heavy, my body weary. I just wanted a quick afternoon nap, not to join the usual buzz during break time.

But only fifteen minutes into sleep, a loud bang on the desk startled me awake.

Suddenly—BANG!

“Celly!”

Thud! I jolted, eyes wide open.

“What the hell, man!” I snapped. “Didn’t you see I was sleeping?!”

Dave, Marcella’s best friend, came from the next class, grinning widely. “Sorry, sorry. I looked for you in the cafeteria but couldn’t find you. I missed seeing your face, you know.”

I blinked, still half-asleep. “Miss me, my ass... You probably just missed bothering me. That’s your hobby, isn’t it?”

“Hahaha! You know me too well. But seriously, why didn’t you come hang out in the cafeteria? Everyone’s looking for you, you know. They’re looking for their naughty and flirty gang leader.”

“Hey! Excuse you—calling me naughty and flirty? I told you I was super sleepy, Dave. Yesterday I was dead tired helping Mom clean up. We had guests from out of town who suddenly showed up—on a Sunday night, of all times. A day meant for rest turned into a chaotic mess.”

Dave grinned widely. “Hah... I’ve got a feeling you’re being set up with someone. Probably your father’s friend’s son. I mean, you’re in 12th grade now, almost graduating—perfect time to be a housewife.”

I squinted at him. “In your dreams! My goal is to be a career woman, get on Forbes, not get stuck in the kitchen. Nothing is impossible for Marcella, okay?”

“Pfft, so full of yourself. But if you succeed, don’t forget about me, Cel,” he said, patting my cheek.

“Ugh! You stink of sweat! You just played basketball, didn’t you? So sticky. Go shower!”

Dave laughed, then said, “By the way, don’t forget to come to my place this weekend.”

I answered with a feigned puzzled look. “Oh? What’s happening at your place that I have to be there?”

Dave replied, slightly annoyed. “Dude… I’ve been your friend since the dinosaur era, how could you forget? That’s messed up!”

Seeing his annoyed face, I laughed, then said, “Chill, bro... I remember it’s your birthday, relax. I’ll be there for every big moment in your life.”

Dave just laughed and then said, “Eaaa.. Alright, Miss Celly, don’t forget you owe me a gift, and make it expensive if you can. Hahaha.”

I replied, “Wire me the money first, then I’ll buy you something pricey.”

Dave laughed again, strutting out of the classroom as he said, “I don’t care, what matters is that I get a gift from you, Cel.”

I shouted back, “What if I don’t want to? What will you do?”

But there was no response. He had disappeared down the hallway. I sighed. My nap was ruined.

-------

I decided to go to the cafeteria after all. My stomach was growling. As I turned a corner in the hallway, I came to a sudden halt as I bumped into someone. Books fell to the floor.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Sir! I didn’t mean to,” I quickly crouched down to help pick up the books.

He was Mr. Kevin Smith, the new English teacher at my school. He was still young, with a face like a Western drama actor. I felt a bit awkward around him.

The new English teacher gave a kind smile. “It’s alright, I was in a hurry too. Be careful next time, okay?”

I nodded politely and headed to where my friends were sitting.

“I’ll be going now,” he said while glancing at his watch. Then he walked briskly toward the teachers’ office.

My high school wasn’t a bad place. I was fairly popular—whether because of my achievements or my family’s reputation. My father was a successful businessman, listed among the world’s 500 wealthiest people. But even though we had everything, our house didn’t always feel like home.

After buying some snacks and joining my friends, I was swept up in the laughter and conversation. Today felt pretty nice. With Jessica and Ashley, my best friends since junior high, everything felt light. Jessica, the loud and popular one, was always the center of attention, especially since she was dating the basketball team captain. Ashley? A smart girl who had won multiple international science olympiads. The two of them... completed my life.

Home? Home was too quiet. Cold. Like leftover rain that refused to dry.

-------

That afternoon, after class ended, I went home. It was three in the afternoon when I arrived. As usual, only Bi Maryam and Mr. Tejo were at home. My parents and their guests had apparently gone out somewhere—no message, no waiting for me either.

Didn’t matter. I was exhausted, and without changing clothes, I flopped onto the bed. The accumulated fatigue put me into a deep sleep. Unconsciously, I slept until nightfall.

When I woke up, the clock showed nine p.m. I sighed—forgot to shower, forgot dinner. My stomach growled. I went down to the kitchen, reheated lunch leftovers, and ate while scrolling through my phone.

There was a message from Papa:

“We might be home late. Some unexpected matters came up.”

I exhaled and continued eating. Afterward, I went back upstairs, planning to study, but a strange noise from the music room stopped me.

A thud. A soft moan. A muffled gasp.

I moved closer. The music room was right next to the lounge. The door connecting the two was slightly ajar.

I froze. At first, I thought it was a burglar. But what I saw made my heart stop beating. The world stopped.

Inside—bathed in dim light from the adjacent room—I saw two figures far too close for comfort.

My mother. And... Tristan. Sitting together at the piano bench. Touching. Embracing. Kissing passionately, like two people long trapped in hidden desire.

I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Just stood stiffly behind the door, witnessing a scene I should never have seen.

Their kiss was deep, hot, like something they’d done countless times before. Their hands explored each other’s bodies shamelessly. A crystal statue atop the piano fell—a silent witness to the a******y unfolding.

My mother… the woman I had looked up to, now sat on another man’s lap, opening herself to someone who wasn’t my father.

And from the way they said each other’s names, from the whispers they shared, I knew… this wasn’t the first time. My throat tightened. I was paralyzed.

I clutched my phone. My hands trembled. I thought I would record this—show it to Papa as proof. But my body was frozen. Only my eyes could move, locked on their unstoppable intimacy.

Her hands wrapped around his neck, her lips burned against Tristan’s mouth. Photos above the piano fell. Tristan’s hand trailed down her back, slowly unzipping her dress. I wanted to shut my eyes, but my body was stiff. The unspeakable shock made me tremble.

My mother’s soft moan sounded like a tiny c***k in my chest. They held each other so tightly. Tristan whispered something into her ear, then caressed her body like a long-lost treasure.

Their kisses grew deeper, more intense. Their fingers intertwined, as if time no longer mattered. The room’s atmosphere was warm—yet dark.

I wanted to scream. But no sound came out.

They were lost in lust, their bodies moving in a rhythm I should never have seen. I backed away slowly, holding back tears. The door closed softly, and I ran back to my room.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. My chest tightened.

They… had done it many times. Tristan’s last words echoed in my ears:

“You’re still so delicious, Veronica.”

I dashed into my room and locked the door.

Something inside me crumbled that night. In my room, I sat in the corner of my bed, hugging my knees. I cried alone. I was angry. I was disgusted. But above all, I was disappointed.

The world I thought was perfect… was full of lies. The mother I admired had been silently tearing our home apart. And I… was too shattered to forgive.

And through the silent tears that streamed down my face, a new thought emerged…

If even my mother could betray my father…

That night, I was no longer the same innocent Marcella who believed family would always be a place to return to.

That night… my heart began to change.