Why me?
761 Words
Sia's POV
"I seriously don’t understand your brother anymore," I muttered into the phone, pacing across the bedroom floor in bare feet, my bun loose and lopsided from how many times I'd run my fingers through it.
Rachel's laugh shot through the phone so hard I had to pull it slightly away from my ear.
"I’m so sorry, Sia. I am," she said, breathless between giggles. "But this is just so ridiculous—wait, wait—you mean my brother, Jason Brooks, the walking iceberg, wants you two to fake-date?"
"With no emotional attachment," I added dryly.
"God, he sounds like a Netflix villain. What’s next? A secret contract and a list of rules?"
"He already gave me a contract," I muttered.
Rachel choked. "You’re joking."
"I wish I was. He slid it across the table like we were negotiating real estate, not pretending to be lovers."
She went quiet.
"Why do I feel like there's more to this than he’s letting on?"
I sank onto the edge of the bed, chewing at the inside of my cheek. "Because there probably is. He had this look in his eyes when he gave it to me. Not smug. Not cold. Just... I don’t know. I seriously don’t know what he’s trying to achieve by trapping me like this."
"Maybe— just maybe Jason feels something for you." Rachel suggested.
I scoffed. “Oh please— the Jason I know can never see me as anything other than this younger sister’s best friend.”
“That was back then in highschool, it’s possible that things have changed.”
I opened my mouth, ready to disagree, but my phone beeped. I glanced at the screen. Unknown Number.
I ignored it.
"Jason is confusing me, he said there’ll be no emotions involved," I continued, "but he’s playing mind games already. The way he touched my chin, Rachel, like he was about to—"
My phone beeped again. Same number.
"Hold on," I told her.
I declined it and went back to the call.
Third call. Same number.
I stared at the screen, nerves crawling up the back of my neck.
"Okay, this is weird. I’ll call you back," I said quickly, heart skipping a bit now.
"Text me if you need anything," Rachel said. "And tell my brother that if he hurts you, I’ll shave his eyebrows in his sleep."
I ended the call and answered the other one. "Hello?"
"Sia."
His voice was like ice water.
"Jason?" I wasn’t unsure, but still I wanted to confirm.
"Someone wants to speak with you."
My back went straight. "Who?"
I didn’t have time to breathe before Joel’s voice exploded through the speaker.
"Mummy! Mummy, guess what? Uncle Jason bought me a remote control car, a new Iron Man suit, and ice cream. Three scoops! And—and a new tablet! It has games and cartoons and even math stuff. We ate pizza, candy, cake and many biscuits."
I sat there frozen, mouth slightly open, breath gone.
"Mummy..." he paused, voice softer now. "I want Uncle Jason to be my daddy."
Everything stopped.
My hands gripped the phone tighter. My voice came out shaky. "Joel?"
"Yes, Mummy!"
"Give the phone to Jason. Now."
He hesitated. "Okay."
There was a rustling sound, and then Jason was back on the line.
"Jason," I snapped, standing up so fast the phone nearly slipped. "Why the hell do you have my son? He was supposed to be at your parents' house."
"Relax," he said, unfazed. "I picked him up this morning and it’s nothing you should be worried about.”
I could barely breathe. "You should have called me. You don’t get to just—you can’t just take him without telling me."
"Why act like I kidn*pped your son, when I’m merely fulfilling my responsibilities as his uncle."
"You're not his uncle!"
He chuckled. "Tell that to Joel."
I paced, toes digging into the carpet, anger building fast. "You have no right—"
"Calm down, Sia," he said, his tone harder now. "He's safe. He's happy. And you needed space to think. I gave you that. But time is ticking."
I paused, trying to steady my breathing.
"Ticking?"
"The offer, Sia. I await your reply."
I stayed quiet.
"If it makes you feel better, this doesn’t have to be complicated. You pretend to be my partner. We work on the deal. We shake a few cameras. Keep the single ladies away.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"You could have chosen anyone else for this? Why me?”
- Writer
