Laced with lies

Lost in the shadows

Now I'm worried because my brother is a total playboy. He's the type to hit it and quit it. I just pray he takes responsibility.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" she yelled.

"I knew you were pregnant," he finally said.

"And you didn't think to tell me?" Amelia asked.

"Raising a baby isn't a problem. I'll take care of the baby," he assured her.

"What about me? Was I just a vessel for your baby? A baby-making machine?" she cried.

I stood up, trying to comfort her, but she pushed me, and I nearly fell.

"Now you're pissing me off. You knew what we were doing, and now you're acting like I'm the only one responsible? Face the consequences and leave my sister out of this!"

She turned to me.

"Oh... sister! I'm sorry. I thought he was cheating on me, and my hormones are all over the place. Baby, please forgive me, and help me apologize to your sister," she said.

I simply nodded.

"We're leaving," my brother said, taking my hand.

I looked at him.

"No, bro. You can't be like that. You have to talk to her. She's your baby's mother now. Stress isn't good for the baby," I said.

He clenched his jaw. I didn't care if he was angry. He had to man up. He couldn't stay young forever.

I headed to the restroom, their raised voices following me down the hallway. Even after I shut the door, I could still hear them arguing.

By the time I came back, the silence was almost unsettling.

Amelia stood there with tear-stained cheeks while my brother faced her, his shoulders no longer tense. He let out a long sigh before pulling her into his arms.

Moments later...

They kissed.

Love?

What a joke.

I needed some fresh air. I wasn't about to become a third wheel.

As I walked outside, I kept staring at my phone. Without looking up, I bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry," I muttered.

"I can see you really love your phone that much," a familiar voice said.

I looked up.

"Oh, Dwayne! I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you," I said.

Dwayne had been my best friend before my family relocated. Tall, dark, and ridiculously handsome, he had once been my biggest crush back in Form Five. Those feelings, however, had faded long before either of us had the chance to act on them.

"Here I thought you were being rude," he teased.

"Nah, you thought wrong," I replied.

He smiled, almost making me melt.

Nah... I'm over him. I've met much finer guys now.

"Dwayne, you really never get tired of women, do you?" another voice teased.

Women?

I turned to see which i***t had the audacity to interrupt us.

He wasn't just handsome; he was unfairly attractive. The kind of man who could make people forget what they were about to say. Everything about him screamed confidence, from the lazy smirk tugging at his lips to the effortless way he carried himself.

My gaze landed on his full pink lips for a second too long. They curled into a smug smile, and I hated that my stupid heart skipped a beat.

"It feels good to be charming," he said.

"Huh?"

"You done?" he asked.

"What?" I stared at him, confused.

"Oh, please don't act like you weren't drooling just now," he said with a smirk.

I tried hard not to blush. I was embarrassed for making it so obvious.

Pull yourself together!

My inner voice scolded me.

Nx!

I rolled my eyes.

"I am sexy, good-looking, muscular, and all that. I'm used to the stares," he said proudly.

I wanted to laugh, but he was right. For a moment, I had been completely charmed.

"You're not even that good-looking. Besides, I have a very handsome boyfriend," I lied.

He frowned, and I laughed.

"I know you're just trying to scare me off. Unlucky for you, I go for flesh... you know, thick ladies gifted in all the right places," he said.

I rolled my eyes.

Cocky jerk.

Why did someone that irritating have to look that good?

He took a step closer.

Then another.

"Too close..." I muttered before I could stop myself.

He chuckled.

"Scared?"

"In your dreams."

He leaned in until I could smell his expensive cologne.

"Still think I'm not handsome?"

My heartbeat betrayed me, but I refused to look away.

He laughed, gently tapped my cheek with one finger, then walked away with Dwayne.

"I'll catch you later," Dwayne called over his shoulder.

Great.

I had officially embarrassed myself.

Just then, my phone rang.

Just looking at the caller made me want to puke.

Can't I catch a break?

I let it ring.

"Cupcake."

Sigh.

Oh God.

He was really haunting me.

"Sean, what do you want?" I asked.

"Chill. I just came to say hello. I saw you from afar and tried calling you, but you weren't picking up," he said.

"I'm perfectly fine," I replied.

"I miss you," he said.

The audacity.

After everything he'd done, he still had the nerve to say he missed me.

"I know," I answered.

"You've changed. You're so cold towards me now," he said.

"You're not my boyfriend, so why would I be sweet?" I asked.

"I still love you," he said.

"How about you get lost and mind your own business? I don't need you checking up on me. I don't need you."

"You can't stop me from loving you. It was always you. She never meant anything," he said.

I laughed.

"You're saying that now, but you once told me I was boring because I didn't want to be intimate. Besides, you were always a jerk. One way or another, we were going to fall apart."

"I wish we could start over," he said quietly. "Here... have some water."

He twisted the cap open before handing me the bottle.

I hesitated for a second before taking it.

"Thanks."

My throat was dry, so I emptied the bottle in one gulp.

Sean and I had once been the couple everyone admired. Behind the smiles, though, he had been living a double life. While I was planning a future with him, he was busy getting another girl pregnant. I didn't even know the girl. At the time I needed him most, he chose betrayal instead of loyalty. I'd forgiven him for my own peace, but taking him back?

Never.

He kept blabbering on, and I couldn't tell whether he genuinely wanted forgiveness or was simply trying to gain my sympathy. I had already forgiven him, but I wasn't taking him back.

When he finally left, he promised he wouldn't give up on me.

"Whatever," I muttered.

I clicked my tongue, my mood completely ruined.

All I wanted was to be happy, but my stupid heart still missed the fool.

I had been a beautiful fool.

Love had blinded me, and Sean had taken full advantage of it.

The game that had left me scarred deserved to end for good.

I knew I couldn't be with him anymore, and going back to him was pointless.

I tried calling Kayden again, but it went straight to voicemail.

Great.

Looks like I'd have to catch a bus.

A strange chill crawled through my body.

It wasn't the evening breeze.

It was something else.

My heart pounded.

My vision blurred.

My legs suddenly felt too heavy to carry me.

Across the road, a familiar black SUV slowed down.

Kayden?

Relief crashed into me so suddenly that my knees nearly gave out.

Then-

One step.

Two.

The world twisted violently.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Everything faded into darkness.