LOVE, BETRAYAL AND REDEMPTION

I had already stopped by at Rae’s house; she’d asked me to come over for something “important.” I already knew her well enough to guess what that meant. It wasn’t anything serious — she probably just wanted me to rate one of her new dresses again. Still, I didn’t mind. My house was painfully quiet that day. Mum had gone out, and my brother Tay had already left for his NBA academy. With no one around and nothing interesting to do, I figured Rae’s place was the best escape. I pressed the doorbell and held my thumb there, letting the sound echo through the house. “That should definitely bring her out,” I muttered, smirking to myself. I was just about to press it again when the door suddenly swung open — but it wasn’t Rae who appeared. “Felicia?” Mrs. Whelms stood there, looking at me with that same skeptical expression she always had. My body froze. I stood there awkwardly, eyes wide, my mind completely blank. I must have been standing still for a while, because I only snapped back to reality when I felt a tear slide down my cheek — a random, involuntary reaction to the awkwardness. “Mrs. W-Whelms,” I stammered, not sure of what to say next. She studied me for a second, her eyes sharp yet unreadable. “I thought it was just Rae at home". I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is this one of your tactics to drag her down from her room faster?” I blinked, completely thrown off. “Sorry,” I said quickly, rubbing my arm. To my surprise, she smiled softly, shaking her head as she opened the door wider. “Go on in.” “Thanks,” I said quietly and slipped inside. “Rae’s in her room,” she said over her shoulder as I climbed the stairs. Mrs. Whelms could be intimidating sometimes — elegant and calm, but with that sharp, knowing gaze that could make anyone nervous. --- Rae’s door was slightly open. I pushed it gently and froze the moment I looked inside. Her room looked like a storm had passed through. Clothes were scattered everywhere — across the floor, over her bed, even hanging halfway out of her closet. Rae was standing in the middle of the chaos, completely oblivious to my entrance. I cleared my throat loudly. She jumped, spinning around in shock. “Oh my God! Felli, you scared me!” “Are you okay?” I asked, half amused, half concerned. “Thank goodness you’re here!” she said dramatically, rushing over to hug me before pulling back. “You came just in time.” “Okay…” I started to say, but she cut me off immediately. “I need your help.” “I figured,” I said, brushing invisible dust off my sleeve. “So, who is it this time?” “It’s Conrad.” I blinked. “Wait — what about Jake?” Her expression faltered for a second, but she quickly forced a smile. I sighed and stepped carefully through the piles of clothes toward her closet. “You know these guys have feelings, right?” I said, flipping through her hangers. “You can’t keep cycling through them like accessories.” She smirked. “They do the same to us. Think of it as payback.” I shook my head. “You’re hopeless.” Her closet was packed like a boutique. My own wardrobe wasn’t bad, but Rae’s was on another level — endless colors, fabrics, and textures. After some digging, I pulled out a fitted long green gown and held it up. “How about this?” I asked. She took it, held it against her body, and frowned. “Hmm… too formal.” I raised an eyebrow. “Then why do you even have it?” She just smiled mischievously — the kind of smile that told me she was going to make me help her no matter what. I turned back and spotted a short sky-blue dress tucked neatly in the corner of the closet. I pulled it out and held it up. Rae’s eyes widened. “Exactly! Felli, you’re the best!” she squealed, hugging me tightly. “My fashionista for a reason!” I smiled despite myself. We’d been best friends for twelve years — through every silly fight, every class project, every heartbreak. She was chaos, and I was calm. Somehow, it worked. “Now for the shoes,” she said, flashing me her most exaggerated puppy eyes. I groaned. “You’re not serious.” “Please?” she pleaded. I sighed in defeat and opened the drawer under her closet. After some searching, I found a pair of white heels that matched perfectly. She gasped. “You’re officially my hero,” she said, kissing my cheek dramatically. “So,” I asked, sitting on her sofa and hugging a pillow to my chest, “what’s the plan with this one? Are you actually serious, or just testing the waters again?” She smiled faintly, not answering right away. “Wait—are you blushing?” I asked, eyes widening. She sighed, her lips curling upward. “I don’t know. He just feels… different.” I sat up straight. “You — the girl who swears love is overrated — actually likes someone?” “Why are you overreacting?” she said, laughing nervously. “It’s not a big deal,” I teased, “but coming from someone who changes hot guys like shirts—” “Emphasis on hot,” she interrupted with a grin. I laughed so hard I almost dropped the pillow. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a movement outside the window — a sleek white Mercedes pulling up in front of the house. “Well, look who’s here,” I said, peering outside. “Your lover boy has arrived.” “Felli!” she hissed, cheeks turning crimson. “Be fast!” I said, already helping her with her hair and makeup. We worked in sync — I fixed her eyeliner, adjusted her dress, and helped her zip up the back. She looked stunning. “Thank you,” she whispered, glancing at herself in the mirror. “You’re welcome,” I said, smiling. “Now go before he drives away.” She laughed, grabbed her bag, and hurried toward the door. “Go girl! Go girl!” I chanted behind her as she rushed downstairs. I followed her halfway, just in time to see Conrad at the door, handing her a bouquet of red roses. He leaned in to peck her cheek, and I quickly turned away before the scene could make me gag. “Bye, Mrs. Whelms!” I called out as I slipped out of the house. Conrad honked once and waved as they drove off, and I waved back with a faint, halfhearted smile. Life of a single girl, I thought, giggling under my breath as I walked down the driveway. --- The evening breeze was cool against my skin, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from a nearby hedge. I decided to walk home instead of calling a cab — it wasn’t far, just a few kilometers. The sky was streaked with shades of orange and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. Dry leaves crunched beneath my shoes, and every few steps, a gust of wind brushed against my arms, giving me tiny goosebumps. It felt peaceful for a while — the kind of calm that makes you forget time. But after a few minutes, the stillness started to feel heavy. That familiar sense of loneliness crept in again. Rae was the social butterfly — confident, loud, and effortlessly magnetic. She could light up any room she walked into. I, on the other hand, was the quiet one, always tagging along in the background, offering advice, helping her pick out dresses, fixing her eyeliner, listening to stories about boys I’d never meet. It wasn’t jealousy — just a strange emptiness that came whenever I compared our lives. She lived out loud; I lived in my head. When I finally reached home, the porch light was already glowing faintly. I slipped off my shoes at the door, the sound of my footsteps echoing softly through the quiet house. The silence was comforting and suffocating all at once. I went straight to my room, dropped my bag by the desk, and headed for the shower. The cold water hit my skin, sharp and refreshing, washing away the warmth of the walk. Afterward, I changed into my favorite ducky pajamas — bright yellow with tiny cartoon ducks — and crawled into bed. I wrapped myself in my duvet, the familiar scent of lavender detergent filling my nose. My eyelids grew heavy as I drifted into my usual stream of random thoughts — half memories, half daydreams — until sleep slowly pulled me under. --- The next morning arrived too soon. I woke up tangled in my blanket, blinking at the sunlight streaming through the curtains. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, my mind already racing through thoughts that didn’t matter. After a quick shower, I dressed for school and tied my hair into a loose ponytail. The smell of bacon and sausage wafted from the kitchen downstairs, instantly brightening my mood. “Morning, Mom,” I said, wrapping my arms around her from behind. “Morning, dear,” she replied with a smile. “How was your night?” “Great,” I said automatically. She handed me a small container. “Breakfast for the road.” Just then, Tay appeared, stretching lazily. He must’ve gotten home late last night. “I’ll drop you off,” he said simply. The ride was quiet, as it always was with him. Tay wasn’t the talkative type. I kept glancing at him now and then, wondering how someone could be so composed all the time. After a few minutes, we pulled up in front of my school. “Thanks,” I said, stepping out of the car. He nodded. “See you later.” I adjusted my bag and turned toward the gate, walking briskly. The morning air was still cool, the campus already buzzing with students. I was just about to check my phone when— I bumped into someone.