1.
Yvette.
Unrequited love is so painful.
Especially when the one person you want to tell everything to is the one person that should never know.
I was his sister by circumstance. The child his mother had to take care of cos she had no other family.
Nothing else mattered. Not even the fact that my chest almost fell out of my chest everytime our eyes matched.
It had been like that from day one. Ten years now and nothing changed.
But I guess he could never notice me, he was too busy going after the one girl who kept breaking his heart.
That same girl left him completely shattered last night.
And as usual, I was the one who had to mend it.
The only one who had to sit and listen to the same words that broke my heart everytime even though I had heard it a million times.
“I’m never falling in love again, Yetti…”
My stomach squeezed when he called me like that.
My arms were wide open and I wished I could wrap them around his toned body, squeeze him tight and never let go. I would hold him until his pain were completely gone.
“Yvette?” His voice snapped me back to reality, “did you hear me?”
I swallowed hard and looked away before he could see the tears brimming my eyes. How could he let Isabel torture him like this?
It doesn’t matter if she’s Isabel Theodore, Kai deserved someone who loved him genuinely without going back to her ex five times a week.
All she does is hurt him, mistreating the one thing that I want more than anything else.
My gaze flicked from the floor to the waitress who was bringing us our drinks.
She poured him a glass of whiskey and the smell of it made me gag.
“Can you get milkshake for my lady?” Kai said noticing my gag, “She’s still a girl.”
I know it wasn’t a compliment, but I couldn’t help but blush.
I smiled softly and locked gaze with him. My stomach dropped.
His brown eyes always sparkled a little too much when he was about to do something crazy. And that sparkle did twice the things he did to me on a regular.
He was a man of impulsive thoughts. And most times, those impulsive thoughts were dangerous plans that involved me.
“No…” I began, heart slowly building a pace. “No— I won’t do it…“
“I just thought of the best way to get back at Isabel.”
Get back “at” Isabel…?
Kai’s lips made a smirk I had never seen before. It was dangerous and cold, sending shivers down my spine. “What are you going to do this time?”
“I told you I’m never falling in love again. I’m done with her.”
“I've heard that a million times. It doesn’t surprise me anymore.”
“You don’t believe me?” He scoffed, then leaned in, “Wait, until I tell you my whole plan.”
“Does it involve calling her parents to tell them she dropped out of law school? Cos if that’s the case, count me—”
“—Date me.”
I froze.
“Date me, Yetti. Let’s go on dates. Let’s do more than just talk and drink.”
My mouth opened in search of response, but nothing came.
“You don’t know how many times I’ve thought about it with you, Yetti…”
“…Kai... I couldn't.” I whispered.
“It’s the only way I can move on from Isabel,” his voice cracked this time, “She’s chosen Rohan, they’re getting married in some island in Hawaii... tomorrow.”
I couldn't blink.
Was this a prank?
“That's not true…” I finally found my voice but it was quivering. "She wouldn't do that to you."
"But she did, Yetti. She's there and I'm here. With you." He reached for my hand, squeezing it softly. “I know you love me… more than just a brother. I can tell—”
My eyes exploded. "How long... have you known?"
He smiled at me. For the very first time, his eyes were not just brown… they had desire in them.
I could say anything else.
He rose from the table and smashed his lips on mine.
The whole world faded.
It became invisible.
He missed me.
Kai Benjamin kissed me, Yvette Lotanna?
My heart exploded in excitement.
Was this real?
His breath on my face was all the proof I needed.
I had been waiting for this moment my whole life.
And I wanted nothing else… nothing else but to keep us like this forever.
"Let's get out of here?" He was still close, enough for me to feel his breath.
I only nodded with a smile and he bit his lip.
The ride in the Bentley SUV was the most tensed ride of my life.
Next, we were in this hotel suite, intoxicated by the one feeling I had been holding back since I was twelve.
My clothes vanished, he made sure of it. We stumbled through the room kissing hungrily until we found the couch.
He climbed me in that dominant way that demanded submission and I gave in.
His kiss deepened and a moan slipped.
He stopped.
“Is… something wrong?” I stuttered, “Do you want to stop?”
“Not in a million years,” he muttered softly, “I meant it when I said I’ve been thinking about this for years.”
His mouth found my lips again and this time, he wasn’t cautious. He was feral. Possessive.
The moment he slid into me… I almost cried from ecstasy. I couldn’t hold back the sound escaping my lips.
I heard first times hurt. But my head was in the clouds with Kai between my legs.
I dug my fingers into his back and his thrusts deepened. Mercilessly.
When we finally came, I couldn’t stop shuddering.
He sank beside me, breathing heavily.
He reached for me and pulled me in until we were one skin.
“Let’s stay this way, Yetti.”
Sleep came like it was the most natural thing after and I slept off warm in his arms.
****+****
I blinked my eyes open to the morning lights in the room.
Kai Benjamin was still beside me.
I couldn’t even blink, afraid that if I did, he would vanish like a dream.
I took in his perfectly sculpted face and a smile slipped on mine.
I would cherish last night forever. The way he caressed me, his eyes when he thrust it in. He kissed my neck and moaned my name. It seemed we were made for each other.
If it was so easy to get together, why did we waste all that time?
The unexpected sound of my phone in the air startled the silence and I dashed for it before it could wake him up.
I sighed in relief after I’d put off the morning alarm.
A message buzzed up on the phone beside mine.
— Kai.
I raised a brow. Does “from” Kai?
Out of curiosity, I clicked on the message and paused.
I read it again. The words were the same.
“She fell for the trick, didn’t she? Hope it was worth missing my bachelorette party for."
My gaze flicked from the message to the sender. From the sender to the message. “From” Kai?
For ten minutes, nothing made sense.
What bachelorette party? Who is getting married?
“Yetti…”
I jumped, startled by his groggy voice.
When I turned to him, an absurd thought crossed my mind.
It was crazy, I know. But I had to confirm it.
I grabbed his arms and pulled his shirt.
“Hey!” He held my hand, “what are you doing?”
“Stay still,” I breathed shakily, “Please.”
He didn’t.
He fought me, and I fought back.
I had to confirm it. I had to confirm that I wasn’t losing my mind.
And the only way to do that was to be certain.
To be certain that there was no tattoo on his underarm.
That the brother in my bed was not Kai's twin.
But there it was… the rose flower 🌹 tattoo staring back at me.
“Zac...”