the informer

part3

“I don’t know… One can be yours, one can be mine. What’s the difference?”

Shahan was hot too, not gonna lie. Like their mom must’ve been genetically blessed or something.

He was tall—easily over 6 feet—with fair skin, unlike his brother. His curly brown hair framed his face, and his deep brown eyes were kinda intense.

But the real kicker? Those ridiculously plump lips.

I swear I’m not a creep. It’s just... they were that plump!

⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯

I woke up to my phone ringing and answered in the most half-dead voice possible.

“Hello?”

Nava: “You still asleep?! Get uuuuup! Class starts in half an hour!”

Suddenly I was wide awake. Hung up. Shot outta bed like a rocket.

Got ready like my life depended on it and ran out the door.

I knew the route like the back of my hand—directions are kinda my secret talent.

And just to annoy Nava, I always relied on Manijeh (aka my GPS bestie) instead of her.

I was stuck at a red light when my phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“You awake now?”

“Yeah yeah, I’m coming.”

“Check the time.”

I glanced at my watch.

“Navaaaaa! I swear I’ll kill you, you little gremlin!”

I slammed my hand on the steering wheel.

Instant regret. Pain shot through my arm and I let out a dramatic yelp, shaking my hand in the air.

“Don’t come home today. I swear, if I kill you, your blood’s gonna be on my hands!”

Class was at eleven. It was only seven-thirty.

Then all the honking behind me reminded me the light had turned green.

I drove a bit, parked, and just sat there.

Now what? I was fully awake and had zero motivation to go back home.

Should I go shopping? I mean, we do need some stuff for the apartment...

But what store even opens this early?

Beach, maybe? Ugh, which cemetery beach is even open right now?

Ten minutes later, I parked by the sea.

Kicked off my shoes, climbed onto a big rock, and sat down.

Something about the ocean makes you extra emotional. Like, times ten.

Suddenly, I missed Jahangir like crazy.

If he were here, we’d be plotting Nava’s doom together.

Jahangir’s my older brother. He’s seven years older than me and basically my favorite person on earth.

Our parents got divorced when I was five.

My dad was a drug smuggler, and eventually, my mom just couldn’t deal with it anymore. So she left.

Since then, it’s just been me, Mom, and Jahangir.

Next thing I knew, an hour had passed and I was still staring at the waves.

The sun was starting to heat up, so I peeled myself away and headed for the mall.

⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯

I was staring at a dress in a*****e window, debating if I should buy it.

Really wished I had dragged that stubborn mule Nava with me.

Still distracted by the dress, I turned—

And BAM! Walked straight into someone.

Clutching my forehead, I winced.

“Ow—sorry!”