DOUBLE THE BETRAYAL

Maya’s POV

“How long?” 

The question hung in the air waiting for a response, but neither Jason nor Mila answered. My stomach sank and I could feel the burger I had eaten during my lunch break start to come up.

Jason ran a hand through his hair and stepped forward. “Maya let me explain.”

The expression I had on my face was that of one that could kill. I laughed, it was low and hollow. 

“Explain what, Jason? Mm tell me,” I said stepping closer to him and looking him in the eye. “Explain why my sister is half naked in your bed? Or explain why you are half naked. Explain why the two people I trusted are standing here making me look like a fool.” I fought the tears welling up in my eyes.

I turned my back to him, blinking the tears away.

“Maya…” he began.

“No,” I screamed, covering my ears. My voice cracked with tears and I turned to face him, pointing at him.

“You don’t have anything to say, Jason.”

For a brief moment, I thought I saw regret flash across his face, then it was gone. Why did I care? If he truly regretted it, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

My gaze shifted to Mila. She’d been silent all this time. She’d pulled the sheet around herself, but she didn’t look ashamed in any way of what she’d done. Rather, her eyes were filled with annoyance, like I’d interrupted something important.

I stared at her, waiting and begging silently for her to tell me this wasn’t what it looked like. That there was some explanation, some misunderstanding, something. Instead, she crossed her arms and looked me dead in the eyes.

“You weren’t supposed to find out this way.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

Her expression remained unchanged. “I mean, we were going to tell you eventually, but now look, you ruined your own surprise. So, surprise, sister.” 

Her words cut deep into my heart and I felt lightheaded.

What did she mean by tell me? Eventually? Like it was some kind of announcement. I felt sick.

“You were going to tell me?” I repeated.

“Maya,” Jason started.

“Don’t,” I cut in. “Don’t you dare say anything. Just shut up. If you want to speak, tell me she’s joking.”

He looked away and that was all the answer I needed.

A lump formed in my throat. Three years of my life down the drain. Three years of memories, three years spent loving this idiot. Gone. Just like that. 

“When did it start?” I asked quietly. 

Jason sighed. “It’s complicated.”

The anger that exploded inside me nearly made my insides burst. 

“Then make it simple.” I took a step forward. “When did it start? I need an answer.”

Jason looked at Mila and she looked back at him. The exchange was enough for me to understand that this didn’t just start. This wasn’t a mistake, nor was it one bad decision. This was history. History that I knew nothing about.

“How long?” I whispered again.

This time I Mila answered. “A few years.”

The floor seemed to disappear beneath me. A few years? I was having a hard time processing all of this. “You mean while we were dating,” my voice trembled.

No one spoke and my heart shattered even more. I stared at Jason. “While we were dating?”

He swallowed, “yes.”

That single word hit harder than a slap. I took a step back and another, and that’s when the tears came flowing down my cheeks. Hot and humiliating. One thing I hated, was crying in front of people and I hated that I was crying in front and because of these traitors. But, I couldn’t bring myself to stop. The more I tried, the more the tears flowed.

“Maya, please,” Jason moved to touch me.

I moved away immediately. “Don’t touch me.”

His hand froze midair. “You don’t understand.”

I laughed bitterly, “what do I not understand? Help me understand. Tell me bother lie. Like you’ve been telling me for three years.”

Jason was quiet for a while, before speaking. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Worst thing he could think of. “You never meant to hurt me?” My voice rose, “you cheated on me with my sister. My own blood. If you couldn’t be faithful, at least have some sort of decency and cheat with some other woman, not her,” I said, pointing at Mila.

None of them spoke and I went on, “you lied to me for years. You took me for granted and you let me look like a fool. Tell me Jason, did you even love me? Or was that a lie too?”

“Maya,” he began.

“No,” I wiped angrily at my tears. “You don’t get to act like you’re the victim here.”

For the first time, Mila rolled her eyes. I stared at her in disbelief. “Are you being serious right now?”

She shrugged. “And what do you want me to say?”

I was taken aback by her question. An apology maybe, even if it won’t fix her damage. Remorse, anything human. Instead, she looked bored.

I suddenly remembered every birthday where she needed to be the center of attention. Every achievement that she turned into a competition abd every moment she couldn’t stand not being noticed. The signs had always been there. I just didn’t want to see them.

“What is wrong with you?” I whispered.

Her eyes narrowed, “nothing is wrong with me.”

“You slept with my boyfriend.”

Her laugh was cold. “Your boyfriend?”

Jason shifted uncomfortably. “Mila.”

But she ignored him. “No, let’s be honest for once.”

Something dangerous flashed in her eyes. It was the same look she got whenever she wanted to win.

“I didn’t steal him. He chose me.”

Jason stepped forward. “That’s not what happened.” He glared at Mila and she hissed. 

“What?”

“You don’t need to do this.”

“Oh yes, I do.” She said.

She looked directly at me, a cruel smile on her face, “you really want to know the truth?” Her smile widened.

“You were never his first choice.”

“Mila, stop!” Jason said.

But she ignored him, she stepped closer. And for the first time all night she had this look of satisfaction.

“You were never even an as good as an option to him., Maya.”

The room blurred and I couldn’t be there any longer.