My Best Friend's Stand-In: The Other Woman

Caleb was considerate and even offered to get me a pad.While I washed my underwear, he leaned against the doorframe, looking distracted. After a long pause, he hesitated and said, "Babe, I'm afraid I might lose control if I stay with you tonight. Can I go grab some drinks with the guys? I promise I'll be back soon."My gut instinct told me he wasn't just going out for drinks. Still, I let out a relieved sigh and kissed him lightly. "All right, but don't stay out too late."Caleb left in high spirits.Once he was gone, I pulled up the freshman group chat and tried to track down the girl from his messages by matching her profile picture.What I found stunned me.It was the same girl everyone had called a stinking thief during her first year—Jane Cooper.Back then, I'd been on the welcoming committee and even helped her move her luggage. But right after leaving the dorm, I realized that my phone was missing. I panicked and ran back, only for her roommates to find it tucked away in

The sight of the condoms made me gag. I stumbled to the trash can and vomited until my head spun. Jane watched me in silence. When I finally stopped, she turned away with a blank face. "Don't come here again. And don't fight me over Caleb. If you do, I won't go easy on you."I stared at Jane's back, too shaken to move. I no longer had the courage to follow her. Luckily, I didn't have class the next day. I texted Caleb that I was going home for a while, but instead of going there, I took a cab to the neighborhood I grew up in.The place hadn't changed much over the years. After Kylie's sudden death from an illness, I'd cried so much that I made myself sick. I even fell into depression.Desperate to give me a new start in a new environment, my parents decided to move to the city. Since then, our old apartment in the suburbs had been left to collect dust.I pushed open the iron gate, and it gave a harsh screech. I was about to close the door when the one to the next unit cracked o

Mr. Carter offered to go look for Kylie. Dad immediately reached for an umbrella, saying, "Jimmy, let me go with you.""It's Wendy's birthday today. If you come with me, she'll be left all alone. You three should be together as a family. I'll go look for Kylie myself," he replied.Hearing that, Dad gave in. They had no idea that I was upstairs in my room, clutching the phone Kylie had given me. I called her repeatedly, but no one ever answered.A heavy sense of unease settled over me.While Mom and Dad were busy in the kitchen, I slipped out with an umbrella and quietly disappeared into the storm.That stormy night had haunted me for years. It felt like a nightmare that I could never wake from.Lost in thought, I didn't even realize I was walking in the rain without an umbrella. By the time I snapped back to reality, I was standing right where it had all happened.But the street wasn't the same anymore. Now, vendors lined both sides, scrambling to save their drenched goods.O

While I was lost in thought, Caleb crashed his lips against mine. At the same time, I felt him fumbling with his belt and lowering his pants. "Babe, I've missed you so much. Help me out," he whispered.That was when it hit me—that awful, yet familiar stench. It came from between his legs.I knew exactly how Jane planned to get back at them.But could someone really go that far for another person?Before I could react, Caleb scrambled to fasten his belt. "Babe, you don't look well, so let's forget it. We'll wait until your period's over."Then, he bolted out the door without hesitation.I stood in silence and watched him run off, then quietly snapped a photo and sent it to Jane.Her reply came quickly. "Why are you still with him? He's already betrayed you! We've been sleeping together for a while!"Her fury was palpable even through the screen.It reminded me of how my previous best friends used to talk. We used to point out each other's boyfriends' flaws and urge each other t

"One of the clients said that Caleb's tongue was useless. He suggested we just cut it out."Mr. Carter hummed in acknowledgment.The cellar door shut, and moments later, a scream tore through the air.Months passed, and leaves budded fresh green again. News broke that the three missing guys had been found in an abandoned shed on the outskirts of town. Around the same time, Mr. Carter had hung himself in his own home.On paper, "Jane" was his only relative, so she inherited the modest savings he'd left behind.She and I continued to see each other in private just like we used to when we were kids. But to the outside world, there was nothing between us.Then came my birthday.I took a big cake over to celebrate with Kylie, but she was already drunk. She clung to me and slurred nonstop."You knew it was me the very first time you helped me carry my luggage, didn't you?""No.""Then why did you slip your phone into my desk drawer and pretend you'd lost it?"I froze.She gave a