Chapter Seven

Yubi

I barely slept that night, every time I closed my eyes, I felt him again his breath against my neck, the warmth of his hands, the way he whispered my name like it meant something. Like I was special.

I don't remember finally falling asleep or him leaving either. 

I wake up alone in his bed, wrapped in a sheet that still smells like him. For a second, I lie there trying to pretend I’m dreaming, that last night didn’t happen, that I didn’t let myself fall into the arms of the one man I should never have allowed to touch me.

But the ache between my legs is real.

The marks he left on my skin are real.

The emptiness beside me is real. It happened and I loved every second of it. 

I sit up slowly, pressing a hand to my chest as if I can steady my heartbeat.

I can’t. It’s racing.

I don’t know what I expect when I step out of his room, maybe that he’ll be waiting for me, maybe that he’ll look at me the same way he did last night, like I was something he didn’t want to lose.

But the hallway is empty and I quickly ran to my room. My mother seeing me half naked coming out of my step brother's room will not go well. 

I dress quickly and head downstairs, looking forward to seeing him, excited about the possibility of what this could be. 

Us, sneaking around the house, behind our parents back. 

The dining table is already set, and there he is, sitting next to his father, a fork on his hand, his face unreadable and somewhat cold.

And he doesn’t look at me, not even once.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” my mom says brightly, smiling as if the world is still the same. “did you sleep well?”

I open my mouth, but my gaze is locked on Trey. He doesn’t even flinch.

He takes a sip of juice with the calmness of someone who didn’t turn my world inside out a few hours ago.

“yeah,” I manage, taking my seat across from him. “Morning.”

I don’t know what hurts more, the silence, or the way he keeps looking past me like I’m not even there.

I force myself to eat something, though every swallow feels heavy. My mom is talking about some charity event, his father is scrolling through emails, and Trey, Trey is acting like nothing happened, like I am not even there. 

My hands feel cold. I press them against my thighs, trying to calm the trembling building inside me.

“Yubi?” my mom calls me, helping me snap out of my daze. “Hm?”

“I asked if you would like to help choose the flowers for the gala,” my mom says gently. “You seem distracted, honey.”

I fake a smile that even I don’t believe. “Sorry mom. Didn’t really sleep much.”

That is when I finally see it, a flicker small, but there, in Trey’s jaw, It tightens.

For a second, but then nothing. 

I try again. “Trey, can I”

He stands abruptly before I even finish, his chair scraping the floor. “I’m done,” he mutters.

“Trey,” his father says, frowning, “you barely ate anything.”

“I’m not really that hungry.”

He walks away without a glance in my direction.

I feel the sting of tears rise, but I blink them back because I refuse to cry here.

Not in front of my mother.

But my chest is burning, tight, like I’m being torn open from the inside.

As soon as breakfast ends, I rush after him. I find him in the hallway, pulling on his jacket.

“Trey, wait.”

He pauses, his back to me, he doesn’t bother to turn around.

“Can we talk?” I whisper.

“There is nothing to talk about Yubi, last night was a one time thing. It will never happen again.” He finally turns his head halfway, but refuses to fully face me. “It shouldn’t have happened Yubi, and you know it.”

I feel the floor tilt. “You said you didn’t regret it.” I finally manage to say

“That was last night, emotions were high.” His voice goes cold. “I’m thinking clearly now, post nut clarity”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “You don't believe that, you don't believe any of the stuff you are saying Trey and you know it, why are you doing this?”

He finally looks at me, not softly, not with the warmth from before.

“Let it go, Yubi.”

“But”

“You wanted honesty? Here it is.” He takes a slow breath, as if each word is a blade he’s choosing to stab me with. “Last night was a mistake, it should not have happened, I lost control. It won’t happen again.”

“Trey” 

He opens the door and walks out not looking back even once. Leaving me standing alone in the hallway, feeling small and stupid and crushed.

I try to focus on chores, reading, anything but him, but how can I when every thought circles back to him, to his hands on my body, his mouth, his voice whispering my name, only for him to turn into this cold man I don't know this morning.

I just don't know why? I know why? Of course I know why, but I thought we were on the same page last night, but now he can't even look at me. 

He had been gone all day, and I thought to myself maybe the space will help clear his head, change his mind. 

It’s almost ten at night, when I hear the front door open. 

I am about to go downstairs when I hear laughter, a girl's voice. High, flirtatious and my entire body freezes up. 

Slowly and careful not to make any voice, I step out of my room and look over the railing of the upstairs hallway. And there he is, Trey.

One hand wrapped around the waist of a girl with long curled hair, short skirt, and glossy lips twisted into a flirtatious smile. I could recognize her anywhere. Kiara

And then his eyes lift up, just for a second meeting mine, deliberate, intentional. Our eyes meet and he smirks, a big whole smirk all over his face like he is enjoying this. 

He glances at me one last time, before his hand slides lower on the girl’s waist, pulling her closer as he leads her towards the living room.