One Heart, Which Brother?

The party had slowly begun to die down.The music was still humming low, lights dimmed into soft golds and purples, casting a sleepy glow over the now half-empty backyard. Most of our classmates had already left, and the scent of vanilla candles and spilled fruit punch lingered in the air like a memory.Our birthday was over well, almost.Daphne and I had always shared everything. Clothes. Secrets. Friends. Even crushes, though we never admitted that out loud. So, of course, it made sense that our eighteenth birthday would be one big celebration with all our schoolmates the same ones we’d grown up with since kindergarten. Same stories. Same jokes. Same hallway gossip. But this night was different. We were adults now… at least that’s what everyone kept saying.I tugged at the hem of my lilac dress, staring at the soft swirl of balloons tangled near the garden. It had been beautiful lavish, like always. Gold-lined cake, live DJ, a backdrop screaming “Eighteen & Glowing,” and the best fo

The kiss had barely ended when the door creaked open.Ruben walked in, phone to his ear, clearly mid-call and unaware of the storm he had just stepped into. His eyes brushed over us close, perhaps too close but he didn’t linger. We’d always been like that. Best friends. Practically family. Nothing suspicious. Nothing worth a second glance.“Hey,” he said casually, offering a small smile. “What are you guys up to?”Ken’s voice turned sharp. “Why are you here?”Ruben paused, lowered his phone, and looked at him. “Can’t I come chill with my friends?” he asked, that careless smirk playing on his lips.Neither of us responded. Ken was already heading upstairs. I followed, feeling my chest squeeze as I moved. Every step was a war my mind pulling one way, my heart another.I hated that even now, Ruben’s presence made me melt. That just the sound of his voice made me forget how badly he hurt me.The beach house had this wide, stunning balcony that overlooked the ocean. The entire place was gl

I barely fell asleep that night.I didn’t cry either, at least not in the way I usually did. No sobs. No curled-up-on-the-floor drama. Just silence. The kind that made my ears ring.My eyes kept drifting back to the paper. The marriage contract Ruben gave me.Five years.No exit clause unless he says so.Photos. Blackmail. Bribery. Betrayal.I hated him. I hated myself for ever believing he could love me, he could want me, he could long for me, Ken was always right i thought to myself, but still I hated myself for still believing he could change.The next morning, I was pale, Istruggled to perform my normal morning routine, it wasn't a school day.The house was always quiet, mum was obviously at the Delwinco's by now, but for some reason today felt even more quiet. Daphne’s laughter echoed faintly from the backyard. For a second, I thought about going to her. Telling her everything. But how could I?She was a Delwunco.Their little sister.My best friend.Would she even believe me?I h

School should’ve been my escape. But nothing felt like mine anymore, not even my mind.Senior year was supposed to feel like freedom. A slow, nostalgic glide toward the finish lineBut for me? It felt like I was stuck. Most of my classmates were floating on air, counting down the days to prom, graduation, and summer plans. Me? I was counting down the days I had to keep pretending everything was fine.My mornings started the same dull announcements crackling over the PA as I walked into World Literature, where we were dissecting Shakespeare’s, Mrs. Dunn loved assigning tragic love stories as if we all had time to romanticize betrayal and passion. Ironic, considering my life felt like a walking tragedy lately.Next came Financial Math, my favorite class. Numbers didn’t lie. They didn’t break hearts or make false promises. They made sense. Mr. Allen said I had a natural knack for marketing calculations and budgeting strategy “You’ll do great in Business School,” he’d say with a wink. I’d

It had been two weeks since I last saw Ken.Two weeks of silence… of pretending… of guilt burrowed so deep in my chest, I could barely breathe without tasting it.School didn’t help. It was numbing and mechanical. I moved through the halls like a ghost. No one noticed not even Daphne. Not the way she used to. And honestly, I was thankful for it. I didn’t want to lie to her again.That evening, I came home exhausted. My feet ached, my brain fogged from back-to-back review classes and college forms I hadn’t even started filling out. When I passed by the Delwunco estate, I heard music, laughter spilling out of the windows, distant clinking of glass but I didn’t stop. Whatever celebration they were having, I didn’t want any part in it.I took a shower, changed into something simple, and collapsed onto my bed… until my phone lit up.Daphne: Family dinner, hope your attending.I couldn't say I wouldn't attend, even mum would attend.My mum was already getting dressed by the time I walked int