One Night with My Brother-in-Law

“Ugh, damn it! Why is my head spinning so badly?”After staggering through the hotel hallway under the influence of alcohol, the woman let out a small laugh when she found the door to her room locked. Her head was still pounding, and her vision had begun to blur. For a moment, she couldn’t even see the room number clearly. All she could do was press the doorbell repeatedly, hoping someone would open the door.“Tsk, you idiot, Jeslyn. Obviously no one’s going to open the door. I’m the only one staying in this room,” she muttered, reaching into her handbag for the key, her body slumping against the door for support.Suddenly, the door opened—and Jeslyn, unprepared, stumbled forward.“Akh!” Jeslyn yelped as she fell into someone’s strong arms.She really couldn’t see anything. Her vision was hazy, like a screen covered in fog. She frowned, trying to focus, but all she could make out were vague shapes. The man's face in front of her looked like an abstract painting—there were outlines and

"Jeslyn?"Jeslyn was startled when she opened her bedroom door. Leonel had tricked her. The person standing outside wasn’t him—it was Jefran.“What’s going on?” Jefran asked, pulling Jeslyn out of her thoughts.“Um... it’s nothing,” Jeslyn replied with a sweet smile.“When did you get home? Why didn’t you let me know? I’ve been looking for you,” Jefran said, his gaze fixed intensely on her.Jeslyn cleared her throat, her heart pounding with anxiety. She had assumed the visitor was Leonel. And the idea of him showing up at her house seemed too bold—yet not impossible.“Jeslyn?” Jefran called again, snapping her out of her daze. “What is it? Are you sick?”Jeslyn quickly shook her head, trying to regain her composure. “No, I’m just... sleep-deprived. That’s why I’m a bit out of it,” she lied, avoiding his eyes.But Jefran wasn’t easily convinced. He stepped inside without invitation, closed her door, and stood directly in front of her. His eyes were sharp, as if trying to read her mind.

"I’m going insane thinking about that man!" Jeslyn groaned as she rolled on the bed, her mind in turmoil.She hadn’t stepped out of her room all day, haunted by what Leonel had said yesterday. How could he—her sister's fiancé—want to become her affair?Jeslyn stared blankly at the ceiling, then buried her face into the pillow in frustration."Why is my life such a mess?" she mumbled.Her phone vibrated endlessly on the nightstand. Dozens of messages from Jefran and even her best friend, all wondering where she had gone. But she ignored them all.The only voice she kept hearing was Leonel’s:"As long as I’m the only one allowed to kiss and sleep with you.""I don’t mind being second.""You’re mine, Jeslyn.""Aaaargh!!" Jeslyn rolled again and sat on the edge of her bed. Her hair was a mess, her eyes swollen from lack of sleep, and her thoughts refused to settle.“I have to get out of this mess. I have to!” Her resolve finally kicked in. She got up and walked to the mirror, staring at h

“Here you go, your order. Straight out of the oven,” said Jeslyn, setting a plate of steaming chocolate molten lava dessert in front of Leonel, along with a sharp-smelling cup of Americano.“Wow, the owner herself is serving,” Leonel commented, a thin smile tugging at his lips as he sat up straighter.“Of course. I’m a very friendly owner,” Jeslyn replied with a bright smile, though her eyes remained piercing. “And today’s first guest just so happens to be my dear brother-in-law. Naturally, I have to serve you something special.”Leonel raised an eyebrow, lips curving slyly. “Ah... you’re suddenly sweet. Just earlier, you were like a lioness in heat.”Jeslyn immediately scoffed, taking a deep breath like she was counting down from ten to stop herself from hurling the baking tray at the man’s head.“If you weren’t Jefran’s brother, I’d have burned that white shirt of yours,” she hissed, hands on her hips.Leonel chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her reaction.Jeslyn glanced toward the

"Finally, everything's done," Jeslyn said as she wiped her hands with a small towel. She had been helping Nico and Livia clean up the tables and tidy everything up after closing."Yeah, Jes. The café was super busy today," Nico said, letting out a long sigh as he leaned against the kitchen wall. Beads of sweat still clung to his temples, clear signs of a hectic day."Do you think it has something to do with your brother-in-law?" Livia suddenly piped up, making Nico glance at her with a confused look.Jeslyn frowned instantly. She paused and turned sharply toward Livia. "What do you mean?" Her tone was flat, but there was a subtle irritation she couldn't hide.Livia raised both hands in defense. "Well, he’s like a good luck charm or something. He was the first customer who came in today." Her voice was innocent—perhaps a little too innocent.Jeslyn scoffed and tossed the towel onto the table. "Stop talking about him. He's the most annoying person ever," she said, though she ended it wi