The Offer

5

YUNA

It's been two days since I caught my sister with my boyfriend, yet it feels like it was a moment ago.

I hadn't set foot into the apartment; instead, I had been staying at Emma's since then. If the occasional shutting of my eyes counted as sleep.

Every time I closed them, I saw Ethan and Ana in a promiscuous position, their voices echoing through my head until I was forced to peel my eyes open.

And in the far corner, I'd see Gavin West.

My lips tingled at the memory I had been struggling to bury.

God. 

Why did I kiss him?

I groaned loudly and buried my face in the throw pillow lying on the couch.

“Still alive?” Emma's voice floated from the tiny kitchen.

“Barely,” I mumbled and sighed. “I'm dying of embarrassment.” 

She laughed as she walked through the kitchen door. “I made pancakes.”

“I'm too depressed to eat…” 

“ I also bought bacon.” She added before I could finish talking. “You'd better join me before I eat yours.”

I dragged my hands down my face and groaned before dragging myself off the couch.

Emma's apartment wasn't much bigger than a shoebox, but she somehow managed to make it very warm.

Small plant pots lined the windowsills. A fairy-led light hung over the television, and a ridiculous, huge pink blanket covered the couch, which I’d claimed as a bed.

She handed me a plate before sitting across from me.

For a few minutes, none of us spoke. We just munch on our plates until my phone buzzes.

I frowned and reached for my phone beside me.

My stomach dropped as I stared at the headline.

WATCH: ASSISTANT CAPTAIN'S GIRLFRIEND KISSES TEAM CAPTAIN DURING LOCKER ROOM DRAMA.

Then another.

WHO IS YUNA REED? CLICK ON THE LINK.

“You've got to be kidding me,” I grumbled under my breath.

Emma looked up from her plate and cocked her eyebrow.

I silently turned the phone screen to her and sighed. “How long will it take for them to divert their attention to something else?”

Curiosity got the best of me, and I clicked on one of the articles. I scrolled to the comment section, reading through to see if anyone would mention the fact that my boyfriend cheated on me with my sister… but I guess kissing Gavin West sells more than betrayal.

I was just tired of everything.

My phone buzzed again, and I groaned. What is it again!

I turned the phone screen, and blood drained from my face.

Ana was calling. 

I stared at my phone screen until the call dropped, then another notification came in. She sent a text.

*Come and get your things today, I'm not a storage unit*

I clenched my jaw, and my hand tightened around the phone.

Emma leaned over and read the message and bit her lips.

“Oh, hell no.” 

“I'm going,” I whispered and rose from the couch. “I need to get my stuff.”

Emma watched me like I'd lost my mind. She bit on the last piece of pancake with a fork and sighed.

“I'll go with you.”

****

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to the apartment complex. The building suddenly looked unfamiliar and strange as I stared up at it.

I stared at the third floor and took in a deep breath.

That had been home…

But now it was a place filled with bad memories that I desperately wanted to forget.

Emma switched off the engine and turned to me.

“Are you ready?”

No.

Not even close.

I wasn't ready to face her. Not the girl I shared what was considered a romantic memory between my boyfriend and me with.

Someone who cheered us on said that we looked good.

It still felt like a dream. I still couldn't believe that she would do that.

The elevator ride to the third floor was painfully quiet. One of the hardest things I've ever done.

The metal doors slide open with a soft ding, and my feet somehow feel heavier.

I stopped in front of Apartment 3A.

For two days if imagined this moment, but nothing would have prepared me for the feeling that suddenly engulfed me.

My eyes suddenly got heavy, and my fingers trembled at my side.

“You don't have to do this today,” Emma said, placing her hand on my lower back.

“I do,” I muttered and pushed the key into the lock.

The familiar click echoed through the apartment.

The scent of vanilla air freshener mixed with Ana’s expensive perfume hits me immediately, followed by music drifting from her bedroom.

Of course, she would be home.

I walked through the living room and froze.

Three black trash bags sat beside the couch. My textbooks were stacked carelessly on top of them, one had already split open.

Clothes spilled across the floor, and my favorite white sweater now had a brown stain on it as it got sucked between the couch and the trash bag.

“What the……” Emma muttered under her breath.

I slowly walked over to the trash bags.

My framed picture with Dad during my high school graduation lay on the floor, the glass had shattered.

“You could have at least knocked.” Ana's voice rang behind me.

I looked up. 

She leaned against the wall in pink silk pajamas, her red hair tied in a messy bun, and her arms wrapped around her chest.

Ger expression carried that smug look she had worn in the arena two days ago.

“So….” She said. “You finally came back.”

“I came for my things.” 

She nodded towards the trash bags and chuckled. “I packed them for you.” 

Emma and I stared at her in disbelief. 

“You are unbelievable,” Emma muttered under her breath.

Ana shrugged. “I needed the closet space for Ethan for when he visits.” 

I paused and glanced at her, then shook my head.

“I never knew you liked taking out trash, Ana.” I managed to say as I picked one of the trash bags. “Thanks for taking out my trash.” 

She glared at me and chuckled. “Oh, please, Yuna. Stop trying to act tough.” She mocked. “We all know just how much you like Ethan.”

“I did,” I admitted and smiled. “But now I'm handing him over to you since I love you so much. Take care of my trash for me.”

Color drained from her face as she glared at me.

“You're still pretending you don't care?” Ana smiled. “You kissed his captain because you were so desperate for attention.”

“If I am desperate for attention then what are you?” I asked and chuckled then folded my arms across my chest. “You always wanted what belonged to me.”

She opened her mouth to sp,eak but nothing came out.

I picked up the last trash bag and straightened. “I feel sorry for you.”

Her eyes flashed with anger and her hands slowly curled into a fist.

“Take care of my trash.” 

Ana's furious scream echoed behind us just as Emma pulled the front door closed.

The sound followed us down the hallway and inti the elevator.

When we got to the parking lot, I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding.

Emma rubbed my back in circles and smiled up at me. “You did great.”

****

Shortly after we got back to Emma's apartment, I received a call from Professor Igor and quickly headed to his office.

He looked up from his system the moment I wapalms in and smiled.

“I wasn't expecting you to come so fast.” He said and I shrugged.

“I wasn't that occupied.” 

He placed his palm on top of each other and stare at me.

,“I heard what happened to you.” He muttered. “I'm sorry you had to go through that.” 

An awkward laugh slipped through my throat and I nodded my head.

“Thank you.”

“So…. Where do you stay now?” He asked almost carefully.

“My friend's place. But I'll soon start checking for anyone that needs a roommate.” I replied and he grinned widely.

He pulled out a file from his desk drawer and placed it on the desk.

I glastudents'he file and arched my eyebrows.

A tutoring job?

“It comes with five thousand dollars monthly. You will also live in the student's off-campus apartment until the end of the semester.”

I blinked. “Live….. live with him?”

“It is one of the conditions.” 

My gaze shifted from the fileand to Profess

or Igor and I tilted my head to the side.

Why would a tutoring job pay that much?

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my fingers dug into my palm.

“Who….. who is it?” 

“Gavin West.”