You’re supposed to be my Brother Inlaw

The day I finally got to leave for college was upon me. I couldn’t wait. Annabel had been buzzing my phone nonstop—chill, girl, I need to be in my femininity. “Hi, Anna! One more call and I’ll think you’ve been robbed.” “Girllll, where the hell are you?” “I’m coming. I’ll be there in a jiffy.” I hung up, grabbed my bag, and rolled my box downstairs. “Mi amor, I’ll miss you,” my mom said, pulling me into a hug before Dad engulfed us both. “I’ll miss you guys too. It’s not that far. I can come home during the holidays, it’ll be like I never left.” Beep! Beep! A horn sounded outside. “Okay, I better get going before Anna hangs my head by the door,” I joked. They chuckled and helped load my things into the car, stuffing everything into the boot. “Bye, girls!” my mom called as they waved. We waved back and drove off, ready to face college life. The drive to the campus was pure chaos. Anna wouldn’t stop talking about hot guys. The car stereo blasted an Afrobeats song, and I was to

I opened my eyes to the sound of shuffling. It was Zara. “Hi… it’s been a minute. Where have you been?” I asked. “Sorry you didn’t hear from me. I had some business to handle at home. I meant to leave you a note, but I got occupied and forgot.” She was already halfway through unpacking as I sat up, blinking sleep from my eyes. I stretched, the soreness in my body reminding me of how much rest I’d needed. “Welcome back,” I said, leaving her to settle in as I called Annabel to tell her about the trip to my sister’s place. Days later, Annabel and I packed up for the trip to Eva’s house. We only had a week away from school before the hustle and bustle began. “Girl,” Annabel said as we dragged our duffel bags into the cab, “your sister’s house better have food because I’m starving already.” I laughed. “Eva practically lives in the kitchen. You’ll be fine.” The drive took about an hour. When we pulled up to the gate, Eva came rushing out, all smiles and open arms. “My baby!” she squ

I groaned, dragging my pillow over my face. Every time I shut my eyes, it replayed—Jake’s hand on my waist, the way his breath hitched before he kissed me, the tension between us. How was I supposed to act normal after that? “Girl, are you alive in there?” Annabel’s voice echoed from the other side of the room, followed by the sound of her rummaging through my wardrobe. “Because if you’re still sleeping, I swear….” “I’m up!” I yelled, my voice muffled against the pillow. Then, lower, to myself, “How did you even get in here?” “Good, because we have a whole Monday to survive. Also, you sleep like an elephant. I knocked forever and got no response. Thank God for the spare key.” Annabel turned from the closet, holding up two outfits—one a plaid skirt and cropped sweater combo, the other a sleek all-black ensemble. “Which one says I’m here to slay, not suffer through group projects?” I peeked out from behind the pillow. “Definitely the black. You look like you came to break hearts a

My skin still tingled from where Ian had touched me, but the warmth that once thrilled me now burned with shame. Every heartbeat echoed his words—I love you, please don’t leave me—looping in my head until I wanted to scream. When the driver stopped in front of the dorms, I hesitated before paying him. For a second, I almost asked him to keep driving, to take me anywhere but here—anywhere I wouldn’t have to face my reflection. But I didn’t. Instead, I forced a smile, thanked him, and stepped out into the cold night air. The campus was quiet. My heels clicked against the pavement, echoing through the courtyard. I could still smell Ian’s cologne clinging to my skin, and it made me want to scrub myself clean. By the time I reached my door, my stomach twisted with nausea. I closed it softly behind me and leaned against it, pressing my palms flat against the wood. My heart raced, heavy with guilt—the same guilt that had been growing for weeks. Jake’s photo sat on my desk, the one we took

The dorm fell quiet when evening came. I sat on my bed with my laptop open, pretending to study, but the truth was I hadn’t absorbed a single word on the screen. The memory of Ian’s last message still pulsed in the back of my mind. I could barely focus in the library earlier—every page had felt like his words, as though he was taking over my thoughts completely. If you don’t come tonight, I’ll come to you. I’d deleted the message, blocked his number, and told myself that was the end of it. It was supposed to be the end of it. Then my phone pinged. An unknown number. You blocked me? I’m outside your dorm. Come down here now, or I’ll barge in and let everyone know who you belong to. My breath hitched. I stood and peeked through the blinds. There he was. What. The. Hell. A black car was parked across the lawn, its headlights off, but I could make out the faint silhouette of someone sitting in the driver’s seat. My stomach flipped. Fear tangled with something darker, something I