Chapter 1
I was scrolling through social media when I stumbled upon a post that had gone viral.
It read: [Do you dare confess the worst thing you've ever done?]
One comment had racked up more than two thousand likes.
It read: [I fell for my girlfriend's older sister the moment I saw her. Even when I'm with my girlfriend, I can't get her sister out of my head.]
As fate would have it, the account belonged to my boyfriend, Calvin Johnson.
*****
My fingers trembled as I opened up the comments under Calvin's confession.
One comment read: [Dude, tell me more details.]
Calvin's reply read: [I was at my girlfriend's place, heading to the bathroom, and passed by her sister's room. The door was cracked open, and I couldn't help but peek inside and ended up catching her changing into her pajamas.
[Then she turned around and saw me.
[She covered her mouth and let out a soft gasp, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. I can't describe that feeling.]
Right below it was another comment with a ton of likes: [I get you. You want to spoil her, right? But that girl was doing it on purpose. Try making a move sometime, and she'll throw herself at you.]
Calvin replied with a smirk emoji: [I'll give it a shot sometime.]
A bunch of people piled on, camping for the next update.
My eyes started to blur as I kept reading.
Because it all came back to me.
That day Calvin fell for my sister, Mia Carter, was my birthday.
That night, after we left my family's house, Calvin suddenly got quiet and withdrawn.
I asked him if he was feeling okay.
He seemed to snap out of it, gave me a small smile, and shook his head.
At the time, I didn't think anything of it.
Because right after that, he hit me with a surprise I never saw coming.
A sea of roses stretched out before me, and they were my favorite.
He got down on one knee and asked, "In two months, when I graduate, Maeve Carter, will you get engaged to me?"
My cheeks burned red, and all thoughts of how distant he'd seemed earlier melted away.
That night, I thought I'd found my forever with him.
When things got so intense, I broke down and cried in his arms.
He gently cupped my face and told me he'd love me and keep me safe, always.
I melted under the way he looked at me.
Little did I know, back then, his mind was filled with thoughts of Mia.
I couldn't wrap my head around it.
How could the man who was once all about me fall for someone else because of a single gasp and a pair of teary eyes?
Was he messing around?
Perhaps there was some explanation, some secret reason for everything.
I kept replaying it in my mind, trying to make myself believe it.
But it was pointless. It only made me feel more anxious and on edge.
I picked up her phone and called Calvin. I called him once, then again, and again.
As I was about to try for the fifth time, he messaged me: [Babe, I'm in a tutoring session.]
I called him right back, but to my surprise, his phone was already off.
I stared at her screen, the time frozen at eight and a half in the evening.
Back then, the moment his evening class was over at eight, he'd always call or video chat with me right away.
I couldn't help but think of that comment he left: [I'll give it a shot sometime.]
I jumped to my feet, grabbed my keys, and drove straight to his school.
The wind was howling outside, whipping through the night.
Raindrops the size of marbles slammed against the car windows.
The academic building was pitch black.
I wasn't ready to give up yet.
I dashed through the pouring rain, straight to the front of the building.
It wasn't until the administrator told me that all classes were canceled at three this afternoon due to the severe weather that my knees nearly gave out. I pressed myself against the wall, shivering uncontrollably.
A blinding flash of lightning lit up the whole area.
For a split second, the glass door reflected my image.
My drenched hair clung to my cheeks.
My face was deathly pale, my eyes red and swollen.
I looked like some ghost.