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No one sees what you see.

Even if they see it too.

- cf

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Pretending to be sick was harder than it looked, especially lying to someone you hate lying to.

But this time it was really necessary because there was no way my mind would stay focused in any of my classes today. It would simply be impossible to act normally when my mind is a complete mess.

Plus, having these dark red hickeys decorating my throat and also the side of my jaw while feeling physically and mentally tired was not a state I wanted to go to school in.

My father placed his left palm on my forehead, taking my temperature. "Are you sure you are feeling sick?"

"Yes, Dad. My throat feels a little sore."-shamelessly, not because of the sickness but more for something else.

He nodded as his hand retreated to his side. Observing my every little movement, making me pull my hoodie closer to my face out of nervousness that he'd notice the dark red little blotches decorating my skin so boldly.

The first thing I put on when I stepped out of the shower was a big, fluffy black hoodie and long black sweatpants that covered the majority of my skin. Of course, my hoodie was on while my long, curly hair was loose to cover up the damn hickeys from any keen eyes.

"Okay, sweetheart. You can stay today and rest. Don't forget to eat something and drink plenty of water too.

Do you want one of your brothers to stay home with you today to keep you company? "I know my father was worried about leaving me all alone at home. But that wasn't a good idea, so I shook my head, making him warmly smile.

The last thing I want is to have any of my stepbrothers sticking to me like glue today.

Leo came into the bedroom with a wooden tray of food.

My father stood up from the mattress beside me when he saw his stepson approach us.

Leo gently placed the tray on my lap. I gently sat up straighter, avoiding his curious eyes that felt so invading... like if he stared hard enough he could tell what I'm thinking at this very moment.

And feeling too shy to look him in the eyes when... when my mind filled itself with vivid images of his hands tightly gripping onto the brunette's waist as he drilled into her from behind.

That stupid video keeps on replaying in my head over and over again.

So much so that I shamelessly touched myself while I was taking a shower because of it.

And the shame that took over me when I was done was unbearable. I don't know why I even did that... but right now, I just want to disappear from here and reflect on my actions.

My eyes stayed on the plate. The buttermilk waffle, bacon, and egg sandwich were nicely placed on the plate, while a glass of orange juice was on the wooden tray.

"You know I won't be able to eat all this, Leo?"

"It's okay. Just eat what you can so you can get better."

Drink your aspirin when you're finished. Don't forget, okay? "My heart squeezed as he patted my head gently, making the guilt that is in my gut grow for lying to him and thinking of him in such a perverse way. The embarrassment and guilt were eating at me so much that I just couldn't even return a soft smile to him."

Fortunately, Ms. Nancy left early today, making my day a bit easier because the only people I needed to tell a small white lie to were Leo and my father.

When Leo and my father left the bedroom, Kevin entered a few minutes later, making my eyes narrow down at him, causing him to chuckle, knowing what my real reason for staying home was.

He was dressed in light colors today, in complete contrast to me, who was dressed in dark colors, which clearly reflected my state of mind.

He was enjoying himself, seeing me panic- trying really hard to find ways to hide the red marks he left on my neck just to taunt me.

"This isn't funny at all, Kevin." I pointed to the hickeys on my neck. This wasn't supposed to happen... in the first place. I was supposed to win and erase any evidence from his smartphone. Yet, one look at him, and my body betrayed me.

Why the heck is my heart beating so fast right now? If anyone felt my heartbeat, they would surely think I'm in love with this guy...

I didn't move a muscle trying not to spill the juice when Kevin without hesitation grabbed my jaw and tilted my head upward, making me gasp out as my eyes went wide when he planted his soft lips on mine.

Shamelessly, my lips and tongue responded to his hungry kiss, which he ended by biting my bottom lips as a satisfying smile took over his sharp features.

Of course, I hit him in the arm multiple times to make him stop before someone came through that door, but he didn't care.

This demon was getting bolder by the day. The next thing I know, he'll be kissing me in front of them with no shame. I hope that day never comes.

My cheeks burned when he took another, smaller one before he left the bedroom, leaving me there in a daze and in complete disbelief that he did that with no hesitation and that I... let him.

That Jerk. I hope he doesn't return home today.

----𖤍----

My whole day was spent searching through Google and reading many articles on ways to decrease the dark red color of the dark hickeys decorating my skin.

And also watched YouTube videos upon more videos nonstop, carefully observing make-up tutorials showing how to cover hickeys, while practicing in the mirror.

Aphrodite and Ares played in the bedroom. It consisted of Ares chasing Aphrodite around the bedroom while Aphrodite hissed at him in a sassy tone.

Ares seemed to like being hissed at because he chased her more around the bedroom.

By my seventh attempt, I got the hang of it. Smiling to myself that finally all this struggle looking for a solution for hours paid off.

A loud screech made me quickly run to my bedroom window; oddly, Ms. Nancy got out of a black vehicle. She waves it away and makes her way quickly to the front door. She seemed as pissed as ever; it looks like someone was in a bad mood today.

Making me run back to the bathroom and quickly as best as I could clean everything up.

Then I turned off my phone and plugged it into the charger to charge it. Seeing that Ares was still chasing Aphrodite around, I picked her up and placed her in her little cage. She instantly settled into her bed, gazing at the puppy, who was still staring at her from outside the pink cage. He still seemed full of energy. He still wanted to keep bothering her. So he sat there, patiently waiting for the pink cage door to magically open.

When I heard the front door slam shut and her dark red heels clicking harshly and quickly on the stair as her harsh voice got clearer to hear, I stilled on my spot.

"What do you mean you can't get rid of he-?

It's been fucking weeks since I last talked to you? "The clicking of her heels reverberated loudly through the hallway, making me quickly lie on the bed while facing the window, closing my eyelids in the process. Hoping deep down that she'd just pass by my bedroom, and get whatever she needs, and then leave.

Her sharp eyes would see through my lie. She would know who did these hickeys on my neck. I doubt she has forgotten when she saw her son kissing me.

"Do I have to do everything myself?" It was not hard to tell how annoyed she was when she started tapping her feet on the floor impatiently as if time was running out.

"Is it that hard to get rid of one small person?

You can find time to get her-... Then find the time that bitch is alone. "She continued harshly.

When she says to get rid of that person, does she mean to kill them? I don't know much about Ms. Nancy, but this is wild.

I knew there was something off about her.

Who does she want to get rid of? Who is she even talking to anyway?

"I'll double your pay, triple it if you take a picture or a video before you do what you need to do? Just get rid of that bitc-." Her voice got cut off when more voices filled the emptiness from downstairs.

Those voices were definitely from the guys.

My eyes were fixated on the digital clock on my nightstand, it read 3:35 p.m.... usually, we leave school at 5:50 p.m.

They missed practice today. Leo did send me a text a few hours ago, letting me know that he and Kevin were going to miss practice to come check up on me and assist me with anything that I needed help with.

"Why are you guys here so early?" Ms. Nancy's voice was sharp; it almost had this cutting edge to it that made my skin crawl every time her voice switched to that tone. Goodness, I hate that tone.

"Leaving a sick person here alone for too long is a bad idea," Leo let out, his voice getting much clearer the closer he got to her.

"Whose home?" Now Ms. Nancy sounded alarmed when she heard his words, as if hearing someone was here was the worst thing that ever happened to her today.

"Emma."

The door of my bedroom swings open, making a loud banging sound that reverberates throughout my whole bedroom when the door hits the wall hard.

"Why in the hell did you do that? She's sleeping." Leo's voice was now clear, meaning he was right outside the door frame, probably watching his mother with a perplexed face.

My front body was turned towards my soft mattress, as my black hoodie was covering half of my face.

A burning, almost sizzling gaze was drilling holes into my face as if she were searching for any signs of me being awake.

It felt like a poisonous snake was watching any small, odd movement to attack and inject me with its deadly venom.

A few seconds later, the feeling of being watched by a poisonous snake was gone.

That was close. Really close.

I let out a soft, slow breath, relieved that she didn't notice that I was awake. I don't want to imagine what she would do to me if she figured out that I wasn't asleep.

My body almost flinches when my mattress dips a little. Then this person starts moving my hair off my face gently.

"You're so pretty, even when you're sleeping. Who wouldn't love you?" Upon hearing Leo's adoring words, my heart started acting up again.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I react this way when someone shows me a hint of affection? I don't deserve this. Maybe my mother was right when she said I was an attention whore-someone who sought anyone's validation to make me feel something inside.

"She needs to get rid of that damn cage." A deep voice resonated through the quiet room, making Leo stop his movement when he heard his twin.

"Yeah," Leo immediately agreed, making me softly frown for a second. Why do they want the cage gone?

Don't tell me that they have a type of phobia that makes them uncomfortable inside, whenever they see a cage.

"What are you doing?" Leo asked, a bit confused.

"Getting rid of it before she wakes up." Kevin nonchalantly said... Ares starts barking, probably trying to get Kevin's attention.

"It's not like that bitch can force us to go inside those things and lock us up in the basement for hours or days if we don't obey. We wouldn't be able to fit inside there anyway. So leave it there, dumbass." Leo spoke in a hushed tone, making Kevin's heavy steps abruptly stop.

Ms. Nancy used to lock them up in dog cages... No wonder Kevin's hatred towards his mother is so obvious to anyone who has eyes to see. I guess I'm not the one with a crazy mother.

Why don't they tell Father this? Maybe, they just don't trust him enough to tell him the truth. That Ms.Nancy is just like my mother. A wolf in sheep's clothing.

"True..." Now, his heavy steps were coming my way. Hoping deep down inside he wouldn't notice that I'm awake, listening to all this.

The moment I felt cold fingertips brushing lightly on my right cheek, Leo swatted his hand away from my face. "Leave her alone. She is sick."

All you do is bother her all damn day. If you that needy for attention go to the strip club or go fuck one of those girls you have on the down low."

"Ouch. Wow, you are getting a little possessive toward someone that is not yours.

Leo. Remember this, toys are just toys. They come and they go," Kevin said sarcastically while walking away, his footsteps getting fainter with time. For a moment, a hint of pain strikes my heart upon hearing those words from his mouth.

Am I just a toy for him to mess around with for a while until he gets tired of me and finds someone new? Now I felt like crying. Why the fuck are these weird emotions trying to suffocate me to death? It's not like we're lovers...

But my feelings and my chaotic thoughts simmered down a bit when I felt Leo plant a soft kiss on my cheek, making my cheeks go warm as the bed rose a bit when Leo stood up to leave.

When the door shut, I couldn't help but stay still on the bed, thinking about the soft kiss on my right cheek. My poor heart throbs harshly against my ribcage the more I thought about the soft kiss he left.

Damn. They are both messing with my heart. And I don't know what to believe or feel anymore.

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See you next time 🍭