My heart felt like it had stopped. “What does it say?” I asked, my voice trembling as I looked at Cyrus, who was staring at the test with a mix of shock and relief.
He slowly turned to me, his eyes wide. “It’s negative.”
A rush of relief surged through me like a tidal wave. I slumped against him, tears of relief streaming down my face. “Thank God,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I clung to him, my whole body shaking with the intensity of my emotions.
Cyrus wrapped his arms around me, his relief evident in the way he held me close. “We dodged a bullet,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head.
I nodded against his chest, my heart finally starting to slow down. “I swear, I’ll be more careful from now on,” I promised, my voice muffled as I spoke into his shirt.
He tightened his embrace, a reassuring gesture that made me feel safe. “We both will,” he vowed softly. “Let’s get out of here.”
Even with the anxiety still simmering in the background, I found a small smile forming on my lips. “I want some ice cream,” I said, trying to shift the mood to something lighter.
Cyrus’s eyes brightened, and he grinned at me. “I’ll get as much as you want.”
We laughed together, our laughter echoing in the small store as we picked out various flavors of ice cream. The simple act of choosing ice cream felt like a small victory, a moment of normalcy after the emotional rollercoaster we’d just been through.
I even decided to buy some for my brothers and Arya. Despite the tension from the previous day, I wanted to mend things a bit, even if they didn’t understand the full reason behind the ice cream.
As we headed to the checkout, Cyrus stopped by the aisle with contraceptives. He picked out ten packs of condoms and made sure I grabbed a generous supply of birth control pills.
“Seriously?” I said, almost laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all.
Cyrus smirked, holding up the condoms with a teasing look. “Better be safe. And get the ones that last for 10 years,” he said with a grin.
I shook my head, amused and slightly exasperated. “And who told you that I’d ever want to sleep with you again?”
“You don’t have a choice, baby girl,” he replied, leaning in to give me a quick peck on the lips.
“Let’s see, horny Bastard” I said.. remembering the word Eva had said…
Back in the car, I looked out the window, my thoughts swirling. The fear and anxiety had been overwhelming, but now, relief was washing over me. I had made it through, and for the moment, everything was okay.
When I got home, I handed out the ice cream to my brothers and Arya. Their surprised reactions were a stark contrast to the anger they had shown me the previous day.
Ezra eyed me warily. “What’s this for?”
“Just because,” I said, trying to sound casual.
Arya, always perceptive, looked at me with concern. “You okay, Selena?”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m good.”
As I walked to my room, I felt a mix of relief and happiness. The scare was over, and though I knew there were lessons to be learned, I was grateful that I didn’t have to face the consequences of a pregnancy. Because if I was… Then I am dead…
~~
“Bro,” Ezra said, looking at Cyrus, who was laughing heartily. “It’s not funny,” Ezra added, snatching the cigarette from Cyrus’s hand.
“It is,” Cyrus said, still chuckling. “She played you.”
Ezra shook his head in disbelief, puffing out a cloud of smoke. “Wow,” he murmured, a bemused look on his face.
“You talked to her yet?” Cyrus asked his tone light and teasing.
“I tried,” Ezra replied with a hint of frustration, “but she’s not picking up my calls.”
Cyrus burst out laughing again. “This is so funny,” he said, shaking his head.
Ezra took another drag from the cigarette, looking thoughtful. “I hope that mysterious girl plays you very soon.”
“Unfortunately, she can’t,” Cyrus said with a smirk.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you think that?”
“Because she likes me a lot,” Cyrus replied, his smirk widening.
“You’re the one playing with her right now,” Ezra pointed out, leaning back.
“Actually,” Cyrus said, his tone shifting slightly, “I think I like her a little.”
Ezra’s laughter turned into a full-blown guffaw. “I think I like her a little,” he mimicked, still laughing.
“What??” Cyrus joined in the laughter, shaking his head. “What’s so funny?”
“You like her, bro,” Ezra said, trying to catch his breath. “Stop with the ‘I think I like her a little’ crap.”
Cyrus shrugged, grinning. “Well, maybe I do.”
Ezra’s laughter slowly faded. “Right back to Eva,” he said, a frown appearing. “She’s ignoring me now. After everything, that’s absurd.”
“You played her first, so calm down,” Cyrus said, trying to be reassuring. “She might want you back, or maybe she’s just moved on and wants to play you like you did with her.”
Ezra looked unnerved. “Now you’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“Or you can just ask your sister,” Cyrus suggested. “Maybe she can give you a hint.”
Ezra’s face darkened. “Selena would rather cut her throat and feed it to the cows than tell me anything Eva told her.”
“Try your luck,” Cyrus said, shrugging. “Maybe bribe her with something she’s always wanted.”
Ezra considered this, then nodded thoughtfully. “I think you’re a little more brilliant than I am,” he admitted, making both of them laugh.
“I’ve always been,” Cyrus said with a self-satisfied grin.
They both ended up sharing a few more drinks, their laughter echoing into the night as they discussed their complicated relationships. As the evening wore on, they finally decided it was time to head home, their spirits lighter despite the mess they were tangled in.
~~
Ezra stumbled through the front door of their house, his mind still spinning from the night’s events and the alcohol he’d consumed. He made his way through the dimly lit hallway, past the rooms of his other siblings, until he reached Selena’s door.
He took a deep breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He had to talk to her, and he knew it couldn’t wait until morning. He raised his hand to knock but hesitated, his knuckles hovering just above the door. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but he needed to figure it out fast.
Ezra knocked softly. The sound echoed in the quiet house. He waited, his heart pounding. After a few moments, he heard shuffling from inside the room and then the door creaked open.
Selena stood in the doorway, her expression shifting from surprise to concern as she took in Ezra’s appearance. “Ezra? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and worry.
Ezra sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Can I come in?” he asked his tone more pleading than he intended.
Selena stepped aside, allowing him to enter. The room was neat, the faint glow of a bedside lamp casting a warm light across the walls. Ezra sat on the edge of her bed, his shoulders slumping as he tried to find the right words. Selena perched on the edge of her desk chair, watching him with an unreadable expression.
“I… I need to talk,” Ezra said finally, his voice heavy with the weight of his emotions. “I know you’re probably tired right now but tonight’s been rough.”
Selena nodded, her gaze softening. “What happened?” she asked gently.
Ezra took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. “Cyrus and I were talking earlier. It’s about Eva. She’s been ignoring me, and it’s driving me crazy. I know I messed up, but I didn’t think things would turn out like this.”
Selena looked at Ezra with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Ignoring you?? Why?” she asked, her tone betraying her genuine interest.
Ezra’s frustration was palpable. “She said something about meeting someone else,” he replied, his face reflecting his irritation.
Selena’s eyes widened slightly, and she stifled a laugh, struggling to maintain her composure. “Fuck it,” Ezra muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “I knew she was lying.”
“I didn’t say she was lying,” Selena quickly clarified, though her amusement was evident.
“Then why did you laugh?” Ezra asked, his frustration turning to confusion.
Selena’s laughter broke through despite her attempts to suppress it. “I’m sorry, it’s just… watching you get played by my best friend is almost poetic,” she said, her amusement mingling with a touch of satisfaction.
Ezra’s expression hardened. “It’s not funny,” he said bluntly.
Selena’s laughter faded, but she still wore a small, knowing smile. “What do you want from me?” she asked, her tone softening.
Ezra sighed heavily. “Did she meet someone else?” he asked, his voice laced with desperation.
Selena shook her head slowly. “If she said she met someone else, then she probably has,” she replied.
Ezra’s frustration was clear. “Come on, Selena. Can’t you just tell me? I like her, and all this is driving me crazy.”
Selena’s expression turned serious. “She cried for days because of you, Ezra. Do you know what that’s like?” she asked, her voice filled with an edge of pain.
Ezra fell silent, the weight of Selena’s words sinking in. “You all think you can just break hearts and get away with it,” she continued. “But she didn’t mention any new guy to me.”
Ezra nodded slowly, absorbing her words. “Goodnight, Selena,” he said, his voice subdued.
“Goodnight,” Selena replied as he turned to leave.
Ezra walked away from Selena’s room, his footsteps echoing down the dimly lit hallway. Frustration and confusion stirred inside him. It’s not like he was gonna get something out of Selena but he was even met with laughter and a harsh reminder of his mistakes.
Selena’s mixed look of sympathy and amusement had cut deeper than her words. It underscored just how badly he’d hurt Eva and how out of control everything had become.
As he walked, he replayed their conversation. Selena’s mention of Eva crying for days and the pain he had caused haunted him. He had been so wrapped up in his issues that he had overlooked the damage he’d done to Eva.
When he reached his room, he shut the door quietly and sat heavily on the bed. The silence of the room contrasted sharply with the chaos in his mind. He stared at the ceiling, trying to process everything Selena had said.
The thought of Eva being with someone else gnawed at him, but it was the realization of his stupidity that stung the most. How had things gotten so bad? Why hadn’t he seen sooner how much pain he’d caused?
Ezra sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.
He got up and began pacing, his thoughts racing. He needed to find a way to talk to Eva, apologize, and make things right. But more than that, he needed to figure out what he truly wanted from their relationship… and he wanted her…
SELENA
I smiled as I walked into the living area, where Mom and Dad were chatting. Mom’s big, pregnant belly was prominently visible as Dad helped her settle comfortably.
“When’s he going to be out?” I asked, kneeling beside Mom and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, then doing the same for Dad.
“Soon enough,” Dad replied with a gentle smile.
“Almost late for class,” I said, touching Mom’s stomach affectionately. “Goodbye, my favorite brother,” I added, patting her belly lightly.
“Bye, honey,” Mom said warmly. I waved and headed out to the garage.
At school, I rushed to my classroom, only to find that Eva hadn’t shown up yet. “She’s late,” I muttered, taking my seat. The professor soon arrived, and class started without her.
The entire period passed, and Eva was still absent. My worry grew with each passing minute. What could be wrong?
As the bell rang, Eva finally walked into the classroom. She looked far from her usual cheerful self. My heart sank seeing her distressed expression.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, approaching her. Her eyes were red and filled with tears. Without a word, she burst into sobs.
“Eva, what’s wrong?” I asked urgently, pulling her into a hug. “If it’s about Ezra, I’ll handle it,” I added, trying to offer some comfort.
“No… it’s not him,” Eva managed to say between tears. My confusion deepened.
“Seriously?” I asked, trying to make sense of the situation. Eva nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m pregnant, Selena,” she finally said, her voice trembling with emotion.
My heart stopped.
This has to be a joke!!!
TBC