Reyna’s POV
“Stephanie, wait!” I called out, running after her down the hallway. My heart was racing, and I could feel the panic rising in my chest.
She’d seen us-seen me and Jake-and I knew exactly what was going through her mind. I had to explain, had to make her understand it wasn’t what it looked like.
She didn’t stop at first, just kept walking, her pace brisk and determined. But I kept going, my feet hitting the floor faster until I finally caught up to her, grabbing her arm gently to stop her.
“Please, Stephanie,” I said, breathless. “It’s not what you think.”
She turned around slowly, and then, she narrowed her eyes, but I could see the judgment in her eyes. Her arms were still crossed over her chest, her eyebrows raised in that way that told me she was not buying any of it.
“Really?” she said, her voice cool. “Then why don’t you tell me what’s going on, Reyna? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve got some serious explaining to do.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s not what you think, I swear. I only went to Jake’s room to check on him, to ask him a couple of questions, but when I got there, he was hurt-really hurt. I tried to help him, and… it just… it just happened. I didn’t mean for it to. It was a mistake.”
I knew it would be difficult for her to believe my story, but it was at least worth the try. It wasn’t as if I owed Stephanie any explanation for my actions, but I didn’t want her to think I was a play girl. No I wasn’t!
“You have to believe me Stephanie, it was a mistake,”
Stephanie’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “A mistake? The other day, it was you and John kissing. Now, today it’s you and Jake. So, tell me, Reyna, what’s really going on? Which one of them is your man?”
I expected the reaction. I would have done the same thing too. She had seen me and John kiss each other, and seeing me and Jake kissing now was definitely enough reason to react the way she was doing.
“Look, it’s not what you think,”
“I know I don’t have the right to meddle… to act like I deserve an explanation, but don’t you think what you are doing is wrong?” Stephanie’s tone was accusatory.
I felt the blood drain from my face, like I was some kind of evil person. But I wished Stephanie could understand my plight.
Kissing Jake was not out of love. I can’t say I love him, but for John.., I knew it was out of love. I just can’t explain the feeling that always pulls me to Jake. Maybe he was right after all. But I didn’t want that, especially not with someone who doesn’t see the need for a long term commitment.
My mind was spinning, but I had to say something, anything to make her believe me.
“It’s not like that,” I pleaded, my voice shaking. “With John… that was real, but with Jake, I don’t know what happened. He was in so much pain, and I was just trying to help him, and… I don’t know, it just… it just happened. But it was a mistake. Please, you have to believe me.”
Stephanie stared at me for a long moment, her arms still crossed, her expression doubtful.
“You expect me to believe that? That it was just an accident? You think the brothers are going to see it that way if they find out? Come on Rey,”
I felt a cold chill run down my spine. The last thing I wanted was for John and Jake to turn against each other because of me.
They were brothers, and whatever this was, it wasn’t worth tearing them apart. It’s bad enough that they weren’t really living as brothers, even if they made it look like everything was fine between them.
“Please, Stephanie,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Whatever you saw… just keep it between us. I don’t want them to become enemies because of this. It was a mistake, and it won’t happen again, I promise.”
Stephanie sighed, the hard look in her eyes softening just a little. “Reyna, I know I’m in no position to question you about how you live your life, because you’re an adult, but I want you to be honest with yourself. What do you even want? You’ve got both brothers tangled up in this, and you’re not being honest with yourself. So, who is it? Who do you really care about? Jake or John?”
I opened my mouth, but the words felt stuck in my throat. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I knew the answer. I had always known the answer.
“I love John,” I finally admitted, the truth falling from my lips like a weight lifted from my chest. “It’s always been John.”
Just as the words left my mouth, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind me. I turned slowly, my heart stopping when I saw John standing there in the hallway, his expression frozen in shock.
He had heard everything.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop, the air thick with tension. John stood there, his eyes wide, looking from me to Stephanie and back again, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he had just heard.
“John…” I whispered.