Helanie:
"That’s his stuff," I stepped aside to show him Norman’s coat. I didn’t know what it was, but the way Kaye was reacting seed a little off.
"Oh, so he ca here and..." Kaye narrowed his eyes at the coat, "...got a bit too comfortable?" It seed like he was talking more to himself now.
"What did he co for?" he asked again. I glanced around and spotted the papers on the table.
"He ca for a signature," I replied, pointing at the docunts.
Kaye walked over to the table, picked up the papers, then slowly turned back to look at .
"He ca here to ask for your signature personally and then just left his coat behind? Since when did he get so comfortable—," he paused, as if he were unraveling so hidden conspiracy.
"I don’t know. He was refusing to leave until I had signed," I responded, still holding the robe in my hands.
It didn’t strike at first, but I noticed the way Kaye was examining before he turned away to pick up his brother’s coat.
I was trying my best to understand what was going through his mind, but his behavior was odd.
"Hmmm," Kaye muttered, pulling his brother’s phone out. His expression grew even more tense as he looked at it. He was probably reading an open chat.
He scrolled through it, then let out a grunt.
"Did he ask you for anything?" His tone was cryptic, but I quickly shook my head, hoping to dismiss any bizarre thoughts he might be having.
"Do you think he ca here to try to threaten into backing down?" I asked, and he sighed.
"I’m certain he didn’t co here to make you back down, especially since he brought the papers. Did he propose so kind of deal? Was there any chance he thought that if he sohow made Maximus lose—" he trailed off when he saw my frown.
"You think—I won because I offered your brother sothing?" I finally understood what he was insinuating.
He gave my robe a quick glance, almost as if to confirm my question, then adjusted his shirt and responded, "It wouldn’t be your fault. You didn’t have a choice. I’m not blaming you—"
"Oh heavens! You think I slept with your brother to win this round of the test? You actually think I would sleep with my stepbrother and then accept the card to officially be called his stepsister?" I covered my face in frustration, realizing just how far Kaye was taking this.
"Then explain how you could have beaten Maximus! And then—Norman coming here after hours with these papers for a signature? And he leaves his coat...his phone with your chat open, and he was looking into your background—" Kaye couldn’t seem to finish a single thought, jumping from one point to the next.
"Oh no! That’s why his girlfriend thought—" Kaye frowned, pacing anxiously as he muttered, "Norman and you—"
At that, I felt a surge of anger. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
"Your brother and I hate each other. Do you want to know why he ca here?" I was done playing along. I could piece things together just as well, and I was ready to prove I had no interest in that jerk of a man he calls his brother.
Kaye turned to face , his eyes sharp and demanding answers.
"He ca here because he wanted to sign Emt’s card quickly and officially beco your stepsister. He hates that you and Emt care about and probably thinks I’ll end up sleeping with one of you—just like you thought I slept with him to get admitted in the first place. Norman wasn’t even close to Maximus in the ground. I won because I used my brain, not my body. And your brother left in such a hurry because he found it inappropriate to be here with in a bathrobe," I snapped, watching his expression soften slightly.
"That makes sense, too," he muttered under his breath.
"He’d want you as our stepsister rather than..." Kaye stopped mid-sentence, lost in thought. I didn’t know what was going on between him and his brother, but I hated even the thought of being in a situation where I’d have to deal with Norman in that way.
Now that his suspicions seed to settle, Kaye turned to , and his eyes widened slightly when he saw the anger still lingering in my gaze.
"I am—I don’t know. I just saw you in a robe, then my brother’s coat, and it’s... unlike him to visit soone so...," he grimaced, and I noticed how anxious he looked. He could barely get his words out. He was all over the place, stuttering and fidgety.
"It’s okay. It’s not like you really know , or I know you. I just hope you’ll ask directly next ti instead of jumping to conclusions. I’m not perfect, Kaye, but I know my boundaries. My stepbrothers are where I draw the line." The mont I said that, his face went pale.
I don’t know much about n or how they react to certain things, but his expression was so conflicted.
"So, you’ve accepted us as your brothers?" There was a hint of sadness in his voice.
But I was sure of my answer. "I have."
He gave a slight nod, stepping back. "Alright then, sis! Congratulations."
His tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I couldn’t understand why he’d be upset that I accepted him as my stepbrother. Was he doing all this for so other reason? Did he not want to see him as a sibling?
"Kaye—the thing is—" I felt an urge to explain why I had to accept him as my stepbrother, but why did I feel that way? It wasn’t like any other relationship could happen between us.
"No! I understand. Thank you for clearing things up. I’ll be on my way, and I’ll leave these here. Just sign them." He wouldn’t even look in the eye as he turned, grabbed his brother’s belongings, and dashed out of the room.
The mont he was out of sight, I felt a wave of nausea. I barely made it to the bathroom before I started throwing up.
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