After school that evening, I was at my usual
spot, selling hot dogs at the booth by the back
gate.
I just finished cooking the first batch when Jake
showed up.
He always comes by for a hot dog every night.
But with what happened this morning, I was
sure he’d skip tonight.
The yellow light on the cart illuminated his
handsome face, all intense and cocky. He had
one hand shoved in his pocket, not beating
around the bush, “You’re into me?”
I paused, flipping the dogs. After a minute, I
mumbled a quiet “Yeah“.
<
Jake raised an eyebrow. “I’m not into girls like
you.”
His tone was casual, not like a warning or
anything. More like he was stating a fact.
I stayed quiet for a bit, then said, “I know.”
Jake was good looking and rich. He had that
bad boy thing going on and was pretty famous
around school.
He didn’t do relationships, at least not anything serious. He’s got a new girlfriend every month
or so. And they’re always tall, super hot, and
have that cold, distant look. Definitely not like
me, the quiet book nerd.
I’d seen girls from the art program begging him
to take them back after he dumped them. He’d
yank his arm away and say, “We had a deal,
nothing serious. Don’t get emotional.”
The poor girls would be crying, shivering in the
cold. Jake wouldn’t even flinch, just throw his
jacket at them.
I put the hot dog in a bag and handed it to
Jake.
“That’ll be ten bucks. Cash or card, whatever.”
Jake pulled out his phone. “Did you raise your
prices?”
“Yup.”
The sound of a payment notification echoed
out. Then, another customer showed up.
“Hey, can I get two dogs? How much?”
“That’ll be five dollars.” I said with a smile.
Jake stood there quietly. When the other guy
left, he chuckled, rubbing his chin.
12:09
3 794
“So, you only raised my prices? Mad at me, are
you?”
It was already autumn, and the wind was
howling, making the leaves rustle on the trees.
I clenched my hands, looked straight into his
dark eyes, and said, “If you don’t like me, then
stop messing with me.”
Jake looked stunned for a moment, like he
couldn’t believe what I’d just said.
He scratched the back of his neck. “Is that what
this is? Messing with you?”
I looked down. “I like you, so everything you do
is like messing with me.”
It made no sense, but Jake seemed to
understand. He left after that, but not before
putting a box of chocolates on the table.
<
“Here, this is for the candy you gave me last
time.”
I opened the fancy chocolate box.
And tasted one.
It was sweet.
Last Saturday, I’d found Jake after he got into a fight.
He was a mess, face pale, leaning up against a wall in a dark alley.
I’d crouched down in front of him. “Jake, did you lose?”
He laughed, glaring at me. “I don’t lose fights.”
Then he shut his eyes, all tense, trying to catch his breath. He definitely looked like he’d lost.
He had sweat on his forehead, and his lips were
<
bleeding.
“So, why do you look so bad?”
He barely opened his eyes, “Low blood sugar,
okay? You never seen that before? Brainiac.”
“Got any candy?”
I rummaged through my bag. “I think I do.”
A minute later, Jake just stared at the ginger
candy in my palm.
“Is this even candy?”
“Yeah, it is.” I unwrapped the candy and shoved
it into his mouth.
He frowned, sucked on it for a second. “This
has to be the worst candy in the whole world.”
“….Take it or leave it.”
<
- 3.
12:09
I went home after closing shop.
794
The sound of laughter and chatter came from
inside. My mom and Lily were on the couch
watching TV. They got quieter when they saw
- me.
I stood in the hallway. Lily was leaning on Mom’s shoulder. She rolled her eyes at me, probably still mad about my “confession” this
morning.
Mom didn’t look at me. Her hands were busy
knitting. “I left you some dinner. Go eat.”
I headed toward the table. Lily started talking in
a whiny tone.
“Mom, I want to buy a new dress.”
“You just bought two yesterday, why do you
<
need another?” Mom said, but her tone was
gentle.
“The school’s field day is coming up and I want
to look pretty that day!” Lily stuffed a grape
into Mom’s mouth.
Mom laughed, “I’ll send you some money later,
go pick something out.”
I looked at the table. There was some leftover
rice porridge in the pot. Scraps of fish and
some stir–fried green peppers, with barely any
meat left.
I glanced at the food covers on the side, but
didn’t say anything.
I ate a half bowl of the cold porridge with the
remaining gravy. Then I did the dishes and went
to my room to read.
Not even a minute later, the door swung open.
<
How many times I have to tell you NOT TO
close the door? What are you trying to hide?”
My mom was scolding me.
I sighed. “Okay, I get it.”
She walked right in. “Lily says she’s having
trouble with math, with the SAT coming up, she
needs your help.”
It was a demand, not a request.
“I don’t have time.”
“What do you mean you don’t have time?”
Mom’s voice got louder, “Lily’s your sister. How
much time would it take?”
I’ve been her punching bag for too long.
I closed my book. “My sister, who’s less than
ten minutes younger?”
<
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mom yelled,
spitting in my face.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Lily said from the door. “You
know how my sister’s always been.”
“She has no right to treat you like that,” Mom
said, and banged her fist on the table.
I wanted to laugh. They always managed to make me the bad guy.
I left the house. My mom told me I could just stay out.
Nice.
I walked alone down the street. I remembered
how my parents told me, I took all the nutrients
in the womb, and that’s why my sister was
always sick
<
794
That’s why Mom and Dad didn’t like me. I
blamed myself, and forgave my parents.
I pulled out my phone and tapped open a social
media app.
It was Lily’s account. Her page was full of
happy pictures of her. She’s always been prettier than me.
She’s outgoing, which I’m not.
During family gatherings, people would always compare us. Lily would be in a pretty dress,
playing violin, while I hid in a corner with a
sweater that was falling apart.
One thing was always clear
–
we didn’t look like
twins.
Sometimes they’d say I was good at school, then Mom would get upset. “If Lily wasn’t sick
all the time, she’d probably be better than
I tapped on Lily’s newest post. It was selfies
she took in the classroom. It looked accidental,
but a blurry figure was in the background of
each photo.
It was Jake.
Sometimes he’d be sleeping, or spinning a pen,
or just looking straight at the camera. Lily had
recorded all these moments.
A bunch of comments from familiar names were
underneath the photos.
[Jake always seems to be looking at you! He
definitely has a crush.]
[Isn’t his last girlfriend kinda looked like Lily?]
[They’re so cute together. <3]
[Waiting for Jake to ask her out!]
<
Lily’s reply: [You guys are crazy! I’d never date
that player! He’s the worst! ]
She added a cute cat emoji.
I raised an eyebrow, then put my phone away.
I went to the restaurant where I sometimes
work, said hi to the boss, and changed into my
work uniform.
The manager told me to serve a table in a
private room.
And guess who was there? Jake.
The door was open just a crack. I could only
see their backs.
–
I knew the other person — it was Finn, from first
period.
Finn popped open a beer. “Heard that brainiac
in your class is into you.”
<
I froze. They were talking about me.
Finn leaned back. “What are you gonna do?”
“Nothing.”
Jake was fiddling with a lighter.
“I’m not into the goody–two–shoes type.
They’re usually too clingy.”
I didn’t even react.
I opened the door and walked in.
Jake was surprised. “What are you doing here?”
I refilled his beer. “Following you.”
Jake looked annoyed. “Give it up. It’s not gonna
happen.‘
It seemed like he was trving to warn me.
<
“Okay,” I said, then went to Finn’s side to pour
him some beer.
Finn grinned. “Hey, haven’t we met before?”
I smiled. “I don’t think so, sir.”
“Can I get your number?”
Jake’s knuckles went white as he tapped the
table.
“Knock it off, Finn.”
Finn raised his brows and didn’t say anything
more.
Before I left, I glanced at the lighter in Jake’s hand. Then I moved the “No Smoking” sign in
front of him.
Finn burst out laughing when I walked out.
<
“Dude, that brainiac in your class is something
else.”
Jake didn’t say anything. He just stared at the
sign. He threw the lighter in the trash.
