My Jealous Stepbrother
LET'S PLAY

I could only accept, Zack didn't look like he had any intentions of taking back his offer, and I was in too much of a hurry to waste any more time, so without hesitation we hurried out of the park.

A few steps away from the house, Zack stopped our progress. I frowned, confused by his sudden gesture. "What's wrong?" I asked, looking for an explanation.

Zack smiled tenderly and gestured toward my hair. "It's just that you have something here," he said softly, carefully sliding his hand through my mane. His deft fingers fixed an unruly lock that was obstructing my vision, gently moving it back. Suddenly, he moved too close, I was immobile when his lips were almost brushing mine. Instinctively, I pulled back sharply, surprised by his unexpected advance.

"Zack!" I exclaimed, my voice laden with confusion and surprise. Bewilderment flashed in my eyes as I jerked back, trying to process what had just happened. Did Zack want to kiss me? How could that be possible?

But before I could replace the words to express my astonishment, Zack's face quickly pulled away and he ended up on the floor, holding his cheek in obvious pain. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing!

The impact of the blow echoed through the air. I was shocked and confused, as if the world had stopped at that very moment. I didn't understand how everything had escalated so quickly.

Ryan's figure emerged in front of me, his fists still tense and anger burning in his eyes. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he roared indignantly, his voice cutting and full of fury. The blow he had delivered to Zack echoed in the silence of the moment, shattering the illusion of peace that surrounded us.

The face of Zack who lay on the ground, still stunned by the blow, reflected a mixture of surprise and pain, and his trembling hand held the injured cheek. On his face was reflected a slight smile that he erased immediately when my eyes met his. I was puzzled, and could not believe that the situation had reached this point.

"Ryan, wait," I whispered, trying to calm the storm that was raging. "It's not what it sounds like. Zack was just..."

Ryan, approached me slowly but I knew he wouldn't hurt me. His voice, laden with frustration, slipped through the empty spaces of silence. "I don't want to hear any more excuses," he whispered, but his words echoed loudly within me.

I tried to speak, tried to explain the truth to him, but the words stuck in my throat. The feeling of helplessness engulfed me, leaving me without a proper response. And then, Zack's words surprised me and filled me with bewilderment. "What happens between us is none of your business," he stated, his eyes filled with unexpected determination.

We're nothing more than friends. Why did Zack say that?

"It's not what you think, Ryan," I muttered, struggling to replace the right words. "Zack and I are just friends. I asked him for help and-"

"I don't want to know the details," Ryan interrupted me in a breathy voice. The pain in his eyes was heartbreaking.

After Zack left, I walked into the house with Ryan hot on my heels. His anger was evident, but I should have been angry too. He had no business reacting that way, he was acting immature.

"I can't believe you let yourself be manipulated like a womanizer like him. I thought you were smarter," Ryan said, disgusted and disappointed. His words hit me like a hard slap in the face, but I knew I couldn't let myself get carried away in pain and frustration.

"Whatever is going on between Zack and me is in no way your business," I replied, trying to remain calm even though my heart was pounding. I tried to explain that there was nothing more to it than friendship, but I realized it wasn't worth justifying anymore. "So what if we kiss or whatever, it's no big deal," I said with determination.

"Ah, so it's no big deal. I guess you just go around kissing anyone," Ryan said sarcastically, letting his disappointment slip. His cutting words dug into my chest like razors, making me feel a mixture of indignation and sadness. "I can kiss and be with whoever I want. And just so you know, I'm very selective with who I allow to touch my lips," I stated, showing my pride amidst the tension.

"Oh, is that so? Then why have you kissed me before?" asked Ryan, his voice laden with confusion and a trace of pain.

"I didn't kiss you, you kissed me," I replied.

"Is kissing me just a game to you?" he asked with bitterness in his voice.

"So what if it was," I whispered boldly. A defiant spark flashed in my eyes as I braced myself for Ryan's response.

"Well, I'm going to play too," he declared with determination in his voice. With purposeful steps, he approached me and wrapped a firm hand around my waist. His other hand gently held the back of my neck, pulling me even closer to him. Then, his lips met mine in a kiss that tingled every fiber of my being.

At first, I felt a mixture of pain and anger, and an impulse to pull away from him. But as the kiss deepened, something changed. A surge of unfamiliar sensations washed over me, and I let my true feelings wash over me. Was I going to let go?