Jae Starling leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling of his room. The echoes of the day’s events still rang in his ears—the confrontation in the courtyard, the secret meeting with Kaye, and the lingering tension with Graeme. But now, alone in his sanctuary, his thoughts turned to the complexities of his own family.
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Jae’s family was the epitome of high society elegance. His mother, Alice Starling, was a renowned socialite and philanthropist, known for her beauty and charm. His father, Damon Starling, was a powerful businessman with a reputation for being ruthless in the boardroom. Together, they created a facade of perfection that masked the cracks within their family.
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As the youngest of three siblings, Jae often felt the weight of expectations bearing down on him. His older brother, Sam, was the golden child—a JK Arendale, the most prestigious university in the Chain Islands, graduate, with a successful career in maintaining the family business. His sister, Evelyn, was a celebrated artist, her works displayed in galleries worldwide. Jae, the star athlete, was supposed to carry on the family legacy of excellence.
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But the reality was far from perfect. Behind closed doors, the Starling household was a battleground of secrets and lies. Jae’s parents’ marriage was a facade, held together by appearances and social obligations. The constant pressure to uphold the family’s image had taken its toll, leading to countless arguments and bitter resentments.
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Jae’s relationship with his father was strained, to say the least. Damon Starling was a demanding man, his expectations often bordering on the impossible. He had little patience for anything less than perfection, and Jae often found himself on the receiving end of his father’s criticism.
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Alice, on the other hand, was more concerned with maintaining their social standing than addressing the issues within the family. She often turned a blind eye to Damon’s harsh treatment of Jae, preferring to focus on her charity events and social gatherings.
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Sighing, Jae pushed himself up from the chair and walked over to his desk. He pulled out a framed photograph of his family, taken years ago at one of their many charity galas. They all looked so happy, so perfect. But Jae knew better. He knew the truth behind those forced smiles.
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His thoughts drifted back to Kaye and their conversation in the old music room. Confessing his feelings to her had been a risk, but it had also been a relief. For once, he had been honest with someone about the turmoil inside him.
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A soft knock on his door broke the silence. “Jae, may I come in?” It was his sister, Evelyn.
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“Sure, come in,” Jae replied, setting the photograph down.
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Evelyn entered, her artistic flair evident in her bohemian attire. She closed the door behind her and sat down on the edge of his bed. “I heard about what happened at school today,” she said gently. “Are you okay?”
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Jae sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just... everything feels so messed up right now.”
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Evelyn nodded, understanding. “I know. We’ve all been there. But you don’t have to go through this alone, you know. We’re family, for better or worse.”
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Jae looked at his sister, grateful for her presence. “Thanks, Evie. It means a lot.”
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Evelyn smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “Anytime, little brother. And if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
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As Evelyn left the room, Jae felt a flicker of hope. Despite the chaos and the pressure, he knew he had someone in his corner. And with the support of his sister, he felt a little more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
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Jae’s thoughts drifted back to the darkest day of his life. He was twelve years old, and his father had been particularly harsh that evening. Damon Starling had berated him for hours, criticizing every aspect of his performance in school and sports. Jae had tried to hold back his tears, but the words cut deep.
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Later that night, Jae had heard a commotion in his father’s study. Curious and worried, he had crept down the hallway, peeking through the slightly ajar door. What he saw would haunt him forever.
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His father, standing by the desk, a gun in his hand. Damon’s face was a mask of despair and anger. Before Jae could react, his father raised the gun to his temple and pulled the trigger. Ever since that night, Sam had resented Jae, and Jae blamed himself for their father's death.
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The memory was a constant shadow in Jae’s mind, a reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of his family’s perfect facade. He had spent years trying to live up to his father’s impossible standards, haunted by the belief that he was somehow responsible for the tragedy.
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Jae shook his head, trying to dispel the painful memories. He had to stay focused, to keep moving forward. With a deep breath, he resolved to face the challenges ahead, knowing that he wasn’t alone in his struggles.
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Jae texted Wiley, but received no response. His need to escape the oppressive weight of his house grew stronger. He pulled out his phone again and sent a message to Kaye: "Hey, are you free? I need to get out of here. Can we meet up?"
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He hoped she would say yes. Anything would be better than being trapped within the dark corners of his four walls, surrounded by memories he couldn’t escape.
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Minutes felt like hours as he waited, pacing his room. Finally, his phone buzzed with a response. He quickly unlocked it to see Kaye's reply.
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"Sure, Jae. Where should we meet?"
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A wave of relief washed over him. He quickly typed back, "How about the old pier? It's quiet and we can talk."
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Kaye agreed, and Jae grabbed his jacket, eager to leave the suffocating atmosphere of his home. As he stepped out the door, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Meeting up with Kaye was the escape he desperately needed.
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I entered my house, the familiar feeling of tension immediately setting in as I heard the front door close behind me. My parents had just gotten home, and I knew that a conversation about the Coach Byrd incident was inevitable.
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My father, strict and a man of few words, sat in the living room with a stern expression. His presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavy. My mother, who usually handled such situations, stood by his side, looking more composed but still concerned.
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"Kaye," my father began, his voice low and controlled. "I heard about the incident with Coach Byrd. You embarrassed us."
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I swallowed hard, the weight of his disappointment pressing down on me. Before I could respond, my mother stepped in.
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"Darling, let me handle this," she said gently, placing a hand on my father's arm. She turned to me, her gaze softening. "Kaye, we need to address this properly. Grounding you won't do much good."
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I could see the disappointment in her eyes, and it cut deep. Our relationship had been strained recently, ever since the past traumas had come to light. But despite everything, she still understood me better than anyone.
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"I've prepared a gift basket for Coach Byrd," she continued. "You will deliver it to him tomorrow and apologize."
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I nodded, hoping that would be the end of it. But my mother wasn't finished.
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"And there's something else," she said, her tone firm but not unkind. "You will be attending the high society gala as a debutant."
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My heart sank. The high society gala was a major event, and the thought of being presented as a debutant was overwhelming. I had hoped for a simpler punishment, but my mother was excellent at exuding her power and authority.
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"You'll need to find a male consort," she added. "Your brother is already consorting someone else."
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I knew better than to protest. If my father stepped in, it would be much worse. My mother's punishments were calculated and strategic, and I knew that refusing would only lead to more trouble.
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"Be on your best behaviour leading up to the gala," she instructed. "It’s of utmost importance to your father."
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I nodded again, my mind racing. The pressure of the upcoming event weighed heavily on me, but I knew I had no choice but to comply.
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"And one more thing," my mother said. "We will be hosting the annual high society luncheon two weeks before the gala. It's a very important and elegant event for the community."
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Great, I thought to myself. Another event to worry about. But I kept my feelings hidden, knowing that any show of resistance would only make things harder.
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"Understood, Mom," I said quietly.
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She nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now go get some rest. You have a lot to prepare for."
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As I retreated to my room, I couldn't help but feel the weight of my parents' expectations pressing down on me. The once comforting walls of my home now felt like a prison, each event and obligation another bar on my cage. I sat on my bed, the echoes of my mother’s words lingering in my mind. There was no escape from the reality of my life, but I resolved to face it with as much strength as I could muster.
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My phone buzzed, breaking the oppressive silence. I picked it up and saw a message from Jae: "Hey, are you free? I need to get out of here. Can we meet up?"
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Desperation to escape the suffocating atmosphere of my house surged within me. I quickly typed back, "Sure, where should we meet?"
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Jae's response came almost immediately: "How about the old pier? It's quiet and we can talk."
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I glanced at the clock. It was late, but I needed to get out. I needed to breathe. I grabbed my jacket and quietly opened my bedroom window, slipping out into the cool night air. Once outside, I ordered an Uber to take me to the pier.
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As I waited for the car to arrive, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Meeting Jae was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Anything was better than being trapped in the oppressive environment of my home.
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The Uber arrived, and I climbed in, giving the driver the address of the old pier. As we drove through the quiet streets, I felt a sense of freedom I hadn't felt in a long time. The night was dark and full of possibilities, and for the first time in my life, I’m exhilarated to meet a boy in secret.
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As I walked up to the old pier, I was struck by how magical it looked under the moonlight. The gentle waves lapped against the wooden planks, and the cool air filled my lungs, making me feel like I could finally breathe again. For the first time since the incident, I didn’t feel guilty about wanting to have this experience. This moment with Jae made me feel normal, something I hadn't felt in a long time.
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My mind wandered into the depths of the what ifs. What if Jae finally remembered me from our time at the mental resort? What if I had never gone through those horrible experiences? Would things be different now?
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Jae was already there, leaning against the railing, looking out at the water. His presence exuded a mix of strength and vulnerability that drew me in. As I approached, he turned and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
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"Hey," I said softly, stepping closer to him.
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"Hey," he replied, his voice tinged with relief. "Thanks for meeting me."
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I nodded, feeling the weight of unspoken words between us. "I needed to get out too."
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We stood in silence for a moment, the cool breeze ruffling our hair. The intensity of our emotions was palpable, a magnetic pull that neither of us could ignore. Yet, we both knew acting on those feelings wasn't an option.
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Jae broke the silence, his voice raw with emotion. "You know, Kaye, I've never really talked to anyone about this, but... my dad. He... he committed suicide when I was twelve. I saw it happen."
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The confession hung in the air, heavy with pain and grief. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, offering silent support.
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"He was so harsh, always demanding perfection," Jae continued, his voice trembling. "And after he died, my brother Sam... he resented me. Blamed me. And I've been carrying that weight ever since."
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I squeezed his arm gently, my heart aching for him. "Jae, I'm so sorry. That's an unimaginable burden to carry."
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He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and gratitude. "Thanks, Kaye. It means a lot to finally tell someone. I feel so lonely in my pain sometimes."
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I nodded, understanding all too well. "I know it's not easy to talk about these things. But I'm proud of you for opening up. You don't have to face this alone."
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For a moment, we just stood there, the connection between us growing stronger. The desire to act on our feelings was overwhelming, but we both knew it wasn’t the right time. Instead, we found solace in each other’s presence, a comforting reminder that we weren't alone in our struggles.
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Jae sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I'm sorry for dropping all this heaviness on you. I just... I haven't met someone like you before. I feel this sense of closeness to you ever since Wiley introduced us."
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I felt a warmth spread through me at his words. "I'm glad you feel that way. I feel it too."
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He gave a small smile, the first genuine one of the night. "I admire how you're able to be yourself, not feeling obligated to appease anyone's perception of you."
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I let out a soft laugh. "Well, that's not entirely true. As punishment for mazing Coach Byrd, I'm debuting as a debutant at the high society gala. So much for not appeasing anyone."
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A flicker of jealousy and envy crossed Jae's face at the thought of me being consorted by another guy, but he didn't bring it up. The question hung in the air, unspoken.
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We exchanged pleasant conversation and many childhood memories, discovering how much we actually had in common. The conversation steered into casual banter, and we found ourselves discussing first kisses.
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"You've never had a first kiss?" Jae asked, shock evident in his voice. "That's... wow. You're gorgeous and pure."
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The word "pure" triggered a dark place in my mind. The traumas of my past came rushing back, and I felt myself spiralling. "I... I can't do this," I stammered, stepping back. "This was a mistake."
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I turned to walk away, but Jae grabbed my hand gently. "Kaye, wait. Did I do something wrong?"
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I shook my head, unable to meet his eyes. "It's not you. It's me. I just... I need to go."
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"Let me give you a ride home," he offered, his voice filled with concern.
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The drive home was silent and awkward. The weight of our unspoken words hung heavily in the air. As we neared my house, Jae broke the silence. "I wish we had met before I became friends with Wiley. Things would be different."
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I didn't reply, feeling the loss of him even if we never had each other. I knew this could never happen again because there were too many emotions between us.
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As I got out of the car, I glanced back at Jae, a mix of sadness and hope in my heart. The night had been intense and emotionally raw, and I knew it was just the beginning of something deeper.
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