The kitchen was quiet, save for the rhythmic chopping of vegetables as Awa worked her knife through carrots and potatoes. She was trying to stay focused, keep her hands moving, and her mind clear, but it wasn't working. Her thoughts kept circling back to the things she was desperately trying to avoid—Tina and Forrest. Specifically, Tina and Forrest together.
It made no sense to her, no matter how much she tried to rationalize it. Her sister—her little sister—and Forrest Quinn, an 18-year-old high school intern. Every time she thought of them, images she didn't want to think about crept into her head. Tina's laughter from the phone call earlier in the day still echoed in her mind, that soft, almost embarrassed giggle, and Forrest's muffled voice in the background, teasing her.
The image of them together, in bed, flashed through her mind again, uninvited, and Awa's grip on the knife tightened. Her irritation spiked as she sliced the vegetables a little harder than she should have. She wasn't jealous, she told herself over and over. She couldn't be. This was about Tina—protecting her. Forrest was younger, he was her intern, and Tina should have known better than to mix her personal life with work. It had nothing to do with how handsome Forrest was or how oddly captivating his presence seemed to be whenever he was around.
She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it. Just as she reached for another potato, her hand slipped, and the blade nicked her finger.
"Damn it!" she hissed, yanking her hand back. A small cut bloomed on her fingertip, blood welling up almost instantly. Irritated, she brought her finger to her mouth and sucked on it, feeling the sharp sting of pain. "Perfect."
Her thoughts were too tangled, too chaotic. She needed to stop obsessing over things that didn't concern her—or at least, that shouldn't concern her. She was better than this, stronger than this. But every time she tried to push the images out of her mind, they rushed back in, more vivid than before.
The sound of a key rattling in the front door made her tense. Awa froze, still holding her finger to her mouth as she heard Tina walk in. Her sister's footsteps were light and carefree, echoing through the quiet apartment as the door clicked shut behind her.
"Hey, Awa!" Tina's voice carried through the small hallway as she entered, sounding far too cheerful for Awa's liking. "What's for dinner? I'm starving!"
Awa didn't respond immediately. She turned her back to the doorway, focusing on the vegetables in front of her, trying to keep her voice calm, trying to swallow the frustration bubbling inside her. "Just making some stew," she replied, keeping her words short and clipped.
Tina appeared in the kitchen doorway, still dressed in her clothes from the night before. Her hair was slightly tousled, and there was a glow about her—a glow that Awa couldn't stand. Tina looked... blissfully happy.
"How was your date?" Awa asked, the question forced through gritted teeth. She kept chopping, not trusting herself to meet her sister's eyes.
"Oh my God, it was amazing!" Tina launched into her story, clearly not noticing the tension in the room. "We stayed up all night talking—Forrest is such a cool guy. I mean, I know he's in high school, but seriously, he knows so much! We talked about everything—like history, mythology, all this lore and stuff. He's a total nerd, but in the best way. And the way he tells stories, Awa, it's like he just pulls you in. I never would've guessed someone like him would be so—"
Awa's jaw tightened, her knife coming down on the cutting board with a loud thunk. She could feel the heat rising in her face, her frustration boiling over. Enough.
"So, what, now you're in love with him?" Awa snapped, turning around abruptly, her eyes flashing with barely contained anger. She couldn't take it anymore. Tina's excitement, her casual dismissal of the situation—it all felt like too much. "He's your intern, Tina! You're supposed to be his boss, not... not whatever this is!"
Tina blinked, clearly taken aback by Awa's sudden outburst. "Whoa, where is this coming from?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you even talking about?"
Awa set the knife down, her hands shaking slightly as she wiped them on a towel. "I'm talking about you and Forrest," she said, her voice sharp and biting. "You're supposed to set boundaries, Tina. You can't just... do this with him. He's younger than you, he works for you—how do you think this looks?"
Tina's expression shifted from confusion to mild amusement. "Awa, relax," she said with a laugh, waving her hand dismissively. "It's not a big deal. Forrest is 18. I'm 22. It's not like there's some huge age gap here. Besides, it's not like we're doing anything illegal."
Awa's stomach twisted at the casual way Tina brushed it off. "You're his boss," she repeated, her voice rising. "That's not something you can just wave away, Tina! You're supposed to set an example, not get involved with your intern."
Tina crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Since when did you become the morality police? I thought you didn't care about my love life."
"I don't care about your love life," Awa shot back, her face flushed with anger. "But this... this is different. You're mixing personal and professional, and it's going to blow up in your face if you're not careful."
Tina raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by Awa's intensity. "Okay, first of all, it's none of your business. And second, nothing is going to blow up in my face, except for maybe his load. Forrest and I are fine. You need to chill."
Awa clenched her fists at her sides, her whole body tense. Tina wasn't listening—she didn't understand. And Awa couldn't even explain why it mattered so much to her. The more Tina waved it off, the more the frustration clawed at her insides.
"You think you know everything, don't you?" Awa snapped, her voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "You think because you're four years older than him, it doesn't matter. But it does. You need to be responsible, Tina. You can't just do whatever you want because it feels good."
Tina stared at her, wide-eyed, and then let out a harsh laugh. "Wait, are you actually mad because I'm seeing someone younger than me? Or are you mad because it's Forrest?"
Awa's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening at Tina's words. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Tina was watching her, her expression shifting as if she'd suddenly realized something.
"Oh my God," Tina said, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Is that it? Are you... are you jealous?"
Awa's face burned with embarrassment and anger. "Jealous?" she repeated, her voice high and incredulous. "Of what?"
Tina raised her hands in mock surrender. "I don't know, Awa. You're the one freaking out over me and Forrest. I thought maybe you had a crush or something."
Awa felt something snap inside her. "You're unbelievable," she hissed. "You can't just accuse me of that. I'm not jealous of you! I'm just trying to look out for you, but clearly, you don't care."
Tina's expression hardened, her arms crossing again. "Look out for me? You're acting like I'm some kid who doesn't know what I'm doing. I'm an adult, Awa. I can handle my own relationships. You don't have to act like Mom."
Awa flinched at the comparison. The mention of their mother, who had always been gentle but strict, hit a nerve she didn't realize she had. "I'm not trying to be Mom," she said through gritted teeth. "I just don't want you to make a mistake you'll regret."
Tina's face softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. "Awa, you need to stop. You can't control everything. Forrest is a good guy, and I like him. You don't get to tell me who I can or can't be with."
Awa felt her anger deflate, replaced by a deep sense of shame. She was angry, yes, but she also knew why. It wasn't about Tina or Forrest—it was about her own feelings, feelings she didn't want to admit to herself. The truth was, seeing Tina with Forrest made something inside her twist in ways she didn't want to acknowledge.
Tina sighed, brushing past Awa to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. "I don't know why you're so worked up about this," she said, her tone softer but still frustrated. "But you need to let it go. Forrest and I are fine. If you can't deal with that, then that's your problem."
Awa didn't say anything as Tina left the kitchen, her footsteps fading down the hall. She stood there, alone, her hands shaking with the intensity of everything she was feeling. She didn't know whether to scream or cry. The conversation had gone so wrong, and now, her relationship with Tina felt strained in a way it never had before.
Later that night, Awa found herself staring at the ceiling of her bedroom, unable to sleep. Her mind was still racing from the argument, from the realization that she had let her emotions get the better of her. But it wasn't just the argument—it was everything. Tina, Forrest, the strange pull she felt toward a man she barely knew, the jealousy that gnawed at her even though she had no right to feel it.
Unable to take the silence anymore, Awa threw off the covers and got out of bed. She needed to clear her head, and there was only one thing that helped when she felt like this: running.
She quickly changed into her running clothes, laced up her shoes, and grabbed her keys. The apartment was quiet as she slipped out the door, the cool night air greeting her as she stepped onto the street. Without a second thought, Awa took off, her feet pounding against the pavement as she headed toward the riverbank.
The city was peaceful at this hour, the streets mostly empty, save for the occasional car or late-night walker. Awa's breaths came in rhythmic gasps as she pushed herself harder, faster, trying to outrun the storm of emotions inside her.
When she reached the riverbank, she slowed her pace, her breath heavy and labored as she jogged along the path. The moonlight reflected off the water, casting a pale glow across the landscape. It should have been calming, but Awa's mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings she couldn't escape.
Just as she was about to turn back, her heart lurched in her chest.
A figure was running toward her, their silhouette dark against the backdrop of the night. As the person drew closer, Awa's heart stopped, her breath catching in her throat.
It was Forrest.
He slowed as he approached, his eyes locking with hers, his expression unreadable in the dim light. Awa stood frozen, her pulse racing, her emotions a tangled mess. She didn't know what to say, didn't know what she was supposed to feel.
All she knew was that, once again, Forrest Quinn had appeared in her life at exactly the moment she didn't expect him to.
And she had no idea what to do next.