“What the fuck are you talking? He doesn’t get into my bed every night, and I don’t sleep with him,” Hera yelled at her brother, pacing back and forth in her tiny room, avoiding eye contact. She didn’t want him to know how nervous she’s feeling inside. “I’m not sleeping with him, and I’ll never, ever sleep with him. Period. Get this straight into your thick skull.” She concluded, her face flushed pink in anger. 

He barked a laugh, a loud one. Hera stopped pacing and clenched her teeth, glaring at him. 

‘He’s laughing at me! Oh, how I wish to smash that beautiful face of his.’

“Oh, my God! Seriously, Hera? You just started with PMS symptoms, and you’re already thinking about sleeping with him. Wow! Real progress there, Hera,” he said, mocking appreciation meanwhile Hera glared at him with utmost disgust. If only looks could kill..

“Ooh! Hera is angry!” Danny stated. He widened his eyes and held up his hands in mock surrender. He laughed some more and then he became deadly serious. His eyes suddenly turned cold as ice. 

‘Bipolar much?’ 

His expressions changed so fast, Hera could swear he was bipolar. 

“Tell me, Hera. How’ll you convince mom and dad when I show them your picture?” He stopped for a second or two, bent his head to her level, and looked into her narrowed angry eyes. Then, he whispered his next words. “Pictures of you kissing him. In his bed.” With that said, he smiled at her, a sickly sugary sweet smile.

‘Ah, that sweet, innocent, heartwarming smile! Could’ve fooled me.’ 

Hera’s thoughts were interrupted when Danny opened his filthy mouth again. “Next time you better watch your tongue and think twice before you dare threaten me, Hera,” he said through his clenched teeth, warning her. But, all Hera could think was about the pictures he mentioned.

“You keep my pictures?” She exclaimed in horror. “An indecent ones at that,” he added, making her cringe. “That’s so sick. I’m your sister, Danny! How could you?” She asked, disbelief written all over her face. Her brother pretended to think for a second or two before replying. 

“On second thoughts, you’re right. Honestly, it gets awkward to keep intimate pictures of your best friend with your sister. So, don’t worry, dear SISTER, I don’t have it with me,” he said, emphasizing the word, sister. Could he be any more sarcastic than that? Hera knew he was mocking their sibling bond. 

“But I only have to open his social media accounts to get those cute, romantic pictures of you two,” he said smirking arrogantly.

Hera laughed humorlessly at the irony. 

“Romantic? God! You’re delusional, Danny. I don’t want anything to do with that best friend of yours,” Hera swore. She tried to open the door to walk out of the room, silently announcing that this conversation was over. But to her annoyance, Danny wouldn’t let go. Seizing her arm in his tight grip, he yanked her back into the room abruptly from the door. And when she looked into his eyes, he was furious. 

“Don’t you dare, walk out on me, Hera. I’m not done yet with our talk,” he said, glaring at her. Hera tried to pull her hand out of his firm grasp. “Let go, Danny. I said I’m not interested in that so-called best friend of yours. I hate him so much that he could go die and all I care about is for him to vanish from my life,” she said, successfully freeing her hand from his hold. 

“Seriously, Hera? Look at you, being an ungrateful bitch that you’re. Consider yourself lucky that he even looks at you. I don’t know why he’s so crazy about you, though. He can do so much better. You don’t deserve him,” he stated, and he sounded so repulsive, Hera couldn’t believe he said that. His words hit the nerve. She held back the tears threatening to spill any moment. 

‘Consider myself lucky? Wow, how ironic!’ 

Hera wouldn’t be nursing a broken heart if he was crazy for her. Though, Danny’s words hurt, Hera couldn’t deny the truth in what he just said. His best friend had proved multiple times that he could do better. Hera had no idea why he even claims to love her. She wasn’t bad-looking at all. Still, she wasn’t enough for him. Her heart, her love wasn’t enough. 

Sometimes Hera would feel ugly and think herself unworthy. She’d stopped dolling up to make herself pretty. That’s why she’d no interest in wearing makeup or dressing up in fancy clothes. There’s no point in trying to impress anyone. 

‘Heartbreaks always suck. Don’t they?’

“I don’t want him either. I can do better too, Danny, and I assure you that I can find a better boyfriend for myself. You and he can go fuck each other,” Hera said, eyes shooting daggers at him. He gritted his teeth in anger. She matched his temper equally, not ready to back off. 

“You’ll find another boyfriend?” Danny asked and laughed in ridicule. “Oh, yeah, try, Hera. I would like to see who dares date you. I promise I’ll break all his bones. Nobody hits on my best friend’s girl, not under my watch,” he swore. 

‘Of course, you would.’ 

Hera thought bitterly. She knew very well that he meant every word he spoke. His last statement broke her heart. 

‘Nobody hits on my best friend’s girl.’

Hera scoffed. 

She wondered how it would feel to hear him say for once, “Nobody hits on my sister”. But she knew that would never happen. She always craved to feel the protectiveness a brother would provide for a sister. Unfortunately, Danny could never be polite to her, let alone be a loving and protective brother. He always chose his friend over her. He hated her to the point of repulsion, and Hera had no clue why.

“Some protective brother you are!” 

She spat the words out in disgust, disbelief, and in an utter disappointment.