Double Take

Unexpected News

The next day unfolded with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, the insistent pounding on my door rousing me from the depths of sleep. With a groan, I stumbled out of bed and threw on my robe, the fabric providing a flimsy barrier against the morning chill.

As I swung open the door, my bleary eyes met the weary gaze of my aunt, her features etched with exhaustion. She seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, and the sight of her drained expression tugged at my heartstrings. "Come in," I murmured, stepping aside to let her enter.

Navigating the labyrinth of boxes that littered my apartment, we made our way to the kitchen, where I gestured for her to take a seat at the worn, round table. Without preamble, she launched into the reason for her visit, her words tumbling out in a rush of desperation.

"What is it?" I sais, still tired and just want some more sleep.

"Mya, your cousin, doesn't want to graduate," she explained, her voice tinged with anguish. "She's been skipping school, and I can't seem to convince her to see reason."

The weight of her words settled heavily in the room, casting a pall over the otherwise quiet morning. I felt a knot form in my stomach as I processed the gravity of the situation. My cousin, Mya, was spiraling down a path of self-destruction, and my aunt was at her wit's end trying to intervene.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggled to wrap my mind around the enormity of the task ahead.

"Simple," my aunt replied, her tone deceptively casual given the circumstances. "Just pretend to be her."

I blinked in disbelief, my mind reeling at the audacity of her request. "What?" I exclaimed, unable to contain my incredulity. "Are you serious?"

My aunt nodded, her expression earnest as she implored me to understand. "Please, Y/N, it's just for one year, and you don't have a job anyway," she pleaded, her eyes searching mine for a glimmer of understanding.

I sighed, torn between a sense of duty to my family and the overwhelming sense of unease at the prospect of masquerading as someone else. "Sure," I finally relented, though my voice was tinged with uncertainty.

As my aunt enveloped me in a tight embrace, gratitude etched into every line of her face, I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling of apprehension that settled in the pit of my stomach. How was I supposed to pull this off? I didn't know Mya's personality, her habits, her friends—nothing. It was a daunting task, one that left me feeling utterly unprepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the weight of my impending role as Mya settled heavily on my shoulders, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. My cousin was likely a confident, perhaps even careless individual, someone who might not hesitate to assert themselves or even bully others at school. The mere thought of embodying such traits filled me with a sense of dread—I had no intention of becoming someone I wasn't, regardless of the circumstances.

Determined to clear my head, I decided to embark on a grocery run, hoping that the familiar routine would offer some solace amidst the chaos of my thoughts. After brushing my teeth and completing my morning routine, I cast a critical eye over my reflection in the mirror, silently steeling myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As I made my way out of the building, I was surprised to find Kuroo stepping out at the same time. The realization that he was my neighbor sent a jolt of surprise through me—how had I not known this before? We exchanged a brief glance, a silent acknowledgment of our newfound proximity, before continuing on our separate paths. The air between us was charged with an unspoken tension, and I couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden behind his enigmatic gaze.