Chapter 3

The moment Cole offered to let Maya handle the engagement party, I sensed something was off.

But Mom and Dad swore up and down.

"Rain, an engagement is just like a wedding. Once in a lifetime."

"We would never let Maya fool around at something this important."

Cole also talked me down, over and over.

"Maya just wants to share the burden of planning. She wants you to be the most beautiful bride-to-be."

I finally gave in.

While the family took Maya out shopping.

I dug through the drawer and found the USB drive labeled "Rain's Greatest Hits."

I plugged it into my laptop.

The video started. A ripple of snickering.

Hearing those familiar voices, cold sweat beaded down my back.

In the video, my parents and sister took turns coaxing twelve-year-old me to finish a birthday cake.

I had a mouthful of black-and-white gunk.

I asked carefully.

"Mom, Dad, what's this cake made of? I really can't eat anymore."

The moment I swallowed, ten-year-old Maya burst into howling laughter.

"It's dog food and toothpaste, you idiot! Hahaha!"

"God, you're so stupid. You'll eat anything! Dog food and toothpaste!"

They filmed me jamming my fingers down my throat, gagging.

My parents couldn't even hold their phones steady, laughing so hard the footage shook.

Then the next clip jumped in.

Me waking up to a fake snake in my bed. I fainted.

Me locked in a broken storage closet, wetting myself in terror.

Me having my secret crush diary broadcast, branded a stalker freak through all of high school.

Every ugliest, most pathetic, most degrading moment.

Maya had turned them into a prank compilation, complete with sound effects.

Set to play at my happiest moment, my engagement party, in front of all our relatives and friends.

And all of it, my parents knew. Cole knew.

My hands and feet went ice cold.

My stomach heaved. I couldn't hold it in.

I stumbled into the bathroom and vomited, heaving until nothing came out.

When I could breathe again.

I dragged myself back, deleted every single video, and replaced them with the recordings I had prepared.

The family came back from shopping.

Mom and Dad waved me over.

"The engagement dress is back. Try it on."

I took it carefully.

Maya clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes.

"Stop acting. You have a persecution complex or something? Like everyone's out to get you."

I didn't respond. I just looked at Mom and Dad.

"Mom, Dad. Do you really want me to be happy?"

They paused, then laughed.

"Silly girl. What kind of question is that?"

"Games are just games. It doesn't mean we don't love you."

They held my hands, faces innocent, like they knew nothing about tomorrow's prank.

Cole came over, hands on my waist.

"Alright. That's just how Maya is."

"If you don't like it, I'll be stricter with her. As her future brother-in-law."

Cole brushed it off like it was nothing.

I pretended not to see the excited glances flickering between them, anticipating my humiliation.

I calmly removed Cole's hands.

"Thank you, Mom, Dad, and Maya."

"As my most beloved family, I also have a gift for you. At the engagement party."