Ennemies with benefits

Clash at the corner

Kacy's heart raced as she stared at João, standing in front of her with that infuriating smirk. The memories of their childhood clashes flooded her mind, fueling her annoyance.

"João, I didn't expect to see you," Kacy said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Really? Because I had a feeling you'd be back, ready to cause more trouble," João replied, his smirk widening.

Kacy clenched her fists. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just trying to enjoy my damn time off."

"Sure, that's what you always say. But trouble seems to follow you everywhere, Kacy."

She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Well, maybe if you weren't such an asshole, we wouldn't have any trouble."

João laughed.

Kacy glared at him, feeling the familiar anger rise. "You know what, João? I'm not going to let you ruin my time here. Stay the fuck out of my way."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She needed to cool off before meeting her friend. The encounter had stirred up old feelings she didn't want to deal with right now.

Later that evening, Kacy arrived home to find her mother bustling around the kitchen. "Mom, do we have guests tonight?"

Her mother looked up, smiling. "Yes, João's family is coming over for dinner. Isn't that wonderful?"

Kacy's stomach sank. "Wonderful," she muttered under her breath. "Just what I fucking needed."

Dinner was a nightmare. Kacy found herself seated directly across from João, their parents oblivious to the tension between them. Every comment João made seemed designed to irritate her, and she couldn't help but respond with biting remarks.

"So, Kacy," João said, leaning back in his chair, "what are your big plans now that you're done with university? Causing trouble on a bigger scale?"

Kacy forced a smile. "Actually, I'm planning to start my own business. But I doubt you'd understand anything about ambition."

João raised an eyebrow. "Ambition? Or delusion?"

Their mothers exchanged worried glances, but neither Kacy nor João seemed willing to back down.

After dinner, Kacy escaped to the garden, needing a break from the tension. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag. João followed her, still smirking, until he saw her smoking. His expression twisted into one of disgust.

"You can't avoid me forever, Kacy," he said, his tone now tinged with annoyance.

"Watch me," she shot back, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

João stepped closer, waving the smoke away from his face. "You always were such a stubborn bitch."

"And you were always a fucking prick," Kacy retorted, feeling her anger boiling over.

João's smirk faded. "You know what your problem is, Kacy? You think the world revolves around you."

"And you think you're so fucking perfect, don't you?" Kacy snapped. "Newsflash, João, you're just as screwed up as the rest of us."

João's eyes darkened. "At least I'm not a spoiled brat who throws a tantrum whenever things don't go my way."

"Wow, João, you're so insightful. Did you learn that in 'How to Be a Jackass' 101?" Kacy said with a sarcastic edge. "You don't know shit about my life."

"I know enough," João said, his voice low and dangerous. "I know you're just trying to prove something because deep down, you're scared shitless of failing."

Kacy felt a lump form in her throat. She wouldn't let him see her cry. "Oh, brilliant deduction, Sherlock. Screw you," she whispered, turning to leave.

But João grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Don't walk away from me Kacy ," he demanded.

"Let go of me," Kacy hissed, yanking her arm free. "I don't need this shit from you."

"Fine," João said, his voice cold. "Run away, like you always do."

Kacy spun around, her eyes blazing. "Run away? I'm not running away, you asshole. I'm done wasting my time on you."

With that, she stormed off into the night, vowing to keep her distance from João as much as possible. But deep down, she knew it wouldn't be that simple.