James was surprised to find out his girlfriend’s sister is a famous influencer. Not only is Hazel beautiful, hot and very friendly, she is also … weird. It’s not always the men who are the sick and perverted ones.Behind those perfect teeth and practiced laugh lurked something that made his skin crawl. The way she stared at him when no one else was looking, her fingers lingering too long on his arm, whispering things that made his ears burn. Women could be predators too.
I found out my girlfriend’s sister was famous over breakfast on a Saturday morning.
I arrived early despite having to change to a bus after a few train stops.
East side is the best side, most would agree but even within the East, there is the ‘better’ side.
The East coast area, with all the large landed houses.
Far enough from the beach but still close enough to catch the salty air every now and then.
My girlfriend Mei, invited me the night before.
Mei : My sister is coming over for breakfast tomorrow. You okay to join?
James : Sure. At your parents’ place?
Mei : Yeah. Her boyfriend too.
Boyfriend. That detail lodged itself somewhere in my head, though I didn’t know why yet.
I met Mei at work, she’s a colleague from another department. We just sort of got off as ‘work couple’ because of the projects we were on. We joked about it for a few months before i decided to make the first move and ask her out.
Before i knew it, we graduated from work husband work wife relationship to an actual couple.
A couple of months in, we’re still in our honeymoon phase. She’s beautiful, sweet, the sex was great and we did it raw most of the time because she’s on the pill for acne control.
I knew she has a sister but i never bothered asking her too much about it.
The gate was opened, and Mei was bringing food out of the kitchen when i arrived.
Mei :hey…back there…by the pool…my sis is here already.
Hazel was already there when we arrived.
When i look over by the pool, there was no way you will miss Hazel.
She is beautiful, fucking hot too because she was wearing a white one piece romper. It’s not only because it was white, it was also tight.
Please picture the image in your head with these clues.
White.
Tight.
Shapely body.
What do you get?
I could barely tear my eyes away from her as we made eye contact.
She was beautiful. There was no denying that. The kind of beautiful people noticed instinctively, the kind that made conversations pause for half a second too long. But beauty wasn’t what unsettled me.
It was the way she looked at me.
Her eyes lingered. Not in a shy or curious way, but with focus. Assessment. Like she wasn’t just seeing me, but measuring me, cataloguing reactions, posture, hesitation.
When our eyes met, she didn’t look away. She smiled wider instead, as if she’d caught something she’d been waiting for.
Predators don’t always bare their teeth. Some of them smile. Some of them make you feel chosen rather than threatened. Hazel had that look,the calm certainty of someone who knew the space she occupied, knew her effect, and enjoyed the moment just before you realised you were already within reach.
Hazel : Hi…you must be James…i heard so much about you.
She stood up from the table and i assumed she was going to shake my hand but instead, she gave me a hug.
Hazel : mmmh…nice to meet you James…
James: oh..er…nice to meet you too Hazel.
Her arms lingered around my shoulders for a moment too long.
Hazel : Come, come. Don’t be shy.
James : Morning.
Hazel : You look good for someone who just woke up.
James : Thanks… I think.
She smiled, stepping back just as her boyfriend entered from the kitchen.
Hazel : This is Ryan.
Ryan : Hey, bro.
James : Hi.
We shook hands. His grip was solid, confident. He looked like someone who spent time at the gym and even more time looking in mirrors. Polite, but distant. Hazel barely looked at him.
The breakfast spread was generous,kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, sausages, cut fruit, coffee already poured. The kind of breakfast meant to impress without looking like it was trying to.
Mei’s mum bustled in and out of the kitchen, making small talk. Everything felt warm, safe and comfortable.
Hazel sat next to me. To my right, while Mei is on my left.
Hazel adjusted her seat closer, knees brushing mine under the table.
I shifted slightly. She didn’t.
Conversation flowed easily at first.
Work. Traffic. How expensive property had become.
Ryan talked about his startup.
Hazel nodded absent-mindedly, eyes drifting back to me whenever she thought no one was watching.
At one point, Mei got up to help her mum. Ryan followed, phone in hand.
I was alone with Hazel.
Hazel : So… you and Mei serious?
James : Yeah.
Hazel : How serious? Don’t hurt my sister if you aren’t ok?
James : I’m meeting the family, aren’t I? err…that should be serious?
She smiled at that, a slow, thoughtful smile.
Hazel : True.
She reached for the coffee pot, pouring me a refill without asking. Her fingers brushed my hand.
This time, she didn’t pull away immediately.
Hazel : You’re different from her exes.
James : I don’t know if that’s a compliment. haha
I laughed a bit awkwardly.
Hazel : It is. They were all loud. Flashy. Needed attention.
She leaned closer.
Hazel : You don’t.
Her voice dropped slightly. Intimate and Intentional.
Hazel : you seemed like the type that will…keep secrets…
I cleared my throat.
James : Hazel, your boyfriend…he…
Hazel : Ryan?
She glanced toward the kitchen, then back at me.
Hazel : He’s busy.
Something about the way she said it made my stomach tighten.
Mei returned, breaking the moment. Hazel leaned back like nothing had happened.
We went into the house and Mei gave me a quick look around the living room. By the stairs, there were several articles about Hazel and that was when i realised why i found her so familiar.
I stopped to read it.
Hazel Tan.
Beauty and fashion influencer.
Half a million followers.
I felt her behind me before I heard her.
Hazel : Have you seen my videos on tik tok before? hehe…
James: oh right, no wonder i found you so…familiar…
Her lips were close to my ear now.
Hazel : Once people notice you… they don’t always stop looking.
I turned to face her.
Her smile was perfect.
Her eyes weren’t.
That was the moment I understood something was very wrong,and that I had already been noticed.
By a predator.
Coming soon