Page 5 of The Kat Bunglar

Sure, Laila was smart, pretty, and had a career that screamed ‘success,’ but Kat couldn’t help noticing her left eyebrow looked a little crooked, and the latest Ahluwalia blouse? Not doing her any favors—way too harsh for her complexion.

Kat’s phone vibrated, jolting her out of her thoughts—@JustJanvi had just posted on YouTube Shorts, “Guess who got a sneak peek at the latest Huda Beauty Flush Blush collection? Live review today. Tune in at 7pm PST—can’t miss!”

Kat grunted and quickly typed the time into her digital calendar. She would be glued to her phone, taking copious notes on how Janvi was presenting the latest products: the lighting, the slang, the effortless effort that went into every ‘soft launch’ campaign.

She analyzed the backdrop of Janvi’s 10-second video. Her heart fluttered with dejection as she realized Janvi was filming from Republique Café Bakery—a lush, Parisian-inspired café with oak tables and gilded details in the Miracle Mile neighborhood.

Kat had once walked in just to use the restroom but couldn’t afford anything on the menu. Instead, she had sniffed the baked goods and zipped back outside before anyone noticed. It was clear she would need a more upscale location for her next YouTube Short.

Christian jerked upright and knocked over the water bottle in front of her. “Kat—Khatira Rudra Kar—what have you done?” Christian gasped.

Kat sat up straight. Christian never used her middle name unless something massive had gone wrong.

“You used my profile to endorse this charlatan of a minister—and you didn’t think I’d find out,” Christian said, shoving her phone in Kat’s face and pointing to the atrocity.

Kat felt her breathing get shallow as she struggled to remember what on earth Christian was talking about. Trying to buy some time, she opened her eyes wide and blinked slowly. “Hmmm....”

“Don’t ‘hmm’ me,” Christian snapped. “You know I don’t mess with this man—after everything he has done to me, to my family, to my entire clan. You know, if we were in Haiti right now, I’d tie you up with the chickens and hang you upside down.” Her Haitian accent grew more pronounced with anger.

Kat backed away from the heat-laced aura radiating from Christian. “I—I, uh, don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I am talking about Mr. Joseph Chery—” Christian inhaled dramatically, her bosom quivering with rage.

“Oh, you mean your ex-boyfriend Joe—”

“Bite your tongue—I never said he was my boyfriend,” Christian snapped, crossing her arms and clearly affronted by the absurdity of the statement.

Kat surreptitiously scanned the kitchenette area for anything she could grab to defend herself.

“Haven’t you gone to Haiti every summer since you were twelve and worked at his father’s ministry? I mean, the only reason you aren’t there this year is because—”

“It’s because he is a fork-tongued, twisted snake of a man,” Christian hissed, her eyes glowing in a way that made Kat’s arm hair stand on end.

Kat swallowed uncomfortably, her mouth suddenly very dry. “Christian, I’m still not sure what I did—”

“You endorsed his Charity Campaign, which stated I would match every contribution dollar for dollar! Proceeds would go to the New Life Children & Youth Ministry in Charrier Artibonite, Haiti. This is a public website for all my followers to see, and they’ve already raised $10,000. Where in the world am I going to find $10,000, Khatirrraaa?” Christian ended with a hard R-roll at the end of her name.

“What?? I didn’t see that part. He said he wanted your help co-sponsoring the event.” Kat grabbed the phone and checked the fundraiser website, where the dollar amount kept rising ominously.

“Ah-hah! So, you did sign up for it? You impersonated me. How could you, Kat?” Christian stormed off and sank down into the deflating fuchsia bean bag they’d rescued from a dumpster last year.

Kat opened and closed her mouth several times before choosing her words carefully. “I just thought you should talk to him. You never gave him a chance to explain.”

“But that’s my business, ain’t it, Kat? You had no right. And now, if I don’t come up with this money, I’ma be embarrassed in front of all my followers. Not to mention, my parents will be hella confused as to why I started back up with him—not that we were ever together, but let’s just say people make up their own minds regarding deez things.” Christian swiveled her head around and shot Kat a withering look. “Was this on purpose? Because your life is going to shit, and you’re dragging me down with you.”

Kat was caught off guard by the attack. It stung. She placed her fingers over her heart, feeling it pinch a little. What was that sensation?

And her life wasn’t going to shit! Yes, there were minor financial issues, but even Bretman Rock had to overcome a few challenges to become who they are today.

Also, an undeniable fact—Christian had become hyper-annoying ever since her “non” break-up with Joseph! She rarely left the apartment; she had postponed her semester at USC, and all her Reddit posts had taken on an angry, slightly manic anti-men quality.

Just yesterday, she heard Christian reciting this Bible verse:

Jeremiah 10:14

“Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge;

Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols;

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