THE NEET LIFE (XWG, ROLE REVERSAL, SLOB)

Julia sighed as she closed her laptop for what felt like the hundredth time that week. Another round of job applications, another series of polite rejections. The excitement she’d felt just a few months earlier at graduation was quickly dwindling, replaced by a strange, stagnant sense of frustration. She had once been the queen bee of her college campus, weighing a trim 130 pounds at 5'6". Her social life had been buzzing, with everyone admiring her, and she’d thrived in the attention. But now, back at home with her family, life felt depressingly ordinary. Her once-loyal friends were busy with entry-level jobs, internships, or grad school, leaving her with nothing but sporadic social media likes and the occasional message to remember them by.

At home, she felt out of place. Her eldest sister, Melanie, had always been the big one—both in personality and size, weighing nearly 300 pounds at 5'6". Then there was Fiona, just a year younger than Julia, who was a bit chunky herself, weighed around 190 pounds at 5 '4 ", and often struggled with her confidence, especially in Julia’s shadow. Finally, there was Emma, the youngest, standing at 5'3" and weighing 120 pounds. Emma was slim and, much to Julia’s annoyance, already displaying shades of Julia’s old bratty attitude and sense of entitlement.

Without the social whirl of college to fill her days, Julia felt adrift. She found herself spending more and more time with her older sister Melanie, who had no qualms about lounging around, getting high, and eating whatever was convenient. Julia rationalized her new habits as “temporary stress relief.” She assured herself that it was just a phase and she could rein things in as soon as she found a job.

At first, the extra snacks and late-night meals seemed harmless. Sure, she noticed a little softness around her middle, but she brushed it off. After all, she was hot—it was just a phase and she was nowhere near the size of her fat sister Melanie, she thought. Things would fall back into place once she found a job.

But those lazy days turned into weeks. Hanging out with Melanie became a nightly ritual, with snacks, fast food, and drinks becoming staples in Julia’s life as they spent evenings scrolling aimlessly or binging shows. Melanie was always up for another snack run, and Julia couldn’t deny the comfort in following her lead. A few pounds turned into more, and her clothes started fitting a little tighter. Still, she brushed it off. After all, she was young, beautiful, and things would eventually work out… right? Or so she kept telling herself, even as she settled deeper into her newfound lifestyle, the old ambitions and friendships slipping further into the past.

One evening, after yet another discouraging day filled with stuffing her face she started to feel lonely, she impulsively re-downloaded her old dating apps. Some weeks passed with little luck, and she found herself swiping aimlessly, feeling more discouraged than ever. On a whim, she decided to try a new site geared toward connecting wealthy men with women looking for romance and adventure. It was a whim, she thought—nothing serious, just something to break up the monotony.

But then, she matched with him.

Richard was an older man, charming, successful, and with a refined taste that was worlds away from anything Julia had known. His profile showcased his well-tailored suits, foreign landscapes, and glimpses of a lifestyle Julia had only dreamed of. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and soon, he was asking to take her on a date.

Their first date was unlike anything she’d experienced. He took her to a high-end restaurant, the kind she’d only ever seen in movies, where he filled the evening with laughter and plates piled high with rich, indulgent dishes, and an endless array of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Richard was attentive, urging her to try new flavors and dishes, clearly thrilled whenever she took his suggestion. Julia felt giddy, adored, and a little lightheaded from the indulgence.

Over the next few weeks, their dates continued, each more extravagant than the last. Julia couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so pampered, and her worries about job hunting faded under Richard’s lavish attention. She noticed she’d put on a few pounds, but who could blame her? She was simply enjoying life.

As they grew closer, Richard began dropping subtle hints that he loved her appetite, often encouraging her to try “just one more” dessert or order the richer, more indulgent option on the menu. Julia dismissed it at first, but part of her found the attention thrilling and validating. For the first time since graduation, she felt desired in a way that made her feel alive again.

One night, Julia and Melanie lounged on the couch, tearing through a massive DoorDash feast Richard had surprised her with—pasta, garlic bread, cheesecake, the works. Julia couldn’t help but feel a thrill each time she told Melanie about the extravagant gifts he’d send, and Melanie was more than happy to help polish off every last bite.

Their mom walked in, took one sweeping look at the empty containers and the girls sprawled in their sweats, and sighed dramatically. “¡Ay Dios mío!” she huffed, hands on her hips. “Look at you two, eating like there’s no mañana! Julia, mija, you were so skinny in college, and now…” She gestured at Julia, eyebrows raised. “Now you’re filling up like a tamale!”

Julia felt her cheeks flush, shooting a quick look at Melanie, who only rolled her eyes. “Ma, we’re just enjoying ourselves,” Melanie replied, brushing it off.

Their mom let out an exasperated sigh, arms crossed, gaze fixed pointedly on Julia. “Enjoying yourselves, sí. But don’t come crying to me when you can’t squeeze into your jeans, and you’re begging me to take you shopping again,” she said, emphasizing the last word as her eyes lingered on the pile of empty containers with obvious disapproval. She gave Julia one last look, up and down, before shaking her head and leaving the room.

Julia shrugged off the sting, sinking back into the couch as Melanie smirked, nudging her. Despite the bite in their mom’s words, Julia brushed it aside, letting herself melt into the comfort of Melanie’s company and Richard’s indulgent attention. Everything else could wait; right now, she just wanted to enjoy herself.