Chapter 4: Uninvited Echoes
Ophira's POV
Tonight was supposed to be Yasha and Yuan's family dinner. Simple. Awkward maybe, but manageable.
So why the hell did his friends come along?
I stood by the hallway, half-hidden behind the balustrade, heels pressing into the polished floor, clutching the hem of my dress like it might anchor me.
Yasha looked radiant. Yuan was grinning like a fool in love. That should've been the center of the night. Them. Their moment.
But no. Of course not. Because as fate would have it—he was here.
Ozaire.
Standing behind Yuan and Percy, with his hands in his pockets, looking all comfortable like he hadn't wrecked my entire week. Wearing a black button-up like it wasn't unfair how stupidly good he looked in it. Laughing at something Raiden said like he hadn't seen me cry behind a bush three days ago.
I looked down at him from the landing, heart knocking against my ribs.
He looked up.
For a split second—one breath, no more—I think he knew.
One by one, my sisters floated down the stairs. Hair done, smiles forced, Father leading like the general of a very reluctant army. I exhaled through my nose, fixed my expression, and followed them down, my hand skimming the rail as I walked.
My dress clung to me uncomfortably, too warm, too formal. Everything about this night felt like a performance I hadn't rehearsed for.
I didn't look at him. Not directly.
But I knew he saw me.
And as I stepped into the living room, I couldn't stop the thought that burned itself into the back of my skull:
Why is he here?
Why now, when I've done everything to keep him out of my mind?
Why tonight, when I promised myself I wouldn't care?
Why does he look at me like that—like he's sorry, like he's about to say something, like he still thinks I'll listen?
Because I won't.
Not tonight.
I hope...
Not when I'm still trying to forget that stupid, trembling moment behind the bush—where I thought for one idiotic second that maybe… maybe he actually cared.
So I smiled for the guests. I sat beside my sisters.
And pretended that the orange-haired boy wasn't staring like I still mattered.
Like I wasn't trying to unlove him.
We were eating quietly when suddenly Reese stood up and said something none of us could've fathomed.
They were dating.
Yes—Reese and Raiden.
We were flabbergasted. Who would've thought all that fighting would lead to this?
Afterwards, the table grew silent then chit chatting echoed a second later.
"You're awfully quiet today," Valerie whispered beside me.
Well—who wouldn't be this quiet when your crush is literally sitting beside you, acting like nothing ever happened? I just rolled my eyes in response. She giggled, of course.
I watched Percy excuse himself to the comfort room. Meanwhile, I tried tuning out whatever was going on at this table, because my brain kept circling one thing—Ozaire. And why he was even here.
Yeah, Raiden said they came with Yuan. But still—why come?
I was pulled out of my spiral when I glanced across the table. I saw Mom, Gaia, Gared, Vayden, and Beck—but no Paicey.
Where the hell did that girl go?
"Mom, where's Paicey?" I asked. She stopped pestering Reese—Reese visibly thanked the heavens—and glanced at the empty chairs beside her.
"Oh, I didn't even notice my baby girl was gone," she sighed.
"I'll go look for her," I said, standing up.
I wandered through the house, scanning every room for a glimpse of someone with pink hair. When I reached the hallway beside the balcony, I paused—because there, near the fountain, were two pink-haired figures.
Hugging.
Their backs faced me, so I couldn't see what they were doing—or saying.
I leaned against the railing, eyes locked on them. "How I wish I could experience something like that," I whispered. "Not this stupid one-sided thing I've got for him… still getting hurt even when he didn't do anything."
I sighed and straightened up.
"Can we talk?"
A voice from behind me.
I jerked, startled by the sudden familiarity in his tone. I turned—Ozaire.
There he was, right behind me.
"Ophira," he said.
Ahhhh. Why does he have to say my name like that? Like he means it. With those soft lips. How I'd love to—
Okay. Calm down, Ophira. Remember what happened last time? You cried in front of him.
"Ophira?" he asked again, voice tinged with concern.
I swear, if he says my name like that one more time…
"Oh—sorry, I just got lost in thought," I replied, turning back to my sister and her… ex?
He stood beside me now, both of us silently watching the pair at the fountain.
"So, what do you wanna talk about?" I asked, tilting my head to him. He didn't answer right away.
So, I stole a glance at his side profile.
God. Gorgeous. I could admire him like this forever. Wake up next to him and—
Stop. No.
He sighed and cleared his throat, pulling me back to reality.
That was… odd.
"I'm sorry," he finally said.
I looked at him, confusion knitting my brow. Then—realization.
"Ohhh. You're talking about that day. Don't worry, I forgot about it," I said with a fake laugh, turning away from him.
I didn't look back.
He knew I wasn't okay. I know he knew.
But before he could say anything more, I tried—tried—to leave.
He caught me by the shoulders, gently but firmly, making me face him.
"It was wrong of me to laugh when you said something that had been bugging you the whole day. I wasn't the one being molested. I don't know what you or the other girls went through," he said, his grip steady but soft.
"But it's not what you're thinking…" he added, letting go of my shoulders and looking down at the floor. "You were just so—"
"Ophira," an angelic voice cut him off.
I instantly knew who it was.
"Paicey, did you have fun with—" I turned, but my words died in my throat.
She was crying. Or rather—she had cried.
I rushed to her, wrapping my arms around her.
"Paicey, what happened?" I asked, soothing her hair, my eyes glaring at Percy… but softening when I saw his face. Red eyes.
They both cried?
What did they talk about?
I wanted to ask—but just then, the alarm rang.
I held back my questions. For now.
Paicey looked at me. I looked at her. Then to the boys.
We broke the hug and returned to the living room where our parents and sisters waited. We exchanged glances—silent nods passing between us.
The boys looked at us like we were stars in some superhero movie, headed for a secret mission.
Honestly? Maybe we were.
"What's this alarm for?" Raiden asked Reese.
"Oh, it's time for us seven to get to that charity we're working on," she said with that sarcastic smile of hers.
We all stared at her.
She smiled wider. "Okay…"
"Yeah, as Reese said," Gaia chimed in with a more convincing tone, "this alarm is our reminder to leave for the charity work. It's for kids who don't have books to read. We don't want to forget such an important cause."
"Anyway, we should be going," I said, trying to excuse us.
But then—Ozaire spoke.
"Oh, maybe we can help you."
"Yeah!" the rest of them chimed in.
Oh fuck.
My sisters and I exchanged helpless glances—until, like a miracle from the heavens, Mom swooped in.
"Oh no, boys. We've already set up the cinema room," she pouted dramatically, taking Percy's hand and leading him upstairs. "Say goodbye to your baby girls and come up here. The cinema room is just down the hall."
Thank you, Mother.
Once she was out of sight, Raiden kissed Reese's forehead. I swear her face twitched with irritation—but she masked it with a fake smile.
Yasha and Yuan kissed. Typical.
Paicey and Ozaire stood beside me. I looked over, just in time to catch Ozaire walking away, joining the boys.
They said their goodbyes.
And I—*
I didn't even get to say goodbye to him.
"Maybe next time, I'll be brave enough to say goodbye. Or maybe I'll finally stop hoping he'll say something first."