Raka's footsteps sounded relaxed as he climbed the stairs of his new, now unfamiliar home. The house used to be cold, quiet, and dusty. But now? The walls had been repainted, the living room smelled of flowers, and the upstairs sounded… alive.
He had just come home from hanging out with friends. He was still wearing his wrinkled high school jacket, his hair was a mess, and his backpack was nearly empty. But what had brought him up to the second floor that afternoon wasn't to change clothes. It was more out of curiosity.
Kirana. His new stepsister.
A 23-year-old girl who was supposedly a final-semester student. They had been living together for a month after Raka's father remarried. But because of schoolwork and Kirana's frequent skulking in her room, they hadn't really talked much.
Raka stood in front of the half-open bedroom door.
"Is this okay?" he thought, but his feet had already entered.
The room was different from his own. Cleaner, more fragrant. In the corner was an open suitcase, scattered college textbooks, and… Kirana was squatting on a small shelf.
Her long hair was tied back in a half-tie. She wore a loose t-shirt and thin shorts. Her face was makeup-free, but she still looked beautiful and… mature.
"Wow," Raka muttered, grinning. "It looks like a girl's room in a Korean drama."
Kirana immediately turned her head. "Huh? What are you doing here?"
"Just messing around," Raka replied casually, sitting on the bed. "Bored, my room is always empty. It's crowded here… lots of girly stuff."
Kirana stood up and crossed her arms. "Raka, this is your sister's room. You can't just come in."
"Well, the door was open," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, we're in the same house. No need to be so formal, I guess."
Kirana sighed, but her eyes weren't completely angry. More like… annoyance mixed with uncertainty about whether to kick her out or not.
"I just want to help you adjust," Raka added, glancing at the bottles of perfume and skincare on the table. "So many girls need a local guy to guide them around the house."
"That's ridiculous," Kirana said, then squatted down again to tidy up the shelves.
Raka got up from the bed and slowly walked over to the dressing table. He casually picked up a small pink comb and combed his own hair in front of the mirror.
"Hey, is this expensive? My hair feels soft right away."
Kirana stood up quickly and snatched the comb from his hand. "Don't touch other people's things carelessly!"
"But you haven't said thank you for welcoming your sister with a warm smile."
"I wasn't smiling," Kirana said curtly.
"Hey, when you saw me in the mirror, you were smiling."
"No."
"Yes."
"I don't care."
They stared at each other for a few seconds. It wasn't an angry stare. More like… a playful eye between two people who haven't yet learned their limits.
Raka then wandered around the room, opening the top shelves, and then stopped near the small towel drying rack.
"Is this you the one who smells like floral soap?"
"Of course, is it your father?"
Raka chuckled. "I like it, the scent… lingers."
Kirana glared. "Raka, seriously. Get out of the room. I still have a lot of homework."
"You can do your homework later. I'm bored."
"Well, find a friend!"
"I've found one. A girl, mature, indifferent, but secretly sweet."
"Who?"
"Yes, you."
Kirana snorted, her face red, either from annoyance or embarrassment. Raka enjoyed the expression. In his head, he knew this wasn't allowed. But his body still wanted to be close.
"You're still in high school, aren't you?" Kirana said, wiping down the dressing table.
"And you're a college girl. Different levels, but we can share a roof."
"And we can't share a room."
"Not necessarily," Raka said quietly. "If we're compatible…"
"Raka."
"Hehe, just kidding."
There was a moment of silence. Kirana went back to busying herself with her things, but Raka didn't want to leave right away. Instead, he sat on the floor, leaning against the side of the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Do you often feel lonely?" Raka asked suddenly.
Kirana stopped tidying. "Sometimes. But I prefer being alone."
Raka nodded. "Me too. But lately… being alone feels empty."
Kirana looked at him. "Why?"
"I don't know. Since mom died, dad has been home less often. I feel more invisible."
The atmosphere turned a little quieter. Kirana sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sorry. I haven't been a good older sister either."
"No need to apologize. You're already unique enough."
They chuckled.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Raka asked suddenly.
Kirana was surprised. "Huh? Why do you ask?"
"Well, I just wanted to know. My stepsister is this handsome, how come no one has a crush on her?"
Kirana looked away. "I want to focus on my studies."
"Then I'm calm. There's less competition."
Kirana glanced sharply. "Don't start, Rak."
Raka just smiled, then stood up. "Okay, okay. I'll go. But… next time the door opens, that means I can come in, okay?"
Kirana shook her head. "Don't expect it."
But Raka saw—behind the scolding, there was a small, hard-to-hide smile. And that was enough to make him smile with satisfaction as he descended the stairs.
Raka had only gone down two steps before he stopped, then turned back up.
Raka: "Hey, you really don't miss having a little brother?"
Raka's voice came from outside the bedroom door. Kirana, who was sitting on the floor stacking her books, sighed softly.
Kirana: "A little sister like you? No."
Raka: "But it's fun, right? This house won't be quiet anymore."
Kirana: "Yeah, yeah..."
His tone softened slightly. "But can you stop being so nosy? I want to focus."
Without waiting for an answer, Raka stepped back inside and lay down on Kirana's bedroom carpet.
Raka: "I'll be quiet. I'm just keeping you company."
Kirana glanced at him briefly but didn't shoo him away. She returned her attention to opening her laptop and starting typing. The sound of the keyboard and the laptop fan were the only sounds in the room.
A few minutes passed.
Raka: "Do you always do your assignments at this hour?"
Kirana just nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen.
Kirana: "There's so much assignments. Final semester isn't as relaxing as high school."
Raka: "Heh, high school students have a lot of homework, I guess."
Kirana: "But you hang out every afternoon."
Raka: "It's to maintain your mental health."
Kirana held back a laugh. The corners of her lips turned up slightly, but she still held back her pride.
Raka (quietly): "You're quite funny."
Kirana stopped typing and turned around.
Kirana: "Huh?"
Raka: "You're funny. But I don't think you realize it."
Kirana: "Don't flirt with your own sister, Rak."
Raka: "Well, you're not my biological sister. Just… a bonus from my father's wedding."
Kirana: "Don't play with fire."
Raka sat up straight, looking at Kirana with a slightly mischievous gaze.
Raka: "I'm just saying. So you'll realize that… you're actually making me curious."
Kirana finally turned around, staring deeply into Raka's eyes.
Kirana: "Are you serious?"
Raka: "Absolutely."
There was a few seconds of silence. The air in the room suddenly changed. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't hot either. More like… a quiet that made me nervous.
Kirana stood up to take a notebook from the shelf. As she stood, her loose shirt rode up slightly, revealing the curve of her waist. Raka quickly looked away.
Kirana: "You shouldn't come into my room often."
Raka: "Why?"
Kirana: "Because I… feel like I can't be completely calm."
Raka: "Calm because I'm a high school student?"
Kirana: "Calm because you… know how to confuse people too well."
Raka stood up too, then walked slowly to the window and leaned against the wall.
Raka (quietly): "I don't know where this feeling is going. But every time you're around, it feels like… everything that's wrong seems to want to be done."
Kirana glared at Raka.
Kirana: "Don't say things like that."
Raka (smiles faintly): "Are you scared?"
Kirana (quietly): "Afraid that I... won't be able to refuse."
Their eyes locked. For a long moment. But Kirana was quicker to look away and step back.
Kirana: "Okay, enough. You can go out now."
Raka (raises his hand): "Okay, okay. I'll go."
Raka walked toward the door, but before leaving, he leaned in closer to Kirana. He bent down slightly and whispered in her ear.
Raka (quietly): "Tomorrow, if you feel lonely again, just leave the door open. I understand what you mean."
Kirana (surprised): "Huh? Who—"
Raka: "I'm sensitive, you know,"
He winked mischievously. "Hyperactive older brother, naughty younger brother. A combo that never gets boring."
Kirana almost laughed, but held herself back.
Kirana: "Get out, Rak."
Raka left the room, leaving the door slightly open... and his heart beating faster than before.