The sun peeked through the half-closed curtains, casting golden streaks across the quiet living room. The only sound in the house was the low murmur of the TV and the occasional chirping of birds outside.
Raka sprawled out on the couch, one arm tucked under his head, remote in the other hand. He had switched through half a dozen channels already, bored out of his mind.
Raka (grumbling to himself):
"Why does every movie channel suddenly suck when you're home alone?"
He glanced at the hallway, then looked back at the TV. A romantic comedy was playing—some scene with awkward flirting over spilled coffee. He rolled his eyes but didn't change the channel.
The house felt too quiet.
He turned up the volume slightly, then called out.
Raka (shouting):
"Kak Kirana! You wanna watch something with me?"
Silence.
Then, a muffled voice from upstairs.
Kirana:
"Not really!"
Raka smirked. That wasn't a no.
Raka (yelling again):
"I found that old K-drama you liked! The one with the guy who cries in every episode!"
Silence again.
Then—footsteps.
Kirana appeared at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, wearing a simple long T-shirt and shorts. Her hair was tied up messily, glasses perched on her nose.
Kirana:
"You're clearly exaggerating. He didn't cry that much."
Raka (grinning):
"He cried in, like, every second scene. I kept count."
Kirana (rolling her eyes as she descended):
"You have way too much free time."
She sat on the edge of the couch, keeping a polite distance. But Raka shifted over a little, just enough so they weren't too far apart.
The drama played on, a typical scene with the lead couple arguing in the rain. Kirana leaned back, arms folded, but her attention started drifting from the screen to Raka.
Kirana:
"You seriously watching this just to mess with me?"
Raka (without taking his eyes off the screen):
"Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted company."
She turned her head, surprised by his honest tone. For once, he wasn't teasing.
Kirana (softer):
"You get lonely that fast?"
Raka:
"Sometimes. The house feels kinda... empty when it's just me."
Kirana's expression softened, but she didn't say anything right away.
Outside, the breeze rustled through the trees. Inside, the two sat in silence for a few minutes, eyes flicking toward the screen but minds elsewhere.
Raka (breaking the silence):
"Do you miss your old place?"
Kirana looked down, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
Kirana:
"Sometimes, yeah. I had my routine. My own space. It's different here."
Raka (curious):
"Different bad, or different... weird?"
Kirana (shrugs):
"Maybe a bit of both. It's still hard to adjust. New house, new family, new... everything."
Raka:
"Is it that bad living with me?"
She glanced at him, his tone half-joking but his eyes waiting for a real answer.
Kirana (smiling slightly):
"Not that bad. Just... unexpected."
Raka (smirking):
"Unexpectedly charming?"
Kirana (laughs):
"Unexpectedly annoying."
They both laughed.
The tension eased. The kind of laughter that felt honest—like they both needed it more than they realized.
Kirana (tilting her head):
"You really act like a kid sometimes, you know that?"
Raka:
"I am still a kid... kinda. Eighteen still counts, right?"
Kirana (teasing):
"Legally an adult. Emotionally... maybe thirteen."
Raka:
"Ouch. That's cold."
Kirana laughed again, covering her mouth. Then she sighed and leaned back against the couch.
Kirana:
"But seriously, Raka... You're not what I expected at all. I thought you'd be distant, or awkward. Turns out you're the total opposite."
Raka:
"So, I exceeded expectations?"
Kirana:
"Hmm. Not sure if that's good or bad yet."
They sat in silence again, this time more comfortable. The show on TV played a dramatic plot twist, but neither of them really paid attention.
Raka (after a beat):
"Do you ever think about... how weird this is?"
Kirana (frowning slightly):
"Weird how?"
Raka:
"Us. You being my... stepsister now. Living in the same house. Talking like this."
Kirana looked at him, then away.
Kirana:
"Yeah. It is weird."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Raka didn't push further. The silence between them was different now—softer, heavier.
Then Kirana stood up.
Kirana (stretching):
"I'm gonna grab something to drink. Want anything?"
Raka (still looking at her):
"Water's fine."
She nodded and walked toward the kitchen. Raka watched her go, a strange feeling settling in his chest.
This... was getting complicated.
He wasn't sure when it started, but things between them had definitely shifted. It wasn't just teasing anymore. There were pauses in conversations, glances that lingered a little too long, and moments like this that hung in the air like something unsaid.
Kirana returned with two glasses. She handed one to Raka and sat down again—this time a little closer than before.
They sipped quietly.
Outside, the wind picked up, and the sky began to darken just a little—one of those late afternoons where time seemed to slow.
Kirana (softly):
"You're not the only one who feels lonely sometimes."
Raka looked at her, surprised.
She didn't look at him when she said it. Just stared straight at the TV, eyes unfocused.
And for the first time since they'd become step-siblings, Raka felt like he was finally seeing the real her—beneath the tough, sarcastic surface.
He didn't say anything. Just nodded and leaned back, letting the silence stretch.
And Kirana didn't move away.