"Hey, step-sister."
( N-nooo! He is here. My mind screamed. When did he come here? How did he move so silently? Why is he standing there with that smirk and looking so good?)
(Agh, shut up, Aira! What are you thinking? Just shut up your stupid mind, okay? Calm down. He won't do anything. If he tries, I'll scream, and Mom will come. Okay, calm down.)
"W-what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice betraying my panic with a noticeable stammer. Why am I stuttering? God, help me.
"W-when did you come here? Listen, huh? You are my step-brother!"
His smirk deepened. "I know that, step-sister. I know I'm your step-brother."
He started walking towards me. Why?
"Listen, that was a mistake, okay?" I rushed the words out.
"What mistake, step-sister?"
"You know what mistake, Rylan!"
He paused right in front of me, that stupid smirk playing on his lips again. He was so close, towering over me. "What mistake? Can you elaborate for me?"
( I was trapped. My back was pressed hard against the cold metal of the refrigerator. I had nowhere to go. I gulped and forced myself to look up at him).
"The Greece mistake," I whispered. "We did that because of physical attraction, okay? We just got caught up in the mood and the environment. So forget it, okay?"
( He lifted his hands and placed them on the refrigerator, one on each side of my head, effectively caging me. His eyes locked with mine, dark and intense.)
"Why, step-sister? Why should I forget it, huh? You didn't enjoy that night? Because I did." He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear, our lips just a millimeter apart.
My breath hitched. "I-I know, Rylan. I-it's complicated, but l-let's just be like step-siblings now. We didn't know we'd meet like this two years later."
( He leaned in even further. If either of us moved, our lips would meet. My eyes were locked with his, his face a storm of conflicting, intense emotions).
"Listen, step-sister," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You know what? I hate you very much. Very much. So, don't worry, I don't want anything with you."
[His gaze flickered down to my lips, then back to my eyes. Yet, I couldn't move. I felt a powerful, terrifying pull towards him, completely lost in his gaze.]
He continued, "Don't talk to me. Pretend like we are strangers, okay? Or... do you want something more?"
(He smirked again, and his fingers brushed the skin of my bare thigh beneath my night shorts. God, why did I wear these shorts? I hate myself for it! But even as I hated myself, a dangerous current was running through my body. The pull towards him was impossibly strong).
(Then, just as suddenly, he pulled back. He turned sharply and strode out of the kitchen, leaving me there)
( I took a long, shaky breath. He hates me. I told myself that again. I don't know why he's doing this. I don't know. But I know one thing: living here is going to be hell).
(Morning Time)
"Hey, Aira!" Mom called out with her usual bright smile.
(She was already seated at the dining table with Richard and my little sister, Noah. They looked happy, well-rested, and oblivious. Meanwhile, I felt completely exhausted, the memory of Rylan's midnight threat still clinging to me).
"Hey, Mom. Good morning, everyone," I replied, managing a tired, polite greeting. I walked to the table and sank onto the chair beside Noah.
"So, Aira, you don't look very well. Did you not sleep enough?" Richard asked, his tone genuinely concerned.
I smiled hesitantly. "N-no, it's nothing. Just a new bed, a new room. I didn't get a good night's sleep, that's all."
Richard frowned slightly. "Aira, listen, if you want to change rooms, we can easily do that."
"N-no, I'm okay here,Richard. Don't worry," I quickly assured him.
Mom chimed in with worry, "Are you sure, sweetie?
"Yes, Mom. I'm okay," I insisted, forcing the smile to stick.
(A maid came and placed a breakfast plate in front of me—more fancy, untouched stuff. I started eating, but my mind was blank, overwhelmed by the chaos of the last twelve hours. The thought of Rylan was a persistent, irritating buzz).
(Just then, he arrived. Rylan. I don't know why, but he looked perfectly put-together, even at this hour).
(His eyes immediately locked with mine. I saw the familiar, sharp disgust and hatred on his face, and I instantly dropped my gaze back to my plate).
He didn't acknowledge me again. Instead, he forced a cheerful, bright "Good morning" to Mom, his dad, and my sister.
"So, Rylan," Mom said, her smile widening. "Going for a group study again today, huh?"
"Yes, Clara," Rylan replied easily, flashing a charming smile at his step-mother. "My friends and I have a crucial case study to prepare for."
Mom's smile grew even brighter. "Good job, Rylan!" Then her gaze shifted to me. "Sweetie, you know Rylan is studying Business Management. He is top of his class every time."
I nodded stiffly. "Y-yeah, Mom. G-good."
"Uhm, listen, sweetie," Mom continued. "Richard and I were thinking... you took a break for two years, but now that you're settled here, you should do something with your career. We were thinking you could take admission at a university here."
I put my fork down, finally finding a focus for my scattered thoughts. "Yes, Mom, I'm thinking of pursuing Literature."
Richard's face lit up. "That's wonderful, Aira! Literature is a great subject! I think you should take admission at Rylan's university. It's excellent, and since both our children would be studying at the same place, it'll be good for us and ofc to you. You're new here, so you'll have a partner, and Rylan's studies finish next year. It's perfect, right?"
( I was still processing the words Rylan's university... a partner... when Rylan's cold voice interrupted my thoughts).
"Dad," he remarked, his tone dismissive. "Literature isn't exactly important. She should take admission to any other university, right?"
"Rylan, what are you saying?" Richard questioned.
( I glared at Rylan. He thought Literature wasn't important, huh? My anger, which was primarily directed at myself and my fate, now flared up at him. I gripped my fork tightly).
I scoffed. "Oh, so someone studying Business doesn't know how important Literature is?"
His smirk returned, and now it was utterly irritating. He chuckled, a sound that held no warmth. "I'm telling the truth. In business, we use our minds for practical things. But in Literature? You find stories and poems. What else do you see in those books? Nothing, right? So please, don't lecture me about it."
I leaned forward, my tone firm and cutting. "You know, if there was no Literature, you wouldn't even know how to talk! You wouldn't know what words and sentences are. How can anyone so dumb think about it, huh?"
{Our heated argument had begun}.
He scoffed back, his jaw tightening. "You're the dumb one, not me, okay? So mind your language."
I returned his glare fiercely. "You mind your language! And don't think you're superior just because your dad is rich! That doesn't mean you get to be mighty and claim you top your class only because of your efforts!"
[His jaw finally clenched, and I felt a wave of satisfaction wash over me. Finally, I got under his skin].
"You know what?" he snapped. "Why am I even talking to a girl who doesn't even know how to face a situation?"
(My face dropped. That hit me hard. Yes, I sometimes run away from situations—I knew it—but why did he have to say it right now? I was about to retort something even further when Richard interrupted).
"Stop it, you two! Don't fight at the dining table! Rylan, apologize to her now."
"Why should I apologize to her, Dad?" Rylan argued, his voice laced with indignation.
"You started it. Say sorry to Aira, now."
( I watched him, half expecting him to apologize, but he didn't. He simply stood up, cast one last venomous glare my way, and stormed out of the dining room).
(Richard called Rylan's name repeatedly to stop him, but his anger was clearly not going to be calmed down. I watched him go, feeling a strange mix of triumph and despair).
"I'm so sorry, Aira," Richard said, shaking his head. "I don't know why he's acting this way and saying things like that. I'm truly sorry."
I offered a soft, sad smile. "It's okay, Richard."
(The whole breakfast was ruined. I wasn't sure what had flared my anger more: Rylan insulting my love for Literature, or his venomous parting shot the night before that he hated me).
(I spent the entire day locked in my room. I skipped lunch, too, just lying there. My phone kept buzzing with calls from my friends, but I ignored them all. I was in no mood to talk or laugh. I saw the screen lighting up all day, but my thoughts were too heavy).
It was late evening when a soft knock came at my door. "Come in," I mumbled.
(The door opened, and I saw my mother, step into the room, gently closing the door behind her).
I awkwardly turned my head to look at her, forcing a small smile, but I didn't sit up, still staring at the ceiling. "Yes, Mom? Do you need something?"
She walked over, sat down on the edge of the bed next to me, and say. "Aira, are you okay?"Aira, are you okay?"
I sensed the deep worry in her voice. "Yes, Mom, I'm okay. I'm perfectly fine."
"Sweetie," she began gently, "if you need to share something with me, you can. I'm here. Don't keep your thoughts bottled up; just talk to me."
I finally turned my entire body to face her. I smiled lightly. "I'm okay, Mom. You don't need to worry about me. I promise."
"Sweetie, you know a mother never stops worrying about her children."She took my hand, placed it over hers, and covered it with her other hand, her touch warm and reassuring. Her gaze became distant, filled with memory.
"Aira, you are my strong child. You were the first to teach me how to be a mother. You showed me how to take care of a child. You were always with me through every high and every low. I saw how you sacrificed things for Noah. I saw everything, sweetie. And I'm sorry that when I needed to go to work, you had to take care of Noah." Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and I quickly sat up.
"Mom, don't cry, please! Don't be emotional," I pleaded. "You have a wonderful partner now who loves you."
She smiled faintly. "You think Richard loves me?"
I smiled too. "Of course, Mom, he is! I see the way he looks at you all the time. Please don't be sad."
Her smile widened, that genuine, beautiful smile I loved. "Thank you, sweetie. See? Your mom just shared her feelings with you. You can do the same with me. So please, don't keep your feelings to yourself, okay?"
I nodded earnestly. "Yes, Mom. Okay. Anytime I want to share anything, I'll tell you."
( That bright smile returned to her face, and I loved seeing it. I never wanted my mom to be sad because of me. She opened her arms).
"Come, sweetie, give me a hug," she whispered.
( I didn't hesitate. I went straight into her embrace and hugged her back tightly. I could never hate my mother; I had seen everything she sacrificed for us, and that only increased my respect for her).
"You two doing huggy, and you didn't even invite me, huh?" a sweet, little voice interrupted us. Noah was standing in the doorway, her arms crossed in an adorable pout.
I chuckled. "Kiddo, come! We both give you a big hug! Come here."
(Noah smiled, scampered onto the bed, and hugged both of us. Mom chuckled, and in that moment, I felt the best I had since arriving here. This was where I felt my family again. I didn't want anything else. I only wanted this love, and I had it. Thank God for this family. I need to forget about everything else for now).