The kitchen finally stopped looking like the gates of hell.
The smoke cleared.
The toaster was dead.
Lorenzo held the burnt garlic bread like a fallen soldier.
Everyone was exhausted.
Except Kiara.
She stood in the middle of the living room like a glitch in the system—
lost, ignored, and one wrong move away from crying.
Kairav flopped onto the couch, still coughing.
Lia sat beside him with a water bottle, her head on his shoulder, drained and annoyed.
Jay sat on the other couch, Kiefer massaging her shoulders because she almost inhaled half the smoke.
Aries threw the burnt towel into the laundry basket.
Lorenzo was still mourning the garlic bread.
Ion whispered,
"Should we bury it…?"
Rory: "Bro. It's bread."
Everything was settling…
…except the tension.
Kiara stood in front of them.
Watching.
Waiting.
Jay saw her, then glaringly looked away.
Lia saw her, crossed her arms, and leaned deeper into Kairav.
Neither said a word.
The silence stabbed deeper than shouting.
Kiara stepped forward, voice shaky:
"Can we… talk? Please?"
No one replied.
Jay picked at her nails.
Lia put her head on Kairav's shoulder like Kiara didn't exist.
Kiara tried again.
"Jay… Lia… I didn't know you were still upset about that. I thought—"
Jay snapped her head up.
"You thought wrong."
Lia added coldly,
"You always do."
Kiara's breath hitched.
"But I didn't mean to hurt you—I just told the truth!"
Jay's eyes sharpened.
"It wasn't your truth to tell."
Lia's voice cracked for a moment.
"You embarrassed us. You exposed us. You didn't even think about how we felt."
Kiara opened her mouth—
But Kiefer stood up.
"Enough," he said firmly. "If you're here to defend yourself, leave."
Kairav added,
"They're not doing this again today. Not when the house just survived Lorenzo's cooking."
Lorenzo threw a chip at Kairov.
Kairov ignored it.
"I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A SECRET!" Kiara blurted out, hands trembling.
"I was young too! I didn't know it would affect you this long!"
Jay stood up.
Slowly.
Scarily.
"Do you want to know when it affected me?" she said.
"When an aunt looked at me like I was a broken child."
Lia stood up beside her.
"And when people whispered about my mother like she wasn't trying her best."
Jay stepped closer.
"When I cried alone because I was scared they'd use it against me."
Lia stepped beside her.
"And when I had to pretend I was fine even when I was humiliated."
Kiara stepped back, tears spilling.
"I-I'm sorry…"
Jay shook her head.
"No you're not. You're sorry you're being confronted."
Lia finished,
"Not sorry you hurt us."
Aries moved to stand behind Jay.
Angelo stood behind Lia.
Rory crossed his arms.
Ion slid behind them because he had no idea what was happening but he liked the formation.
Kiefer wrapped his arm around Jay.
Kairav pulled Lia close.
The message was clear:
Kiara was alone, and she caused it.
"I came here because Lara said I should fix things," Kiara whispered."But how can I fix anything if you won't talk to me?"
Jay's voice softened—
but only for one moment.
"You don't fix years of damage with one visit."
Lia crossed her arms."Especially not after ignoring it for so long."
Jay turned away.
Lia followed.
Both walked toward their rooms.
Kiefer and Kairav followed them like loyal shadows.
Kiara reached out.
"Wait! Please—"
Jay turned her head slightly.
Just enough for Kiara to hope.And said:"Goodnight, Kiara."
Lia added without emotion:"Close the door on your way out."
Then they disappeared upstairs.
Angelo scratched his head.
Aries:"Awkward."
Rory:"I vote she leaves."
Felix:"I vote we get pizza."
Kiara stood frozen, tears streaming down.
She whispered,
"I didn't… want this."
Aries sighed and pointed at the door.
"Then you should've thought before causing it."
Kiara stared at the empty stairwell.
At the silence.
At the house that used to welcome her.
Then she walked out quietly…
…and the door shut behind her with a soft, final click.