Golden-blonde hair fell in soft, flowing waves around her shoulders, catching the warm afternoon light like threads of sunlight. Her blue eyes were gentle, glowing with warmth as she smiled at them from the doorway. She wore a fitted cream cardigan over a simple pale blouse — the outfit hugged her mature curves just enough to leave a lasting impression.
Her name was Sarah Whitmore.
To the world, she was a kind, hardworking single mother.
To Luke... she was the woman who had saved his life.
And in the quietest corner of his heart — she was also his first love.
Luke froze for a second longer than he should've, completely captivated.
Why… why does she keep getting more beautiful every day?
He quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise in his face.
"Laaa~ lala~!" Lily hummed as she walked in beside him, completely unaware of her older stepbrother's inner panic. "Yes! We made it just in time for Eternal Love: Season 4. I am not missing today's episode. Huh?"
She glanced over.
"Luke, why is your face so red? Are you sick or something?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Hm?" Sarah looked at him too, her expression shifting to concern. "Ara~? Oh my, Luke... are you feeling alright?"
She stepped closer, placing a soft hand against his forehead. Her fingers were cool and delicate, and the moment her skin touched his, a chill shot down Luke's spine.
His heart skipped.
N-No way… this scent…
That familiar fragrance — like warm vanilla and something gentle, mature, and sweet.
That's… Sarah's scent. That heavenly scent…
"Hmm~ You don't seem to have a fever," Sarah said softly, peering into his eyes with slight confusion. "Then why are you so flushed, darling? Were you out in the sun too long?"
Luke blinked, forcing himself back to reality.
"Ah—ha… maybe it's just the sunlight," he said quickly, laughing nervously. "Haha... yeah. I was walking outside for a while. Totally normal."
He scratched the back of his head, trying to play it cool — like a cat pretending it definitely wasn't caught stealing fish from the kitchen.
Lily nodded with a grin. "Mhm! Today's actually really hot. Ughhh. I want something cold to drink!"
Sarah gave a soft smile. "Ufufu~ I see. In that case, come in, both of you. It's much cooler inside."
The three of them entered the house.
The moment they stepped in, a wave of refreshing cool air hit them.The house interior its wooden floors, soft beige curtains, and the faint smell of cooking — felt like stepping into a peaceful little oasis.
Luke headed upstairs to his room on the second floor.
His room was quiet, simple, and comfortably spacious for someone like him — a single boy and too much time spent alone. The bed was wide enough for two (not that he'd tested that), and his bookshelf was stacked with light novels, manga, and comics. A sturdy desk sat by the window with a laptop and a desktop PC — for studying, of course... definitely not for gaming. His closet was neatly packed with folded clothes — his own small kingdom of calm.
He dropped his school bag on the chair and pulled off his shirt, stretching a little before reaching for clean clothes. The air was cool against his skin, but the warmth in his face hadn't faded.
That scent... It was too much. Sarah was so close. Too close.
Just remembering it made something throb below his waist. He looked down with horror.
Seriously? Again?
"C-Calm down, body!" he muttered under his breath. "Not now…"
Click.
The door suddenly creaked open.
"Lukeee~! Time for lun—"
Lily's voice cut off as her eyes locked onto him.
There he was, shirtless, flushed, and very much… visibly excited.
The silence hit like a truck.
"AHHHHH—!!"
Lily turned red as a tomato.
"Y-YOU BAKA!" she yelled, covering her face with both hands. "I-I didn't see anything! I swear! I-I mean—It was an accident! Why aren't you dressed?!"
She spun around and bolted down the hallway.
"Wait, Lily! I-It's not what it looked like! I can explain!!" Luke cried, pulling his shirt over his head in a panic.
But it was too late. She was already gone.
He sighed and sat on the edge of his bed, burying his face in his hands.
Now how the hell am I supposed to face her at lunch…
Downstairs, Sarah was setting the table in the dining room. She moved with practiced grace — placing dishes gently, stirring the soup, adjusting plates like it was second nature. The smell of garlic butter rice, grilled chicken, and warm miso soup filled the room.
Lily walked in, her face still red, her hair slightly messy from running.
"Lily? What happened?" Sarah asked, glancing at her with concern. "Your face is all flushed. Are you okay, dear?"
Lily forced a laugh.
"Haha— It's really hot today, right? Like, super hot. Unreasonably hot. Global warming, right? Yep. That's gotta be it."
Sarah blinked slowly.
"Ara~?"
She tilted her head, lips twitching into a gentle smile.
"I see… Ufufu~ Well then, drink something cold and help me set the table."
Lily nodded rapidly and ran to the kitchen, completely avoiding eye contact.
Sarah watched her daughter disappear and sighed softly, clearly unconvinced.
Honestly… these kids.
"Lily, did you tell Luke that lunch is ready?" she called.
"Y-Yeah!" Lily shouted back. "I told him! Definitely told him! Very clear communication!"
Sarah shook her head with a smile.
A few minutes later, Luke came downstairs. His face was no longer red, but his movements were slightly stiff. He avoided Lily's gaze completely as he sat down at the table.
Sarah noticed immediately but didn't press.
"Well, now that we're all here, let's eat," she said sweetly. "I hope you didn't have to wait too long."
Lily stayed silent, still quietly chewing and trying to act normal.
Luke nodded. "Thanks for the meal."
They ate together in relative peace. Small talk floated across the table — school topics, lunch preferences, a little gossip about Brisden High's new transfer student, Shan Carter. Sarah asked about their classes. Luke replied casually, while Lily gave brief, distracted answers.
Partway through the meal, Sarah glanced at Luke and gently said, "Oh, by the way, Luke… Our neighbor, Miss Ross, stopped by this morning. She asked if you could visit her later today. She said she needs a little help with something."
Luke blinked in surprise. "Miss Ross? Really? Haha, it's been almost a week since I last saw her. Alright, sure. I'll drop by this evening."
"Good boy," Sarah said with a warm smile. "She'll be happy to see you."
Lunch ended soon after. Sarah began cleaning up the table while Lily quickly vanished upstairs.
Luke stretched and quietly made his way to his room.
As he climbed the stairs, he sighed softly to himself.
This house is way too full of tension today...
But even with the awkwardness, the misunderstandings, and the heat of the moment — this house was home.
Even if things were getting… complicated.
---
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