CHAPTER TWO
Secrets in Silence
Myra's POV
It had been two weeks since we returned home, and most of our days were filled with eating, sleeping, chatting, and lazing around. Finally, Lyla and I decided it was time to step out and do something exciting—so the beach became our target for the day.
"Sis, what do I even wear to the beach? I've searched through all my bags, and I can't find a single beach outfit," I complained, pouting like a child.
"Really? Hold on, let me see if I can fix that," Lyla said, already heading toward her wardrobe.
A few minutes later, she returned holding two options: a flowing blue-and-pink floral maxi dress and a light blue boho-style coverup.
"Which one do you want?" she asked.
I glanced at both before deciding. "Hmm… I'll go with the maxi dress."
Lyla shook her head, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Myra, you'll never change. Always so modest. You're twenty-five, and you've never even had a boyfriend. Don't you think it's time to loosen up and maybe attract someone? Love won't come knocking if you keep hiding behind plain dresses."
I sighed. "Please, Lyla. Just because I prefer a simple style doesn't mean I'm dull. I came here to relax, not to search for a man."
She laughed, teasing me further. "And I came here to relax too—but still, what's the harm in looking sexy? I've been dating since I was eighteen, and trust me, love and sex are part of life. Missionary, doggy—you name it, I've tried it. They're fun! You can't stay in your shell forever."
I froze at her words. "Wait… are you saying you're not a virgin?"
She gave me a wicked smile. "Virgin? Please. I lost that long ago. Stop clinging to such ideas and live a little."
My mouth fell open. I never imagined Lyla had been sexually active all this time without me knowing. But I didn't want to dwell on it. "Enough of this. Let's just get dressed. The beach is calling."
"Fine," she said with a smirk. "If you insist."
While Lyla went all out with her makeup, I stuck with my bare face—I always preferred being natural. Soon we were both ready, flagged a taxi, and made our way to the beach.
The waves, the salty breeze, the vast sky—it all reminded me of the times we used to come here with our parents. Lost in thought, I stood by the shoreline, staring blankly until—smack! Lyla hit me on the head.
"Myra! I've been calling your name for ages," she scolded, giving me a mischievous wink.
The sting annoyed me, so I scooped up some seawater and splashed it straight onto her face.
"Myra!" she shrieked, grinding her teeth.
"Lylaaa!" I mimicked her voice, which only made her angrier. She chased after me like a raging bull, but I kept running until she gave up, panting heavily on the mat. After ten minutes, I dared to lie beside her—only for her to grab my hair in revenge.
"Ouch! Lyla, please, forgive me!" I yelped.
"Not until you beg properly," she said, tugging harder.
"My princess, my beautiful sister, the only queen I know—please forgive me!" I pleaded dramatically.
She finally released me with a smirk. "That's better."
Rubbing my scalp, I muttered, "My head is killing me."
Before I could settle down, a shadow fell across us. I looked up—and my breath caught. A light-skinned guy with toned abs, pink lips, and the kind of smile that could melt ice stood there. His dimples deepened as he greeted us.
"Hey, pretty. Enjoying your day? I've been watching from afar—you two must be sisters or close friends."
"We're cousins and best friends," Lyla answered confidently. "And yes, the beach is always worth it. What's your name?"
"My apologies. Jeremy Phillips—but just call me Jeremy," he replied smoothly.
"I'm Lyla, and this is my cousin, Myra."
Jeremy's eyes shifted to me, and he said, "Beautiful names for beautiful women. Myra, would you mind taking a walk with me?"
I glanced at Lyla uncertainly, but she gave a small nod of approval. So I rose and walked with Jeremy. We chatted for a while, and before we parted, he slipped me his complimentary card.
Excited, I showed it to Lyla when I returned. She grinned. "See? Even with your maxi dress and no makeup, you caught his attention. Maybe now you'll finally have a boyfriend!"
I pressed a hand over her mouth. "Shhh, don't say that. He just gave me his card, that's all."
As evening fell, we grabbed food from a small eatery before heading home.
Lyla's POV
I forced smiles during dinner, but jealousy burned inside me. With all my makeup and stylish outfit, Jeremy still chose Myra. Was she really prettier than me? That card she held was the only bridge between them. If she lost it, Jeremy would be mine.
So, I waited. At 2 a.m., when the house was silent, I crept into her room. She was fast asleep. Quietly, I rummaged through her bag until I found the card. Triumph surged through me as I rushed back to my room, saved Jeremy's number on my phone, then tore the card into pieces and flushed it away. Myra would never reach him now. Finally satisfied, I drifted to sleep at 2:27 a.m.
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Myra's POV
Morning sunlight pierced through my window, forcing me up. After washing up, I prepared one of my favorite breakfasts—bread, eggs, and tea. Surprisingly, Lyla was still asleep past nine. Curious, I went to check on her. She lay sprawled on her bed, snoring softly.
"Lyla, wake up! Breakfast is ready," I called out.
She groaned, stretching. "Oh, I don't know why I overslept. Must've been because I forgot to set my alarm."
I frowned. "You never set alarms. Probably stayed up too late. Anyway, hurry up."
She joined me about twenty minutes later, and we ate quietly until she spoke.
"So… have you called him yet?"
"Called who?"
"Jeremy, of course!"
"Oh!" I gasped, suddenly remembering the card. I ran to my purse, only to return with a heavy heart.
"What's wrong?" Lyla asked innocently.
"I can't find his card. I must have misplaced it," I muttered, frustrated.
She gave me a fake sympathetic smile. "That's strange. Well, maybe it's for the best. If it's meant to be, he'll come around again."
I nodded, but disappointment lingered deep inside me.