** Rylan's POV**
"Dude, she's that girl we met on our trip, right? W—what was her name again?"
"Aira."
( That name came out of my mouth like a sweet taste I didn't want to fade. She was there, down by the pool, laughing with her friends, splashing water, completely lost in her world. And me? I was just standing here, watching her from my window like a fool.)
"Rylan… so she's your step-sister?"
Lewis—my best friend—looked at me with wide eyes. He was the same guy who was with me on that Greece trip when I met Aira for the first time.
I sighed. "Yeah."
He chuckled. "Damn, Rylan. You actually slept with your step-sister."
"Shut up, Lewis," I muttered, my tone flat but sharp.
( I sat on my bed, grabbed the squeeze ball from the table, and pressed it hard in my palm, trying to calm down the anger that was slowly building inside me.)
( That image of Aira in Luka's arms kept flashing in my mind. The way he held her, the way she laughed—it burned something inside me I didn't want to admit.)
"Rylan," Lewis said, his voice casual but teasing, "I think that guy's gonna take her away from you."
I turned my head sharply toward him. "What do you mean by that?" I growled, my grip on the ball tightening.
Lewis smirked and leaned against the window, glancing down. "He makes her smile, bro. He makes her *laugh*. Girls like that kind of guy—the one who cares, who listens, who's there when they need someone. And you? You're just sitting here doing nothing."
My eyes went back to the pool.
[ Aira's laughter echoed faintly, her smile bright under the sunlight.]
(And I realized something I didn't want to say out loud— I hated seeing her smile with someone else.)
"I don't care if she's happy with him or not.
I don't care—okay?"
[ I mumbled to myself, even though I knew the truth.]
{She's only mine.}
[ Lewis raised an eyebrow, still smirking as he crossed his arms.]
"Yeah, yeah, sure, Mr. 'I Don't Care.' You're totally fine. Totally chill. That's why you're sitting here crushing that poor stress ball like it killed your dog."
I glared at him. "Lewis, shut up."
He shrugged, walking over to my desk and leaning casually against it. "You know, denial looks really bad on you, bro. Like—you can pretend all you want, but it's written all over your face. You care. You care too damn much."
"I said I don't," I snapped, my jaw tightening. "She can do whatever she wants."
"Right," he said slowly, like he was humoring a child. "That's why you're watching her like a hawk from your window and getting jealous every time that guy breathes near her. Totally screams 'I don't care.'"
( I clenched my jaw and threw the squeeze ball across the room. It hit the wall and dropped to the floor.)
"Lewis, I'm warning you."
He just laughed. "What? You'll punch me? Go ahead, man, maybe it'll help you get over her."
I shot him a sharp look, my voice dropping lower. "She's *not* just some girl."
Lewis's grin faded a bit. "Then what is she, Rylan?"
( I paused, staring out the window again. Aira was still laughing, splashing water with her friends. Luka's hand brushed her shoulder and something twisted in my chest.)
"She's… mine," I muttered under my breath, my tone cold and possessive.
Lewis sighed, shaking his head. "You know, that's the problem with you, bro. You keep saying she's yours, but you never tell her. And the longer you stay quiet, the more you're pushing her away."
He started walking toward the door, glancing back once.
"You can either sit here watching her with another guy—or do something about it. Your choice."
[ When the door clicked shut behind him, the silence hit heavier than before.]
(And all I could think was, *mine or not, why does it hurt this much to see her smile at someone else?*)
( I lay back on my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the same thought looping in my head — *yeah, I care*.)
I care too damn much.
Our last fight two days ago… it was a complete disaster.
The words I threw at her weren't the ones I wanted to say. I just wanted to ask if she was okay.
But things twisted, like they always do between us.
She thought I was ashamed of her.
Ashamed.
How the hell do I even explain that I wasn't? That I *never* was?
( I actually had to go to Lewis's place that day for a project, but how do I make her believe that when I said it with that stupid cold tone?)
And when I saw her—
When I saw her sitting behind Luka on his bike, laughing like nothing happened… my pulse just—
damn it, it *snapped.*
I followed them. Yeah, I did.
Drove right behind them like some fool just to make sure she was okay.
Like some stalker who couldn't move on.
But it wasn't about control, or jealousy, or pride. It was just… her.
I couldn't stop worrying.
And then two days passed.
She locked herself in her room.
Didn't come out.
Didn't go to college.
I tried—God, I *tried* to talk to her.
Went up to her door, stood there for minutes.
But my damn hand wouldn't move.
Wouldn't knock.
Wouldn't let me fix what I broke.
So I just stood there like an idiot, staring at the wooden door that separated us.
( And when I finally walked away, I knew I lost another chance to say the one thing that mattered.)
"I'm sorry."
"Fuck," I muttered, slamming my hand over my face.
Because no matter how much I deny it—
it's not anger that's killing me.
It's guilt.
** Aira POV**
( I had started living my life happily again. That fight between Rylan and me in college was the last one, and after that, an entire week slipped by in a blur of classes, laughter, and normal days. My bond with my friends grew stronger—they genuinely cared about me.)
( And Luka… God, he was the same as always—teasing, flirting, acting like a complete idiot in the cutest way possible.)
( And Right now, also he was sitting beside me in the cafeteria, reaching out to steal food from my plate while talking to Mila and Ava. I kept trying to stop him, telling him it was *my* food, but he had a new excuse every day.)
[ LIKE ]
"Food's over."
"I'm hungry."
"The food today doesn't taste good."
"I forgot my wallet."
Ughhh… he was so stupid.
And yet so sweet.
And maybe… a little too cute for his own good.
( A guy who cared for me more than he admitted.)
[He turned he's face towards me and smirk]
"What?" I ask, pretending to look away and sip my juice, but I already know what's coming.
"Oh nothing," he say, still smirking, "just wondering why you're staring at me like that. If you like me that much, you could've just said it."
I roll my eyes. "In your dreams, Luka."
He chuckles, leaning closer across the table. "Sweetheart, you *do* show up in my dreams. Almost every night, actually."
Mila and Ava both burst into giggles while I glare at him, trying not to blush. "You're so full of yourself!" I shoot back.
He grin wider, poking his fork into my plate again. "Maybe. But you're still letting me eat your food, aren't you?"
I huff, snatching the plate back. "Not anymore!"
(He laughs, that teasing sparkle still in his eyes, like making me flustered is his favorite hobby.)
Luka's grin widens as he leans forward, elbows resting on the table. "Come on, Aira. Sharing food means love, you know? It's like… a sign of connection."
I narrow my eyes. "Then go connect with your own lunch."
Mila bursts out laughing. "Oh my God, Luka, she burned you!"
Ava giggles, sipping her cold coffee. "He totally deserves it though. Every time we eat, he magically forgets his wallet."
Luka presses a hand dramatically to his chest. "Wow, no faith in me at all. Maybe I just like sitting close to Aira, did you think of that?"
I choke a little on my drink. "You're unbelievable!"
He smirks again, eyes glinting with mischief. "Unbelievably charming, yeah, I get that a lot."
"Unbelievably annoying," I shoot back instantly, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
Mila shakes her head. "You two fight like an old married couple."
Ava leans forward, teasing. "Or like people who *actually like* each other but won't admit it."
My eyes widen. "Ava!"
Luka grins even more smugly. "Hear that? Even your friends see it, sweetheart."
[ I groan, burying my face in my hands while everyone laughs.]
Luka leans a little closer, his voice dropping to that teasing tone that always makes my heartbeat trip. "You know, Aira, when you blush like that, it's kinda dangerous."
I quickly look away. "I'm not blushing!"
Mila bursts out laughing. "Oh, you *so* are!"
Luka chuckles, his eyes locked on me. "Told you. I've got that effect on her."
I roll my eyes and shove his shoulder lightly. "Don't flatter yourself, Luka."
He pretends to look hurt. "So you're saying it's *not* my charm? Maybe it's my face then?"
I groan. "Stop talking, you narcissist."
He smirks again and leans closer, just enough that I can smell his cologne—fresh, warm, and stupidly distracting. "Can't help it if you keep staring at my face, sunshine."
My heart skips, and I immediately look away, pretending to focus on my food. "I wasn't staring!"
Luka leans closer again, that mischievous grin still on his lips, but his tone suddenly softens just a little.
"You know, Aira…" he says, eyes glinting, "you look prettier when you're mad at me."
I freeze, mid-bite. "Wh–what?"
Mila gasps dramatically. "Oh my God, did he just—"
Ava cuts in, giggling. "He *so* did. Luka, you're impossible!"
He shrugs innocently, still looking straight at me. "What? I'm just being honest. Every time she gets mad, her nose scrunches up and her cheeks turn red… it's kinda adorable."
I feel my face heat up instantly. "Luka, shut up!"
He grins wider, resting his elbow on the table. "Why? You blushing again? C'mon, don't hide that cute face."
I grab a napkin and pretend to fix my hair, anything to avoid looking at him. "You're so annoying."
"Annoying, huh?" he teases, lowering his voice just enough that only I can hear. "Then why can't you stop smiling?"
My eyes widen—I *am* smiling. "I'm not!"
Mila laughs so hard she almost chokes on her juice. "Aira, you totally are!"
Ava smirks. "I think Luka's winning this round."
Luka flashes a smug look at them. "Oh, I always win." Then he turns back to me, his expression softening again. "Besides, seeing you happy… that's my favorite win."
( My breath catches for a moment. I try to glare at him, but the butterflies in my stomach completely betray me.)
"Luka…" I mutter, looking down, cheeks on fire.
He chuckles softly. "See? There it is again—that adorable blush. Damn, I should annoy you more often."
I stand up suddenly, pushing my chair back with a soft scrape. "I'm going, guys," I mutter, trying to sound normal even though my heart's racing like crazy.
Ava raises a brow. "Aira, you okay?"
"Yeah—just… need some air," I say quickly, grabbing my tray and walking toward the cafeteria door.
( I know I'm a mess—my cheeks are burning, my chest feels tight, and Luka's teasing words still echo in my head. I can literally feel everyone's eyes on me, but I just keep walking. *Don't turn back, Aira. Don't.*)
But then—just as I reach the door—he walks in.
Rylan.
( He's with his friend, talking casually, until his eyes land on me. He stops mid-step. And just like that, time freezes.)
( That same gaze—the one that always makes me forget how to breathe—meets mine again. His dark eyes are unreadable, but they hold something that pulls me in every single time. My heart skips, stumbles, then races like crazy.)
When Luka flirts, I feel butterflies… soft, warm, confusing butterflies.
( But when Rylan looks at me like *that*—it's chaos. It's pain, longing, and something I can't even name.)
( But then my gaze shifted—drawn unwillingly—to the girl standing beside him, leaning against his arm as if she belonged there.)
[The same girl he had given a ride to.]
[The same girl he had hugged that day.]
(Something inside me hardens. My chest feels heavy—jealousy, hurt, or maybe both. I don't even know anymore.)
I quickly look away. No. I won't do this again.
( I won't let myself fall into that same ache that made me lock myself in my room, made everyone worry for me.)
So this time… I ignore him.
I ignore *Rylan.*
(And without another glance, I push open the cafeteria door and walk out.)