Aria's POV:

It's a usual day. Wake up in the morning, get ready to go to university. Same classes, same lectures, same people. No change. How boring. Life used to be full of light when I am in London. But here I am, stuck in Stafford.

After a whole morning classes, its finally lunch time. My friend, Sophie, dragged me to the cafeteria for lunch. After lunch, I only have one class in the afternoon. By the way, I forgot to tell what I am studying, Computer science engineering. Anyway, after last class, I am free to go home.

I am felt so lazy today so I skipped workout in the morning. So I am planning to go out on a run in the evening, plus today is Friday, so welcome weekend. I am still yet to decide what to do tonight. Sophie and I were doing same course, we have same schedule. So after going home, we both decided to go for a run.

After last class, Sophie and I started to go home together. We both live nearby. When I went out of the university, I paused in my steps. In front of the gate, there is a black car parked. Outside the car stood a man in white shirt and black pants, looking at me with a smiling face. As soon as I saw him, tears kept falling from my eyes. There stood my brother, Caleb, whom I haven't seen in 2 years. Finally I heard his voice. 'Why stand there like a statue? Can't recognize me anymore after 2 years apart?' That's my cue, I ran to him and gave him a big hug, and kept crying, beating and scolding him at the same time. 'You bastard, you left me here and went to US to study on your own. You didn't contact me in the past 5months. You wouldn't even pick up my calls. Do you know how worried I was? You idiot.'

Caleb: 'There there. I came back to see you as soon as I landed and this is how you welcome me?'

Aria: 'You should be grateful that I am talking to you now.'

Caleb: 'It's my fault little sis. Stop crying now, alright? It breaks my heart to see you cry.'

Aria: 'Then you shouldn't have made me cry in the first place.'

Caleb: 'Yes yes. It's my fault for not contacting you for the past 5 months. I am sorry for worrying you and making you cry.'

I heard a female voice I haven't heard for 5 months as well. My brothers girlfriend, Sarah.

Sarah: 'Good that you realised it's your fault that she's crying now.'

Sarah came out of the car. I left my brother and hugged Sarah. She is like a big sister to me and my soon to be sister-in-law.

Aria: 'Good to see you after so long.'

Sarah: 'Good to see you too. I missed you.'

Aria: 'I missed you too.'

Then I heard a voice I thought I wouldn't hear anymore, or maybe he got so sick of me that he stopped talking to me after a few months of going to US.

'Didn't you miss me princess?'

Aria’s POV:

‘Didn’t you miss me princess?’

A voice I have missed for so long and tried forgetting but couldn’t, I turned around to see the person whom I haven’t seen or heard from for 2 years. There he is, walking towards me, Alex. My first love and also my brother’s best friend.

Aria: No, I haven’t.

I replied in a sulky tone. After all of this, I still couldn’t forget him, or hate him for not contacting me for 2 years.

Alex: ‘I am sorry princess for hurting you.’

Aria: ‘Do you know what you did to hurt me?’

Alex: …

Aria: ‘So you didn’t even realize how you hurt me right?’

Sarah: ‘Both of you talk nicely to each other.’

Alex: ‘I am sorry princess for not contacting you in the last 2 years.’

Aria: ‘So you do know the reason. But I am not ready to forgive you yet.’

I said with a pouty face.

Alex: ‘I know. I will try my best to earn your forgiveness.’

Alex said this with a smile on his face.

Caleb: ‘Okay. Now that you greeted everyone, shall we get going?’ (To Aria)

Aria: ‘Where are we going?’ (with a bit of curious and confused expression)

Caleb: ‘It’s the weekend, so we are going on a small trip 😉’ (Caleb said with a wink).

Caught up in all of this drama, I forgot about my friend Sophie until she spoke up.

Sophie: ‘Aria, did you guys forget about something?’ (Sophie said with a light sulky tone)

I turned around to see Sophie with a light sulky face.

Aria: ‘I am so sorry Sophie. I forgot about you for a bit here when I saw them after so long.’

Sophie: ‘I understand that and accept you apology 😉(with a wink).’

Aria: ‘Guys, this is my friend Sophie (while pointing towards Sophie)’

Caleb, Sarah, Alex: ‘Hello Sophie’

Caleb: ‘I heard a lot about you from Aria. Nice to finally meet you.’

Sophie: ‘Nice meeting you too Caleb. I heard a lot about you all from Aria.’

Sarah went forward to give a hug to Sophie.

Sarah: ‘Nice to meet you Sophie. Thank you for taking care of Aria for all this time.’

Sophie: ‘Thank you not accepted as I am only with my best friend.’

Alex: (To Aria) ‘You got a nice friend there.’

Aria: ‘I know. I have good eye when it comes to people.’

Alex: ‘So you are saying I am a good person too in your eyes?’

Aria: ‘You are an exception 😏.’

Caleb: ‘We are planning a 2 day trip. Do you want to join us Sophie?’

Sophie: ‘Sure. I will be happy to join you guys.’

Caleb: ‘So lets all get in the car.’

Aria: ‘I have to come like this? Can Sophie and I at least change and pack some clothes? By the way, where are you even taking me?’

Caleb: ‘Assume we are going to a beach. For 2 days. We will decide the place when we are on the way.’

Sarah: ‘Why don’t we go to your place Aria? I also want to see the house you lived in these two years.’

Alex: ‘Me too’

Aria (To Alex): ‘It’s a shabby place that cannot accommodate your mighty self even for a simple visit. So you are not allowed in my house.’

Sarah: ‘Let’s go to your house first Aria, except Alex.’

Aria: ‘Yes, let’s gooooooo’

Sophie and I quickly freshened up and packed our things, ready for the trip.

Hello Readers!!!!

This is Anaar, author of this book. Hope you guys are enjoying it. Initially, it may seem boring but as read more chapters, it will get interesting.

Hope to bring joy to you guys!!!!

See you in the next chapter.

Alex’s POV:

Where should I begin my story. I am friends with Caleb since I was child. We went to the same preschool, school, university, we were together in all phases of our lives till now. I first saw Aria when she was a baby, a one year old baby. Caleb always bragged about how he has a cute sister at home. So I went to Caleb’s house upon his invitation to see her myself. We were 3 years old at that time.

The first time I saw her, she felt so tiny and cute. When I touched her cheek for the first time, it became red, she would hold my finger and wouldn’t let go, she giggles while looking at me. So I pinched her cheek, hard. She released my finger and started crying loudly. That’s the first time I made her cry. Caleb scolded me and said it was his fault for inviting me home, and that’s why his sister cried. He said he would never allow me into his house. I promised to myself that I should never make her cry again.

To see her the second time, I promised Caleb, and also to myself, that I wouldn’t hurt his sister again. After a lot of conversations, Caleb finally agreed to take me to his home. So I got to see her the second time. She was running around with her tiny legs around the house and grabbing whichever things she can. When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks and ran the opposite side. She may have thought I came to stop her too, just as the nanny.

After seeing her a few more times, I became envious of Caleb for having a sister. So I asked my parents that I want a little sister. But my parents apologized and said they couldn’t give me one. They told me to treat Aria as my sister. As Caleb is also my friend, I thought we could share a sister and treat her well. So I started seeing her as my own sister. Or so I thought.

As we all grew up together, I started to realize that my feelings for Aria go beyond a brothers feelings. Initially, I started scolding myself for having such thoughts. But that didn’t last long. After all, we aren’t biologically related and I don’t think I ever treated her as my sister. I may have mistook my feelings for her as brotherly love.

I want to see her smile all the time, I like it when she smiles at me, talks to me, eats with me, plays with me, what can I say. I love everything she does with me. I was so happy to be with her that I forgot or didn’t realize that she may be in danger.

My arrogance blinded me from seeing the truth, that she is a weakness for both Caleb and me. To be precise, both families. That’s what hurt her.

It’s soon her 18th birthday which is so special to both the families. Everyone was busy preparing a big party for her. Aria needed to do some shopping and grooming for her birthday. As everyone was busy, I thought I could get her to myself for a day before her 18th birthday so I took her shopping without any bodyguards. I thought I am strong enough to protect her on my own, with me by her side, Aria wouldn’t be in any danger. But the worst happened when Aria and I went out shopping. She was kidnapped right in front of my eyes and I am so helpless to protect her.