I stepped out of my room, hesitant to face the world outside. Two years away from college, and I'd avoided this moment for far too long. My heart heavy with emotions, I trudged through the familiar hallway, the creaking floorboards beneath my feet echoing through the silence.
After Dad's passing, I'd left home, seeking solace in college. But life had other plans. His best friend, Uncle Ryan, had taken me in. His daughter, Sophia, was now my reluctant sibling.
The reason for my prolonged absence wasn't just grief; it was Sophia. I'd harboured feelings for her since high school but never mustered the courage to confess. That was about two years ago. Now, she was in her third year, and I couldn't bear the thought of facing her.
As I entered the living room, I spotted Sophia, sitting alone on the couch, engrossed in her phone. My heart skipped a beat. This was the moment.
"Sophia," I said softly, announcing my presence.
She looked up, startled, her bright blue eyes sparkling with surprise. "Oh, you're back!"
I forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, just got back."
We exchanged small talk, catching up on lost time. But my tranquillity was short-lived.
The doorbell rang. Sophia's face lit up. "That must be Alex."
My gut twisted. Alex? Her boyfriend?
She hurried to the door, opening it to reveal a tall, charming guy with a warm smile. My heart sank.
"Hey, babe!" The guy said, embracing her.
I felt like an intruder, witnessing their intimate moment. The sting of jealousy pierced my chest.
She turned to me, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, I totally forgot you were back. We're heading out for dinner."
I managed a weak smile. "No worries, enjoy your evening."
As they left, I stood frozen, the weight of my unrequited love crushing me.
Why had I thought I could avoid this pain? Now, it was undeniable – she was gone, and my heart was left to shatter into a million pieces.
Well, I had never thought it'd work out, I mean, we're siblings now.
Even though I tried believing that, my heart still ached. I felt sore and bitter.
Days passed, and I struggled to shake off the image of her with him. We coexisted, sharing meals and pleasantries, but I kept my distance.
One evening, while lost in thought, I stumbled upon her crying in the backyard.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, approaching cautiously.
She sniffled, wiping away tears. "Yeah, just clumsy."
Although she was hesitant, I later got to know that Alex made her cry. He probably cheated or something along the line.
I handed her a handkerchief, and our fingers touched. A spark ran through me.
As I helped her up, our eyes locked. For a fleeting moment, I saw something there – a glimmer of connection.
"You're always so quiet," she said, breaking the silence. "What's on your mind?"
I shrugged, hesitant to reveal too much.
But she persisted, her curiosity genuine. We talked long into the night, sharing stories and laughter.
For the first time, I saw her – really saw her – and she saw me.
The next morning, I caught her staring at me over breakfast. Our eyes met, and she blushed.
"Thanks for last night," she said softly.
I smiled, feeling a crack in her defences.
Weeks went by, and our interactions became more effortless. We bonded over shared interests – books, music, and old movies.
One rainy evening, we found ourselves alone, huddled on the couch. The power went out, and we lit candles.
In the flickering light, our faces inches apart, I sensed a shift. Her gaze lingered on mine, and I dared not breathe.
The air was charged with tension. I yearned to bridge the gap between us.
Suddenly, she leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear. "You're really special."
My heart skipped a beat.
In that moment, I knew she felt it, too.
But before and other things could happen, her phone rang. It was her dad.
"Um, I'll be taking this." She said.
"Mmn."
*Thank you, Lord, I almost sinned.* I thought, walking out of the sitting room.
I felt conflicted. I was thinking about her dad, how he'd feel if he finds out anything strange.
At some point, I decided to leave the house and go back to college. Even if I wanted a relationship with her, it'd be in a different circumstance.
Here's a continuation of the story, incorporating all 5 scenarios:
One evening, while walking home from the library, we found ourselves under a misty rain. Laughing, we sought shelter in a nearby alley.
As we caught our breath, our eyes locked. The tension was palpable.
Without thinking, I leaned in, my lips grazing hers. Soft, gentle, and electrifying.
She melted into me, our kiss deepening.
"Wow," she whispered, pulling back.
"Wow," I echoed, smiling.
*I've gone and done it.* I thought, rubbing the back of my neck.
It seemed like she noticed my feat. She put her hand behind my neck and drew me in for another kiss. I didn't struggle or try to break free cause apparently I started it.
After a while, she pulled back, her face bent.
*Is she shy now?* I thought, chuckling.
"Are you laughing at me?" She asked.
"Haha, no, I'm not."
"Sophy?!" We heard someone call.
"Alex?"
"Sophy, what's going on? I... I just saw you kiss that dude." Alex said, walking towards her.
"Alex, why don't you leave me? I ended our relationship a few days ago. Why do you still bother me?"
"Really? You just ended it without thinking cause you were seeing someone else?"
And their lovers' banter continued for a while.
"We aren't seeing each other, Alex!" I shouted without thinking.
"..."
"Is that so? But i saw you both..."
"That was a mistake, no meaning behind it." I said.
"..."
After discussing with Alex for a bit, he left.
"He's gone, Sophia." I said, as I noticed her face red.
"Sophia?"
"It meant nothing, Huh...?"
"No, I said that cause..."
"You know, I've liked you since high school."
"Eh?" I asked, shocked.
"But I knew the kind of person you were. You didn't stay with a girl for more than a week before breaking up. I knew you as a player, so I decided to avoid you. I was really happy when you came to stay with us, but it felt like you were trying to avoid me. You changed quite a bit. You stopped seeing other girls, so I thought I had a chance, but I already started dating Alex, so I gave it up. I can't believe you think this means nothing." She said, tears rolling down her face as I drew her close to me.
"I'm sorry, I was just scared. I... I actually have feelings for you, I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier." I said, patting her head.
"Mmn."
"It's raining heavily. Why don't we go home before you catch a cold?"
"You'll keep me warm, won't you?"
"Ugh... do you realise what you're saying?" I asked as she nodded.
"If it's with you, then..."
*Oi oi, this is going a little too fast.*
"O-okay... if you say so." I said.
We got home before her dad arrived and made ourselves rather too warm.
