Pov author
The drive felt longer than it actually was.
Anna sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her fingers twisting together in her lap until the knuckles turned pale. The image on her phone kept flashing in her mind—clear, sharp, undeniable. There was no mistaking it.
Her. And Arin.
Too close.
Too obvious.
Beside her, Arin drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting lazily near the gear. He looked composed, almost bored—but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.
He had noticed everything.
He always did.
"So," he said after a stretch of silence, glancing at her briefly, "you're just going to sit there and pretend I don't exist, or are you planning to explain?"
Anna exhaled slowly, leaning her head back against the seat.
"She's my sister."
The words came out quiet, but they landed.
Arin's brows lifted slightly. "You have a sister?"
Anna shot him a look. "Yes, Arin. I didn't just spawn into existence."
"That's debatable," he muttered.
She ignored that. "Her name is Lily."
He nodded once, waiting.
Anna hesitated, then continued, her voice softer now. "My mom was pregnant… when my father went missing."
That caught his attention.
He didn't interrupt.
"She raised me alone," Anna went on, her gaze drifting to the window. "With help from her family. And then Lily was born. After that…" she paused briefly, "when Lily turned one, my mom got married again."
"To your stepfather," Arin finished.
Anna nodded.
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
"So she sends mysterious blackmail-worthy pictures as a hobby?" Arin asked casually.
Anna turned to him, unimpressed. "This isn't funny."
"It's a little funny."
"It's not."
"It is," he insisted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "But I'll pretend it's not. Go on."
Anna shook her head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile threatening to appear.
"She's not bad," Anna said. "Just… curious."
Arin snorted softly. "Curious people are dangerous."
"You're literally worse."
"I'm not curious," he said. "I just like knowing things."
"That's the same thing."
"It's not. Mine is a skill."
Anna stared at him for a second.
Then looked away, deciding he wasn't worth the argument.
—
The car slowed to a stop near the school gate.
Anna spotted Lily instantly.
She was standing with her arms crossed, one foot tapping impatiently against the ground, her expression a mix of suspicion and excitement—like someone who had just uncovered a scandal and was thoroughly enjoying it.
Anna stepped out of the car.
Arin followed, shutting the door with a quiet click.
He didn't walk beside her.
He stayed just a step behind.
Close enough.
Watching.
Ready.
Anna approached cautiously. "Lily—"
"Who is that?" Lily cut her off immediately, pointing straight at Arin without even sparing Anna a proper glance.
Anna blinked. "That's… Arin."
Lily gave her a flat look. "Of course I know that's Arin Raiden. I'm not blind."
Anna pressed her lips together.
"I meant," Lily continued, narrowing her eyes, "who is he to you?"
Anna opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Her brain, very unhelpfully, decided to stop working.
Instinctively, she glanced back.
Arin stood leaning against the car, arms crossed, his posture relaxed—but his eyes were sharp, fixed on them. There was something in the way he stood… something steady, unshaken.
Protective.
Anna quickly looked away.
"Why are you looking at him?" Lily pressed. "Answer me."
"I—he's just—"
"Is he your lover?"
Anna choked. "What?!"
"What?" Lily shrugged. "It's a valid question."
"No, it's not!"
"It is."
"It's not!"
"It is."
"Lily!"
"Then don't marry Alex," Lily said suddenly, her voice dropping just enough to make it hit harder.
Anna froze.
The air shifted.
"Why are you ruining his life?" Lily added, quieter now.
Something inside Anna snapped.
"I don't want to marry him!" she shot back, the words bursting out before she could stop them.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Honest.
And then—
Movement.
Arin stepped forward, closing the distance in two strides. His arm slipped around Anna's shoulders with ease, like it had always belonged there.
"Hey," he said calmly.
Lily's gaze shifted to him, curious now.
Questioning.
Arin met her eyes, unfazed.
"What do you want to know?" he asked.
Lily tilted her head. "Who are you to my sister?"
A beat passed.
Then Arin smiled.
"I'm her boyfriend."
Anna's head snapped toward him so fast it was almost painful.
"I'm sorry—what?"
"We're in love," he added smoothly.
Anna stared at him.
Then hit him.
Hard.
"Shut up!"
Arin barely flinched. "Violence won't erase the truth."
"There is no truth!"
"There is now."
Lily's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Oh my God," she whispered. "Wait—have you two—"
"No," Anna said immediately.
"Yes," Arin said at the exact same time.
Anna froze.
Slowly turned her head toward him.
"You did not just—"
"Twice," he added.
Anna gasped so loudly it echoed.
"ARIN!"
She hit him again, this time repeatedly.
"STOP TALKING!"
"She asked," he defended, catching her wrist mid-swing.
"SHE IS MY LITTLE SISTER!"
"Curious minds deserve answers."
Lily was laughing now, full-on, uncontrollable laughter.
"This is the best day of my life," she declared.
Anna covered her face. "I'm going to disappear."
"Before you do," Lily said, stepping closer to Arin, eyes sparkling with mischief, "how was it?"
Anna made a strangled noise.
Arin pretended to think, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"Hm…"
"Don't you dare," Anna warned.
"…Probably the best I've ever had."
"ARIN!"
She smacked his arm again, scandalized beyond recovery.
"SHUT. UP."
Lily clutched her stomach, laughing harder.
"I like him," she said between breaths.
"No," Anna said immediately.
"Yes," Lily said.
"No."
"Yes."
"NO."
"Too late."
Arin smirked, clearly pleased with himself.
"See?" he said. "I'm winning."
"You're not winning anything."
"I just did."
"You're insufferable."
"And yet," he said lightly, "you're still here."
Anna glared at him.
Then at Lily.
Then back at him.
"I hate both of you."
"No, you don't," Arin said.
"She really doesn't," Lily agreed.
Anna groaned.
And behind them—
Unnoticed.
Unseen.
A figure stood in the shadows.
Watching.
Silent.
Still.
The laughter, the teasing, the chaos—it all reached them faintly, carried by the evening air.
Their gaze lingered.
On Anna.
On Arin.
On Lily.
Something unreadable flickered in the darkness.
And then—
Stillness again.
As if they had never been there at all.
—
To be continued…