"I knew you would be here," Lola scoffed as she stepped into the room and slammed the door.
A victorious smirk curled on her lips as she crossed to the balcony, stopping right in front of Sofia.
Sofia frowned. Nothing good ever came from Lola seeking her out. She was either here to mock her, or worse.
"Can't you leave me alone, Lola?" Sofia asked, her tone flat, weary. She just wanted to be left alone.
Lola chuckled. She tilted her head to the side.
"Leave you alone?" She mocked, "Never, sister. I will never leave you alone."
Sofia turned away, but Lola stepped closer. She grabbed Sofia by the collar of her dress, forcing their eyes to meet.
"Did it hurt?" Lola whispered, her smirk widening. "Watching him kiss me? Hearing him say I'm his?"
Sofia's throat tightened, but she stayed silent.
"It must have killed you inside," Lola leaned in, her smirk growing into a grin, "He chose me, Sofia. Not you. And he did it in front of everyone! He's mine."
She threw Sofia onto the ground.
"He doesn't want you anymore. You're nothing."
Sofia's eyes stung again, but she bit down on her lip, refusing to give Lola the satisfaction of seeing her cry more. She reached deep inside her, grasping at what courage she had left to mask the pain.
"Fine, you win. You always win. Now go enjoy your party and leave me the hell alone!"
Lola shook her head, "Have you heard nothing I said? I'm not done with you. I'm your worst nightmare."
Sofia's lips trembled, but she forced her voice out. "Why, Lola? Why do you hate me? We're sisters. I loved you. Sisters are supposed to love each other!"
For a moment, Lola simply stared, then her lips twisted into a cruel smile.
"Love you?" Lola scoffed. "Oh, Sofia, I've hated you since we were little."
Sofia's body went rigid, her eyes widening.
"You had everything. You were the smart one, the perfect one. Everyone loved you. Even Grandma..." Lola's eyes darkened, "You were her favorite. She adored you. Not me. It was never me. No one cared about little Lola. I'm always second to you."
Sofia shook her head, "No... Lola, that's not true..."
"Oh, but it is," Lola cut her off sharply. "I hated you for it. I hated how they looked at you, praised you, and wanted you to succeed. You were the golden one. And then… then something changed."
She smirked. "You started gaining weight. You went from the centre of their attention to a joke. And me?" She touched the crown on her head with a satisfied smile.
"I took your place. Now I'm the one they adore. Even Damien abandoned you."
Lola looked down at Sofia as she declared, "Your suffering brings me joy, sister."
"I don't understand," Sofia croaked as she shook her head. Her chest felt tight.
"I shared everything with you, my dolls, dresses—everything I loved, I gave to you just to see you smile." She choked on her words, but she didn't stop.
"I took punishments for you. Don't you remember? When you broke dad's favorite cup, mom's favorite bangles... I was the one who took the blame for you.
When you didn't understand your lessons, I was the one who stayed up late to help you because I wanted you to do well.
Every time you messed something up, upset Mother, I cleaned it up. I fixed it. I let everyone think it was me. What did I do to earn your hate?"
Sofia placed her hand over her aching, shattered heart, curling it into a fist, "I kept your secrets for you. No matter how cruel you were to me, I never betrayed you because you were my sister. And I loved you..."
Lola clapped slowly. Each slow clap echoed in the night.
"Do you want me to give you an award for being the best big sister ever?" Lola mocked, "Wise up, Sofia. That's why I hate you! You're too damn perfect!"
Sofia shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Her voice came out weak, trembling.
"So my only crime was being a good sister? Loving you while you hated me?"
Sofia couldn't bear it any longer. She wanted to walk away from all of it. She tried to walk past Lola, but her sister grabbed her by the wrist.
"You're not going anywhere," Lola hissed. With surprising strength, she yanked Sofia back and twisted her so her back pressed against the balcony rail.
Sofia's breath caught. Suddenly, the night air felt colder.
"Lola, let me go."
She tightened her grip as her eyes burned with pure hate, "Didn't you want me to be happy, Sofia?"
She leaned in closer, close enough for Sofia to feel her breath on the nape of her neck.
"If you die now, it will make me very, very happy."
Sofia's eyes widened, confusion flashing across her face. "What are you saying?"
Lola leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper that made Sofia's skin crawl. "Tonight, you'll die. And everyone will believe you committed suicide."
Before Sofia could process it, Lola shoved her shoulders, trying to force her over the rail.
Sofia gasped and fought back, her hands gripping the cold railing, her feet sliding against the floor. "Lola, stop! Please!"
They struggled, bodies pressed against each other, their breath coming fast and sharp. Sofia tried to push her away—not to hurt her, only to save herself.
But Lola's heel caught on the edge of the floor. Her smirk faltered as her balance slipped.
"No—!" Sofia cried, reaching out. But it was too late.
Lola's body tipped, and in a blur of silver dress and flying hair, she fell over the balcony rail.
Five stories down.
Her scream echoed through the chilly, silent night.
Sofia froze. Her hands clutched the railing as she leaned over, staring wide-eyed into the darkness below.