Ethan:
The house was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Ethan stood in the main hall, his phone now silent in his hand, his thoughts already moving ahead—calculating the meeting with his father, anticipating his sister's arrival, and somewhere in between all of that… Yuna.
He exhaled slowly.
Then—
A sudden sound.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Unsteady.
Coming from upstairs.
Ethan's head snapped up instantly.
Before he could even react—
A soft weight collided with his back.
Arms wrapped tightly around him.
Warm.
Familiar.
"…Ethan."
Her voice.
Still slightly weak.
But awake.
Alive.
Yuna.
Ethan froze for half a second.
Then his hand moved back instinctively, gripping her arm lightly.
"Why are you awake?" he said, his tone calm but edged with concern. "You should be resting."
Yuna shook her head against his back.
"No."
"You're not fully recovered."
"I don't care."
Ethan turned slightly, trying to look at her.
But she only held him tighter.
"I woke up and you weren't there," she murmured. "So I came down."
His expression shifted slightly.
"You shouldn't run like that."
"I walked fast," she corrected.
"You can barely walk properly."
"I made it," she said, a small hint of pride in her voice.
Ethan sighed quietly.
"Stubborn."
"Yes."
He turned fully this time.
And the moment he did—
Yuna looked up at him.
Her eyes still soft from sleep.
Her hair slightly messy.
But her gaze—
Clear.
Focused.
On him.
Without hesitation—
She leaned forward and kissed him.
It wasn't slow.
It wasn't hesitant.
It was immediate.
Like she needed to feel him there.
Ethan didn't pull away.
His hand moved to her waist instantly, steadying her.
The kiss deepened for a moment—
Then—
He pulled her closer.
Lifting her effortlessly.
Yuna let out a small gasp as her feet left the ground.
"…Ethan—"
But she didn't resist.
Her arms wrapped around his neck instead.
Her legs instinctively moving around his waist for support.
He held her firmly, one hand supporting her, the other pressing against her back.
"You shouldn't be doing this," he muttered.
"But I am," she whispered back.
Her forehead rested briefly against his.
Her breath warm against his skin.
Ethan's gaze darkened slightly.
Then he walked forward—
Toward the couch.
And gently—but not slowly—placed her down.
Yuna barely had time to react before he leaned over her.
His hands braced on either side.
Caging her in.
Close.
Too close.
Her heartbeat picked up instantly.
"…You're not letting me rest either," she murmured.
"You're the one who came down."
She smiled faintly.
"…Because of you."
Ethan didn't respond.
He just looked at her.
For a second too long.
Then leaned in again.
Their lips met once more—
This time deeper.
More intense.
Not rushed.
But not held back either.
Yuna's fingers tightened against his shirt, pulling him closer.
Her body still weak—
But her response wasn't.
Ethan adjusted slightly, careful not to put too much weight on her, even in this moment.
Always aware.
Always controlled.
Even when he wasn't.
Her breath grew uneven as the kiss lingered.
Her hand slid slightly upward, holding onto him like she didn't want him to move away again.
"Ethan…" she whispered softly between breaths.
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't need to.
The moment spoke for itself.
---
And then—
A sound.
Soft.
But sharp enough to break everything.
Ding.
The elevator.
Ethan's movement stopped instantly.
Yuna blinked.
Confused.
"What—"
The elevator doors slid open behind them.
Footsteps followed.
Slow.
Confident.
Unhurried.
Ethan straightened slightly.
His expression changing back—
To something colder.
More controlled.
Yuna turned her head.
And saw her.
A woman stepped out of the elevator.
Elegant.
Sharp.
Composed.
Her presence alone filled the room.
She stopped a few steps away.
Her eyes moved—
First to Ethan.
Then—
To Yuna.
Still on the couch.
Still close to him.
Still… in his space.
A slow smile formed on her lips.
"Well…"
Her voice was smooth.
Almost amused.
"…this is interesting."
Yuna froze.
Her heart still racing—but now for a completely different reason.
She sat up slightly, instinctively pulling away just a little.
Her eyes fixed on the woman.
Confused.
Surprised.
"…Who…?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
His gaze was locked on his sister.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
But not welcoming either.
"You came anyway," he said flatly.
She smiled wider.
"You told me not to."
A small pause.
Then she tilted her head slightly, her eyes returning to Yuna.
"And you know I don't listen."
Yuna looked between them.
"…Ethan…"
Her voice was softer now.
Uncertain.
"Who is she?"
The woman stepped forward slowly.
Her heels echoing lightly against the floor.
Graceful.
Confident.
Dangerous in a way that wasn't obvious—but felt.
She stopped just a few feet away.
Her eyes scanned Yuna carefully.
From head to toe.
Taking in everything.
Then—
She smiled again.
"I was about to ask the same thing."
Her gaze shifted back to Ethan.
"…Who is she?"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Yuna's fingers tightened slightly on the couch.
Ethan finally spoke.
"She's Yuna."
Simple.
Direct.
But not enough.
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"…Just Yuna?"
Ethan didn't elaborate.
Which only made her more curious.
She looked back at Yuna.
Her expression softening slightly—
But not losing its edge.
"Well, Yuna," she said smoothly, "you seem very comfortable in my brother's house."
Yuna blinked.
Her mind trying to process everything at once.
"…Your brother…?"
The woman smiled.
"Yes."
A small pause.
Then she added—
With quiet confidence,
"I'm his sister."
Yuna's eyes widened slightly.
Her gaze shifted immediately to Ethan.
Then back to her.
The realization settling in.
And just like that—
The atmosphere changed again.
What was once warm—
Now felt uncertain.
Unpredictable.
And Yuna knew—
Things were about to get complicated.
Yuna stayed still for a moment longer, her mind trying to catch up with everything that had just happened.
Ethan's sister.
The words echoed in her head.
Her gaze shifted again—slowly, carefully—back to the woman standing in front of her.
Now that the shock had settled slightly, she noticed more.
The way she carried herself.
Confident. Effortless. Like she belonged anywhere she stepped.
Her outfit was elegant, perfectly styled, every detail sharp and intentional. Her eyes, however, were the most striking—observant, calculating, and just a little amused, like she was already piecing together everything without needing to ask.
Yuna suddenly became very aware of herself.
Her slightly messy hair.
The oversized shirt she had thrown on.
The fact that just seconds ago she had been pinned beneath Ethan on the couch.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
She straightened a little, trying to compose herself.
"…I didn't know he had a sister," she said softly, glancing briefly at Ethan.
Ethan didn't respond.
Which only made things more awkward.
The woman's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Oh, he doesn't talk about me?" she said lightly, stepping closer. "That's rude."
Ethan's voice cut in, calm but firm.
"You're not relevant to most conversations."
"Still as charming as ever," she replied, unfazed.
Then her attention returned fully to Yuna.
She circled slightly—not in a threatening way, but enough to make Yuna feel like she was being studied.
Measured.
Judged.
"…Yuna," she repeated, as if testing the name.
Yuna nodded slowly.
"Yes."
There was a brief pause.
Then the woman extended her hand.
"I'm Elena."
Yuna hesitated for a second before reaching out and shaking it.
Elena's grip was firm.
Confident.
Not overpowering—but not soft either.
"Nice to meet you," Yuna said.
Elena's smile didn't fade.
"Is it?"
Yuna blinked slightly, unsure how to respond.
Elena chuckled softly.
"Relax. I'm not here to scare you."
Yuna wasn't entirely convinced.
Her eyes flicked toward Ethan again, silently asking for… something. An explanation. Support. Anything.
But Ethan just stood there.
Watching.
Silent.
As always.
Elena noticed that too.
Her smile shifted slightly—more amused now.
"You really left her alone with you without explaining anything?" she said to Ethan. "That's cold, even for you."
Ethan didn't react.
"She doesn't need explanations."
Yuna frowned slightly.
"I think I do."
That made Elena laugh softly.
"I like her."
Ethan's gaze flickered briefly.
Not disapproving.
But not relaxed either.
Elena stepped closer again, stopping just beside the couch this time.
She looked down at Yuna, tilting her head slightly.
"…You don't look like someone who belongs in his world."
Yuna's heart skipped.
"…What does that mean?"
Elena didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes moved briefly to Ethan—then back.
"It means," she said slowly, "you look like someone who still believes in things."
Yuna didn't understand fully.
But she felt the weight of those words.
Ethan finally spoke.
"That's enough."
His tone wasn't loud.
But it was final.
Elena raised her hands slightly in mock surrender.
"Alright."
But her eyes still lingered on Yuna.
Curious.
Interested.
"…You've changed, Ethan," she added casually.
He didn't respond.
"You brought someone into your space," she continued. "And not just anyone."
Silence.
Then she smiled again.
"This is going to be interesting."
Yuna swallowed slightly.
Because she could feel it too now.
The shift.
The tension.
The beginning of something new.
Something uncertain.
And as she sat there, between Ethan's silence and Elena's sharp curiosity—
She realized one thing clearly.
Her world—
And Ethan's world—
Had just collided.