Yuna:
The word still echoed in my head.
Kill.
It didn't sound like something said in anger.
Or frustration.
It was calm.
Normal.
Like it was just another task.
My fingers tightened around the shopping bags without me realizing.
For a moment, I couldn't even move.
Then—
Ethan stepped forward.
His gaze fixed on me.
Sharp.
Unreadable.
"Where were you?"
His voice was calm.
But there was something under it.
Something controlled.
I swallowed slightly.
"…We went shopping."
"You didn't tell me."
"I—" I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "You were busy."
"That's not an excuse."
His tone didn't rise.
But it pressed.
Hard.
"I didn't want to disturb you," I said, my voice softer now.
Ethan looked at me for a second.
Long.
Then—
"You should have called."
Before I could respond—
Luca stepped in.
"She should've told me."
I blinked and turned toward him.
"You were busy too."
"That doesn't matter," Luca said. "If Ethan isn't available, you call me."
His tone wasn't harsh.
But it carried authority.
Like it wasn't a suggestion.
It was a rule.
"I didn't think it was that serious," I said quietly.
"It is," he replied.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
But something about the way both of them were reacting—
Made me feel like I had done something much worse than just going shopping.
---
As Luca continued talking—
Explaining.
Warning.
Telling me what I should and shouldn't do—
I noticed something.
Elena.
She wasn't looking at me anymore.
She was looking at Luca.
Her expression—
Different.
Softer.
Her eyes slightly focused on him.
And—
Was that… a blush?
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Watching her.
The way she tilted her head just a little.
The way her lips curved faintly when Luca spoke.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For a moment—
I almost forgot everything else.
---
"…You need to be careful," Luca was saying.
"I am," I replied.
"No," he shook his head. "You're not. This isn't a normal situation."
"I know that," I said, my voice a little sharper now.
"Do you?" he asked.
Before I could answer—
Elena suddenly spoke.
Interrupting him.
"Do you always talk this much?"
Both of us turned toward her.
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"…Excuse me?"
She stepped forward slightly, arms crossed.
"I'm just asking," she said casually. "Or is this your way of scaring her?"
"I'm explaining things," Luca replied.
"She went shopping, not to war."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?" Elena tilted her head. "That she needs permission to breathe too?"
Luca's expression hardened slightly.
"You don't understand the situation."
"And you do?" she shot back.
Silence.
Tension rising again.
But this time—
Different.
Not just between me and Ethan.
But between them.
---
I looked between Elena and Luca.
Something about the way she was looking at him—
Still there.
Still noticeable.
And now—
I was sure.
She was… interested.
I blinked slightly.
Wait…
Was she actually—
I almost smiled.
---
Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm not arguing about this."
"Then don't," Elena said easily.
He looked at her.
"…And you are?"
She smiled.
"Maybe."
For a second—
They just stared at each other.
And I stood there—
Completely confused.
---
Ethan's voice cut through the moment.
"Enough."
Instantly—
Everything stopped.
Both of them looked at him.
And just like that—
The tension dropped.
Ethan's gaze moved to me again.
"Next time," he said calmly, "you tell me before you leave."
I nodded.
"…Okay."
He held my gaze for a second longer.
Then looked away.
---
But I couldn't stop thinking.
About what I heard.
About what he said.
About what he did.
And now—
About Elena.
And Luca.
Something was definitely going on there.
And I was going to figure it out.
---
Elena suddenly stepped closer to Luca again.
Closer than before.
And with a small smile—
She said,
"So…" she began, her tone light but intentional, "do you know Yuna… like that?"
Luca frowned slightly.
"…Like what?"
Elena's lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Like she's your crush or something," she said casually. "Because the way you're acting—anyone would think you like her."
For a split second—
Silence.
Then—
I laughed.
Not a small laugh.
A real one.
It slipped out before I could stop it.
Ethan didn't react.
At all.
Just stood there, watching.
Luca, on the other hand—
Looked completely confused.
"…What?" he said, his brows furrowing.
Elena blinked, her gaze snapping toward me.
"…Why are you laughing?"
I tried to control it, but a smile was still on my face.
"Because that's ridiculous," I said, shaking my head.
She crossed her arms.
"Is it?"
"Yes."
She looked between me and Luca again, clearly not convinced.
"Then explain."
I stepped forward slightly.
Still smiling.
"Luca is my brother."
Her expression froze.
"…What?"
"Blood-related," I added calmly.
Now she looked genuinely shocked.
Her eyes widened slightly as she turned to Luca again.
"…You're serious?"
Luca nodded once, still a bit confused about how this even became a topic.
"Yes."
Elena blinked again.
Then looked back at me.
Then at him.
Then back at me.
"…Well," she exhaled, "that explains a lot."
I laughed softly again.
"Obviously."
She shook her head slightly, almost amused at herself.
"I thought—"
"Yeah, I figured," I cut in playfully.
Her lips curved into a small smile.
"Okay, that's embarrassing."
I shrugged.
"It happens."
Then I glanced at Luca.
"…And of course he's going to care about me."
My tone softened slightly.
"More than anyone."
Then—
Without thinking too much—
I added, turning my gaze slowly toward Ethan.
"…Even more than Ethan."
The words were light.
Playful.
A tease.
But they carried something underneath.
Something I didn't fully think through.
I held Ethan's gaze for a second.
Waiting.
Expecting… something.
A reaction.
A look.
Anything.
But—
Nothing.
His expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
And for a moment—
My smile faded just a little.
---
Luca, however, reacted immediately.
"Of course I care more," he said, stepping closer to me. "You're my sister."
His tone was firm.
Protective.
Natural.
He looked at Ethan briefly.
"…That's not even a question."
Elena watched this quietly.
Her earlier teasing replaced with something more observant again.
She leaned slightly, her eyes moving between all three of us.
"…This is complicated," she muttered.
I let out a small breath.
"You have no idea."
She smiled faintly.
"Oh, I'm starting to."
---
The atmosphere shifted again.
Lighter than before.
But still holding onto that tension underneath.
The kind that didn't disappear—
Just waited.
Elena stepped back slightly, crossing her arms again.
"Well," she said, glancing at Luca, "that answers my question."
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"…Which one?"
She smirked.
"The wrong one."
He didn't understand that.
But I did.
And when I looked at her—
She was already looking at him again.
That same look.
Soft.
Interested.
Curious.
And this time—
I was completely sure.
She liked him.
And suddenly—
Things just got even more complicated.