Step-siblings..

★Asif's POV★

I couldn't stop it.

The moment Sara said Tithi was doing fine, something inside me cracked open. Ten years. Ten long, hollow, aching years—and not a single word about her. Not even a hint that she was still out there, still smiling, still… breathing.

And now that silence shattered.

And with it… me.

My knees weakened, my chest grew tight, and before I knew it, warm tears began pouring down my face. Not just drops. They were like a river I didn't even know I was holding back. A dam burst open in my heart, and everything inside came flooding out.

And then—

I felt something.

Warmth. Comfort. Softness.

I was being hugged.

Sara's arms had wrapped around me without a word. Not tight, not forceful… but just enough to say, "I'm here."

"It's okay, so let it go…" she whispered, almost like a lullaby.

That soft voice shattered whatever little composure I had left.

I broke down.

Fully.

I sobbed like a child.

It was humiliating in a way—crying like that in front of a girl. But it was out of my control. Ten years of grief, pain, confusion, loneliness—all of it exploded. For once in my life, I didn't feel alone carrying the weight.

And she just stood there. Holding me. Letting me cry.

Eventually, the sobs died down. The tears stopped flowing. I sniffled and slowly stepped away from her. My cheeks were burning now—from shame more than tears.

"S-sorry about that…" I mumbled, my head bowed low.

Sara smiled at me gently, her eyes glistening.

"It's okay."

But… something about that smile—there was sadness in it. Her eyes shimmered not just with reflection, but with her own pain. Like my tears had unlocked something in her too.

We stood in silence for a moment, just breathing.

Then… a thought struck me.

Wait.

Hold up.

If she's Tithi's stepsister... then—

"Wait a second," I blurted, eyes widen. "So you're… my stepsister??"

She let out a loud sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose like she was holding back an eye-roll.

"Are you always this dumb?" she snapped.

I blinked.

"Wait... No way…" I muttered, stunned. My brain just now catching up.

Sara, the cold girl in school. The mysterious, unreadable one. The one who bumped into me at the rooftop a few days ago. That Sara… was my stepsister.

"What the hell was that woman even thinking?" I groaned, rubbing my head.

"Same question," Sara grunted.

We locked eyes. For a second, there was silence.

And then… we both laughed.

Maybe it was the shock. Maybe the absurdity of the situation. Maybe it was just that rare feeling when two people, who've been on opposite sides, finally find some weird common ground.

But we laughed. Heartily. Loudly.

Sara wiped her eyes again.

And then she turned serious.

"Well… even if we have a mutual interest," she said, looking away, "I ain't being friendly with you."

I blinked. "Huh?"

She crossed her arms, gaze lowered.

"After all… I'm not willing to let you take back Tithi."

Ah.

Now I got it.

Sara had been with Tithi all this time. Raised her. Protected her. Cared for her.

The kind of big sibling I was supposed to be.

The one I couldn't be.

And it wasn't even her fault.

I nodded slowly. "You don't need to worry about that."

Sara turned toward me slightly, studying my expression.

I meant it. Tithi didn't know me anymore. To her, I was a stranger. Just a name. A whisper of the past. But Sara… she had been there. When Tithi needed someone.

So… I was grateful. No resentment. Just gratitude.

And maybe a little envy.

Sara's eyes widened slightly at my response. Then… she began to cry.

Quietly.

I stepped closer. Slowly reached out and… patted her head.

"Now now… don't cry, little sister," I teased, giving her a mischievous grin.

"D-don't call me that!!" she yelped, jerking away like a startled cat.

I laughed.

She pouted like a child, cheeks puffed out.

That was… nice.

This was nice.

Unexpected.

But nice.

Then I caught the time on the park clock.

7:11 PM.

"Ah crap."

Sara looked at me, puzzled. "Something wrong?"

"I, uh… I asked a friend to hang out tomorrow. I should get some stuff ready…"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hang out?"

I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Yeah, I mean—kind of like a… you know… outing."

Her eyes narrowed. She stepped closer. "Wait a minute…"

Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

"You have a date?!"

"Wha—n-no! Not like that—I mean maybe—it's not—"

She stared.

I was red.

Absolutely tomato red.

She smirked.

"Well, good luck with that." she grinned, then turned to walk away.

"See you later."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I watched her leave.

My stepsister. Huh.

Didn't see that one coming.

But one thing was for sure—today had changed everything.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow had a whole different promise waiting.