A choice to be made

It wasn't a grand plan.

Just coffee.

Just the three of them.

Daniel.

Nathan.

Sophia.

And a table in the corner of The Willow Bean, the same café where everything had started to change.

It wasn't Sophia's idea.

It wasn't Daniel's either.

It was Nathan's.

He had texted them both the night before.

"We need to talk. In person. No hiding. No running."

And now, they were here.

Sitting across from each other.

Waiting for someone to speak first.

The silence was heavy.

Not the kind that came from awkwardness.

Not the kind that came from fear.

But the kind that came from truth.

The kind that came from knowing everything was about to change.

Daniel sat beside Sophia, close enough that their arms brushed — just once — but not close enough to make Nathan lose his mind again.

Nathan watched them like he was still trying to process what he was seeing.

Two people who had kept a secret from him.

Two people who had let something grow without his permission.

And now, they were here — in the open — waiting for him to say something.

He finally did.

"I still don't like this," he muttered, wrapping his hands around his mug.

Daniel didn't argue.

He just nodded. "I know."

Nathan looked at him — really looked — and whispered, "You better not be messing with her."

Daniel met his eyes.

"I'm not," he said simply.

Nathan frowned. "Then what are you?"

Daniel stayed quiet for a long moment.

Then said, "I'm in love with her."

Nathan flinched.

Sophia looked down at her hands.

Daniel added, "I have been for a while."

Nathan exhaled sharply. "So that's it?"

Daniel nodded. "That's it."

The Confession

They didn't talk much at first.

Just sipped their coffee.

Watched the world move around them.

Then Nathan said, "I used to think you were the one person I could trust."

Daniel stayed quiet.

Nathan continued, "You were the one who looked out for her when I couldn't."

Daniel nodded. "I did."

"But not like this," Nathan said, voice tight.

Daniel looked at him — really looked — and said, "I didn't plan for it to happen."

Nathan gave a bitter laugh. "It never does."

Daniel exhaled. "I didn't know how to stop it."

Nathan frowned. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

Daniel hesitated.

Then said, "Because I knew you'd react like this."

Nathan leaned forward. "And you still think that makes it okay?"

Daniel didn't flinch.

"No," he admitted. "But I also know that I love her. And I didn't want to lose her."

Nathan studied him.

Then asked, "What are you asking me to do?"

Daniel looked at Sophia — at the way she held her coffee like it was the only thing grounding her.

Then back at Nathan.

"I'm asking you to trust me," Daniel said. "I know it's not easy. I know it's not what you wanted."

He swallowed hard.

"But I'm not going anywhere."

The Promise

Nathan stayed quiet for a long time.

Then said, "She's my sister."

Daniel nodded. "I know."

"She's all I've got," Nathan added. "I don't get to have another sibling."

Daniel looked at him — steady, honest.

"I know that too," he said. "And I swear to you — I will never hurt her."

Nathan gave him a long, skeptical look.

Daniel continued, "I won't treat her like a phase. I won't push her aside when things get hard."

He glanced at Sophia.

"And I won't let anyone hurt her — not even you."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You're threatening me now?"

Daniel gave a small, tired smile. "Just making a point."

Nathan groaned. "You two are going to kill me."

Sophia finally spoke.

"We're not trying to," she whispered.

Nathan looked at her — really looked.

And said, "You've loved him for years."

She nodded. "I have."

He sighed. "And now you're together."

Daniel met his eyes. "We are."

Nathan closed his eyes.

Then said, "If you hurt her, I will end you."

Daniel didn't flinch.

"I know," he said. "And I'd deserve it."

Emotional Beat

Sophia had never seen them like this.

Not as friends.

Not as brothers.

But as two people who had to make a choice.

To fight.

Or to accept.

And Nathan, after a long silence, finally said:

"You better not be lying."

Daniel gave a small, tired smile. "I'm not."

Nathan looked at Sophia. "And you're sure about this?"

She met his eyes — steady and sure.

"I've always been sure about him."

Nathan groaned. "Of course you have."

He exhaled.

Then added, "You're both ridiculous."

Daniel smirked. "Yeah. We are."

Nathan shook his head.

Then whispered, "Fine. But I swear to God, Daniel — if you hurt her, I will never forgive you."

Daniel nodded.

"I won't," he said. "I promise."

And for the first time since this all started…

Nathan didn't look like he wanted to fight him.

He just looked resigned.

And maybe — just maybe — a little hopeful.

The Decision

Later that night, after Sophia had gone back to the dorm and Nathan was left alone with Daniel, he finally asked the question that had been burning in his chest.

"Why her?"

Daniel blinked. "What?"

Nathan studied him. "Out of everyone in your life — why my sister?"

Daniel stayed quiet for a long moment.

Then said, "Because she's the only one who saw me."

Nathan frowned.

Daniel continued, "She saw me when I didn't want to be seen. She loved me when I didn't feel like I deserved it."

He looked at Nathan — really looked.

"And she's the only one who made me feel like I could be something more than what I was."

Nathan didn't speak.

Just stared at him.

Then finally said, "She's the only person I'd let you have."

Daniel swallowed hard.

"I know," he said. "And I won't waste it."

Back at the dorm, Sophia sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Zara walked in, raising an eyebrow. "How bad was it?"

Sophia smiled faintly. "Not as bad as I thought."

Zara dropped onto her own bed. "Wait… did Nathan actually accept it?"

Sophia nodded. "Not fully. But he didn't throw him out either."

Zara blinked. "That's… unexpected."

Sophia gave a small laugh. "I know."

Zara studied her. "Do you think he'll ever see you the way he used to?"

Sophia hesitated.

Then whispered, "No. But I don't want him to."

Zara gave her a long look.

And Sophia added, "I want him to see me the way Daniel does."

Zara smirked. "Like someone worth fighting for."

Sophia blushed.

Daniel had chosen her.

And for once, her brother hadn't tried to stop him.

That was all she needed.

For now.