Nina went all out for the dinner. The Christmas tree and decorations were still there but there were new additions."They are here." Rose shouted, barraging towards us. She was the first to see us. She engulfed me in a hug, almost lifting me off the ground. Almost."How are you?" I asked her, brushing her hair away from her eyes which gleamed with excitement."I'm fine. It feels like it's been a year since I last saw you." She grinned."I saw you last week." She pouted, turning to face Byron."Hey brother of mine." She greeted. Byron gave an awkward smile as he led the way to the dining room."What's wrong with my brother?" She asked. "Now that I think about it, your smile seems so fake. Did you guys fight?" "Where are the twins?" I asked instead, not answering the question. She gave a knowing smirk."They are with your dad. They should be coming down soon.""My dad is here already?""He got here not too long ago." I nodded as we made our way to the dining room. I heard footsteps beh
The house was decorated as per usual. This was normally enough to put me in high spirits but nothing could cheer me up this evening.I watched as Lilian spoke with Rose, a small smile on her face and immediately felt jealous. I wished she'd look at me that way."Hey brother of mine." Rose suddenly called out, catching me off guard. I smiled at her, not saying anything instead walking towards the dining room. For a moment, I felt like an outsider as I watched her converse with everyone. She got along so well with my family as I saw Mum's eyes light up at the sight of her.I had the entirety of last night and this morning or think about what she told me. The guilt was eating me up. What I did was unacceptable. I could imagine how hurt she felt when she learnt everything from Regina no less. She would have felt all what I told her. My feelings, my actions, my words, everything will seem like a lie to her.I sat on the dining table. Lilian sat beside her brother earning looks from the fa
"I'm sorry." He whispered, his breath fanning my ear as we hugged. My resolve broke completely and I decided to forgive him. A new year, a new slate.But it wasn't going to be that easy. Since he said her words were lies, I'd give him a chance to explain his part."Let's talk about this later." I whispered back. His eyes shone with hope."Thank you." He said. I nodded, leaving him to hug my dad. We walked away from everybody."Happy New year Dad." I said to him. "Happy New year my angel. I love you so much and I'm sorry for everything I've put you through this past years. I should have been there with and for you, not left you to fend for your siblings and yourself.""It's fine dad. Let's forget the past and look forward to a better future with a happy family." I smiled. His eyes crinkled when he smiled back at me."I'm trying my best to get better so that I can be there for the twins. I shouldn't have left you all alone after your mum died and I feel so guilty. When you needed me th
Lilian resignedly followed me to my room as she had no other choice but to stay with me. Her eyes travelled around the room as I opened the door taking it all in. The room had way more details than my room at home as I spent most of my childhood and teenage years within this four walls. "Don't you have any baby pictures?" She asked settling on a beanbag. My eyes dimmed a little. My Dad's family took over the house after the accident. When Nina and I went back they already threw out most of our stuff, keeping only the valuables."They are not here." I said solemnly. "What do you mean?" She asked "Did it get lost or what? Rose's pictures are all over the house.""Thing is," I started, sitting at the edge of the bed "Nina and Kane aren't my biological parents."Lilian's green eyes that were staring at me with indifference widened in surprise. "Nina is my aunt. My parents died in a car accident when I was ten years old. She and Kane took me in and raised me like their own child." Whe
The thumping chest beneath me and the warm arms wrapped around my waist were the first things I noticed as I stirred awake.I opened my eyes and lifted my head to see Byron staring at me. Creepy."Hi. Good morning." He said, sounding skeptical. He was probably wondering if I had forgiven him or not. I returned my head to his chest, not feeling like getting up from his warm embrace. The memories of last night came rushing back and I felt embarrassed at my show of ‘affection’. He visibly relaxed when I didn't run from him and instead wrapped his arms tighter around me."Good morning." I muttered in response to his greeting."Are you good? Did you sleep well?" He asked, his hands running down the length of my back.I nodded. He must have seen my head move because he let out a sigh of satisfaction."You don't have a headache? You cried a lot last night." He said to which I shook my head. "Don't you want to speak to me?""I have morning breath." I mumbled but he caught on to it because
This chapter contains mention of sensitive topics. Viewer discretion is advised.________The first thing we did when we got back home was move Lilian's stuff back to our room. "You don't mind me invading your space?" She asked when she moved my clothes to make room for her stuff in the closet."I'd choose having no where to put my stuff than an empty space any day." I told her."Good, you have no choice in the matter. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm staying for good." She said with a self-satisfied smile.I hugged her from behind, my head resting in the crook of her neck. "I wouldn't have it any other way."I pressed a kiss at the side of her face. She shoved my face away. "Why are you so touchy? We still have things to do." She chided. Though she sounded angry, I saw that tips of her ears were red and her anger was a front to hide her embarrassment.I didn't call her out on it and enjoyed being in her presence though we were organizing the closet.After our reconciliation,
Byron and I sat in the library, going through books quietly, our legs intertwined."This book is about childhood friends. It's cute but not the type of book I'd normally read." Byron said, putting the book in the already growing pile beside him."Then why is it in your library?" "Most of the books here are for Rose, I'm not an avid reader. If it's not self-help books, count me out." He replied, surfing the shelves for another fiction he could manage."You're too serious to be real." I teased, picking up the book he dropped. I opened the first chapter and skimmed through it. It seemed interesting and catchy."Am I?" I heard him say from behind me before I felt his hands tickling me."Stop it, Byron." I pleaded in between bouts of laughter."Call me a sweet name." He requested. I threw my head back and saw him looking over me. "My love," I whispered, not able to hold my laughter, "please, let me go." He smiled and dropped a kiss on my lips.I shook my head at him. "You know how tickli
Every moment spent with a loved one was special. I didn't know how true that statement was until I fell in love with Lilian. It didn't matter what we were doing as long as we were together then I was content.We were just reading books in the library when she said. "The male lead's younger self reminds me of this boy I once knew. Now that I think about it, I realize I've not thought about him in years.""Was he a neighbor?" I asked not thinking much of it. "Not quite. We met at an orphanage." My head shot up its own will as I stared her, waiting for her to continue. What was the possibility that... "Do you remember his name?" I questioned trying to keep the anxiety from my voice. She looked up in thought. "Not at all. It's been almost fifteen years.""Oh." I relaxed into the beanbag flipping open my book. So what she met someone at an orphanage. What was I thinking? I was with Lilian now and she deserves my unadulterated attention. I shook away the thought. "What about the male