The whole mansion was slightly silent tonight.

Slightly because there was a gentle guitar playing somewhere near like a lullaby but muffled by the raging storm outside.

I turned on my bed to face the ceiling. My room was dark but still I could already tell the objects around me because of the dim lamp sitting near the door, partially in a carton too. The room stank—a dusty, rusty, old smell.

I just wanted to fall asleep, I was so exhausted already from the long journey from California to New York to unpack even though we arrived in the afternoon.

With a loud exhale, I shut my eyes.

And just when I was about to drift into sleep, my phone chimed loudly, bringing me back to earth.

My eyes shot open once more with anger but then I froze at the sight I awoke to meet.

Lynn.

My stepbrother.

His hands were placed in the space beside my neck and his face had been staring at me while I was not awake.

I gulped hard and stared into his green ocean eyes that were focused on me, his face hovered over me and I could see the perfect curve of his jaw in the dim light.

Why was he in my room? On my bed? And on top of me?

“Skye…" he whispered in a dark voice, his eyes still locked with mine.

Oh, how hard his voice hit me. Echoing in my blank mind over and over again.

My eyes moved, taking in the details of his perfect face.

Few short strands of his straight blond hair covered his forehead, stopping just above his heavy eyebrows. They appeared so shiny I wanted to run my fingers through them.

And his eyes?

With every flutter of his long eyelashes, the green pupils would expand and dilate as he kept staring at me, dancing in a sacred kaleidoscope that made me want to keep staring.

His cheek was thin, the kind that curved in like flesh was taken out of his face.

The line of his cheekbone was outlined and overall it gave him this striking Greek god look.

And those lips, full, pink, and shiny like he had just eaten the juiciest fruits.

I would also want to taste how that would feel.

And like he could hear me, he leaned in closer to my face.

My breath quickened and my heart began to thump hastily inside my chest.

And just then, the door swung open.

My eyes widened as I froze. Every muscle in my body locked like I was a corpse.

The shadow of the figure blocked the bright light from the corridor from getting in.

I sat up hurriedly.

“Hey hey…” a tiny familiar voice whispered, most likely a female, "Are you ok?"

Ok, that wasn't Mom for sure.

I was the only other female in this house the last time I checked.

A light flashed from the phone in her hand, and in a few seconds, she dashed towards the light switch.

No.

She shouldn't see Lynn here with me this way.

My heart stopped beating and I shut my eyes tightly, holding onto him like he would dissolve into my skin.

The lights turned on, all at once.

Even with my eyes shut it was so bright I could tell.

“Skye… Calm down.” the faint voice whispered and I could hear her gentle footstep tap the ground as she strolled towards me.

She wasn't yelling?

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

At first, the blinding brightness blurs my view.

But slowly the blur cleared up and formed a full human.

It wasn't Mom, it was Jenny.

Yes.

Jenny.

My best friend.

With joy, I stood on my bed, dragging the duvet with me.

Only then did I realize that I wasn't holding onto Lynn.

I paused, taking it in slowly.

All this while I had been clenching… The sheets?

My eyes widened.

Lynn disappeared with the light.

Or he wasn't even here from the beginning.

I could still feel his warmth around me, my skin still tingled for his touch even if he wasn't here.

I sighed and covered my face with both palms in silent shame." What is wrong with me?” I whispered, falling to my knees and sinking into my soft mattress.

“Hey hey…" Jenny whispered again and rushed up to me." It's ok… Skye… It's ok dear,” she sat beside me and placed my head on her thighs.

I grinned with a sudden realization.

Jenny!

For real?

I couldn't believe my eyes.

I sat up again, this time to look at her face.

My eyes widened again with a big smile plastered on my face, “Jenny…” I yelled and hugged her tightly. “Oh my goodness."

Jenny's brows raised excitedly, “Now that's… the Skye I know,” she giggled, snapping her fingers repeatedly and swaying her hair from side to side.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed again in disbelief, scanning her from head to toe.

I stood up and she rose with me, holding each other's arms as we smiled sheepishly.

“How long has it been? Four years?” I whined. “I'm so glad to finally see you again. Oh how much I have missed you…Uuuu," I hugged her again, tighter this time.

Too excited, we sat again.

“Are you doing ok Skye? You looked kind of… I don't know. What's the matter?” Jenny asked.

I paused.

It was similar.

The soft, careful way she asked — just the same way everyone else had been sounding.

The memory flashed right in my face—it was vivid, just like the rain pouring outside with the same intensity it did that night.

Jenny’s hand brushed mine gently.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t.” My voice came out sharper than I meant. I didn't want any more of this sympathy, it would only remind me and not bring them back for me. “Please don’t.”

Silence filled the air before she nodded and smiled weakly.

I had no way of moving forward, yet I pretended like healing was something I could plan.

“Is that why you were like this?” She asked again.

No.

But not yet.

I certainly could not tell her about Lynn already.

I just got here and my rude stepbrother whom I like is everywhere around me.

I want to avoid him so bad but the picture of his charming face just can't leave my head already.

It was so much that it began to sulk.

“Ahh…” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You don't want a journey like the one I had today Jenny, trust me.” I tossed a pillow at her.

She giggled again. “Oh, you must be stressed out. But girl… There's a lot…” she stretched her palm, stressing the word further, “Like… A lot of catching up to do.” and she laughed loudly again

I had missed this connection for a long time. It's not like this texting. And being away from her for a long time, we weren't so close anymore. Besides, we only met during the festive seasons so…

She tossed the pillow back at me, laughing like she was being tickled.

I joined in the laughter and spread my arms out, “And lots of arrangements also,” and we both burst out laughing until our bellies hurt.

“Atmosphere…” a deep voice interrupted us.

We turned to the door, our laughter dying down.

Lynn.

“What's the name again? Little Miss Geography. I knew it would be traumatic for you staying next to me.” he leaned against the door frame, his green eyes fixed on me without a smile. Like I had wronged him in some other life.

Today was the first time we were meeting but right from the first step I took, he had been rude to me.

And me?

I could only stare at those strikingly green eyes and take the blame for whatever he was saying. Prince charming is always right, I could sit watching his full lips pronounce every word for hours, listening but hearing nothing.

“It’s past 10 pm and I would love to get some rest after a really hectic and loud day today,” he smirked, tilting his head to the side and his gaze swept from my head to my feet.

My cheek turned bright pink. I saw my reflection in the small mirror on my bedside desk.

Lynn continued, “My fans won't be happy seeing me with dark eyes tomorrow. Atmosphere, you should also get some sleep.”

He turned around to leave but paused again, turning only his head slightly. “Cute friends you've got huh?...” he said and strolled away.

Jenny let out a loud exhale and grabbed my hand tightly.

She glared at me, “Who was that?" she whispered a scream with her teeth pressing together.

My smile dropped.

Oh crap.

This can not be happening.

“Don't tell me you like Lynn already, Jenny. That's my step-brother! "

Jenny rose quickly to her feet, her face beaming with happiness, “He calls you ‘Atmosphere?’ Really?” She giggled.

I scoffed inwardly, cursing myself and spiraling.

“I was just about to tell her my stupid idea of liking him. His looks. No. Just his cute face and breathtaking eyes,” I whispered sadly to myself inaudibly.

“Link us up!” Jenny tugged at my sleeves.

My chest stung.

I wasn't supposed to give a damn. But… It scared me, I was even beginning to see him when I slept. How would I link my stepbrother with Jenny?

It will taunt me forever.

But I just got here, and he didn't even like me.