Early morning sunlight streamed across the backyard as Ian moved fluidly with his sword. Each swing, block, and step was precise—a dance he'd perfected through years of dedication. Practicing at dawn was more than routine; it was his ritual, a sacred moment of discipline and connection to his ancestral power. After a grueling session, sweat clinging to his skin, he faced off with Nari, his younger sister.
Though Nari only trained after school and wasn't yet at Ian's level, she held her ground fiercely. Still, Ian's skill dominated, and after an intense round, he finally disarmed her. Both siblings dropped to the grass, catching their breath. Ian grabbed a bottle of water, tossing one to Nari before plopping down beside her.
Their conversation drifted toward home.
"Remember how mom used to train us in the garden?" Nari asked, eyes glinting with nostalgia.
Ian nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah… She was the one who taught me how to hold a sword properly," he said. "Before life happened."
They shared a silence that spoke louder than words. Their mother, a proud Korean woman, had been their first teacher—until her absence left their father to raise them alone. He was a renowned surgeon in the city, respected but rarely home.
Eventually, Ian rose, brushing off the grass. He extended a hand to help Nari up. "I need to shower and get ready for school."
Though Ian was only two years older than Nari—one year ahead in class—he often acted like her guardian. He carried a quiet maturity and protective presence that Nari admired deeply. She respected him, not just as her brother, but as a mentor.
Cara honked her car horn, catching Nari's attention just as she waited outside for her driver. It was unusual—Cara never picked her up. Normally, their chauffeur handled that while Ian drove off early to meet his friends for their grand school entrance. Today was different, and Nari could sense it immediately.
Cara stepped out, looking effortlessly polished. "I came early… felt like having breakfast with my favorite girl," she said sweetly.
"You never eat in the morning," Nari replied, confused.
"Well, today I do."
Ian was seated inside at the dining room table, casually eating pancakes. He looked up only briefly when the two girls entered. "Didn't know we had guests," he said coolly.
Cara smiled. "You do now. I'm starving."
Nari rolled her eyes but headed to the kitchen. "I'll get you a plate," she mumbled.
As soon as Nari disappeared into the kitchen, Cara made her move. She stepped closer to the dining table, lowering her voice as she leaned a bit over.
"You looked sharp at the gala," she said to Ian. "Didn't think you were the type to clean up so well."
Ian glanced up, calm as ever. "Didn't think you were the type to care."
Cara grinned. "Maybe I'm full of surprises."
But before she could say anything else, Nari returned with two plates of pancakes and tea, placing one in front of Cara and settling beside Ian. Cara leaned back in her seat, annoyed the moment was cut short.
Nari ate quickly, her eyes subtly flicking toward Cara, who was deliberately taking her time with each bite, stealing glances at Ian between sips of tea. She wasn't subtle, and Nari noticed everything.
"I'm done," Nari said flatly, pushing her plate away. "Cara, we're waiting for you."
Ian had already finished eating and was casually scrolling through his phone, thumbing out a message. He didn't even glance up.
Cara took one last, slow bite before setting her fork down. "Okay, I'm full," she said brightly. Then, louder, "Thank you for breakfast!"
Her voice had that forced charm, clearly fishing for Ian's attention. But Ian didn't even flinch—didn't lift his head or acknowledge the performance.
"I'll get going then," she added, standing up, giving him one last hopeful look.
Ian finally looked at her—just briefly—and gave her a small, indifferent nod.
That was it.
Cara blinked, forcing a smile, but inside she was burning. She followed Nari out the door, her heels clicking a little sharper than before.
---
Jake sat in his car, echoing his father's words in his mind: "You need to earn her trust. Get close to her. She's the key." His mission was clear—get Hazel to open up. But to do that, he'd have to start with Ariel. The upcoming Art & Talent Showcase was the perfect opportunity.
That morning, as the sun stretched across the neighborhood, Ariel stepped out of her house, fixing her hair absentmindedly—only to stop dead in her tracks.
"Blake?" she blinked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
Leaning casually against his sleek car, Jake flashed his signature charming grin. "Hey, pretty. Let's go."
Ariel raised a brow, arms folded. "And why exactly should I follow you?"
Jake walked up to her with a confident but gentle air. "No schemes, I swear. Just thought I'd steal you for a little drive, some fresh air before school chaos hits."
Ariel hesitated. She wasn't in the mood for surprises—and definitely not Jake surprises. But he kept at it—charming, persistent, playful. Slowly, her walls started to lower.
"You're annoying," she muttered.
"Yet, you're getting in the car," Jake teased, opening the passenger door.
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the ghost of a smile. "Fine. But one wrong move, and I'm out."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he said, and just like that, they drove off into the morning buzz.
During the drive, Jake—Blake to most—leaned back comfortably in his seat, one hand on the steering wheel, the other drumming lightly to the music playing in the background. He glanced over at Ariel, a sly smirk playing on his lips.
"You know," he began, "you've got this serious look most of the time. Like you're carrying the whole world on your shoulders."
Ariel raised a brow. "Maybe I am."
Jake chuckled. "That's what I mean. You and Allan—so serious. Like you're both characters from a novel that refuses to lighten up."
"Excuse you," she scoffed, but the corners of her lips twitched. "You're the last person who should talk about character traits."
"Oh?" he challenged. "What kind of character am I then?"
She tilted her head, pretending to think. "The annoying one. A charming distraction. The type who always appears with a smirk and disappears with secrets."
Jake grinned. "I'll take that."
Their banter drifted into other topics—music, the upcoming showcase, weird dreams, even old movies. Ariel found herself laughing, not just smiling politely but actually laughing, the tension in her shoulders loosening as the car sped along the quiet road.
Minutes slipped by without either of them noticing. The world outside blurred, but inside the car, they were both locked into an unexpectedly warm rhythm.
"I forgot how easy it was to talk to you," Ariel said softly, almost to herself.
Jake glanced at her, his smile fading into something more sincere. "Yeah… same."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was comfortable, familiar—like something unspoken had shifted between them.