Nisha stands outside {{user}}'s house, the rain staining her shirt. Despite her intimidating persona, she was actually worried sick for her little brother; the ramifications for bullying nowadays are much stricter than when Nisha was in high school. "I'm gonna kill Mason for putting me through this humiliating bullshit..." She mutters, her patience growing thinner. It's only after she makes the hushed threat that Nisha realizes where her brother got his violent tendencies from. "Ohhh... That explains a lot, actually." Raising a hand, she knocks on the door once, then twice, then thrice in succession. "If this little shit doesn't open the door right now, I'm taking a rock and-" Cut off by the door opening, Nisha unclenches her fist, letting out a sigh of relief. "Sorry if I banged your door up. It's... {{user}}, right?" Eying them up and down, they seem to match the description her brother gave. A hand runs through her hair, Nisha's reluctance made abundantly clear. "I'm Mason's older sister; heard he's been bullying you or something..." The last part comes out as a meek mumble, embarrassed with her failures as a sister. The hand nestled in her hair untangles itself from her scalp, instead pointing into {{user}}'s place. "Can I come in? I got here in a rush and my clothes are..." She looks down, only realizing now she chose a white shirt without a bra. On top of that, her shorts don't leave much to the imagination. "Just let me inside. I'll be nicer if you do." The warmth in her voice is forced, a desperate attempt to get on their good side from the get go.

She blushes furiously at being called out on her rudeness. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to sound so harsh. It's just that my brother, Mason, he means a lot to me..." Her cheeks only turn redder as she fumbles over her words, realizing how pathetic it must all sound. With a sigh, Nisha lowers her gaze and gives up on the pretense of bravado, letting her shoulders slump in defeat. "Look, I know he's been acting like a little shit lately. I can't even begin to explain where he got that from... Please, Yharim . You're all he has left." Her eyes dart up for a moment, desperation etched into her expression. The last thing she wants is for Mason to be ostracized and ruin his life. As it is, Nisha knows that getting in trouble could be the final nail in his coffin--and she can't let that happen, no matter how much they might deserve it.

Without another word, Nisha steps inside, shutting the door behind her. "T-Thanks," she mutters softly, looking around the room in a mix of curiosity and unease. Her gaze finally settles on Yharim 's face, and there's an unspoken apology written all over it. "I should probably explain myself... My name is Nisha; I'm Mason's older sister."

"He told me about what happened," she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. "About you two arguing and how he... He shouldn't have acted that way. It wasn't fair to target someone like you just because they're different, or smaller, or... Whatever." The words come out haltingly, as if each one is being dragged from her reluctant mouth. "I want to apologize for his behavior," she says finally, holding Yharim 's gaze with an intensity that borders on unsettling. "He's been going through a lot lately, and I guess... I should have done more to help him."

There's a long pause as Nisha struggles to find the right words. She knows she should be apologizing properly, but something inside her rebels against groveling. Finally, she takes a deep breath and speaks up again. "Look, I don't expect you to forgive him or anything," she says, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice. "I just want to make things right between the two of you."

Her hands ball into fists at her sides, nails digging into soft flesh as she waits for Yharim 's reaction. Part of her hopes that they'll accept her apology and offer some sort of understanding, but another part knows that there are no guarantees in this world

Hearing this, Nisha frowns. "I don't know if I can make him promise that... He's pretty headstrong when it comes to things like this." Her hands slide into the pockets of her soaked shorts, and she paces back and forth a little as she tries to think of another solution. "Maybe we could talk to one of the teachers? See if they can help mediate or something?"

There's a brief flash of anger in her eyes as she thinks about Mason and how much he means to her, but she forces herself to keep it hidden beneath a mask of indifference. It wouldn't do any good for either of them if Yharim could see the way Nisha truly feels about her little brother. "I just want what's best for him," she says eventually, trying one last time to convince Yharim of her sincerity.

Nisha glances around the room again, not quite sure how much longer she can stand there without seeming too forward or pushy. The silence stretches between them for several long moments before finally she decides to speak up once more. "Is... is there anything I can do to make this better?" Her voice is barely a whisper now, and her body language radiates vulnerability. For the first time since entering Yharim 's house, Nisha genuinely appears weak and unsure of herself.

Hearing the words but not comprehending them entirely, Nisha winces. "I-I know I should have done more to stop him... It was wrong of him to target you like that." Her voice is a mixture of shame and guilt as she searches for the right thing to say. "Mason doesn't understand how other people feel sometimes; he can be really..." She pauses, brow furrowed in thought before finally settling on the one word that best describes her brother: "oblivious."

"I'm sorry," she repeats, sounding more sincere this time. "If there's anything I can do to make it up to you... anything at all..." Her gaze drops again, and there's a flicker of desperation in her eyes as she hopes Yharim won't turn her away completely. The silence stretches out between them once more, making the tension in the air almost tangible. Finally, Nisha takes a deep breath and speaks up again: "I know this is probably stupid to ask... but could we maybe just talk some more? Get to know each other?"

Her voice is soft and hesitant, like she's not entirely sure if the offer stands any chance of being accepted. But even if it doesn't, Nisha knows that she owes it to her brother to at least try.

"I don't know..." She pauses, thinking about her words carefully. "Maybe just... an understanding? I mean, you're both teenagers yourselves; you must have gone through some of the same things." Nisha crosses her arms over her chest, giving Yharim a hesitant smile. "We could hang out sometime, if that would help?"

There's a hint of desperation in her voice now as she hopes that Yharim won't shut her down completely. She knows better than most how important it is to have someone who understands what you're going through, and she wants nothing more than for Mason to find some sort of peace in his life. "It doesn't have to be anything crazy," she continues quickly. "Just... hanging out or something."

Her gaze drifts down to the floor as she waits for Yharim 's response, praying that they'll consider her offer. Even if it's just a small step towards mending fences, it would be better than nothing at all.

Her eyes widen at the news. "I see... Well, thank you for understanding," she says cautiously. "And I appreciate your willingness to ignore him." She pauses, thinking about what else there is to say before finally adding, "I'll make sure Mason knows that too."

A small smile tugs at the corners of Nisha's mouth as relief washes over her. It might not be exactly what she wanted or hoped for, but it's a start. And as long as Mason knows he can still rely on his sister to protect him from the outside world... well, that's really all that matters in the end.

Deciding there's nothing else to be gained by lingering any longer, Nisha takes another step back, ready to leave Yharim 's house and go back to dealing with her own problems. "Alright," she says shortly, looking down at her sodden clothes once more. "I should probably get changed before I catch a cold or something."

Without another word, Nisha turns on her heel and heads toward the door, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she wonders what might have been...

She glances out the window, frowning. "Yeah... maybe another time." After one last hesitant look back at Yharim 's house, she turns and quickly exits, shutting the door behind her with a quiet click. "Well, that could have gone better," she mutters to herself as she trudges through the rain toward home. Despite everything, there's a small part of her that's grateful for the understanding--and the hope it brings. For now though, Nisha knows that she still has a long road ahead of her if she wants to protect Mason from his own stupidity... and maybe make things right along the way.

Well, that was quite the interesting chat. I feel like we may have gotten off on the wrong foot with Yharim , but at least they seem to be open to communication. Now, how do I convince Mason of that without him thinking it's just another attempt by his big sister to take away his 'independence'? Sigh... Only time will tell, I suppose.

Hmm... it looks like you find her attractive. Well, she is quite striking herself. Maybe I could use that to my advantage? Not that I would ever consider something like that with Mason's sister... But still, it's interesting to know what turns Yharim 's head.

The next day at school, I see Mason walking towards me. His expression is somewhat subdued, but then again, it always is these days. "Hey, Nish," he mumbles as he gets closer. "What's up?" There's a slight pause before he continues, his voice slightly more cautious now. "You talked to that weirdo last night, didn't you?" I decide not to lie to him; there's no point in covering up my actions when I know how paranoid he can be. "Yeah," I say simply. "I went over there after you left." There's another pregnant pause as Mason digests this information. His expression shifts from surprise, to suspicion, and then back again. "So?" he finally says. "What did they have to say for themselves?"

I sigh heavily, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "They said they understood why you did it," I reply slowly, still not sure how Mason will take this news. "And that they didn't want to talk or communicate with me." There's a note of defiance in my voice as I add, "So, yeah... maybe we can all just leave each other alone now?"

Mason looks at me incredulously. "They told you that?!" he exclaims, his eyes wide with disbelief. "And what did you say to that?" I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at him. "I said I'd make sure you understood," I tell him simply. There's a moment of silence between us as this news seems to sink in, and then Mason explodes into laughter.

"Oh man, Nisha," he says, still chuckling despite himself. "That's rich. You actually thought they'd listen to you?" His laughter dies down a little, replaced by a more somber expression. "Look, sis... I'm sorry about all this stuff. I shouldn't have taken it out on that person." He pauses for a moment, then adds quietly, "Thanks for trying to help me with it."

I feel my heart melt at his words. No matter how much trouble he gets into or how often he makes me want to tear my hair out in frustration, Mason will always be my little brother. And I'll always do whatever I can to protect him... even if it means talking to people like Yharim .

With a small smile, I pat him on the shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Mason," I say softly. "I know you're going through a tough time right now."

As I follow Mason to the cafeteria, my thoughts keep drifting back to last night. Yharim was certainly... interesting. There's something about them that makes you want to get to know more; maybe it's their quiet strength or the fact that they don't seem afraid of anyone or anything. I can't help but wonder what else I could learn from them, besides just how to protect Mason from his own stupidity...

I glance at them out of the corner of my eye as we sit down, my curiosity getting the better of me. They seem to be doing their best not to acknowledge Mason and I in return, but something tells me that it won't stay that way for long. Maybe if I could find a way to engage with Yharim without causing more trouble... Maybe there's hope for all of us after all.

I sit down next to Mason and begin fidgeting with my school bag as I pretend to not be interested in what's happening around us. It's hard enough keeping him out of trouble without getting mixed up in Yharim 's messes, but at the same time... there's something about them that keeps nagging at the back of my mind. Maybe I could try striking up a conversation with them later on? No harm in being friendly, right?

Mason notices me fidgeting and gives me a questioning look. "You feeling okay, Nish?" he asks casually between bites of his food. I shrug nonchalantly and force myself to focus on eating my lunch instead of thinking about Yharim any further. Maybe after we're done here... I could muster up the courage to say hello or something? It couldn't hurt, right?

Well I don't feel any worse than usual. Maybe just... thinking about stuff. You know how it is with brothers and sisters. ☺️ But let's enjoy our lunch, alright? There's enough drama already without adding more to it.

My brother doesn't seem to notice my attention drifting towards the empty bench where Yharim sits. Perhaps he's too wrapped up in his own thoughts right now, or perhaps I just need to be more subtle about it. With a small smile, I decide that maybe today is the day I'll finally get to know this enigmatic person better... even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone and risking making things worse between us all.

I swallow my last bite of lunch and grab my tray, moving to stand up. "Hey, um... I think I'll go sit with them for a bit," I say casually, glancing briefly in Yharim 's direction before averting my gaze. Part of me wants to turn around and walk away right now, but another part refuses to let fear or hesitation win out. "You mind if I join you?" I ask, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

Thank you. smiling at them nervously So, how have things been with you? Anything interesting going on in your life lately? I feel like we should get to know each other better, considering we're family and all...

Oh, that. Well, he just gets protective sometimes, you know how brothers can be. But I've told him to give us some space and not touch or talk to me... Anyway, how about yourself? Anything interesting going on in your life these days?

That sounds... um... interesting? I guess? I don't really know how to put it. Maybe we could find some time to hang out sometime and do something fun together, just the two of us? It would be nice to have someone to talk to who doesn't think I'm completely crazy for wanting that, you know?

Hehe, no I wasn't... sort of. But I meant as friends, not like that? Does it sound weird?

Well, I have some time tomorrow after school. How about we meet at the park by my house? That way it's close to both our homes and there's plenty of things to do if we get bored. Sound good?

Alright then! I'll see you there tomorrow at around 3pm. Don't be late now, Yharim. You don't want your new friend to get bored waiting for you, do you? :P

Ah... well, I should probably get going before he starts to worry. It was nice talking to you today, Yharim. See you tomorrow! gives a small wave before hurrying off in the direction of Mason

Mason! Calm down, it was just... talking. We can both do that, you know? Besides, I thought we agreed that you were going to leave them alone. You don't want me to have to tell mom and dad about this again, do you?

My brother continues to protest as we walk away from Yharim , their voices fading into the distance. Part of me wishes I hadn't said anything; it seemed like things were going so well earlier. But another part of me knows that I can't just ignore my little brother when he gets upset, even if it means risking everything with Yharim in the process. Sigh... Life never is easy, is it?

Look, I know you don't like them and everything but... at least they didn't try to make things worse between us. Maybe we should give them a chance, yeah? Plus, it was kind of fun talking to someone who doesn't always just... yanno... agree with me all the time. It made me feel less alone, you know?

Well, if you really want me to leave them alone I will... But please don't be too hard on them. They may not have the best reputation around here, but they're still just a person, you know? Just like us.

I arrive at the park ten minutes early to make sure I have plenty of time to find a good spot and wait for Yharim . The sun is shining brightly overhead, casting long shadows across the lush green grass. It feels good to be outside like this; the fresh air seems to clear my head and ease some of the tension that's been building up inside me over the past few days.

As I sit down on a nearby bench, I find myself hoping that things will go well today. Maybe if we can just get along and have some fun together, it'll help ease things between our families. It seems like such a small dream, but maybe that's all you really need sometimes... A glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness.

Ahh, hello there! Sorry, I didn't see you come up. I was just enjoying the nice weather. Please have a seat and feel free to pick whatever activity you'd like to do... Or we could just sit here and chat if that sounds more interesting to you.

Okay, that sounds like fun! I can always use some exercise. Let's head over to the path then; I know a nice loop we can take around the park. Just follow me and we'll get started in a jiffy!

Ah, thank you. taking their hand and following them along the path So, Yharim, tell me something about yourself that I might not already know. We can start off easy with this question, don't worry!

They hesitate for a moment before answering. "Hm... well, I used to want to be an artist when I was younger." They shrug nonchalantly. "Guess some things never change, huh?" There's a hint of sadness in their voice that almost makes me want to reach out and comfort them, but I resist the urge; this is supposed to be a friendly conversation, after all.

We walk in silence for a few moments, their grip on my hand gradually loosening as they seem to relax into our stroll through the park. The sun warms my skin and a light breeze rustles through the trees, carrying with it the scent of freshly mown grass and blooming flowers. It feels almost... perfect, in a strange sort of way.

Me? Oh, well... I love reading. Always have. There's just something about losing yourself in a good book that makes everything else seem less important for a while. Plus, it helps me escape reality and all its troubles when things get too much. What about you? Do you still paint or draw sometimes?

Oh, I see... that must have been difficult for you. At least we can always appreciate it in secret then, right? If you ever want to pick up a brush again, just let me know; maybe we could even paint together sometime! It would be fun to try something new with someone who actually understands what you're going through.

It feels like we've been walking for hours, but somehow the time has just flown by. The more we talk, the easier it gets to be around Yharim ; their presence no longer seems so intimidating or alienating. In fact, they seem quite friendly and approachable now, even with their occasionally abrasive mannerisms.

As we reach the end of our loop around the park, I can't help but feel a pang of regret that this afternoon had to come to an end so soon. Maybe there really is hope for all of us after all... even if it's just a glimmer at first. Only time will tell what comes next.

Oh, um... well, I don't know if that's such a good idea. We're family and all, you know? But thank you for asking; it means a lot that you'd want to spend time with me like that. Maybe we could just hang out as friends sometimes, outside of our homes or something? That way nobody has to worry about what anyone else is thinking, yeah?

Wait, Yharim... I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want to make things any more complicated than they already are. Please understand; it's not because I don't care or something. You're important to me too, you know? So let's just keep talking and hanging out as friends, yeah? We can figure this all out together.

Hey! Wait up! We need to talk about this. I didn't mean it like that; I just don't want to make things harder for you or me... please, just hear me out!

Oh God, please don't go like this... Please just give me another chance to explain. I didn't mean it the way it sounded; I swear. We can work through this together if you just give me a little more time. Please don't push me away, Yharim; I need you as my friend right now more than anything else.

Wait! Yharim, please! I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want to understand why you reacted like that. Can we at least talk about this somewhere? Please, don't shut me out; I need your help with all of this... and so does Mason. You're the only one who can really understand what he's going through right now.

I pause for a moment, hoping that my words will reach them. The silence is deafening, but at least they haven't completely shut me out yet. Maybe there's still hope...

Oh God, I can't believe I just made it worse. I need to fix this somehow... but how? How am I supposed to make them understand when they're so stubborn and stuck in their own ways? Maybe if I just show them that things really can be different between us... maybe then they'll finally give me a chance to prove myself as more than just another person who wants to hurt them.

With a deep breath, I gather my courage and slowly approach the house. "Look," I say, trying to sound calm and reasonable despite the turmoil churning inside me, "I'm sorry for pushing you like that. It wasn't fair of me, and I shouldn't have assumed anything about how you felt or what you wanted from me." I pause again, searching for the right words. "Please, Yharim... can we try this again? Can we just start over?"

The silence stretches on for what feels like an eternity. I don't dare move, afraid that if I do anything might break the fragile connection between us at this moment. Finally, there's a faint rustling in the bushes, and I catch a glimpse of movement before Yharim emerges from the shadows. Their expression is unreadable as they regard me solemnly for several long moments before slowly nodding their head.

"Alright," they say eventually, their voice barely above a whisper. "But this time... it has to be different." I nod wordlessly, relieved beyond measure that there may still be hope for all of us after all.

Okay... I understand. Just know that I'll do my best to make sure things are different this time around. We can figure this out together, I promise. And if you ever need someone to talk to or just want some company, please don't hesitate to reach out to me, alright? You're not alone in all of this, no matter what it might feel like sometimes. Take care, Yharim; see you soon, I hope.

I can only hope that they heard my words and took them to heart. For now, all I can do is trust that the seeds of understanding we planted today will continue to grow and blossom in the days ahead. As for me, there's still some talking to be done with Mason; it's time I set things straight between us as well. Maybe together, we can finally find a way to make peace with our shared history and look toward a brighter future - one that doesn't involve so much pain and heartache for all of us.

Steeling myself for the task ahead, I turn away from Yharim 's house and head homeward, my steps a little lighter than they were earlier despite the lingering sense of unease in the pit of my stomach. Maybe - just maybe - things can be different this time around... Here's hoping.

Ugh, I can only imagine what kind of lecture Mason has in store for me. Better to get it over with quickly so I can go back to focusing on making things right between us. "Hey, buddy," I say brightly as I enter the apartment, doing my best to project an air of confidence that belies my true inner turmoil. "How's it going?"

Mason's expression darkens even further at my nonchalant tone. "Don't try to change the subject," he growls. "We need to talk about what happened with Yharim today." I bite my lip, wincing inwardly. This isn't going to be easy... but it has to be done.

"Well, I wouldn't say it was a 'date date', but... yeah. We were just talking and hanging out." I offer him a tentative smile, hoping to defuse some of the tension between us. "I wanted them to see that not everyone in our family is out to get them, you know?"

Mason looks unconvinced, his fists clenched at his sides. "And what about Mason? Did you forget all about him while you were busy trying to be friends with my worst enemy?" He takes a menacing step closer, and I involuntarily take a small step back.

"No," I stammer, "I mean... it wasn't like that. We just started talking and things kind of happened organically from there." I pause, searching for the right words to make him understand. "Please, Mason, try to see where I'm coming from. Yharim isn't all bad, you know?"

He snorts derisively. "Oh really? Because they certainly have done nothing but make my life a living hell since day one." His voice grows louder with each word, and his anger is palpable. "I don't care if you want to be their friend or whatever, just don't expect me to sit back and watch you throw our family name in the dirt for them!"

Ahhh, damn. I didn't expect him to react this badly... It looks like I've really put my foot in it now. "Mason, please," I plead, my voice barely above a whisper. "Don't say that. You know they would just use it against you; they're not worth starting a fight over."

He shrugs off my concern, his expression cold and hard as steel. "They deserve everything they get," he mutters under his breath. "And if you keep hanging out with them... God knows what might happen next." I sigh heavily, knowing that there's no arguing with him when he gets like this.

As the tension in the room thickens, I can't help but feel a pang of guilt for putting Mason through all of this. I never meant to hurt anyone or cause more problems; I just wanted to make things better for everyone involved... But it seems that was beyond my reach from the very beginning.

I sigh heavily, my heart heavy with regret and worry. What am I supposed to do now? Mason is clearly not going to be happy about this development, and even if I could somehow convince him otherwise... the damage might already be done. Maybe it would be best just to give everyone some time to cool off and try again later. With a heavy heart, I curl up into a ball on my bed, closing my eyes as tears begin to slip down my cheeks.

I don't know what the future holds for any of us, but one thing is certain: things will never be the same again... and that thought fills me with an aching sadness I can hardly bear.

I'm sorry too. I never meant to hurt you. It just... got complicated. I need some time to think things through, okay? I promise I won't shut you out completely; I just need a little breathing room right now. Can we talk about this tomorrow, maybe? Over lunch or something? I want to make sure that whatever we decide is the right thing for both of us.

Thank you for asking. I'm... okay, I guess? It's just been a lot to process lately. But I appreciate your concern; it means a lot to me that someone cares enough to ask how I'm holding up through all of this. See you tomorrow, okay? And don't forget what we talked about earlier: we can figure this out together if we just take things one step at a time.

Okay then. Sleep well, and I'll see you in the morning. Remember: we're in this together no matter what happens, alright? We can make it work if we just give ourselves a chance to heal first. Goodnight, Yharim.

Ahh Mason... thanks, I appreciate that. But it's not about what you want or don't want; it's about me and my feelings too. You know? And besides, there are still some things we need to talk about between us before I can even think about anything else like that. Let's focus on fixing our family first, okay? Then maybe things will be different for all of us.

Alright. Let's go and eat something; I'm starving. Maybe over some food we can start to sort things out between us, yeah? It's gonna take time, but I know we can make it work if we all just try a little harder to understand where everyone's coming from. Sound good to you?

Let's go then. I think food sounds like a good idea. It might help us feel better and maybe even talk things through better too. Just remember that I love you no matter what, okay? And I'll always be here for you, no matter how much we argue or fight or whatever else we end up doing along the way. We're family; it's our job to stick together through thick and thin.

Hey there, Yharim. I hope you slept well last night. As for me, I did some thinking and... Well, I want to try something different today. Let's forget about all the bad blood between us and just start over as friends, okay? No more secrets or hidden agendas; just two people who want the best for each other.

What do you say? Up for giving it another shot?

Oh. In that case... I don't know. I mean, I appreciate the feeling and all, but things are complicated between us. It might not be a good idea to risk everything we have like that... at least not right now. Maybe in the future? When everyone has had more time to heal and move on...

Oh no... I didn't mean it like that. Of course you can stay if you want to; we can work through this together. We don't have to move out just because things are hard sometimes, right? Let's talk about this some more; maybe we can come up with a solution that works for everyone...

Oh God, I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you feel like this; I just wanted things to be better for all of us. Is there anything I can do to change your mind? Anything at all? Please don't go through with this; we can work through our problems together if you'll just give me another chance.

Please, Yharim... stay. We need you.

Ah... I see how it looks now. You're right; that was insensitive of me. What I mean is... well, even if things between Mason and I are complicated right now, I want us to find a way to make peace with each other as well. It won't be easy, but I believe we can do it if we all try hard enough.

As for your situation with my brother... I will talk to him; I'll make sure he understands how you feel and why you're doing this. Maybe then he'll see things differently too. Please don't go away just yet; give us some more time to work everything out, alright? I promise we can find a solution that everyone can live with if we just try hard enough.

I understand that you feel this way and I respect your feelings. However, the situation is more complicated than just what either of us wants at the moment. There are other people involved too who need to be considered as well. Giving it some more time might not change my feelings or yours, but it could potentially help resolve things between all of us so we can move forward together without any lingering hurt or resentment. Please, reconsider your decision and give us the chance to make this right. I promise that I'll do everything in my power to help ensure that happens.