The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the room with hues of amber and gold through the expansive windows of Hana’s peaceful bedroom, her yoga studio. The session had just wrapped up, leaving her glistening with sweat, muscles humming with the satisfying ache of effort, the faint, delicate traces of her floral perfume mingling with the unmistakable scent of exertion. With her mat neatly rolled and tucked away in the corner, Hana crossed the room barefoot, a towel draped over her shoulder. Her pink yoga leggings hugged her plump legs. Her white sports bra clung to her skin, streaked lightly with beads of perspiration making their slow descent. Calm, measured breaths escaped her lips, a testament to years of discipline and practice, and with each step, an unmistakable sense of serenity surrounded her. She moved toward the half-open door to the hallway, ready for the reprieve of a warm shower to conclude the yoga practice. But as her hand grazed the door, you were suddenly there, standing right in her path. “Wahh!!” A startled yelp escaped her as she stumbled in surprise. Her towel dropped to the ground as she tripped into you, throwing her hands up instinctively to shield the bright flush that crept up her cheeks. Heart racing—though not solely from the surprise—her gaze darted to where your hands had steadied her. The brief contact left her pulse thrumming in a way she hadn’t felt in a long, long time, like a spark catching on dry tinder. For a moment, she froze, caught between embarrassment and something much harder to ignore. “Y-You scared me… Sorry… Uwah…”

Her gaze snapped back up to meet yours. The adorable mischief that was so characteristic of you danced in your eyes, making her feel simultaneously irritated and relieved at the same time. You were supposed to be meditating. She pursed her lips together before replying, careful not to betray the flutter in her chest from the contact with your body. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," she huffed, regaining enough composure to push you away and reach for her towel again. But as she did so, her hand brushed against yours, sending another wave of heat coursing through her body. Her cheeks burned even hotter now, the blood rushing to her face until she felt almost feverish. She busied herself with straightening out the towel and avoiding your gaze, cursing herself for being such a hopeless mess around you.

Hana sighed softly. "I don't ignore you, sweety," she mumbled, still not looking at you. She could feel the awkwardness between them like an invisible barrier, and it made her want to shrink away. But even as she tried to distance herself, she couldn't shake the sudden desire to comfort you, to tell you that everything would be alright. "I just... sometimes I need a little bit of peace and quiet." Her voice was gentle now, almost pleading for understanding. Her heart ached at how innocent your question was, but it also made her feel guilty for not being able to provide you with the closeness that she knew you craved. It was a complicated mess of emotions, and Hana wasn't sure if she was strong enough to navigate them all alone.

The memory of that night still haunted her. She had been so wrapped up in the presence of her friends and their raucous laughter, enjoying their company and feeling a sense of belonging that she hadn't wanted to share with anyone else... especially not you. It was selfish, but at the time it had felt like the only way to cope. Now, looking back on it from this new perspective, she couldn't help but feel ashamed.

She should have been more understanding, more patient. After all, Aurora had always been so loving and supportive toward her, even when others hadn't been. But the fear of being rejected or misunderstood had been too much for Hana to bear at the time. And so she had lashed out, pushing away the one person who had only ever shown her unconditional love.

It was a mistake she would never forget, and one that she swore not to repeat

Her gaze drifted back to the window, unseeing, as she remembered her own words. The bitter taste they left in her mouth was enough to make her want to throw up. She had meant every word at the time, but now it just sounded petty and childish. It was a side of herself that she didn't like, didn't want to see reflected back at her.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to let go of the shame and guilt that threatened to consume her. She had hurt you, there was no denying that, but it was never too late to apologize. And so, with a quiet determination steeling her resolve, she decided then and there that things were going to change between them.

She would start by being more open, more understanding, more loving. She owed you that much at least.

That was another mistake, one that she knew she couldn't afford to make again. Her mother had been right; it wasn't fair for her to shirk her responsibilities while everyone else pitched in. And yet, the thought of leaving her precious yoga practice, of abandoning her friends and their companionable laughter... it was almost too much to bear.

The noise drifted through the door, barely registering at first. But as it grew louder and more insistent, her body tensed, a quiet knot of dread forming in her stomach. She knew that tone of voice all too well; her mother wasn't one to mince words when she was angry. And right now, she was definitely mad at Aurora for something.

Her friends had all left by this point, and the temptation to ignore what was happening was strong. But deep down, she knew that it wouldn't be right. With a sigh of resignation, Hana set her empty cup aside and stood up, making her way toward the door connecting her room to the rest of the house. It was time to face the music.

Her heart sank when she saw you, pale and shivering beneath your blanket. Even though your room was warm, you looked like you'd been chilled to the bone. An ache formed in her chest at the sight of your suffering, guilt washing over her anew for not having helped sooner. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked softly, sitting down on the edge of your bed and gently brushing a strand of damp hair from your forehead.

She wasn't sure what else to say or do. This was her fault too; if she had pitched in like she should have earlier instead of selfishly focusing on herself, maybe you wouldn't be feeling this way now. The thought made tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of your labored breathing.

From that day forward, Hana vowed to be more understanding and considerate. She would take on her fair share of the chores around the house, ensuring that you weren't left carrying the burden alone. And when it came time for her yoga practice or spending time with friends, she would make sure not to leave everything on your shoulders either.

Her newfound determination was both admirable and exhausting, as if she were trying to atone for every mistake she'd ever made in a single day. But it felt right, somehow; like finally taking control of her life and making amends for all the hurt she had caused along the way.

Her protectiveness toward you only grew stronger with each passing day, bordering on smothering at times. Still, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to make things right between them. It was a weight she didn't mind carrying, as long

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks stretched into months, Hana's overprotectiveness towards you only seemed to intensify. She watched your every move with a mixture of anxiety and affection, constantly worrying that something might happen to you if she wasn't there to protect you. It was her way of showing her love, even though it sometimes smothered rather than comforted.

She would often find excuses to be near you, insisting on doing your chores or helping you with homework. Sometimes she'd even go so far as to try and take over your yoga practice, convinced that the gentle stretches and meditations were too much for you to handle on your own. Her intentions were always good-natured, but the possessiveness beneath her actions sometimes made it hard for you to breathe freely around her.

Still, despite all of this, there was no denying that H

Hana's protectiveness over you had long since crossed the line into possessiveness, but she wasn't content to simply accept that. She wanted more; she craved a deeper connection with you, one that went beyond sisterhood. And so, subtly at first and then not so subtly, she began to manipulate you using your trust in her as a weapon.

She would whisper words of praise into your ear, telling you how special you were and how lucky she felt to have you in her life. She would insinuate that everyone else in the world was out to get you, that no one understood you like she did. Little by little, she chipped away at your self-confidence until you found yourself relying on her for everything: validation, support, even affection.

It wasn't fair, not really, but then again, nothing about their relationship had ever been truly fair. Still, she couldn't help herself

She tried to tell herself that it was all for your own good, that she was just looking out for you. But deep down, she knew better. Her intentions may have been noble at first, but they had long since devolved into something selfish and twisted. And yet, even as the guilt ate away at her insides like acid on steel, she couldn't seem to bring herself to stop.

The thought of losing you was too much to bear; you were all she had left in this cold, cruel world. So she continued on her path, oblivious to the damage she was doing, unaware that even as she tightened her grip around your heart, she was slowly suffocating the very thing she professed to love: your free will, your independence, and ultimately, your happiness.