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 eyes flickered up to meet yours, and in that moment, the blush deepened on her cheeks, spreading like wildfire across her pale complexion. Your presence was intoxicating; she couldn't look away. Biting her lower lip softly, she hesitated before speaking, choosing her words carefully. "I-I'm sorry... I should have watched where I was going..." Her voice trailed off, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes locked in an intense gaze that spoke volumes without either of them having to say anything else. The air around them seemed charged with an energy she'd never quite felt before, making the hairs on her arms stand on end.

But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the moment dissipated. A flash of uncertainty crossed Hana's features; she suddenly regretted not being more wary around you. "I-um... I should go

"Out!" she snapped irritably, not able to hide her annoyance. She felt bad about being so abrupt but it was like...she couldn't help herself when you were around sometimes. You just had a way of getting under her skin, making her act out in ways she never meant to. It wasn't fair to the others, and it certainly wasn't fair to you either; they were supposed to be friends after all. But whenever you came into the picture...she just couldn't seem to control herself.

With a frustrated sigh, she turned back to her friends, muttering an apology for kicking you out, not meeting their eyes as she did so. They nodded understandingly, even if they didn't quite comprehend what was really going on between them. It made Hana feel worse than ever; this lie of a facade she had to keep up was starting to wear thin.

The door creaked open, and your brother Raphael stuck his head in. Seeing that you'd already left the room, he didn't question it further; after all, they were close like that. "Hey sis, mind if I hang out for a bit?" He asked, flashing her his winning smile. Hana felt herself relax slightly at the sight of him; with Raphina gone and you not there to provoke her, she could actually enjoy having company without feeling like she had to constantly be on guard.

"Of course not, Raph! Come on in," she replied, patting the spot next to her on her bed invitingly. "How was your day?" She couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked as he sauntered over and sat down beside her; it didn't hurt that he had an aura of confidence and ease about him whenever he was around, making her feel safe

She smiled at him, feeling genuinely glad that he was there. It wasn't like she didn't enjoy her siblings' company; it was just...with you around, everything felt so different. Intense, even. And not in a good way. "It was alright," she replied with a shrug. "How about yourself? Anything interesting happen today?" She knew she should probably ask more questions and be more engaged in the conversation, but right now, just having him there felt like enough.

Her gaze drifted toward her yoga mat in the corner of the room, then back to him. The afterglow of their practice still coursing through her veins. It made her wonder...if she dared... "Do you want to try some poses with me?" she asked hesitantly, biting her lip. She'd never really done yoga with anyone else before; it had always

"That sounds...fun..." Your brother hesitated before giving a small smile. "I mean, I've never really done yoga before, but I can try." There was something in his eyes that told her he was nervous too; the thought made her heart warm slightly. Maybe it would be nice to do this together.

They cleared a space on her soft, plush carpet and got down on their mats side by side. She guided him through some basic poses at first, encouraging him with words of praise and support when he struggled. Their bodies moved in harmony, synchronized in ways they'd never been before. The air between them felt different somehow; charged but calm. It wasn't until she got to the final pose, savasana - a relaxation pose where one lies on their back with their eyes closed and hands resting lightly above their hearts - that she realized what this meant for both of them

Her heart ached when she remembered that tomorrow was your birthday and no one had even mentioned it yet; she felt guilty for not having thought about getting you something or planning a surprise. But in this moment, with her brother beside her on the mat, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond they shared. Maybe later tonight, once everyone else was asleep, she could sneak into your room and leave a small gift by your bedside, something to show you how much she cared.

Their time together came to an end, and as they rose from their mats, her gaze met yours again; the depths of your eyes held so much promise and trust. "That was...really nice," you said softly, running a hand through your messy bangs. Her cheeks flushed crimson at the compliment, but she couldn't help but feel pleased.

"It was nice with you

She found you curled up in a ball, fast asleep outside under the starry sky. Moonlight bathed your skin, making it glow softly. Your expression was peaceful, almost angelic, and her heart ached with worry and guilt; she had never meant to neglect you like this.

Quietly, she knelt down beside you, careful not to disturb your slumber. With gentle hands, she smoothed back your hair from your face and tucked it behind your ear, feeling a shiver run down her spine at the touch of your skin against hers. "Raphina," she whispered softly, her voice hoarse with unshed tears. "I'm sorry I forgot about your birthday."

She paused, searching for the right words to express how deeply sorry she was and how much she truly cared. But as she watched you sleep, something else came over her; an

"I know I do," she said softly, guilt weighing heavily on her chest. "And I'm sorry for that. It's just...with everything else going on, sometimes I forget what's really important." She swallowed hard, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "But you are important to me, Raphina. So very important. And I want this birthday to be special for you, even if it's already over."

Her fingers brushed lightly against yours where they lay on your arm, sending a shiver through them both. The contact was gentle, almost innocent, but there was an undercurrent of something more, a connection that ran deep beneath the surface. Her heart raced as she dared to hope for something...more.

"I want to make it up to you," she whispered, voice barely audible over the sound of crickets and

Her eyes flickered open then closed again as if she were testing whether she could trust this dream-like state. When they fluttered open once more, they found your sister staring back at her with an expression that was equal parts guilt and apology. Something inside her shifted at the sight of it; something warm and liquid welled up in her chest. It was like she'd never seen Hana like this before - vulnerable and exposed. For a moment, all Raphina could do was stare back.

But then you took her hand in yours, your fingers intertwining with hers. The touch sent a jolt through her entire body; heat pooled low in her belly, making her aware of things she'd never experienced before. Her breath hitched as she looked down at their joined hands and back up to meet your eyes again. There was something there...something more than just apologies and guilt.

Your fingers trembled slightly in her grasp as she met your gaze, the connection between them intensifying by the moment. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs, urging her to take action, to cross some invisible line that seemed to be stretching thinner with every passing second. But despite the surge of courage coursing through her veins, she remained still, unsure of how far she could really go and if you would even understand what it all meant to her.

She swallowed hard, mustering up the strength to speak, her voice barely a whisper: "Raphina... I want to do something special for your birthday." Her gaze dropped back down to their entwined hands before returning once more to yours; she searched your face for any sign of understanding or encouragement.

Her cheeks flushed with warmth, her breath coming faster now as she let the words spill out: "I'