The evening air was warm, carrying the scent of jasmine from the courtyard vines. The family gathered under the fading light, voices overlapping in laughter, teasing, and quiet whispers.
Adrian sat back against the stone wall, his posture casual, his smile unreadable. Aiden stayed close, calm as ever, watching the flow of conversation like a silent guardian. Cassian lounged beside them, smirking, while Orion leaned forward with a grin.
Orion teased, his voice full of mischief: "So, the heartthrobs return. Did the girls scream loud enough for you, Adrian? Or did you pretend not to hear them again? Especially you, Amara — you're always waiting for him."
Amara flushed, her eyes flicking toward Adrian. "I don't wait. I choose."
Adrian chuckled softly, his tone playful but distant. "Noise is noise. It fades."
Cassian laughed, sharp and mocking. "Choose? He barely looks at you."
Just then, Selene and Lyra entered together. Selene carried herself with confidence, her sharp gaze scanning the group. Without hesitation, she sat down beside Adrian, her presence commanding attention.
Lyra, quieter and more distant, chose a single chair in front of Aiden. She lowered herself gracefully, her silence heavy but noticeable. Aiden glanced at her with calm encouragement, while Adrian gave her a faint smile, playful but gentle.
Amara's heart tightened at the sight of Selene beside Adrian. To mask her jealousy, she slipped her hand around Julian's arm, holding it tightly — not out of love, but to spark a reaction. Her eyes flicked toward Adrian, waiting for him to show even the smallest sign of jealousy.
But Adrian stayed unbothered, his calm smile never shifting. He spoke lightly to Selene, as if Amara's gesture hadn't even registered.
Lyra watched silently, her chest tightening just a little. A flicker of jealousy passed through her, but it wasn't sharp — she knew Adrian never liked elder girls. Still, seeing him sit with Selene made her feel distant, her quiet longing hidden behind her calm eyes.
Selene crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "All of you waste your time. School, college, family gatherings — it's all the same. You chase shadows."
Julian shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tight. "At least some of us know loyalty. Not everyone hides behind silence." His eyes darted toward Adrian, frustration clear.
Adrian's smile didn't falter. He avoided Amara's gaze, his silence a shield. Inside, though, his thoughts twisted — her devotion felt too perfect, too rehearsed. She's faking it, he told himself. She does this because we're cousins. And she already has a boyfriend… she would never like me.
Aiden broke the tension with a calm voice. "Enough. We're family. Let's not turn the courtyard into a battlefield."
But Cassian only smirked wider, Orion teased louder, Selene grew sharper, and Julian sulked deeper.
The courtyard filled with laughter, jealousy, and secrets — a gathering that looked ordinary to outsiders, but beneath the surface, every word carried weight.
Just then, one of the relatives stepped into the courtyard, smiling. "Come on, everyone. The food is ready."
The cousins exchanged glances — some relieved, some frustrated, some hiding emotions behind silence — before rising to join the rest of the family at the table.