The morning began with the soft hum of the ceiling fan, the smell of tea drifting in from the kitchen, and the faint chatter of her sisters somewhere in the living room. Viara was taking the sip of tea sitting on dinning table when she heard their conversation and after that viara halfway through organizing the laundry when her father's voice carried from the phone.
"Yes, Presiel," her father said warmly, "come over this afternoon. We'll be here."
Viara froze in the hallway. Her father was still smiling into the receiver when he noticed her.
"He's coming today," he told her casually.
Her first instinct wasn't joy or dread—it was irritation at the mess around the house. She turned toward the living room and found her sisters lounging without a care.
"Tara. Nisha. Up. Now," she ordered.
Both groaned in unison.
"Why? What happened?" Tara mumbled without looking up from her phone.
"Presiel's coming," Viara said, already moving toward her room. "And this place looks like we've been living in a war zone. Tidy up the living room, clear the dining table, and for God's sake, hide the pile of clothes."
Tara sighed dramatically. "Why is he coming?"
"Just do it," Viara replied, closing her bedroom door.
---
Her room was sunlit and quiet. She moved to the wardrobe, fingers brushing past soft fabrics until they landed on a black, floral halter-neck dress that brushed just above her knees. It was casual enough for the afternoon, yet the kind of dress that carried a whisper of charm. She tied her hair loosely, letting a few strands frame her face, and dabbed on a hint of perfume.
---
By the time she came downstairs, the house looked marginally better. Her father was in the backyard, inspecting the potted plants, and from the window she saw him greet Presiel at the gate.
"Go tell him I'll be there in a few minutes," her father called.
Viara hesitated, then stepped outside, a tray with two cups of coffee balanced carefully in her hands.
Presiel was seated in the shaded corner of the garden—an old wooden bench surrounded by hibiscus blooms and the low hum of cicadas. His eyes followed her as she approached.
"I thought you might like some coffee while you wait," she said, setting the tray on the table.
"Thank you," he replied, voice steady but warm. His gaze lingered longer than necessary.
She turned to leave.
"How's life treating you, Viara?" he asked suddenly.
She stopped mid-step, half-turning. "It's… fine. Busy."
"You still overwork yourself?" he said, leaning back slightly, watching her. "You don't take enough breaks. You don't eat on time. And you keep carrying everything alone—"
"Presiel," she interrupted, voice firm. "In the past, it was just… attraction. That's all. Don't get so involved in me."
She turned again, but this time his hand closed around her wrist. She felt the sudden firmness of his grip, pulling her gently but insistently toward him.
Her breath caught as her back straightened, her wrist now held behind her, the distance between them gone in a heartbeat. His green eyes held hers with unflinching intensity.
"It affects me, it affects when you ignore me " he said, his voice low enough to be almost a whisper.
Her pulse thundered, but her tone stayed cold. "Then stop affecting yourself for me."
His hand loosened, and she stepped back, walking away without looking over her shoulder.
---
Her phone buzzed the moment she closed her bedroom door.
Aunt: "Wedding preparations start next week. I want you and the girls here tomorrow. We'll need your help for the whole month."
Viara smiled faintly and typed back a quick yes. Then she opened another chat.
Viara: "Coming over for the wedding month."
Keilan: "Finally. It's been ages. You'll see how chaotic this house is right now."
Viara: "Can't wait."
Keilan: "You'll regret saying that."
viara: "save it for the later! "
keilan :we'll see that, but when you're coming! I just can't wait to meet you!
viara: "why did plan something for me?"
keilan: "who knows?"
viara: "Okay then I'll see you later"
keilan: "okay, waiting for you"
---
The next morning, the sisters packed hurriedly, Tara grumbling about leaving her bed, Nisha buzzing with excitement. When they arrived at their aunt's, the air was thick with the scent of marigolds and cardamom tea, relatives moving in and out of rooms, and laughter spilling from the courtyard.
Keilan was in the front yard, sleeves rolled up, helping string fairy lights between the trees. He grinned when he saw her.
"So the royal helper has arrived," he teased.
She smirked. "Looks like you need one."
"Of course! if it is you" he retorted
"You're here" Rhea said excitedly
"it's your wedding we should be here to give you company, what if me cousins don't gave attention to bride!" viara teased the Rhea and keilan
"you shouldn't joke like this, It doesn't suits you" keilan replied her teasingly
"Whatever" she rolled her eyes
They worked side by side for a while—him handing her the lighter decor, her teasing him about his crooked knots. There was no rush; the house was alive with the slow build of celebration.
---
That evening, as a break from wedding planning, the family gathered to celebrate a cousin's birthday. The living room was packed, music playing low, someone laughing in the kitchen.
When the cake delivery boy called to say he'd arrived at the corner shop, Viara's aunt handed her the task. "Take Keilan with you, it's dark outside," she said.
The night air was cooler, the streets lit in pools of yellow from the lampposts. They walked side by side, talking idly about nothing and everything. hermit trap into something and cake was about to fall but keilan immediately catch the cake and their hand's brushed to each other, awkwardness take the place.
On the way back, the quiet between them grew heavier, charged. Halfway up the driveway, Keilan stopped walking.
"Viara," he said. She turned, brows lifting slightly.
"I can't keep this in anymore." His voice wasn't playful now—it was raw, stripped of all the teasing charm. "I like you. no I think I love you, I've love you for so long I don't remember when it started."
Before she could respond, he stepped closer and pressed a quick, feather-light peck to her lips. It was over before she had even registered it.
He looked at her for a heartbeat longer, then started walking again, leaving her standing still, the cake box warm against her palms, then keilan spoke
" I knew my limits but loving someone is not in our hands and that's the condition of mine, I just can't stop thinking about you, whenever you are near me I felt happy, whenever you are not near me I missed you so badly you can't even imagined, I am sorry for what I did earlier but I just can't hold myself when you are near me, please don't take me wrong, viara!"
viara only nod to him and walked silently all the way. After that in birthday celebration, they exchanged their glance so many times and keilan try to talk with her but she just ignore him and went to guest room.
---
Much later, in the guest room she shared with her sisters, Viara lay on her back staring at the ceiling. Presiel's words in the garden. Keilan's confession in the dark and elvric smile. three voices, three boys who care for her, tangled in the quiet space between her heartbeat.
"Sleep never came."she thinks
"whom I love is don't want me to love him and this both....why it is so tangled up?"