Chapter 78– Brother's Day
Morning sunlight spilled over the Bangalore mansion like nothing was wrong in the world.
Like last night's storm of truths hadn't even happened.
---
But inside the dining area—
it was pure chaos.
As usual.
---
Rhys was already arguing with the breakfast chef.
"This is emotionally insufficient food."
Care didn't even look up from her plate.
"It's food, not therapy."
---
Lyra was half asleep, stirring coffee like it was a survival ritual.
Cole sat at the head of the table, calm as always, observing everything like a silent storm.
Alex was checking his phone, already dressed for the day.
And JJ—
JJ was just sitting there quietly.
A little softer today.
A little more at peace than before.
---
Something about this place had started feeling like home.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Even if her memories were still missing.
---
Care suddenly raised her glass slightly.
"Happy Brother's Day."
---
Rhys immediately leaned forward.
"Finally. Recognition of my emotional suffering."
Care ignored him.
---
JJ blinked slightly.
Then looked at Cole.
"…Brother's Day?"
Cole nodded once.
"Yes."
---
She hesitated for a second.
Then softly—
"…happy Brother's Day."
Cole paused for a fraction of a second.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"…thank you."
---
JJ turned toward Alex next.
He looked up from his phone immediately, like he already knew what she was going to say.
---
She gave a small smile.
"Happy Brother's Day."
Alex's eyes softened instantly.
"…thank you, JJ."
---
There was something in the way he said her name.
Careful.
Protective.
Like she was something fragile he had sworn to protect without telling her why.
---
Then Rhys suddenly leaned in dramatically.
"And me?"
JJ blinked.
"…you are chaos."
Rhys gasped.
"I AM ALSO FAMILY CHAOS."
---
Despite everything—
a small laugh escaped JJ.
Quiet.
But real.
---
Cole watched that moment carefully.
Just for a second.
Like he was storing it somewhere safe.
---
Then Alex stood up, adjusting his coat.
"I have a lecture today."
Care frowned slightly.
"You teach now too?"
Alex nodded.
"Guest lecture at IIM Bangalore."
---
JJ looked up slightly at that.
"…my college?"
Alex smiled faintly.
"Yes."
---
He paused.
Then added more softly:
"I'll drop you there."
---
JJ hesitated.
"…you don't have to."
Alex's expression didn't change.
"I want to."
A beat.
"…and it's safer."
---
Care glanced between them but said nothing.
Rhys immediately muttered:
"Suspiciously protective energy detected."
Cole lightly kicked his foot under the table.
Rhys shut up instantly.
---
JJ finally nodded.
"…okay."
---
Later – Leaving the Mansion
The car was ready outside.
Sunlight brighter now.
Campus day beginning in the distance.
---
JJ stood near the door for a moment.
Looking back at the mansion.
Something about it felt important.
Safe.
Like she was being held together here without knowing why.
---
Care walked up beside her.
"You'll be fine."
JJ nodded slightly.
"I think so."
---
Rhys waved dramatically from behind.
"Don't die academically."
"I'll try not to."
---
Lyra smiled softly.
"Text if anything feels off."
JJ nodded again.
---
Cole stood near the entrance, silent.
Then very calmly said:
"Focus on your day."
JJ gave him a small nod.
---
And Alex opened the car door for her.
---
As she got in—
something in her chest felt oddly tight again.
Familiar tension.
Like déjà vu trying to form a face.
---
But it passed.
---
Inside the Car
The ride toward IIM Bangalore was quiet.
Peaceful.
---
Alex drove calmly.
JJ sat beside him, looking out the window.
---
After a moment—
he spoke.
---
"Do you like the university so far?"
JJ thought for a second.
"…it feels strange."
Alex nodded.
"That's normal."
---
A pause.
Then he added gently:
"You'll adjust."
---
JJ glanced at him.
"…you sound like you're sure of that."
Alex didn't answer immediately.
Just kept driving.
---
Then quietly:
"I am."
---
JJ looked away again.
Something about his confidence felt… comforting.
Like she had heard it before somewhere she couldn't reach.
---
But she didn't ask.
---
Because the world outside was already coming closer.
The campus gates were near.
---
And somewhere inside it—
a group of people were already waiting for a girl they thought they had lost forever.
---
Silent Breakfast, Loud Hearts
Breakfast at the canteen of campus that morning was… different.
Not chaotic.
Not loud.
Not normal either.
Just quieter.
Like everyone was thinking too much at the same time.
---
Percy sat at the table poking at his food.
Not eating properly.
Not joking.
Just staring.
---
Aries noticed immediately.
"…you okay?"
Percy gave a short laugh.
"No."
Simple. Honest.
---
Across from them—
Yuri actually wasn't talking.
Which alone was suspicious enough to signal global emergency.
---
Felix and David were unusually focused on their plates.
Endrix kept glancing at his phone but not replying to anything.
Rory tapped the table slowly.
Eman was awake.
Completely awake.
No one trusted that energy.
---
The girls were quieter too.
Ella barely touched her food.
Freya kept looking toward the entrance.
Rakhi was unusually still.
Mica didn't even scroll her phone.
---
And Keifer—
Keifer hadn't touched anything.
Just sat there.
Silent.
Eyes slightly lowered.
Like his mind was somewhere else entirely.
---
The Real Reason
Percy finally spoke again.
"…we're following her today."
Aries looked up.
"No."
"It's not optional," Percy replied quietly.
---
A pause.
Then Yuri added:
"We're not stalking. We're… verifying survival conditions."
Felix frowned.
"That's stalking."
"It's emotional research," Yuri corrected immediately.
---
Aries sighed.
But didn't deny it.
Because honestly—
he wanted to know too.
---
Where does she go after class?
Who is she with?
Is she alone?
Is she safe?
Does she even feel safe in this city that suddenly feels too small for her existence?
---
Percy leaned back slightly.
"She doesn't remember us… but she's still JJ."
That sentence landed heavily.
---
Freya whispered:
"…what if she's scared of us?"
Silence.
Because nobody had an answer for that.
---
Cin Joins the Chaos
The phone rang again.
Cin.
Video call.
---
He appeared instantly.
Already in scrubs.
Hair slightly messy.
Eyes sharp but tired.
---
"I heard the plan."
Felix blinked.
"…how?"
Cin shrugged.
"I have medical-level gossip networks." (probably percy)
---
Yuri immediately leaned closer.
"You're joining, right?"
Cin nodded.
"Obviously."
Pause.
"…I want to see her."
His voice softened slightly.
"…properly."
---
That hit everyone again.
Because Cin wasn't just a friend.
He was her brother in everything but blood.
---
And he hadn't seen her like this.
Not properly.
Not yet.
---
Percy & Aries – Hidden Pain
After the call ended—
the silence came back heavier.
---
Percy leaned slightly toward Aries.
"…she looked at me like I was nobody."
Aries didn't respond immediately.
Then quietly:
"She doesn't remember you."
"That's worse."
Aries nodded once.
"I know."
---
Percy rubbed his face.
"I don't know what hurts more… losing her or finding her like this."
---
Aries didn't answer.
Because both were correct.
And both were unbearable.
---
Keifer
Across the table—
Keifer finally stood up.
Slowly.
Calmly.
---
Percy looked at him.
"Where are you going?"
---
Keifer adjusted his watch.
"…class."
Pause.
Then quietly:
"…she's there."
---
No one stopped him.
Because nobody could.
---
He walked out first.
Silent as ever.
But something about his silence today felt different.
Not empty.
Focused.
Like a man surviving on one single purpose.
---
As everyone slowly finished breakfast—
the plan settled in fully.
---
Follow JJ after college.
Not to control her.
Not to interfere.
Just to understand.
To know where she goes.
How she lives.
Who she trusts.
Whether she is truly okay.
---
Because for them—
she wasn't just someone they lost.
She was someone they finally got back.
But didn't know how to reach anymore.
---
And somewhere across Bangalore—
JJ was getting ready for her day.
Completely unaware—
that her shadow was about to be followed by an entire past she had forgotten.
---
The irony of fate is always the cruelest kind of poetry.
Her real brothers—blood-bound, childhood-bound, the ones who should've been standing in front of her with wishes and teasing smiles—never even got the chance to properly say it.
Not once.
Not on time.
Not in the way they should have.
---
And yet…
the brothers she found along the way—the ones who argued with her, protected her, annoyed her, laughed with her, and quietly stood beside her through everything—
they were the ones she wished first today.
Without even knowing what they truly meant to her.
Without remembering what they had already meant once.
---
Fate really does that sometimes.
Takes the loudest bonds and hides them in silence…
and lets the forgotten ones breathe right in front of you.
---
But even then—
this isn't the end of anything.
Just a painful pause.
Because after every stretch of confusion, distance, and loss…
life always finds a way to slip in something softer.
Something warm.
Something that heals without warning.
---
And maybe—
just maybe—
the good moments that are coming next will feel even brighter…
because of everything that broke before them.
________________________🩷💭
OPTIONAL TO READ...!!!
A/N...
Hey my cuties 💛✨
First of all… how was the previous chapter? 👀💭 I really wanna know your honest thoughts—what hit you, what you felt, everything!!
Also small surprise 📚✨
Today I'll be uploading 3 more chapters for you all!! So stay tuned and keep your notifications on 🔥💫
And today is Brother's Day 👬✨
So tell me… do you have brothers or cousins who feel like brothers to you? Even if they're annoying sometimes 😅
As for me… I don't really have any.
And honestly, I don't know why, but a part of me always wished I had a brother or someone like a brother… someone who shows up in the hardest times, even just silently being there 🥀
But maybe fate didn't write that part for me… no brothers, no cousins I can really call that, not even that kind of friend.
So if you do have brothers… even if they annoy you every single day 😭💢 just remember to value them. Because sometimes we only realise the importance of people when we don't have them.
Those who have something often don't think much about it… but maybe they should once in a while ask those who don't.
Anywayyy 💛
Let's keep the mood up—3 chapters coming today!! 📖🔥
Love you all 🫶✨
yours lovingly,
Author ~ CARE...💌🤍🖤