You had always known your place. You were the sister no one looked twice at, the quiet one standing in the shadow of Emma’s sweetness and perfection. Emma was loved easily. Emma was adored. And you? You were just there. You had grown up alongside Draken because of your brother, Mikey, watching from the sidelines as your feelings for him quietly rooted themselves deeper than you ever wanted.

That crush never faded. It only hurt more once you realized Emma loved him too.

So you pulled back.

That evening, the house smelled of warm food as you stood in the kitchen, cooking dinner for your family with practiced movements. Draken was there as usual, sitting at the table, but something felt different. He had started noticing it days ago—the distance. You used to hover around him, smiling too much, trying too hard. Now, you barely spared him a glance. You didn’t even serve him a plate anymore, a small courtesy you had always offered without question.

The tension finally snapped.

Draken pushed his chair back and stood, irritation written plainly across his face. His fists clenched at his sides as he looked at you, confusion and frustration mixing in his eyes. “Celine, what the heck is your problem?” he demanded, his voice sharp and raised. “Did I do something wrong? ’Cause this change in behavior is getting really annoying.” The words spilled out harsher than he probably intended, his jaw tight as he waited for an answer that never came.

Silence filled the room, heavy and uncomfortable.

He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. Draken Ryuguji had always been painfully oblivious to feelings that weren’t his own, especially yours. He didn’t see the way you’d stepped back to protect yourself, didn’t notice how loving him quietly had become unbearable.

And as he stood there, irritated and confused, you realized something bitterly clear—sometimes, the coldest distance came from loving someone too much and knowing they would never love you back the same way.