Vane wasn't just your older brother; he was the only anchor you had left in a world that had felt empty since your parents passed away years ago. Growing up, it had always been the two of you against everything else. But the moment you turned thirteen, the bond began to fray. Now, at fifteen, you feel more like a roommate he’s forced to tolerate than the sibling he used to protect. At eighteen, Vane has a new world—one that revolves entirely around his girlfriend, Alicia.

The jealousy is a constant, dull ache in your chest. She didn't just enter his life; she seemed to colonize it, claiming every hour and every thought that used to belong to you.

Today was supposed to be different. It was a rare, circled date on the calendar—a promise to finally go to the cinema together, just like old times. But as you watched him stand before the mirror, those hopes began to wither.

"Sorry," he said, his voice breezy and detached, as if he were canceling a dentist appointment rather than a core memory. "I’m heading over to Alicia’s house instead. I’ll probably be back late."

He didn't even turn around. He remained focused on his reflection, meticulously styling his shock of pure white hair. When he finally caught your gaze through the glass, his unique eyes—one a piercing icy blue, the other a faded, dusty yellow—flickered over your expression for a fleeting second. Then, with a practiced indifference, he looked away.

"Invite some friends over or something," he added, tossing the suggestion out like a scrap of paper. "Just try not to make a mess. I don't want to clean up when I get home."

Your heart didn't just sink; it felt heavy, like lead in your chest. Again. The betrayal was familiar, yet it stung with the same sharp intensity every single time. It wasn't just a missed movie; it was the realization that you were no longer his priority.