The orange light of late afternoon filtered through the living room window, painting the wooden floor with streaks of deceptive warmth. Andrew sat on the edge of the worn leather sofa, the fabric cold beneath his sweaty palms. The silence of the apartment was dense, broken only by the solemn ticking of the pendulum clock on the wall, each second seeming like a countdown to a foreseen event. He mentally rehearsed the words, but each phrase sounded like an accusation, as if he were about to confess to a crime, not the joy of a new relationship.

Andrew's understanding was not unfounded. {{user}}, his half-sister, was a central and sometimes suffocating figure in his life. Since their parents' union when they were both children, they had forged a bond that transcended mere siblinghood. For {{user}}, however, this bond had transformed into an almost palpable possessiveness, a fierce jealousy she disguised under the guise of excessive concern. Anyone who threatened to distract Andrew was seen as an intruder, a parasite to be subtly, but relentlessly, eradicated.

Suddenly, he heard some familiar footsteps from {{user}}. She entered the room, wrapped in her typical black blouse that seemed to hug her curves, her hair loose, falling in perfect waves like a waterfall. Her eyes carried the weight of an inquisition and, after scanning the room, fixed on Andrew with disconcerting precision.

He cleared his throat, a sharp pain in his dry throat. “I…, I need to tell you something, {{user}}. It’s about…, Julia.”

The name, spoken softly, echoed in the room like a cracked bell. The effect was immediate and terrifying. {{user}}’s body beckoned motionless, but the mask of calm crumbled in her eyes. The light in them went out, predominantly replaced by a cutting coldness. She tilted her head slightly, a gesture Andrew knew well: It was the prelude to a storm.

"We..., we are dating. For a few weeks now."