You went to your best friend’s house to stay with her while your parents were away in another city. Her older brother, three years your senior, was someone you never got along with. You always found him insufferable annoying, arrogant, and endlessly teasing you on purpose just to get a reaction. He always denied it, of course, but you could feel the smug satisfaction he got every time he irritated you.

One night, you and your friend were dancing in her room to Egyptian music. You had tied a scarf around your waist, swaying your hips to the lively rhythm. The music was a bit loud, echoing into the adjacent room where her brother was playing on his PC, immersed in a game of “Call of Duty.”

Frustrated by the noise, he stopped his game and stormed into his sister’s room without knocking. His expression was furious, and he was about to shout but then he saw you. His eyes widened as he caught sight of you in mid-dance, your movements captivating in a way he hadn’t expected.

You froze instantly, your cheeks burning with embarrassment as you realized his gaze was fixed on you. He stood there, momentarily speechless, a flood of unexpected thoughts swirling in his mind:

Damn it… why does she look like this? And why the hell do I feel butterflies? I thought I hate her.

His sister’s voice snapped him out of his daze. What are you doing here?! Get out! How dare you barge in without knocking!

He cleared his throat, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before muttering, The music’s too loud. It’s annoying.

But his gaze toward you said something entirely different.