1

Hanna was only five years old when her world collapsed forever. At her aunt and uncle’s house—Lúcia and Oswaldo—where she used to play carefree in the garden with her cousin Clara, life felt simple and full of childish laughter. Flowers swayed gently in the soft breeze, and the sound of children’s voices blended with birdsong. But the calm of that day would be shattered forever by devastating news.

It was Maria, the housemaid, who brought the news. Her face was pale, her hands trembling, and her voice barely came out.

“Miss Lúcia… your brother-in-law and sister-in-law… they were in an accident… the plane crashed…”

The little girl’s world spun. Colors lost their brightness, and the ground seemed to disappear beneath her feet.

Her aunt and uncle, Lúcia and Oswaldo, received the news with a coldness no family member ever should. Behind their icy expressions, plans and ambitions were already taking shape. Hanna’s father had left behind a considerable fortune, and now, with him gone, the inheritance was within their reach—but only if they endured the inconvenient presence of the child. Aunt Lúcia, in particular, showed contempt not only for Hanna but even for her own daughter, Clara, barely hiding her irritation at having to divide her attention in that house.

On the day of the funeral, the sky itself seemed to weep with Hanna. The ceremony was a blur of tears and whispers, where no one truly appeared to mourn the loss—only the weight of hidden interests behind the grief. Hanna stared at the coffin, unable to grasp the magnitude of absence, feeling only an emptiness tightening in her small chest.

Soon after, the girl was taken to live with her aunt and uncle. The house that once echoed with laughter now resonated with the heavy silence of indifference and hostility. Lúcia made no effort to hide her resentment at having to care for her niece, and Oswaldo seemed interested only in what the child’s future finances might guarantee him. Hanna, however, had nowhere else to go. The only certainty was that her life would never be the same.

…

On a bright, cool morning, the bedroom shared by Hanna and Clara was a stage of colors, scattered clothes, and laughter. At sixteen, the two cousins already had very distinct styles, yet shared a bond that felt stronger than blood—a friendship closer to that of sisters.

Clara, as always, was elegance personified. She dressed meticulously, every detail chosen to impress. She picked a delicate blouse, paired with a fitted skirt and polished shoes, while styling her long hair into flawless curls. She loved looking perfect, and for her, school was a daily runway.

Hanna, on the other hand, preferred practicality and comfort. On her bed lay an oversized T-shirt and a pair of worn jeans, waiting for her. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, with no extra effort. For Hanna, what mattered was feeling good about herself—not other people’s opinions.

“Hanna, seriously, you’re not going out like that today, are you?” Clara said with a mischievous smile, holding up a blouse she knew would look great on her cousin.

“I’m fine like this, Clara. What’s all the effort for? It’s just school,” Hanna replied, adjusting her T-shirt.

“But today we have that important presentation, remember? That teacher is going to evaluate everyone,” Clara insisted, already grabbing her cousin’s arm.

Hanna rolled her eyes but couldn’t resist her cousin’s persistent look.

“Okay, okay. I’ll try to dress a little better. Just because it’s you,” she said with a conspiratorial smile.

They laughed together, and Hanna got up to choose something more polished while Clara helped with tips and compliments. Their harmony was obvious—two different personalities, perfectly balanced by a deep friendship filled with affection and trust.

When they were finally ready—Hanna wearing an elegant yet comfortable blouse, and Clara stunning in her classic style—they looked at each other in the mirror and smiled, ready to face another day together.

Hanna and Clara went downstairs with light steps, ready to head to school. The wide hallway was silent, broken only by the sound of Clara’s heels clicking against the polished floor. In the living room, they found Lucas, Clara’s younger brother, sprawled on the couch with a bored expression and a posture that revealed how used he was to being the center of attention.

“Oh, there you are,” Lucas said, stretching out his arm as if expecting to receive something immediately. “You’re leaving already? Wait—my mom wants to talk to you.”

Before they could answer, Lúcia’s sharp, cutting voice echoed from the kitchen, filled with the cold disdain she always reserved for the girls.

“You two could learn to behave with a little more decency and care,” she snapped. “And Lucas needs peace and quiet—not people making a mess.”

Clara bit her lip, holding back the urge to talk back to her mother, while Hanna clenched her fists, struggling to stay calm.

“Mom, we’re just going to school. We don’t want to bother anyone,” Clara said softly.

“You’d better not. I don’t want problems before breakfast,” Lúcia replied, ignoring her daughter and addressing them as if they were nothing more than shadows in her house.

Lucas smirked, clearly used to the favoritism.

“You should learn how to do things right, like me,” he said, crossing his arms with a spoiled air that irritated Hanna.

Hanna exchanged a knowing look with Clara, who quickened her pace, determined not to let her brother and mother ruin the start of their day.

“Come on, Clara,” Hanna said, pulling her toward the door.

As they stepped outside, Lúcia’s voice echoed once more through the house.

“If it weren’t for your father’s money, you wouldn’t even be here!”

But outside, under the clear sky, Hanna and Clara took a deep breath.

The school courtyard was as lively as ever, filled with groups of students, laughter, conversations, and curious glances. Clara walked confidently, like a natural leader, showcasing her impeccable style—perfectly styled hair, light makeup, and a uniform tailored with elegance. Beside her, Hanna walked more quietly, feeling awkward in the tighter outfit Clara had insisted she wear.

As soon as they passed through the gates, Clara spotted Rafael leaning near the court, surrounded by friends. Her smile appeared instantly, and without even realizing it, she squeezed Hanna’s arm excitedly.

“It’s him!” Clara whispered, fixing her hair, her eyes sparkling.

“Who?” Hanna asked, confused.

“Rafael!” she replied, as if it were obvious. “He noticed me yesterday… Today he’s going to talk to me.”

Before Hanna could say anything, Clara was already walking determinedly toward him, leaving Hanna alone in the middle of the courtyard.

Not quite sure where to go, Hanna moved toward a tree, looking for a bit of shade. Distracted, she bumped into someone.

“Hey—careful there,” a male voice said, gentle and relaxed.

Hanna quickly looked up and found herself face-to-face with Jessi. He smiled easily, his hair tousled by the wind, a backpack slung casually over one shoulder. He dressed like someone who made no effort to impress—yet did so effortlessly.

“Sorry…” Hanna murmured, blushing slightly.

“No need to apologize,” he replied with a playful tone that instantly put people at ease. “You’re new here, right?”

Hanna nodded shyly.

“Sort of… I’ve just never come dressed like this before,” she said, gesturing to herself and laughing softly, making Jessi laugh too.

“Then you must be a victim of the ‘Clara style.’”

Hanna’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How do you know?”

“Everyone knows Clara and her ways,” he said with a smile, leaning slightly closer. “I’m Jessi, by the way.”

“Hanna,” she replied timidly—but for the first time since arriving at school, she felt herself relax.

Across the courtyard, Clara chatted animatedly with Rafael, while Hanna had no idea that this brief encounter with Jessi would deeply mark her life.

As Hanna was still smiling shyly at Jessi, Clara suddenly appeared, grabbing her cousin’s arm, her eyes glowing with excitement.

“Hanna! Come here!” she said eagerly. “I want you to meet Rafael.”

Rafael waved with that easy confidence typical of a self-assured guy, while Clara positioned herself right beside him, as if she belonged there.

“This is Jessi,” Hanna said, pointing to the boy beside her.

“I know,” Rafael replied with a laugh. “He’s my cousin.”

“Cousin?” Clara and Hanna exclaimed at the same time, surprised.

Jessi shrugged, smiling.

“Yeah… blood-related, but more like a brother.”

Clara and Hanna exchanged looks, realizing the world was smaller than they had imagined.

“What a coincidence,” Hanna said, still a little shy.

“So… now that everyone knows everyone,” Rafael said, running a hand through his hair with that laid-back confidence, “how about a milkshake after class?”

“Sounds good,” Jessi agreed, lightly bumping his cousin’s shoulder. “It’s been a while since we went to that diner.”

Clara immediately looked at Hanna, silently asking for permission—even though she already knew the answer.

“Let’s go, Hanna?”

Hanna hesitated for a second, but Jessi’s inviting look made her smile.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

Rafael, Jessi, Clara, and Hanna walked together across the courtyard as the bell rang in the background, signaling the start of class. And without realizing it, that simple invitation for a milkshake would mark the beginning of a strong friendship.