MasukChapter 4
MIRA "Dear diary, Ethan has been so close to me and I happens to like being friends with him even if I feel like Its more than that ,he is so handsome and calm and he is the definition of the kind of man that catch my attention,funny how I describe him to be perfect...unlike max the rude one who go around acting all bossy but actually he is nice too ,sometimes he can be stupid and other time he act like he doesn't care but then diary, explain how I feel sad anytime I see him around that girl ,I feel ripped apart is it jealousy? Cause if it was I feel so stupid though..."she looked up and sighed deeply before continuing with what she was doing "But it's cool I guess it's just childish and stupid besides Ethan got my back and my new friends do too...guess I didnt tell you about em they are cool and you should see how beautiful they look ,anyways thats all for today .....bye diary" she smiled as she closed hee book ans head upstairs to grab her backpack as she plan on going for a little picnic with her new friends. ********* As she walked down the street of crescent Ave she wondered if what she was doing was right , getting jealous over someone she barely knows or the fact that Ethan is her crush twin brother."was she being selfish "she taught Just as she was lost in her taught she heard someone call out to her "Mira !Mira!!" She recognized that voice it was Sofia ,she was calling out to her while Rachel stood there blocking her ear as she screamed her name . "Hey Sofia ,hey Rachel "Mira said while hugging them both ,she was glad she was friends with them ,at least she never had one "We taught you were gonna back out you know "sofia said opening her backpack and grabbing a mirror to look at her face "You must be kidding "Mira said and smirked "Wait..Mira what are you wearing "Sofia asked Mira looked at herself she knew something was off about them when they said they were going for a picnic . "Ummm...a nice dress for a picnic Hun"Mira replied smiling "Uh uh daddy girl ,we ..are not going for a picnic we are going to Max's party baby"Rachel said and dragged her inside her dad's car "who owns the car ?"Mira asked "My dad "Rachel replied "So what do I do I havent been to a party before "mira said disappointed,she really felt bad that they weren't going for the picnic but something tells her it was a good thing but she can't tell what. "Get in Sofia we need to doll her up "Rachel screamed at Sofia who was busy making herself up "Fine dumb ass " Sofia replied and got into the car. They drove off. ******* MIRA The music was loud ,I could see a lot of young girls and boy having quality time together,I knew I was not going to feel comfortable so I put my headphone on to keep me distracted. Sofia and Rachel were having a good time ,I guess they belonged here .I looked around to see if there was a place I could sit and watch but everywhere was crowded and any free spot you see is overtaken by two couples. "Damn" "Am sorry"i apologized "Watch where you are going ..clumsy"the girl I just stepped on said harshly and left my spot. I was trying to get past them when I mistakenly stepped on her.it wasn't that easy to avoid staring around seeing others have fun,all I could think of was pa,he had call earlier and asked me how I was and if I was coming back ,my answer was no,I told him I was having a sleepover at Sofia's ,yea I was but not yet. I was tired and made to leave at least wait for them in the car or something but then it started raining I was hoping the party would end but thats when the party got more interesting. They were happy I smiled and watched them as I made to find shelter. "Hey Mira"I heard a familiar voice It was Ethan "Hey Ethan ,how are you?"I askes shyly "Not dead "he replied smiling "I guess this is not your kind of thing"he added handing me a drink "I guess I will adapt "I replied with a smile after taking the drink from him "So...who you with?" He asked "Sofia and Rachel of course "she replied "They left you behind damsel"he said and we laughed over it Ethan was such a a sweet soul ,just a little talk and we were laughing,what a boy. "Should I drive you home ?" Ethan asked "No I will stay over at Rachel's"Mira replied smiling "That's fine "Ethan replied Mira watched others vibe under the rain and she started feeling cold ,she shivered,she knew she would fall sick if she didn't find a warm spot . Just as she was looking around Ethan came close to her and put his warm jacket over her shoulder. Mira smiled at him and he took her to shelter . "You ok ?" He asked "Yes "Mira replied "I will just grab us more drink "he said and left "Yea sure" Mira smiled at him .she watched him go and then turned only to see Max standing in front of her smiling "Hey damsel " max said coming close to her in a rather uncomfortable way "Keep your distance lover boy"Mira replied trying to move back until she felt her back on the wall Max put one hand over her head and bent towards her "You know I like girls with black hair and fair skin"he said while caressing her hair "Stop max " Mira said slowly as if feeling weak She knew the more he tried the more she felt attracted to him. "Max you have to stop "she tried pushing him away but he was strong ,stronger than her she gave up and he traced his hands from her thigh to her waist line Mira shivered and let out a low moan "Max.."she said in a whisper "Stop"she added Then Max bent ,his lips not too far away from hers ,he parted her lips with his thumb "Sexy pumpkin"he whispered "Stop!!" Ethan shouted and ran towards them he dragged Max away from her and gave him a hard punch "Not her Max not her "Ethan warned "Are you ok?"he asked Mira who stood there shaking "Yes Ethan I am "she hugged him ******* Ethan face beamed with smile She was actually hugging him and he liked it ,he hugged her too and she pulled away from him a bit,looked him in the eyes and hugged him again She couldn't explain the feeling she felt She felt safe with Ethan ,she felt happy But with max it was different more like burning desire She was happy Ethan showed up. "Let's go home "Ethan carried her on his arms and they headed for the car.CHAPTER 69Months had passed.The house had adjusted to Lisa’s absence. Mira’s laughter was lighter again, unshadowed by whispered doubts or strange accidents.Dennis had been firm: Lisa wasn’t coming back until she’d had therapy, until she’d shown real effort, and until Mira and the rest of the family were ready.Katie checked on her daughter regularly, exchanging updates over video calls. Mira visited Lisa once a week, cautiously, seeing her slowly rebuild herself in boarding school.And now, finally, Dennis had said yes.Lisa could come home.HomecomingThe afternoon she returned, Mira waited in the living room, fidgeting. The door creaked, and Lisa stepped in, her suitcase behind her.She looked different. Matured. Softer. More careful in her movements. She didn’t burst in laughing or throw herself onto Mira’s bed. She simply walked in, eyes full of uncertainty.“Mira…” she said softly.Mira ran forward and hugged her tightly. “You’re back.”“I am,” Lisa whispered, holding on. “An
Chapter 68 Max didn’t wait long.He couldn’t.The image of that notebook page was burned into his mind.The neat handwriting. The bullet points. The casual cruelty.He sat on Mira’s bed while she dried her hair from her shower, trying to steady his breathing.“You okay?” she asked, noticing his expression.“No,” he said honestly.Mira frowned. “What happened?”He locked the bedroom door quietly.Not dramatic. Not loud.Just careful.“Mira… I need you to promise me something.”Her stomach tightened. “What?”“Promise me you won’t defend her until you hear everything.”Her face shifted instantly.“Defend who?”He swallowed.“Lisa.”Silence filled the room.Mira let out a small, disbelieving laugh. “Max, if this is about her ignoring you—”“It’s not,” he interrupted.His voice was too serious.Too steady.She stopped smiling.“What are you talking about?”Max pulled out his phone.Opened the picture.And handed it to her.Mira glanced down casually at first.Then she read the title.Thin
Chapter 67 Mira’s arm wasn’t broken.Just badly sprained.The doctor called it “a lucky fall.”Ethan didn’t.He hadn’t let go of her hand the entire hospital visit.Lisa sat quietly in the waiting area, knees pressed together, fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve.She looked shaken.She looked guilty.She looked like someone who had made a mistake.No one suspected more than that.And that was the problem.The Shift No One NamedThe house adjusted again.Careful footsteps on the stairs. Extra pillows on Mira’s bed. Dennis installing anti-slip grips.Katie hovering.Ethan practically living next door.Lisa became helpful.Too helpful.She brought Mira water. Carried her sketchbook downstairs. Offered to help her shower.“I feel bad,” she kept saying. “I should’ve been more careful.”Mira hugged her once. “It wasn’t your fault.”Lisa nodded.And smiled.The First Small ThingIt started subtle.Mira’s phone disappeared for two hours.They tore the house apart looking for it.Lisa fou
Chapter 66 Something was off.Mira noticed it first in the quiet.Lisa wasn’t loud anymore.She wasn’t blasting music. She wasn’t bouncing into rooms unannounced. She wasn’t flopping dramatically onto beds.She was… watching.Watching Ethan. Watching Mira. Watching the space between them.And smiling just a little too late when someone said her name.********It happened on a warm Thursday evening.The sky was turning orange, the air thick and slow, and Lisa was sitting alone in the backyard sketching half-hearted lines across her page.Max walked over, unusually serious.No exaggerated swagger. No flirty grin.Just him.“Can we talk?” he asked.Lisa looked up. “About?”“Us.”Her stomach tightened.There was no “us.”Not really.Max sat down across from her, hands clasped together.“I like you,” he said plainly. “Not just beach-day like you. Not just funny, cool sister-friend like you. I really like you.”Lisa stared at him.He looked nervous.That was new.“I know you’ve been going
Chapter 65 The house didn’t relax after that night.Even when everything looked normal again — pancakes, music, backyard jokes — there was a tension sitting quietly in the corners.Dennis had installed a small security camera by the front porch.Katie checked the windows twice before bed.Mira pretended she wasn’t watching Lisa more closely.And Ethan?He came by more often.Not in a dramatic way. Not hovering. Just… present.Lisa noticed.Three Days LaterIt was late afternoon when it happened.Mira and Ethan were walking back from the store, laughing about something ridiculous Max had said earlier, when Mira’s phone buzzed.Lisa.She rarely called.Mira answered immediately. “Hey—”But it wasn’t Lisa speaking.It was a scuffle.Breathing.A sharp, panicked sound.Then a voice.Him.“Stop ignoring me!”Mira’s blood ran cold.“Lisa?!” she shouted into the phone.The line cut.Ethan didn’t ask questions.He was already running.At the Side Street Near the ParkLisa had walked to the s
"MIRA"Mira didn’t panic.On the outside.Inside? Her heart was racing like she’d just sprinted down the beach again.Lisa was watching her face carefully. “What did he say?”Mira hesitated for half a second — then handed her the phone.Lisa read the message.Her face drained of color.“I didn’t tell him where we live,” she whispered. “I swear.”“I know,” Mira said quickly. “This isn’t your fault.”Lisa’s hands were shaking now.Mira stood up immediately. “We’re telling Mom. And Dad.”Lisa grabbed her wrist. “Wait.”Mira turned.“Please… just— let me explain first.”DownstairsKatie and Dennis were still in the living room when the girls came down. The TV was playing some random cooking show, but the warmth in the room shifted the moment they saw the girls’ expressions.“What happened?” Dennis asked, instantly alert.Lisa looked at her mom, and for the first time since she arrived, she didn’t look bubbly.She looked small.“There’s someone from school,” Lisa began. “My ex.”Katie stif







