Semua Bab One Night Stand with My Brother's Best Friend: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Carissa's POV I thought sibling ties were easy: playing together, making childhood stories, helping each other when mom and dad got angry. But the real thing is my tie with Raihan has been more tricky than that. We was never really near, even after many years in the same house. He were too silent, too smart. And I... I felt too much.But this morning when I opened a apartment door and saw Raihan stood there in his coat and tired face I knew something had change.“Can I come in?” he asked without preamble.I bobbed my head and waved for him to plop down on the sofa. He looked around my flat, like looking for something known.“Dad’s worried,” he said eventually.I leaned back on the eating chair, looking at my brother who now seemed older than the last time I really saw. There were dark rings under his eyes. “I am fine tell Dad that”“He wants you to go home,” Raihan went on, voice plain. “At least for the dinner this weekend. Mom, also.”I held my breath. “I’m not ready.”“Because of

Carissa's POV  I looked at the phone in my hand. My fingers were shaking, even if I tried to seem calm. I sent a message yesterday evening. Can we meet today? I’d like to talk, calmly. I was sitting in a tiny café hidden in a calm spot of the city waiting for someone who just few months ago felt like safest place in my life Gio. He got here ten mins later, in a dark coat and a face you could not read. His walk was quick and aimed—just like before. But there was no grin No gesture. "Carissa," he said without feeling as he took the seat in front of me. "Let us get to point. What do you want to speak about?" I gulped tough. I felt I was set. But saying the words seemed like holding pieces of glass i͏n my mouth, “I’m sorry,” I whispered. He lifted a brow, leaning back in his seat.

Carissa's POV I always believed brother and sister bonds were easy: being raised together, swapping kid moments, backing each other when our folks yelled at us. But in truth, my bond with Raihan was much trickier. We were never really close, even after staying under the same roof for a long time. He was too silent, too sensible. And I... I felt too much. But this morning, something seemed odd. Not due to a weird dream but from a thought of young days—of the yard where Raihan and I played... with Dylan. Once, the three of us were always together. Raihan was the caring older brother, Dylan the bothersome yet amusing trickster, and I—the younger sister who was often a target of their jokes. Now, we found ourselves on a totally new battleground, at an age where joy could no longer cover old hurts. That day at the work, I got message from Raihan: Come to meal at a home tomorrow ni

Carissa's POV That night my flat felt more calm than normal. I had switched off the lights in the lounge on purpose, leaving just a soft shine from the kitchen and one tiny candle on the coffee table. The rain, which had been coming down since the afternoon, still dripped softly, its noise filling the quiet between Dylan and me as we sat opposite each other on the sofa. I held a cup of hot tea, while Dylan looked out the window, sometimes sneaking a peek at me. We did not chat about anything big. But maybe this wasn’t a night for huge talks just sitting together and letting the being fill the room often taken up by awkwardness. “I kn͏ow,” I said at last, “I thought you kind of person who didn’t know how to be silent.” He turned and gave a weak grin. “I chatted much in the past since I was afraid.” “Scared?” 

Carissa's POV I looked at the tiny charm. Just a simple silver ring but back in that time, Dylan said it stood for a "promise that won't break". Ironic. I took a breath and put the necklace back in the drawer. I wasn’t ready to think about it too long. I sat back on the bed. The night wasn’t too late yet but my head felt heavy from all the feelings. And just then a soft knock come at the door. Knock... knock... I cracked the door a bit. Mom was there, not wearing her apron, but in a gray nightgown, her hair loose. “You’re still up?” she asked softly. I shook my hea͏d. “I can’t sleep.” Mom came in and, without saying a lot, sat on the side of my bed. I followed, sitting next to her. It felt like I was a kid again waiting for a bedtime tale—even if this