Jen

I couldn't sleep the whole night. I'm sure this night won't be any easier for any of us. It feels like we're reliving our past under the same roof. When I opened my eyes and saw Daniel, a soothing emotion washed over me, but it was tangled with a fear—a fear of losing something I couldn't name. My unsettled heart searched for Rick, and his absence felt like a sharp, familiar pain.

I hate this—this past, this present. I was doing so well, cutting off all these emotions, burying them deep where they couldn't touch me. Now it's all unraveling, and I'm slipping. This is not good.

Taking a deep breath, I rummaged through my purse again, desperately searching for the medicine that might help me escape this chaos and sleep. My fingers trembled as I realized it wasn't there. Giving up, I forced myself to push aside the storm of thoughts and walked toward the kitchen. Maybe caffeine could anchor me in some way.

The strong aroma of coffee hit me as I neared the kitchen. My steps froze when I saw Scarlet standing there, pouring coffee into a mug. Her gaze lifted, and our eyes met. For a moment, the room was heavy with silence. It was the kind of silence that spoke of words left unsaid and wounds never healed.

"Not able to sleep, huh?" she finally said, breaking the tension.

"Yeah," I replied curtly, my voice flat.

"It's so cold here," she murmured. Not as cold as my heart, I thought, but I kept that bitterness to myself.

"How are you?" Scarlet tried to push the conversation forward, but I could feel the awkwardness in her voice. I avoided her gaze, focusing on the floor as I stood there in silence.

"I... we got worried when you fainted," she continued. "How often does that happen?"

I stiffened. Concern? From Scarlet? The last time I checked, she hated me. She wanted nothing to do with me. Why was she asking now?

"I'm fine," I said, forcing my voice to be steady. "How are you?"

"I'm better now," she replied with a tight smile. There was no warmth in it, just a strained politeness. The grief in my chest deepened. Once upon a time, we had been inseparable. Sisters who shared everything, who hugged tightly and talked endlessly. Now, we couldn't even meet each other's eyes. It felt like we were strangers.

"It's good we got to meet before the sun rises and the chaos starts again," Scarlet said, surprising me. "I wanted to talk to you alone."

Her words caught me off guard. Scarlet wanted to talk to me? My heart raced. What could she possibly want to say? Did she plan to tell me how much she hated being here? How much she hated me?

She offered me a mug of coffee and gestured for me to sit. I hesitated but then took the chair opposite her. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked, my voice edged with curiosity and caution.

"Jen, choose your stands wisely," she said, her tone serious. My brows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Daniel," she replied bluntly.

Still confused, I shook my head. "I don't understand."

She sighed, leaning forward slightly. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."

"I... really don't."

Her gaze sharpened, her voice firm. "Fine. Let me be more clear. I don't want Daniel to get hurt. He's all I've had these past years, and I won't let anyone, not even you, break his heart."

Her words hit me like a slap. For a fleeting moment, I'd thought she wanted to talk about us. About our shattered bond. But no. Once again, I wasn't her priority.

"Believe it or not," I said, my voice tight, "I care about Daniel. I would never hurt him."

"But you always manage to hurt the people you care about most, don't you?" she shot back, her voice cutting deep.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing the hurt that her words stirred. "I thought we buried the past, Scarlet," I said. "But clearly, you haven't."

"I'm not sulking about the past," she countered. "I'm showing you the mirror."

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Why do you think I'm hurting Daniel?"

She stared at me, her eyes unwavering. "Because you keep running to Rick. You know Daniel loves you, Jen. Everyone knows it. And yet you play oblivious." It stunts me, yes I know how he feels about it but never labeled about those feelings.

"Why do you think I am breaking his hurt?"

"C'mon Jen, please stop this innocent act, save this to fool Daniel or Rick, not me." That's harsh.

"Scarlet, for once stop blaming me for everything. Even if I am playing, you have no right to speak with me, last I checked you wanted nothing with me" I squeal in the same passion.

"Still I am here, for Daniel, because he means significantly important to me

"Can't you see, he couldn't bear seeing you with Rick. It hurts him, if you really care for him, stop playing with his heart"

"You think I am playing with his hurt" I questioned her with the disbelief, and offence.

"Yes, you know he loves you and Rick was never good to you, and yet you keep changing sides," she said bluntly.

"Like always, you judge me without knowing everything."

"Then make me understand," she challenged. "Don't you know Daniel loves you?"

I hesitated, unable to meet her gaze.

"Of course you know." Scarlet pressed. "Why is it so hard for you to accept his love?"

"I..." I started to protest, but she cut me off with a bitter laugh.

"Rick destroyed everything," she said, her voice low and trembling with anger. "He took everything from me. And you still defend him."

"He's as ruined as you are, Scarly," I said softly.

"Don't you dare compare us," she snapped. "You lost the right to call me 'Scarly' the day you sided with that murderer."

The room felt like it was closing in on me. "Please stop," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Scarlet turned away, taking a few deep breaths. When she finally spoke again, her tone was softer but no less determined. "I'm here for Daniel. He doesn't deserve heartbreak, Jen. He's been in love with you for years, but he's too good to push you. Don't make him suffer because of your indecision."

Her words hung heavy in the air. I didn't know how to respond.

"I want you to accept his love," she said, her words stumbling out. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my breathing and calm my racing heart.

"You can't demand anything," I defended.

"Yes, I have every right," she shot back. "You both have ruined my life, and it's high time you make it up to me. I'm trying to do right by you too. Rick is a curse, and all he does is ruin lives. We've experienced that. So cut him out of your life like a disease."

"Stop," I whispered, my voice cracking. I wanted this conversation to end before I broke down completely.

"I want you to take a step forward, Jen— for Daniel and for us. Accepting Daniel would be the right choice for you. He is family to me, and being in his life makes you my family too. Give us a chance to heal."

"You really care for Daniel," I said, envy creeping into my voice. It felt surreal to see Scarlet so passionate about someone. She was always the one with the brain, never thinking with her heart—except once, and that was for Rick.

"He's a good man, and all heart," she replied, her voice softening. "He doesn't deserve the heartbreak. He's always been in love with you, but he's always stepped back to respect your emotions. It will break him this time if you don't choose him. Please, Jen, don't do that." The fiery Scarlet seemed to vanish at the mention of Daniel, her voice softening further, her eyes filled with emotion.

"If I have to beg you for him, I will," she said, turning her back to me, hiding the tears welling in her eyes. Her gesture took my heart by surprise. Scarlet did care for Daniel. And why wouldn't she? He was such a sweet man.

"Goodnight, Scarlet," I said finally, rising from my seat.

She didn't stop me, but her final words followed me. "Mark my words, Jen. Rick is a path to hell. Daniel is your way out."

I shut the door to my room and leaned against it, trembling. Scarlet's voice, her pain, her plea—they stayed with me. But so did the memories of Rick. And for the first time in years, I couldn't tell which way my heart wanted to go, caught in the question I couldn't shake: Could I ever truly let go of Rick?