Chapter 004

"Aria, I know what you're doing."

She didn't flinch at all. She stroked her hair, the silky strands flowing between her fingers like silk, her gaze still fixed on the mirror before her. She had a serene face, too serene for what I was going to say.

"What are you discussing?" She had a light, almost playful voice, but I knew her too well. The thinness of the mask allowed me to glimpse the glimmer of discomfort underneath.

With my heart racing, I pressed, "You've been keeping things from me." I had arrived ready and resolved to question her about everything, including all she had concealed from me and everything that had been ignored between us. But despite my determination, my voice faltered.

Slowly, she put down the brush and looked at me. The space seemed smaller because of the intensity in her eyes, which were the same hue of emerald green as mine. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Ava. As always, you're being theatrical.

Every syllable felt like it had been accumulating inside me for years, trapped by the weight of the unsaid, as I took a step forward. "I am aware of you and Rogan. The manner in which you two—

I was interrupted by her hand shooting up. Her relaxed stance gave way to one that was more protective. "Ava, don't say that. Not in this place. Not right now.

My throat tightened with each breath. The delicate web of our friendship threatened to be torn apart by the words that hovered between us. The one we had constructed together as twins and sisters. However, I knew in my heart that it had always been brittle. With every second of silence, the knot in my gut became tighter and my heart wrenched.

"Aria, why didn't you tell me?" My question was hardly more than a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me? You were aware of my deep concern for him—how deeply I—

"Enough, Ava!" Her voice had become sharper and louder. Her chair scraped the floor as she jerked to her feet. Tension increased in the room, and I sensed that the gap between us was growing wider, like a canyon that had been cut too deep to traverse.

Her face reddened with rage, she shouted, "You think this is easy for me?" Do you believe that I desired any of this? Knowing that I couldn't have him, can you imagine what it's been like to see you with him? Being aware that he was always there in your eyes, in the way you two laughed together, in the way you two—" Her words became stuck in her throat and she paused.

Even though I was plagued by guilt, I was unable to feel sorry for her. Not right now. Not after all that she had done to me. Not after she had allowed me to fall in love with him, knowing full well that he was the one thing I would never be able to have.

She went on, her voice suddenly softer, almost pleading, "I never wanted to hurt you, Ava." But you—you always had it all. He was always with you. You were the one who could enter any space and win his love and attention, leaving me to stand by and observe. Always.

Although her comments cut me like a blade, they weren't as sharp as I had anticipated. Hearing her acknowledge it did not bring any satisfaction. The confession brought no respite. Just more inquiries. questions whose solutions I wasn't entirely sure I wanted.

"What kept you from telling me?" I said it again, harder this time. "When you were bringing this around, why did you let me believe everything was alright? Why didn't you tell me the truth about your relationship with Rogan?

She winced, putting her palm to her neck as though the words were suffocating her. Her control mask was coming off, exposing something weaker and more fractured underneath. She said, almost too softly to hear, "It wasn't... it wasn't what you think."

With my heart pounding in my ears, I took a step closer. "What wasn't?"

When our gazes locked, I briefly caught sight of something that chilled me to the bone. Fear. Unadulterated, unrefined terror.

"Ava, it was more than simply a crush. Her voice was shaking now as she added, "It was... real." He wasn't the only one who picked you. I was the one. I was clueless about how to stop it. Even though I knew leaving him would ruin everything, I didn't know how to do it. It was something I couldn't control, like an addiction.

Like a storm cloud poised to explode, the weight of her confession hung heavily in the atmosphere. My mind was racing with a thousand different ideas, and the floor under me felt like it was shifting. This—I didn't anticipate this. I had not prepared myself for this.

It had always been clear to me that Rogan and I had a unique bond that defied explanation. Nevertheless, things felt different after Aria confessed that she had been as engrossed in him as I had been. And not in the manner I had hoped.

"So what? You were too scared to let me go, so you never told me. With a hint of disbelief in my voice, I questioned. "Is that it? You believed that I would pick him over you?

My remarks caused her to cringe, but her eyes did not show denial. She made no attempt to protect herself. Rather, she averted her gaze while biting her lip to contain her tears. "Ava, you wouldn't have comprehended. You couldn't. He was always focused on you. I was never sufficient.

Though they weren't what I expected to hear, the words nevertheless pierced me. I didn't want to hear those words. I was left with additional questions rather than the answers I was hoping for. I wanted to find closure, but all I was getting was more uncertainty.

"You believe I was unaware of that?" I yelled, my voice trembling with annoyance. "You don't think I saw the way you gazed at him? How did you always stand by and wait for him to notice you? But he didn't, did he? Not in the manner that he observed me.

Even if the truth was painful, it was the truth. Something that I couldn't quite put my finger on had always existed between Rogan and Aria. I had never wanted to admit that I had seen it. The fact that the love I believed to be mine was never truly mine was something I had never wanted to see.

Aria's voice broke as she replied, "Ava, I never wanted this." "I never intended to cause you harm. But I was powerless to stop myself. I cherished him. I still do.

In the aftermath of her admission, I stood motionless. The walls were closing in on me, and the place now felt oppressive. Rogan was the one who had deceived me, and I had always believed that he was the issue. I now understood, however, that the treachery was more profound. It was us, not just him. There was no way out of the twisted web of love and anger that ensnared us all.

My voice was raspy as I muttered, "I don't know what to do with this." "I'm not sure how to handle you."

I could see the truth in her eyes, even though her face contorted in agony. Her love for him had never faded. I also came to the realization that I might never be able to stop loving him, no matter how hard I tried to resist it.

The door creaked softly open, and we both turned in surprise.

And there Rogan was, standing at the doorway. The tightness in his posture was evident, yet his countenance was unreadable.

His voice was forceful and low as he stated, "I think you both need to hear something."

I realized at that very instant that nothing would ever be the same.