The warm breeze at the rooftop café swirled around Ferdinand and Elara as they sat across from each other, enjoying a quiet moment before their lunch arrived. The place had a serene, calming vibe, with soft music playing in the background and a clear view of the city skyline stretching before them. It was the perfect spot to unwind after a chaotic few days.
As Ferdinand absentmindedly stirred his drink, Elara studied him. She could see there was something on his mind, something he hadn't quite figured out how to say yet. But her brother wasn't the kind to open up easily, so she waited.
Eventually, Ferdinand broke the silence. "I got a lot of looks today at uni."
Elara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What kind of looks?"
Ferdinand chuckled softly. "The kind where you can feel eyes on you the entire time you're walking across campus. Especially from girls."
Elara grinned. "Well, well, well. Looks like big brother is finally getting noticed. I knew it was only a matter of time before your charm worked its magic."
Ferdinand shook his head. "I'm not sure it's charm. More like... something weird happened."
"What do you mean?" she asked, leaning forward, her curiosity piqued.
He sighed, trying to piece it all together. "I'm not entirely sure, but something happened over the weekend. My number somehow got passed around in the girl's dorm, and now everyone thinks I'm in desperate need of a girlfriend."
Elara laughed, almost choking on her drink. "Wait, what? You're telling me that you've become campus gossip? And here I thought I was the one with the dramatic life."
Ferdinand leaned back, rubbing his face. "Yeah, apparently. Someone decided to spread the idea that 'Ferdy'—ugh, that nickname—is on the market."
"Oh my god, Ferdy?" Elara burst into giggles. "That's adorable."
"Please don't encourage this," he groaned. "I don't even know how it happened. It's like one minute I'm just trying to get through the day, and the next... I'm the topic of conversation."
"Well, hey, maybe it's the universe's way of giving you a push. You've been single for way too long. And let's be honest, you haven't really made any moves to change that."
Ferdinand hesitated. He thought of Daisy but decided not to mention her to Elara. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to keep things private for now. Maybe it was because he was still figuring out what this thing between him and Daisy really was. Instead, he changed the subject slightly.
"Yeah, maybe. But, to be fair, it's not exactly like I've had the best experiences in the past," Ferdinand said quietly.
Elara's smile softened, recognizing the shift in tone. "Is this about... what happened when you were younger?"
He nodded, staring out at the city without really seeing it. The memories still stung—his first real heartbreak, the embarrassment that came with it, and the way it had made him hesitant to open up again. It was one of those moments that had shaped him, and not in the best way.
"I've been thinking about it a lot lately," Ferdinand admitted. "I've built up these walls, and I don't know if I can let them down. It's easier to stay guarded, you know?"
Elara reached across the table, placing a hand on his arm. "Ferdy, you're not that kid anymore. You've grown. You've changed. And yes, you were hurt, but that doesn't mean you should shut yourself off from everything."
Ferdinand sighed, not quite convinced. "I don't know. What if it happens again? What if I'm just setting myself up for another disappointment?"
"That's the thing with risks, isn't it? You never know until you try. But you've got to stop living in fear of what could go wrong. What if things actually go right this time?"
He looked at her, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes. "You really think it's worth it?"
Elara smiled softly. "I think love is always worth it. Even if it scares you. And besides, you've got me. If any girl messes with you again, she'll have to deal with me."
Ferdinand couldn't help but laugh at that. "You're terrifying, you know that?"
"I try," Elara said, flashing a mischievous grin. "But seriously, don't hold yourself back because of one bad experience. You deserve to be happy, Ferdy."
He winced at the nickname again but smiled. "Maybe you're right."
"Of course I'm right," she said confidently. "Now, let's focus on something more fun, like lunch."
They spent the next hour enjoying their meal, their conversation lighter as they reminisced about their childhood and shared stories about friends and family. Elara was always good at making him feel at ease, helping him forget about his worries, even if only for a little while.
Once they were back at the apartment, Ferdinand found himself still thinking about their conversation. The idea of opening up again, of trying to put himself out there, felt daunting. But something about what Elara had said stuck with him. Maybe it was time to stop letting the past define his future.
As they settled into the living room, Elara sat with her legs curled up on the couch, flipping through a magazine, while Ferdinand scrolled aimlessly through his phone. The memory of Daisy's words from earlier that day kept replaying in his mind, and he couldn't shake the thought of how she had confessed she liked him.
He looked up at Elara, who was now focused on a baking recipe in the magazine. "Ellie?"
"Yeah?" she replied without looking up.
"How do you move on from something that really hurt you?"
Elara glanced up, sensing the seriousness in his tone. She closed the magazine and turned to face him. "Are we still talking about that thing from when you were younger?"
Ferdinand nodded slowly. "I think... I think it's more than that. Like, what if I try again, but it just goes wrong? How do you stop yourself from overthinking it?"
Elara took a moment to think before she responded. "You don't stop overthinking, not entirely. But you can't let that stop you from living, Ferdy. You have to trust that things can be different this time. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but you'll never know if you don't give yourself a chance to find out."
Ferdinand sighed. "I just don't want to make the same mistakes again."
"You won't," Elara assured him. "Because you've learned from them. You're smarter now, more aware of what you want and what you need. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll find someone who fits that perfectly."
He leaned back against the couch, mulling over her words. "I hope you're right."
"I'm always right, remember?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood again. "Besides, you've got nothing to lose."
The conversation hung in the air as they settled into a comfortable silence. Ferdinand felt the weight of his thoughts lifting slightly, the idea of moving forward not seeming as impossible as it had before.
The next morning, Elara was up early, her bags packed and ready to leave. She had a flight to catch, and although their weekend together had been filled with laughter and heart-to-hearts, there was a bittersweetness to her departure.
Ferdinand helped her load her things into the car. As they stood by the curb, Elara turned to him with a serious expression. "Remember what we talked about, okay? Don't let fear hold you back."
He nodded, offering her a small smile. "I won't."
Elara grinned, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you, big brother."
"Miss you too, Ellie," Ferdinand said, hugging her back.
With one last wave, she got into the car, and Ferdinand watched as she drove off, her words echoing in his mind. Maybe it was time to take a leap of faith, to believe that things could be different. Maybe, just maybe, he was ready to try again.