Evelia ᯓᡣ𐭩
I sat on the edge of my bed, the dim light of my room casting long shadows across the walls. In my hands, I held a small box tracing the edges with my fingers before slowly lifting the lid. Inside, nestled the keepsake of my childhood, was a single dry red rose.
The sight of it brought back memories I had tried so hard to bury. Memories of a time when things were simpler, when the world hadn't yet grown so complicated. I could almost smell the faint scent of cherry blossoms, carried on a breeze that seemed to belong to another life.
I closed my eyes, letting the memories take me back.
It was spring, the first day of elementary school. I was nervous, a little shy, standing alone under the blooming cherry blossom tree in the schoolyard. The petals floated down around me like pink snowflakes, and I remember thinking how magical it all felt.
That's when I saw him-Eryx. He was standing a few feet away, staring at the blossoms with wide eyes, just as mesmerized as I was. He looked over at me, our gazes locking for the first time. There was something in his eyes, something that made me feel like we were the only two people in the world at that moment.
"Hi," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was soft, hesitant, like he wasn't sure what to say next.
"Hi," I replied, my voice barely more than a whisper.
He walked over to me, his steps slow and deliberate, and I noticed he was holding something behind his back. "Do you like cherry blossoms?" he asked, looking up at the tree.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"My mom says there's a legend," he continued, his tone growing more confident. "She says that people who meet under cherry blossoms are fated to be together forever. Do you think that's true?"
I shrugged, unsure how to answer. "Maybe," I said finally.
Eryx smiled then, a bright, genuine smile that made something inside me warm. He pulled his hand from behind his back and revealed a small, perfect red rose. "Here," he said, holding it out to me. "I picked this for up earlier, you can keep it... Will you be my friend?"
I stared at the rose, then back at him, surprised by the gesture. I had never met anyone like him before-someone so open, so willing to share something beautiful. Without thinking, I took the rose from his hand, feeling the smooth petals against my fingers.
"Okay," I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "I'll be your friend."
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.
"Evelia," I replied, feeling a little shy.
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Blossom," he said with a grin.
I tilted my head, puzzled. "What?"
"We both like cherry blossoms," he explained, still smiling. "And I like you too. So, I'll call you Blossom."
I couldn't help but smile back at him, a sly smile tugging at my lips. "Blossom, huh?"
"Yeah," he nodded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
And just like that, the nickname stuck, a small reminder of the connection we'd formed under that cherry blossom tree.
Blossom- A name born under the cherry blossoms, where a simple connection bloomed into something unforgettable.
"And I'm Eryx" He stated.
The school bell rang, cutting through the moment, and we both looked toward the building. "We should go," Eryx said, his eyes still on me. "Come on, let's go together."
And just like that, we were friends. We walked to class side by side, the cherry blossoms swirling around us, the rose clutched tightly in my hand.
I opened my eyes, the memory fading as reality returned. The dry red rose in the box was a far cry from the fresh bloom Eryx had given me that day. So much had changed since then-our lives, our friendship, everything.
The legend of the cherry blossoms felt like a cruel joke now, a naive fairy tale that had no place in the world we lived in.
Once a symbol of fate, now a reminder of broken promises in a world too harsh for fairy tales.
But still, I couldn't bring myself to let go of the rose. It was the only piece of that time I had left, a reminder of the boy who had once been my friend, before life had driven us apart.
I closed the box and set it aside, my heart heavy with the weight of the past. The fates might have brought us together under the cherry blossoms, but they had also torn us apart. And now, I wasn't sure if there was any way to mend what had been broken.
I walked out onto the balcony, needing a breath of fresh air to clear my head. The night air was cool against my skin, the city lights twinkling like distant stars. The memories of Eryx and the cherry blossoms lingered in my mind, a bittersweet ache that I couldn't quite shake.
My phone buzzed in my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen-Lucas. I hesitated for a moment, already sensing that whatever he had to say wasn't going to be easy to hear. Finally, I answered.
"Lucas," I said, my voice steady, though my heart began to race.
"Evelia," he responded, his tone grave. "I've got the information you asked for."
I gripped the railing of the balcony, bracing myself. "What did you find?"
He paused, as if weighing his words carefully. "Rhea was adopted from an orphanage when she was just a few days old. I managed to track down the records, and I spoke to some of the staff who were there at the time."
I stared out at the city, my thoughts spinning. This was what I had expected, but hearing it confirmed still felt like a punch to the gut. "Who left her there, Lucas?" I asked, though deep down, I already knew the answer.
There was a long silence on the other end, and I could almost hear Lucas taking a deep breath. "It was Hades Allis," he said finally, the name hanging heavily in the air.
I closed my eyes, the truth settling over me like a shroud. So my suspicious was true. Rhea's my twin.
"So it's true," I murmured, more to myself than to Lucas. "Rhea... she really is my twin sister."
"Yes," Lucas confirmed, his voice softening. "There's no doubt about it. The timelines match up, the descriptions... everything. Hades Allis is the one who left her at the orphanage."
I felt a surge of emotions-anger, sadness, a deep sense of loss that I hadn't allowed myself to feel until now.
"I'm going to keep digging. There has to be a reason, something that explains why he did what he did. And when I find it, you'll be the first to know."
I nodded, though he couldn't see it, my mind already racing with possibilities. "Thank you, Lucas," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Keep me updated. I want to know everything."
"Of course," he replied. "And Evelia... be careful. If Hades found out. Rhea would be in danger."
"I know," I said, my tone hardening.
"Understood," Lucas said, his voice resolute. "I'll be in touch."
I ended the call , my gaze drifting back out over the city. The revelation hung heavy in the air around me, the truth I had been searching for finally within reach. But with it came a new set of questions, a new set of challenges.
Rhea was my twin sister. The truth was undeniable. And how would she react if she ever found out? And what about mom...
I gripped the balcony railing, my knuckles turning white as the words echoed in my mind.
"Hades Allis..." I whispered, the name slipping through clenched teeth. "You'll pay for this."
I turned away from the city, retreating back into the shadows of my room, the dry red rose still lying in its box. The past had a way of catching up with you, no matter how far you ran or how deeply you buried it.
And now, it was time for Hades Allis to face his past. And when he did, he would regret the day he was born.
No more running. No more hiding. This time, the past would not be denied.
But first, my only priority is to keep Rhea safe.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
The next day, I was sitting beside Rhea in the classroom, a strange sense of calm settling over me. The truth that she was my twin sister had changed something within me, softened the edges I usually kept sharp. I still maintained my cold exterior, but with Rhea, it was different now. I couldn't help but feel a connection, a bond that was hard to ignore.
I was so damn happy and excited that she's here with me, she's sitting next to me, she's right infront of my eyes. My twin sister. I spent years to find her and now finally she's here.
Rhea, on the other hand, seemed confused, her eyes flickering to me every now and then, as if trying to figure out what had caused this shift in my behavior.
"So, uh... Evelia," she began hesitantly, "are you feeling okay? You've been... different today."
I glanced at her, noting the cautious tone in her voice. "Different?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she said, fidgeting slightly. "You're usually so... I don't know, distant? But today you've been... nicer."
I almost laughed at the uncertainty in her voice. It was clear she wasn't used to seeing this side of me, and honestly, neither was I. But I just nodded, trying to put her at ease. "Maybe I'm just in a good mood," I said, my voice calm.
She looked at me like she didn't quite believe it, but didn't push further. Instead, she started talking about something else-something mundane about our upcoming class project. I listened quietly, nodding along, until she said something that caught me off guard.
"And then I thought, maybe we could work on it together? I mean, if you don't mind. I just figured it might be fun to actually team up for once."
Her suggestion was so innocent, so hopeful, that it tugged at something inside me. Without really thinking about it, I found myself smiling, a genuine, warm smile that felt almost foreign on my face.
Rhea's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth slightly agape as she stared at me. "Did you just... smile?" she asked, almost in disbelief.
I blinked, realizing what I'd done, but the smile didn't fade. "I guess I did," I replied, a hint of amusement in my tone.
"You never smile," she said, her voice soft, as if she were afraid the moment might shatter if she spoke too loudly. "I mean, I've never seen you smile before. Not like that."
"Maybe you just haven't been paying attention," I teased lightly, though we both knew that wasn't true. I had kept my walls up for so long, it must have been jarring for her to see them crack, even if just a little.
She shook her head, still in shock, but there was a small smile playing on her lips too. "Maybe," she conceded. "But I think I like this side of you."
"Don't get used to it," I warned, though there was no real bite in my words.
She laughed, a light, melodic sound that I realized I liked hearing. "I won't. But it's nice to see, even if it's just for a moment."
I nodded, the warmth between us settling into something comfortable, something familiar. For the first time, sitting there beside Rhea, I felt like I didn't have to pretend, didn't have to hide behind the cold mask I usually wore. And as we continued talking, the walls between us seemed to fade just a little more.
The whole day I tried to keep Eryx out of my mind. My whole attention was on Rhea. I was just glad to be with my sister.
After the final class of the day ended, students began to file out of the room, eager to get home. I gathered my things slowly, my mind on Rhea as she packed up beside me. I wasn't ready for the day to end, not when I had just started to connect with her.
As we walked out of the building together, I glanced at her, considering my next move. "Rhea," I began, my tone more casual than usual, "I could give you a ride home, if you want."
She looked at me with surprise, her eyebrows slightly raised. "Oh, um... that's really nice of you, but it's okay. I'm used to taking the bus."
I nodded, though I wasn't entirely satisfied with her answer. I wanted to spend more time with her, to understand who she was now that I knew she was my sister. "How about dinner, then?" I suggested, trying to sound nonchalant. "We could grab something to eat together."
She blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer. "Dinner? With you?" she asked, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.
"Yes, with me," I replied, a small smirk tugging at my lips. "Unless you have other plans?"
"No, I mean... I don't have plans," she stammered, still processing my sudden change in behavior. "I just... I didn't expect you to ask, that's all."
"I suppose I'm full of surprises today," I said lightly. "So, what do you say?"
She hesitated for a moment, as if she was weighing her options, but eventually nodded. "Okay, sure. Dinner sounds good."
"Great," I said, pleased that she had agreed. "I'll pick you up from your place around seven?"
"Yeah, that works," she replied, still looking a little dazed. "I'll text you my address."
"Perfect," I said, giving her a brief smile. "I'll see you then."
As we parted ways, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Tonight, I would have the chance to learn more about Rhea, to fill in the gaps of all those years we had been apart. And for the first time in a long while, I found myself looking forward to spending time with someone other than my mom.