“Growth is messy; not linear, not predictable and definitely not smooth. And that’s where its intricate beauty lies.”
….
~ Alyssa ~
“Joseph Mayas?” I repeated her words, unable to believe it.
“Yup.” She grinned like a high school student who had just had her first crush. 
“Where did you guys meet?”
“You weren’t listening?” She stared at me, hurt clouding her features. How could I blame her?
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t—”
“It’s okay. You know Cafe TI AMO is my favorite coffee spot. We met there.”
“Oh… he goes there too?”
“Yup, once in a while.”
“Okay… so are you guys a thing now?”
“Not really, we are still getting to know each other.”
“Oh…”
“He’s so loving, though.”
“Really?”
“Yup. He also mentioned you…”
“Me?” I stared at her in shock. “What did he say?”
“That you had contributed to his niece regaining her voice.”
“So he told you everything?” I asked, my heart beating wildly in my chest. It wasn’t that I doubted her sincerity. But our friendship was still fresh, and… an image of Cassandra’s evil smirk flashed before my eyes. I knew I shouldn’t be judging everyone harshly, because of her… but I just couldn’t help it. 
“He did….” she drawled, battling her eyes at me. “Are you jealous?” 
“Of course not. Why would I be?” I asked, exasperatedly. 
“No idea… but you sounded like you were….” 
“Your feelings are deeper than I thought, uh?” I teased, and she blushed red. 
….
I decided to walk back home, rather than take a cab. I needed to clear my head, and besides, I could use the extra cash since I was leaving soon. 
Though the thought of leaving Keren brought a bitter taste to my mouth. I couldn’t help but still remind myself of the inevitable. 
   I had just crossed a block when I was suddenly pulled, and pulled. “What…” I tried to say, but my mouth was covered and I was shut. Until we reached an in, and I was pushed inside along with my captor, and the door closed. 
“What the——” I paused, as the face of my captor came into view. 
Peter Lang? What the hell was he doing here? And why did he kidnap me? I’d never felt so angry before, and it made my entire body hot.
“I’m sorry, I had to—”
“What are you doing here, Peter Lang?” His full name flew out of my mouth, shocking both of us. In our years of friendship. I had only taken it once, and that was when I was pissed, and this time I was furious.
“Wait, let me explain.”
“Explain what?” I eyed him, noticing just how frail and haggard he looked. “How you disappeared for days, and appeared only to ignore my existence completely?”
“It’s not like—” 
“Then what, Peter? Tell me what it is?”
“Will you just keep quiet for a second and let me speak?!” He’d never raised his voice at me. So I froze. 
“I’m sorry….” He ruffled his hair in frustration. “We are both in danger, Alyssa!”
His words didn’t sink into my system until he repeated them. “Do you get what I just said? We are both in danger!”
“Why? We are not criminals, okay?” I shot back defensively. “Or are you?”
“I am not.” He said, stepping away from me to lean on the wall in the room we were in. Though from the looks of it, it looked like an abandoned storehouse, rather than a inhabited room. 
“I tried to make you stay away from me… and that’s why I ignored you.” 
“Why?” 
“I was kidnapped, the day I disappeared.” Suddenly, the floor beneath me started spinning. Peter was kidnapped? But why? His parents weren’t some sort of big shots, nor was he an heir to a conglomerate or something. Besides, this was real life and not a romance novel!
“Why?”
“Alyssa…” He stared at me, and our eyes locked. And in that moment, I knew that whatever he was going to tell me would change my life, no…both of our lives forever. “Tell me.”
“I found out recently that you are my….” I watched as he struggled with his emotions, whilst tightening his fists beside him. My heart leapt wildly in my chest. Please, don’t tell me this was something; I am guessing it was.
“You are my sister, Alyssa.” Suddenly, the world stopped spinning, and instead, it felt as if time stopped, and I remained frozen in place. 
“I know I probably shouldn’t throw this bomb at you now, as you are going through a lot of personal stuff.” He ruffled his hair, an action he did whenever he was stressed. “But I couldn’t bear the thought of you feeling like you’ve been rejected….”
“Oh…” I tried to say something sensible, but no words came forth. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions… that I felt like I was swimming in a sea of it. 
“It’s okay.” I didn’t realize when he’d closed the distance between us until I was wrapped in a warm embrace. “Let it out.” And as if on cue, hot tears came rushing from my eyes. 
I didn’t know if they were tears of joy or sorrow, or simply the tears of finally feeling like I belonged somewhere, to someone.
“I’ve always had a hunch that you were my sister, Aly…” He began, slowly drawing soothing circles on my back. “I simply had no way of confirming, besides… We had different histories. So how could we be related?” 
“Is that why you were kidnapped?” I whispered, slowly pulling away from him. As much as I wanted to keep on basking in the euphoria of the moment. I knew there were words to be said and not said. 
“Sadly, yes….” I watch him slowly lean back on the wall. It was then that I realized just how small the room was. But where are we? Why had he chosen here to talk?
  “Apparently, we are one of the descendants of the Harland royal family.”
“You are joking, right?”
“I wish I were.” He said, with a tight-lipped smile, and my heart sank. 
“Their patriarch is very ill now, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and he might not make it…”
“So you were kidnapped by those planning to overthrow the throne and threatened to never stake a claim to the princely throne?” I filled in, from my knowledge of family dynamics, which, of course, was gained from the dozens of books I have consumed.
“Yes.”
“And where do I come in?”
“I don’t want them to link me to you…” Tears well up in my eyes, once more… he wanted to keep me safe, and that’s why he ignored me. Not because he didn’t care. 
“Did it work?”
“For now, yeah. That’s why you should try staying away from the cafe for now, Kay?” I wanted to argue that I couldn’t stay away from my favorite cafe. But I kept my mouth shut, realizing the gravity of the situation.
“Okay.” 
“Don’t worry, it’s only for the time being… this should clear off in a month, but then you should be….” He trailed off, as if realizing something was wrong. 
“I assumed your contract expired yesterday?”
“Yes…” I nodded, tightening my fists, to prevent myself from breaking down again. “But my Boss was in an accident… and his daughter doesn’t want me to leave.”
“Oh…” He breathed. “You love her a lot, don’t you?”
“Like my very own.” His eyes widened at my words.  
“And him?” 
“I have no idea how I feel about him,” I replied honestly. So far, I have learnt that the best way to get yourself hurt is to fall for someone who doesn’t see you the same way. And I’ll definitely not make the same mistake again. 
“So you are staying?”
“Yes, until he gets better and then I will leave,” I replied, feeling the bitter taste left behind by my words. 
“I’m really sorry you are going through this, little Aly.” I didn’t know if it was his words or the feeling of his arms around me. But I was on the verge of crying again.
“Thank you, Pe— Big P.” He patted my back comfortingly and for the first time in my life, I felt at home… home in the arms of my Brother… who has always been in front of me. 
How could I have never guessed it? 
How could I not have noticed the sibling bond between us? How?
“I’m here for you, Little Aly.” Anytime, any day. His unsaid words rang in my head. 
Though the moment was comforting, the truth of the matter hit me like hot lava. 
If Peter and I were truly siblings… then does that mean my entire existence has been a lie?
And most importantly, who am I?
….
A/N: What do you think of the chapter, guys?