A web of Emotions

The days following the sleepover at Rani's house were filled with an intricate mix of emotions, hidden feelings, and growing tensions.

Since that night at Rani's house, Iris couldn't stop thinking about Baskhar. His confident demeanor and charming smile had left a lasting impression on her.

"He's so… perfect," Iris confided to Ratna one afternoon during lunch at school.

Ratna raised an eyebrow. "Baskhar? Rani's brother? Seriously?"

Iris nodded dreamily. "I know it's silly, but there's something about him."

"Well, good luck with that," Ratna said, chuckling. "But remember, he's older, and Rani might not like the idea of you crushing on her brother."

"I know," Iris replied, sighing. "But I can't help how I feel."

At the same time, Lisa found herself thinking more and more about Felix. She admired his strength, his dedication to his family, and his unwavering resolve despite the challenges he faced.

She recalled Grace's story and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for him. "He's been through so much," she thought to herself. "How can one person carry so much pain and still keep going?"

Though Felix's cold and harsh demeanor often left her confused, Lisa couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. It was something she wasn't ready to admit, even to herself.

At home, Felix was pushing himself harder than ever. The relentless work schedule and lack of rest had taken a toll on his health, but he refused to let anyone see his weakness.

One evening, he stumbled into the house, his face pale and his body trembling with fever. He quickly retreated to his room before anyone could notice.

Juan knocked on his door later that night. "Felix, are you okay? You've been so quiet."

"I'm fine, Mom," he replied, his voice hoarse. "Just tired."

Juan lingered outside the door for a moment, sensing something was wrong, but decided not to press further.

Joseph, on the other hand, was grappling with his own emotions. Every time he saw Lisa, his heart raced, and he found himself drawn to her kindness and warmth.

But he couldn't bring himself to confess his feelings. "She'll never see me that way," he thought.

Instead, he tried to hide his feelings behind jokes and playful banter, though it only made his admiration for Lisa grow stronger.

At Rani's house, Baskhar couldn't stop asking about Lisa.

"Rani, when's Lisa coming over again?" he asked casually one evening.

Rani shot him a suspicious look. "Why do you care?"

"Just curious," he replied with a shrug. "She seems… nice."

Rani smirked. "You've got a crush, don't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Baskhar said, though the slight blush on his face betrayed him.

As everyone around her wrestled with their feelings, Lisa found herself at the center of it all, unaware of the depth of emotions she had stirred.

She couldn't deny her growing admiration for Felix, but Baskhar's attention and Joseph's playful affection complicated her feelings.

Meanwhile, Felix, oblivious to Lisa's thoughts, continued to bear his burdens alone, his health deteriorating as he pushed himself to the limit.