New Beginnings and Unspoken Truths

It was a weekend of unwinding for the girls. Chelsea, Sakura, Ratna, Iris, Pharita, and Lisa were all gathered at Rani's house for a sleepover. The spacious home was vibrant with laughter and chatter, and the girls couldn't wait to spend the night together.

"Lisa, you have to try this!" Rani exclaimed, handing her a plate of samosas.

Lisa smiled, taking a bite. "This is amazing, Rani. Did you make it?"

"Of course not," Rani said with a grin. "My mom did. But don't tell anyone—I'll take the credit."

The group burst into laughter as they lounged around the living room, snacking and sharing stories.

Meanwhile, Rani's older brother, Baskhar, walked through the room. He was tall, with a confident demeanor and a charming smile. As his gaze landed on Lisa, he paused for a moment, clearly intrigued.

"Rani, are you not going to introduce me to your friends?" Baskhar asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.

Rani rolled her eyes. "Baskhar, this is Lisa, Chelsea, Sakura, Iris, Ratna, and Pharita. Now, go away—we're having a girls' night."

But Baskhar wasn't paying attention to his sister's words. His eyes were fixed on Lisa. "Lisa, right? Nice to meet you," he said, his tone warm.

Lisa gave a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too."

Baskhar lingered for a moment longer before leaving the room, but not without stealing another glance at Lisa.

Chelsea smirked. "Well, someone's got an admirer."

Lisa blushed, shaking her head. "It's not like that. He was just being polite."

"Sure, Lisa," Sakura teased. "Just polite."

The girls erupted into laughter again, easing the tension in the room.

At home, the atmosphere was far from lighthearted. Grace was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone, while Juan stood in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

Juan glanced at her daughter and sighed. "Grace, you're recovering well. It's time to start thinking about getting a job. Your brother is working himself to the bone, and he needs help."

Grace nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, I will. Don't worry, Mom."

But deep down, Grace had no intention of looking for a job. She hated the thought of working and believed that Felix could handle things. After all, he always did.

Juan, sensing her daughter's reluctance, shook her head in frustration. She didn't want to argue, but she couldn't ignore the strain Felix was under.

Felix returned home late that night, his exhaustion evident in the dark circles under his eyes. He barely acknowledged anyone as he headed straight to his room, collapsing onto his bed.

Juan peeked into his room, concern etched on her face. "Felix, are you okay? Did you eat?"

"I'm fine, Mom," Felix replied, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Juan wanted to press further but decided against it. She closed the door quietly, leaving Felix to rest.

Back at Rani's house, the girls continued their sleepover with games, movies, and lots of laughter.

"I love nights like this," Pharita said, hugging a pillow. "It's nice to just relax and be with you all."

"Agreed," Ratna said. "Life's too stressful otherwise."

Lisa smiled, feeling a sense of comfort and belonging. For a moment, she could forget about the chaos back home and simply enjoy being a teenager.

But as the night wore on, she couldn't help but think about Felix. Despite his cold demeanor and harsh words, she admired his strength and dedication to his family.

"Lisa," Chelsea said, snapping her fingers in front of her. "Earth to Lisa. What are you thinking about?"

Lisa shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing. Just tired, I guess."

The girls didn't press further, and the night continued with lighthearted fun.

As the girls prepared to sleep, Baskhar passed by the room again, pretending to look for something.

"Goodnight, ladies," he said, his eyes lingering on Lisa.

"Goodnight," the girls chorused, but Rani threw a pillow at him. "Get out, Baskhar!"

As he left, Chelsea whispered, "Lisa, I think you've got someone crushing on you."

Lisa rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face.

While Lisa was experiencing moments of joy and lighthearted teasing, Felix's world was growing darker. He carried the weight of his family's struggles alone, refusing to let anyone in.

And though Lisa and Felix lived in two very different worlds, their paths were becoming increasingly intertwined.