Whispers of the heart

**Chapter 9: Whispers of the Heart**

The car rolled to a stop in front of Irina's house, the engine's gentle hum fading as she turned off the ignition. The echoes of the day's adventure lingered in her mind, a mixture of excitement and nostalgia washing over her.

With a quick glance at her watch, Irina realized she had just enough time to freshen up before her parents returned home. She made her way inside, the familiar warmth of the house enveloping her. With swift movements, she headed straight for her room, shedding her outdoor clothes in favor of more comfortable house attire.

As she emerged from her room, Alex's voice caught her attention. "Hey, sis, how was your day?"

Irina turned to see her brother approaching, a warm smile on her lips. "It was amazing, Alex. I'll tell you all about it."

Alex's eyes held a mixture of curiosity and amusement as he leaned against the doorframe. "Oh, I'm all ears. Let's hear it."

And so, Irina recounted the day's events, from the movie to the arcade to the park. She described the laughter, the memories, and even the unexpected confrontation at the coffee shop. Alex's expressions ranged from surprise to pride as he listened to her animated storytelling.

When she finished, Alex pulled her into a tight hug, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and teasing. "You've become quite the big girl now, huh? A big, naughty one at that."

Irina chuckled, her heart warming at the familiar banter between siblings. "Hey, I had to stand up for myself, right?"

As they laughed, a lightheartedness settled between them. But as their conversation continued, Irina's gaze turned observant, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the hint of sadness in her brother's eyes.

"Alex, you've been acting a bit off," Irina began tentatively. "Is something bothering you?"

Alex's gaze flickered, a moment of hesitation passing over his features before he shook his head. "It's nothing, Irina. Don't worry about it."

But Irina's concern persisted, her voice gentle yet persistent. "Come on, Alex, I can tell something's bothering you. We're family, you can talk to me."

Alex's expression shifted, a mixture of pain and frustration crossing his features. "Irina, it's not something I can just talk about."

Her frustration flared, a mixture of anger and concern bubbling within her. "Why is everyone so secretive? Dad has been acting strange too. Why isn't anyone telling me anything?"

Alex's gaze darkened, and he took a step back, his voice tinged with pain. "It's not my fault, Irina. If you want answers, ask your dad."

Irina's anger flared, her voice rising as she took a step towards her brother. "I am asking you, Alex! I'm asking you what's going on!"

Surprisingly, Alex's frustration erupted, his voice a mix of pain and anger. "It's not my responsibility to tell you, Irina. It's not my responsibility to explain everything."

Irina's chest heaved with a mixture of anger and hurt, her voice rising in desperation. "Then whose responsibility is it? Why is everyone keeping things from me?"

As the echoes of their voices hung in the air, a heavy silence descended. Alex's expression was a mirror of his own turmoil, his pain evident in his eyes.

"It's not my fault, Irina," he repeated, his voice softer this time, heavy with an unspoken weight. "Why don't you ask your dad? This is his doing."

With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving Irina standing there, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. The echoes of their exchange hung in the air, a testament to the complexities of family ties and the hidden struggles that often lay beneath the surface.

And as the silence settled, Irina found herself alone with her thoughts, her heart heavy with the weight of the unspoken, the echoes of unanswered questions lingering in the air.

---

Fury and curiosity warred within Irina as the afternoon sunlight began to wane, casting long shadows throughout the house. She paced the living room, her impatience palpable, her thoughts consumed by the exchange with Alex.

She watched as her father finally stepped through the door, his expression inscrutable. Without wasting a moment, Irina confronted him, her voice unwavering. "Dad, what's going on with Alex? Why is he so upset?"

Her father's gaze flickered towards her, but he walked past as if she were invisible, his silence a barrier that fueled her frustration.

Turning to her mother, Irina's gaze held a mixture of desperation and determination. "Mom, why won't he answer me?"

Her mother's lips curled into a rueful smile, an attempt to mask the truth that Irina saw through easily. "I don't know, dear."

Irina's frustration bubbled into anger, her voice more forceful now. "Mom, you're not telling me the truth. What's going on?"

But her mother's evasion only fueled Irina's determination. With a purposeful stride, she followed her father into his study, her voice demanding answers. "Dad, I need to know. Why won't anyone tell me?"

Finally, her father's voice broke the silence, a calmness that only served to infuriate her more. "It's not a big deal, Irina."

The answer was so dismissive that it struck her like a slap in the face. "Not a big deal? It clearly is if it's affecting Alex so much."

Her father's gaze met hers, an unyielding wall of authority. "I've made arrangements, Irina. That's all."

Irina's anger boiled over, her voice rising as her emotions crashed against the facade of composure. "Arrangements? What does that even mean?"

A mirthless smile tugged at her father's lips, his voice dripping with casualness. "I've found a suitable guy for you to marry. You'll meet him by Monday."

The words hung in the air like a weighty secret, each syllable slicing through Irina's emotions. The shock of her father's revelation warred with the realization that she was being treated like a pawn in some game she hadn't signed up for.

As her anger mingled with the sting of betrayal, Irina didn't know whether to be glad that her father was finally taking her love life seriously, or to be furious that he'd engaged her without her consent, as though she were nothing more than a commodity.

The echoes of her emotions reverberated in the silence of the room, a heavy tension that left Irina feeling torn between the path that had been chosen for her and the future she wanted to carve out for herself.