Ten years later:

Sliding the old, thin, yellow-coloured cotton curtains to the sides, Hera pushed the window open and stood watching the sun fall behind the horizon. With the setting sun, the orange-gold stretched far and wide in the sky, mingling with the rolling clouds. 

Hera didn’t have the clock in her room, so judging by the position of the sun, she guessed the time to be somewhere between six to seven o’clock.

Closing the windows as well as the curtains, she walked to the small dresser placed next to her bed. Her hair was a tangled mess as she spent the afternoon rolling on the bed. She had nothing entertaining to do and was bored to death. She was back in California to spend her summer holidays with family..

Hera studied her appearance in the mirror from head to toe. Anyone could tell that she’d gained weight. Her cheeks looked chubby, and her body more defined, adding some extra curves to her figure. Scowling at her plump figure, Hera sighed and picked up the hairbrush to tame her tangled brunette hair. Once done brushing, she wore her long hair in a high ponytail.

She pulled a black hoodie over her tank top, matching her black jean shorts. She kept her face makeup-free as she was in no mood to dress up. Walking to her bed, Hera pulled the journal she’d hidden under the pillow. The same purple-coloured diary gifted by her uncle Antony on her fifth birthday. 

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she opened the diary glancing at the wrappers pasted in it. She ran her fingers absent-mindedly on the wrappers, caressing the words written on them.

Someone turned the handle and jerked the door open, disturbing her privacy. Startled, Hera quickly shut the book and turned it face-down to hide the letters written on it in bold capitals.

“What was that? What are you hiding from me?” She heard the rich voice questioning her, and annoyed, she rolled her eyes. She should’ve known by now, only her brother walks into her room, without bothering to knock.

‘As though he owns the room.’ 

“Will you ever learn to knock, Danny?” She asked without even bothering to hide her displeasure, and he replied in an equally annoyed tone. “Of course. Not, Hera. In case you don’t remember, it’s my home,” he said smugly, giving her a slight close-lipped smile. 

“Oh, God! Not again, Danny. Grow up, will you? Why do you hate me so much?” She half shouted at him in anger. She’d no energy to fight with him, but it seemed he wouldn’t stop bothering her. She braced herself for the verbal insult. He never once was polite with her. As they grew up, his coldness and hatred towards Hera only intensified day by day.

“And I saw it. I think I read something like, ‘Alexander’ written on the cover. Isn’t it?” Her brother asked, surprising her. 

‘He changed the topic! Hmm, thank God for that.’

“What do you want, Danny?” Hera asked, throwing the book into her already packed luggage bag and caressed the name written on it, ‘Alexander The Conqueror’. She quickly zipped it locking when he cleared his throat and pushed the luggage under her bed. “It’s time for dinner. Mom is calling you,” he informed in a bored tone. 

“Okay, thanks for telling me. I’ll be out in a minute,” Hera said. She raised her eyebrows in question when he didn’t make an effort to get out of her room. He scratched his unshaven chin as if in deep thought but had his eyes locked on hers. She knew that look, and it screamed trouble.

“What is it, Danny?” Hera asked, eyeing him suspiciously. 

Danny smiled at her. The real, sweet, genuine smile. She noticed how incredibly perfect her brother looked, with his ice-blue eyes, lean, athletic body, and that charming smile gracing his lips. His soft, dirty blonde hair falling on his forehead almost covered his eyes. He’d finger-combed his hair, which perfectly defined his bad-boy image.

Dressed in a brushed almond colour cargo pant paired with a full-sleeved maroon T-shirt, he looked very handsome. The day-old stubble on his jaw gave him a matured look. No girl would walk past him without giving him a second look. 

The clicking of a lock put an end to her thoughts, and she watched as he walked in, settling on her bed. Hera sighed audibly. “I have a message to convey, Hera,” he said, adjusting the pillow behind his head before leaning against it. Hera sat on the floor with her arms wrapped around her torso and waited for him to continue. 

“He’s missing you,” Danny said.

That one statement made her shiver, and her heart skipped a beat. She knew it’s trouble. Danny spoke again, “He wants to see you, Hera. He’s truly missing you.” Hera stood up quickly from the floor and marched towards him. She didn’t stop until they came up face to face. To her disadvantage, he stood up from the bed, and his six-foot height towered over her.

“What did you say? Are you out of your fucking mind? What do you mean by he wants to see me? If you let him come here or planning to bring him here, I swear I’ll tell everyone at home how you’re helping my bullies by supporting them. I’ll tell everything to aunt Lizzy,” she said, trying to threaten him but in vain. He just smirked at her. Hands shoved into his pant pockets he stood there, all calm and collective. 

“Oh! Really? What’ll you tell them exactly? How the hell is he bullying you? By getting into your bed every night?” He asked, sarcasm dripping from his words. “Hmm, I would love to see how you’ll explain your private time with him,” he said while Hera’s jaw nearly hit the floor. She quickly recovered from the shock and tried to mask it with anger. She glared at him, but the pink blush spreading all over her cheeks and neck betrayed her act.