Kael Arven

His father's screams echoed through the house like thunder. Kael, 18, stepped between him and his mother.

"Dad, stop! Don't touch her!" he shouted, shaking with rage. His father, always drunk and aggressive, took everything out on his mother. Kael knew that love shouldn't hurt and that protecting his mother was his duty.

After another fight, Kael decided it was time to change everything.

"Mom, let's go." His tired mother looked at him confidently. Together, they grabbed their essentials and left, without looking back.

They arrived at the house of Helena, their mother's friend. The place was beautiful and cozy, the opposite of the home they had left behind. Kael had a room to himself, and for the first time, he felt at peace.

The next morning, Helena's daughter, Ana, came home from school. She was also 18 and the complete opposite of Kael. He greeted her curtly and returned to his room.

A few days later, the mothers went out, leaving Ana and Kael alone. Ana was in the kitchen when Kael appeared, teasing her.

"Are you cooking for me?" He smiled, and she, irritated, just rolled her eyes.

The next day, Ana entered his room without knocking and found him shirtless, drying his hair. She blushed and hurriedly left.

Later, in the kitchen, Kael appeared again.

“Are you still mad at me?” he asked, amused.

— You're annoying.

"But you're smiling. So I can't be that bad." She tried to hide her laughter, but something about him was starting to tug at her heartstrings, and she didn't know if she wanted to run away or let herself go.