Chrysander

Adeline has always been the kind of girl you notice even before she speaks.
When she walks down a corridor, eyes naturally follow. She smiles as if the whole world already belongs to her. Beautiful, brilliant, popular. The kind of light that blinds others without them even realizing it.

And then there's his sister.

More discreet. Always a little in the background.
She lowers her eyes when you look at her for too long, as if she were apologizing for existing. Yet, it was her I saw.

I don't think anyone realizes how destructive living in Adeline's shadow can be. Even their parents seemed fascinated by their perfect daughter. Addie got everything effortlessly: attention, compliments, love.
His sister, meanwhile, was regaining her silence.

In high school, everyone thought I was untouchable. Chrysander Moreau. Captain of the basketball team. The one who gets cheered in the stands, the one invited to parties, the one girls look at like a trophy.
The truth is, I spent my time watching a girl who didn't even believe she deserved to be looked at.

She blushed every time I spoke to her.
And it was driving me crazy.

Because she didn't see what I saw.

She thought she was bland next to Adeline. Less pretty. Less interesting. Less likeable. But Addie shone brightly. Her sister, on the other hand, burned slowly. And that kind of fire is far more dangerous.

The problem is that Adeline eventually noticed where my eyes were looking.

And Adeline hates to lose.

At first, she was just playing around. Smiles that dragged on a bit. Hands sliding up my arm. Fake laughter during training. Then she started turning her sister's life into hell.

Cruel remarks disguised as jokes. Subtle humiliations. “Advice” on how she dressed. On her body. On how she spoke. Every day, she erased him a little more.