Chapter 1 Dahlia's Pov

"Have a good night, Dahlia." Ziko's gravelly voice broke the quiet of the late evening as he locked the door to the cafe, the sound of the key turning in the lock echoing in the empty space.

"You too, sir." I flashed him a tired smile, gathering my things. The warmth from the cafe still lingered around me, a comforting contrast to the cold air creeping in from the streets outside.

Ziko paused, his hand on the door handle, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "Stay safe, my dear. And tell Delijah we'd love to have you both over for dinner soon. Martha's been asking about you."

My heart warmed at the mention of Martha. They were like family to me, their kindness a steady anchor in the chaos of my life. "I'll tell him," I said, my smile genuine. "Tell Martha I'd love nothing more."

As I stepped out into the cool night air, I could feel the weight of the world settle back onto my shoulders. The streets were quieter than usual, the distant hum of the city feeling far away. My thoughts lingered on the invitation, a small comfort in the whirlwind of everything else.

Ziko, my boss, had been nothing short of an angel in my life. I'd been working with him for about a year now, and in that time, he'd become more than just an employer. He was a father figure-steady, strong, and kind. He had this way of making everything feel like it would be okay, even when the weight of the world seemed unbearable. And Martha, his wife, was a breath of fresh air. She had this warm, unshakeable energy that could light up any room. Over time, they became more than just my boss and his wife-they were family, the kind I never thought I'd have again.

After we lost our parents, life felt like it had been ripped from under me. I could still remember that night so clearly, the phone call that shattered everything. They'd died in a car accident. The details were horrific. The car had exploded, and when they told us, I couldn't even recognize their bodies. I remember the numbness, the shock, the overwhelming weight of it all. I was just eighteen-too young to carry the burden, but too old to be without a choice.

I fought for Delijah's custody without a second thought. There was no way I could bear the thought of losing him, not after everything we'd already been through. Our relatives... well, let's just say they were never really there for us. No one reached out, no one cared enough to step in. So, it was just me and Deli. And that was enough.

To keep us afloat, I worked multiple jobs. Some nights, I felt like I was drowning in exhaustion, but there was no other choice. I enrolled in a local college two years later, holding on to the hope that one day, when I graduated, I could land a good job. One where I could finally provide Delijah with the future he deserved. The dream of a better life kept me going. It had been four years since the accident, and yet, it still felt like yesterday. The pain, the grief, it hadn't dulled at all. Some things just never heal.

I strolled past the park, my eyes catching a glimpse of a cute couple laughing, carefree, and wrapped in their own little bubble. For a moment, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest. It was such a simple, innocent thing, but somehow, it reminded me of everything I wasn't. I didn't know how to feel about love anymore, not after everything that had happened.

My love life? A mess. A complete, heart-wrenching disaster. I caught my boyfriend cheating on our two-year anniversary. After I'd saved up for weeks to buy him a gift, something special. The betrayal cut deeper than I could've imagined. I'm pretty sure he didn't even remember it was our anniversary.

To be honest, I'd been ignoring the signs for a while. He'd been distant, closed off. If I'm being real with myself, I should've known better. He'd become toxic, a person I no longer recognized. I remember the first time he hit me. The shock, the sting. And yet, blinded by love-or maybe just by my own fear of being alone-I forgave him. Stupid. But that's what many of us do for love, isn't it? We convince ourselves it'll get better. That people can change. That we can fix them. But no, he didn't change. The next thing I knew, he was cheating.

I didn't want to think about that toxic mess anymore. The thought of him was enough to make my stomach turn. He didn't deserve a single ounce of my time, not anymore.

I scoffed, shaking my head. Enough of that barf bag. I was done with him.

This scene is perfect for showing the playful and loving dynamic between Dahlia and Delijah. It's warm and lighthearted, with their sibling bond really shining through. Here's a little tweak to keep the conversation flow natural and enhance the humor and affection:

I reached home and opened the door with my spare key.

"Deli......" I called out, my voice carrying through the quiet apartment.

"Hey sis, you're back... how was work today?" Deli replied from the couch, his eyes glued to the screen of his laptop. I remembered getting him that laptop for his seventeenth birthday. He'd saved up for it with his own money, but I wanted him to have something nice, he deserved it. My brother, the little nerd, was way smarter than I could ever be, and I was so proud of the man he was becoming.

"It was fine... just some annoying customers here and there, but you know, with Ziko around, work is always fun," I said, flashing him a smile as I dropped my bag and plopped down beside him on the couch.

"So, what's up?" I asked, ruffling his strawberry-blond hair. I couldn't help but smile every time I looked at him. He had those bright blue eyes we both shared, and a lot of girls were crazy about him. But he wasn't interested. He was too busy with his studies, which was a good thing, considering the future he had ahead of him. He was one smart guy.

"Umm... well, you know that scholarship I applied for? I'm just checking for updates," he said, his voice a little more serious as he clicked through some tabs.

"Don't worry, Deli. I know you'll get in. You're too smart not to," I reassured him, leaning back against the couch and kicking my feet up.

He looked over at me with that grateful grin, the one I'd grown so used to over the years. "Thanks for always believing in me, Lia," he said, his voice full of sincerity.

"Love you, Deli," I said, ruffling his hair once more before pulling him into a tight hug.

"Love you, Lia," he replied, squeezing me back.

I pulled away and got to my feet. "Have you had dinner yet? I brought some food from the cafe."

"Not yet," he said, dropping his laptop onto the center table and following me into the kitchen. We moved seamlessly, like we always did. Dinner was our time to catch up, our little routine after a long day.

We ate, talking about random stuff-how his classes were going, my annoying customers, anything to make the day feel lighter. Our usual evening routine. I smiled to myself as we finished eating.

"So, I saw James at the cafe today," I said, stirring my drink nonchalantly. "And he told me something interesting."

I caught Delijah's eyes flicker nervously, and I couldn't help but smirk. He always avoided eye contact when he was trying to hide something.

"Really? And what was that?" he asked, pretending to be oblivious but failing miserably.

"Yeah..." I said, dragging out the word. "He said Mia asked you to go to prom with her." The moment I said it, his face turned a shade of pink that made me almost burst out laughing.

"Wait, wait, wait... are you blushing? Oh my god, I cannot believe you're blushing! Wow... you like her, don't you?" I was practically giddy at this revelation. My little brother had a crush!

"Um... n-no, I d-don't," he stammered, shifting awkwardly on the chair and still avoiding my gaze.

"Are you stuttering? Come on, you do like her!" I said, my excitement bubbling over.

"Can we please not talk about my love life? I just needed a date, not that I like her or anything," he said, his hands fidgeting in his lap as his face turned even redder.

"Okayyyyy, if you say so," I teased, smirking as I watched him squirm. It was adorable how much he tried to hide his feelings, but I could tell he was lying. I wasn't going to push it, though-he'd tell me when he was ready.

My phone started ringing, and I picked it up without checking the caller ID.

"HEYYYYYY GIRLLLLLLLL!" The voice screamed from the other side, and I immediately pulled my phone away from my ear, wincing.

"Stacy, can you please stop screaming? You almost burst my eardrum!" I groaned, trying to hear through the ringing in my ears.

"Oops! Sorry, Lia. I was just excited!" she said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "So, the thing is, I wanted you to-"

"Nope. A very big no," I interrupted her, knowing exactly where this was going.

"You didn't even hear what I have to say!" she whined, and I could practically hear her pouting through the phone.

"But I know you, and it's a big no," I said, crossing my arms, already anticipating her response.

"Please, Lia! I promise it's nothing extravagant. It's Friday night, and I just wanted us to have a few drinks... It's been forever since we've really hung out, and I miss you!" Her voice was desperate, like she was pleading for her life.

"Really? You're pulling the 'I miss you' card?" I sighed, rolling my eyes even though I couldn't stop the smile that crept up.

"Please, Dahlia, I really do miss you!" she said, dragging out the last word like she knew exactly how to get to me.

"Fine, fine," I groaned, giving in. "I'll get ready."

"Yes! Thank you! You're the best! I swear, I'll make it worth your while. I'll pick you up in 30 minutes! Get ready for a night to remember!" she cheered, her voice filled with excitement.

I chuckled, shaking my head. Sometimes, Stacy was impossible to say no to. But it was nice to think that, for one night, I could put everything else aside and just have some fun.