“Why are you messing with my younger sister?”
Ravian’s voice was low.
But that was precisely what made the words so much more terrifying.
There was no shouting.
No raised voice.
Just four simple words that slipped from his lips, cold and weighted with pressure.
Selina froze.
The courage that had filled her face moments ago slowly drained away.
Keira, standing behind her, didn’t even dare lift her head.
Mona bit her lip.
The three of them looked as though they had just heard something impossible.
Younger sister?
That girl...
Ravian’s younger sister?
Selina looked at Alia.
Then at Ravian.
Then back at Alia.
Impossible.
All this time, she had thought Alia was just a new student who had happened to catch Ravian’s attention.
She had never imagined that the girl she had been tormenting for the past few days was the younger sister of the most respected student in school.
“Y-You’re Ravian’s sister?”
Selina’s voice trembled.
Alia didn’t answer.
She merely lowered her head.
Ravian stood in front of her.
His body became a wall shielding Alia from them.
His gaze sharpened.
Extremely sharp.
The look that usually made people reluctant to approach him now felt far more frightening.
“Why?”
One word.
Selina swallowed.
“We... we didn’t know.”
Ravian stared at her without blinking.
“That’s your excuse?”
Selina quickly shook her head.
“No.”
“Then?”
There was no answer.
Keira began to tremble.
She clasped her hands tightly together.
She could feel her palms growing damp with sweat.
From the beginning, they had only wanted to scare Alia.
They had never intended to face Ravian.
Especially not like this.
Ravian was known as a cold student.
He didn’t like trouble.
He didn’t like arguing.
And he almost never got angry.
But now they were seeing another side of him for themselves.
A side they had never seen before.
Ravian’s gaze seemed to say that one more mistake would make everything much worse.
Mona began to cry.
“Ravian...”
Ravian turned toward her.
Mona immediately fell silent.
She couldn’t even bring herself to finish her sentence.
“Don’t call me that.”
Ravian’s tone remained flat.
Yet the three girls grew even more frightened.
“Why were you bothering her?”
Selina tried to answer.
“We were just—”
“You pushed her?”
Ravian cut her off.
Selina fell silent.
“Yes or no?”
“Yes.”
The answer came out barely above a whisper.
Ravian clenched his fists.
His jaw hardened.
Alia saw the change and immediately touched her older brother’s arm.
“Ravian.”
Ravian didn’t turn.
“Ravian, that’s enough.”
“No.”
His answer was brief.
Alia grabbed his arm again.
“I’m okay.”
Ravian finally turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
Alia gave him a faint smile, even though her eyes were still glistening with tears.
“Really. I’m okay.”
Ravian studied his younger sister’s face.
There were traces of tears at the corners of Alia’s eyes.
That made his anger even harder to control.
“They made you cry.”
Alia shook her head.
“I was just a little scared.”
Ravian was silent.
Alia knew her older brother.
If she let him continue, Ravian wouldn’t stop so easily.
So she tugged on his arm again.
“Let’s go home.”
“We’re not finished.”
“Ravian.”
Alia gazed at him gently.
“I don’t want this problem to get any bigger.”
Ravian remained silent.
“Please.”
That final word finally made Ravian sigh.
He turned back to the three girls.
His gaze was still sharp.
But this time, it wasn’t as harsh as before.
“From now on, never go near Alia again.”
Selina nodded quickly.
“Yes.”
“Don’t speak rudely to her.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t touch her.”
“Yes.”
“And never bother her again.”
All three nodded almost in unison.
“Okay.”
Ravian stared at them for several seconds.
“If I hear her name mentioned because of you again...”
He deliberately let the sentence trail off.
There was no need to continue.
The three of them understood.
Selina felt her knees nearly give out.
She had never imagined that Ravian could frighten her with only a few words.
Keira didn’t even dare meet his eyes.
Mona continued wiping away her tears.
Alia looked at the three girls.
Even though she was still hurt, she didn’t want the problem to grow any bigger.
“Ravian.”
Ravian turned toward her.
“That’s enough.”
“Are you sure?”
Alia nodded.
“Yes.”
Ravian finally nodded.
Then he picked up Alia’s bag, which had been thrown aside earlier.
He checked its contents.
Several books were crumpled.
One of the books even had a slightly torn corner.
Ravian looked at it.
“They did this too?”
Alia nodded slowly.
Ravian looked at the three girls again.
All three immediately lowered their heads.
“Sorry.”
Selina finally said the word.
“Sorry, Alia.”
Keira spoke up as well.
“Sorry.”
Mona nodded too.
“Sorry.”
Alia fell silent.
She didn’t know whether their apologies were sincere or if they were only afraid of Ravian.
But for now, she chose not to prolong the matter.
“I forgive you.”
The three girls looked at Alia.
“But don’t do it again.”
Selina nodded.
“Yes.”
Alia then reached for her bag from Ravian’s hand.
“I can carry it myself.”
Ravian didn’t hand it over.
“I’ll carry it.”
“Ravian...”
“You’re tired enough already.”
Alia didn’t argue anymore.
They walked out of the bathroom.
But as soon as they passed through the door, Alia stopped.
Several students who happened to be in the hallway were staring at them.
Their eyes were filled with shock.
Whispers began to spread.
“That’s Ravian.”
“He’s with that new girl.”
“Wait...”
“Did he just say she’s his sister?”
Alia immediately lowered her head.
This was exactly what she had been afraid of.
Their secret had been exposed.
Not just to Selina, Keira, and Mona.
Now several other students were beginning to find out too.
Ravian realized how uneasy his younger sister was.
He moved a little closer to her.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Alia looked at him.
“You’re the one who said we had to keep it a secret.”
“I know.”
“Then what now?”
Ravian looked straight ahead.
“Now it’s too late.”
Alia sighed.
“This is all your fault.”
Ravian turned toward her.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you drank from my bottle that time.”
Ravian fell silent.
Alia then let out a small laugh.
For the first time since starting school, she could breathe a little easier.
Even though her secret had been exposed, at least she no longer had to hide her relationship with her older brother.
But beneath that calm, Alia didn’t realize one thing.
From that day on, her status at school would change.
She was no longer just a beautiful new student.
She was Ravian’s younger sister.
And everyone began wondering what the life of the girl who turned out to have the most popular older brother in school was really like.
Meanwhile, someone was watching them from a distance.
Daren.
He saw Ravian carrying Alia’s bag.
Saw Alia walking beside him.
And for the first time, Daren learned the truth the girl had kept hidden all this time.
Alia was Ravian’s younger sister.
Daren smiled faintly.
Yet for some reason, after learning the truth, his curiosity about Alia only grew stronger.