Behind Her Smiles

Behind Her Smiles (One Shot)

During the past, Shandice has been battered by her parents after quite awhile her bruises started appearing more and more. Due to her bruises her friend, Analyn, ask Luke, Analyn's brother for a favour to see Shandice from time to time. Due to Luke being observant and cautious of people he carefully observe her, analyzing how she acts with everyone. And as he observes her for some time he didn't know he will gradually feel something for her, a feeling that will soon lead to him wanting to protect and love her.

After learning about what id happening to Shandice in their house, Luke decided to help her, cater to her needs and most importantly lead her to safety, away from her abusive family. Luke and Analyn decided to help Shandice find somewhere to call home but she had developed trauma from all the abuse she received and fearfully ask the orphan siblings if she can live with them. The siblings of course welcomed her to their warm and cozy home, now they are with Shandice celebrating New Year's Eve and Shandice's birthday.

Shandice smiles as she saw her friend lights up the light fireworks, as it travels to the air and create a loud explosion with a beautiful colors as it exploded creating a beautiful sky during the night.

She smiles as she see the beautiful colors, "It's so beautiful!" She exclaimed while looking at the fireworks. "You are way more beautiful than this." Luke said while looking at his friend who is amazed and distracted by the fireworks.

While Luke is looking at Shandice, he is observing on how she will react to what he just said but it all falls to deaf ears as Shandice is more focus in the fact that the fireworks are amazing. Shandice heard what Luke said but she doesn't want to assume, she likes him even from before so she knows that he is just observing like what he usually do so ignoring what he said is better.

While on the other side, Luke assume that she just didn't heard him. He plans to said his true feelings the very same night but he is regretting not doing it before the fireworks because she seems to ignore him now.

How can she pay more attention to the fireworks than me? Luke said to himself while looking at Shandice.

"Shandice, what if I said that my brother wants to admit his feelings to you, what will be your reaction?" Analyn ask to Shandice, after she snatch Shandice to the bedroom as she lies down in her bed. Shandice, shocked to the question, blushes at the mere thought that he also likes her.

"You know that I've liked him even before right? Of course if it's true I'll be the happiest." She said as she looks at the window with the clear view of Luke outside but you can also see sadness in her eyes. "Wait why are you sad? Shouldn't you be happy?" Concern on her friend's sadness she immediately go to her and hugs her.

"I am so thankful to you guys that it pains me to think that I might lose him if he knows I love him." Shandice said as she waves her hand to Luke who is looking at her. In response Luke waves back and shouted that they should come down to late dinner. As she signalled yes while nodding Luke smiled at her before going inside the kitchen. While Analyn is in deep thought to the idea that both of them loves each other but are afraid of losing one another. And while thinking she thought of a plan, a plan that will make them say the truth.

After dinner Analyn proposed to play a game called two truths and one lie. The concept of the game is she is going to say three statements that has two truths and one lie and Shandice and Luke needs to find the lie. A simple game that will make them admit to each other.

"Here is my three statements, one Luke loves Shandice, two Shandice also feels something for Luke, three this statement is the truth." Due to what she said the atmosphere become serious and awkward. But Luke know this is his sister's way to confirm his love is not unrequited. As he stands up he looked at Shandice's face and do the bravest thing he knew at that moment. "I love you Shandice, you can react however you want but all I want to say is this will not require you to love me back but I just want to-" Due to monologue of Luke, Shandice cuts him and holds his hand.

Due to shocked he blushed which earned a chuckle from Shandice and a laugh from Analyn. "I love you too Luke." As Shandice said this word Luke turned more red and Analyn is dying out of laughter to see both her friend and brother blush.

"Now detectives do you know which one is the lie?" Analyn teases them and Shandice become more lively and said "The third statement is the lie." As the game continue, they learn more about each other and the two, Shandice and Luke, has become official.

Behind Shandice's smile is full of pain due to the past but now, due to Luke and Analyn her smile become more genuine than it ever has.

-The End-