Twisted love

A Brother's Duty

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Chapter 7:  (Oliver)

present

Back in the apartment, the familiar creaks of the floorboards felt like echoes of a past life. The space was cluttered with memories—framed photos of better days and remnants of laughter, now overshadowed by a thick tension that settled like a fog. I was back with Andrew, but everything felt off, like a broken compass pointing in all the wrong directions.

"Make yourself at home," Andrew muttered as he dropped his backpack on the couch, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I could sense the underlying tension as he headed toward the kitchen, no doubt to prepare something that would take his mind off the inevitable confrontation.

"Right," I replied, casually leaning against the counter, even as I felt a knot tightening in my stomach. I kept my eyes on the fridge as if it held the answers to the questions swirling in my mind.

Katherine entered a moment later, her presence instantly electrifying the air. She paused just inside the doorway, surveying the room with a cold, assessing gaze. When her eyes finally met mine, the warmth that once existed between us felt like a distant memory.

"Oliver," she said, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"Kat," I replied, adopting my usual nonchalance, though inside I was anything but relaxed.

Andrew shot a quick look between us, his protective instincts flaring. "So, what's on the agenda tonight? Any plans?"

"Just hanging out, I guess," Katherine replied, her tone casual but the edge in her voice was unmistakable.

"Cool," I chimed in, desperate to find a way to connect. "I thought we could do a game night. It's been a while since we all got together like this."

Katherine shrugged, her indifference clear. "Sure, if that's what you want."

As Andrew started setting up the game, I couldn't help but observe Katherine. She had changed; the light in her eyes was dimmed, replaced by a shadow of something deeper. I wanted to reach out, to ask what was wrong, but every time I tried, her coldness pushed me away.

"Do you want to be on the same team?" I asked, attempting to sound casual, but my heart raced with anticipation.

"Does it matter?" she replied, the bitterness in her tone cutting like a knife.

"Just thought it might be fun," I responded, keeping my voice steady even as frustration simmered beneath the surface.

"Let's just get started," Andrew said, clearly trying to defuse the tension. "We can figure out the teams as we go."

We settled into the game, but I struggled to focus. Each roll of the dice felt heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Katherine occasionally glanced at me, her expression a complex mix of hurt and something I couldn't quite decipher.

"Is something wrong, Kat?" I ventured, feigning nonchalance even as a part of me craved the truth.

"Nothing's wrong, Oliver," she shot back, her voice sharp and defensive.

"Alright, just making conversation. You seem... off," I said, trying to keep my tone light, but the concern crept into my words.

"Maybe I'm just tired of pretending," she replied, her eyes narrowing as if I had struck a nerve.

Andrew looked uncomfortable, the tension between us palpable. "Let's just play, okay? We're supposed to be having fun," he suggested, trying to mediate.

I sensed the unease radiating off both of them, the silent communication between them a stark reminder of the past that separated me from Katherine. She had always been an open book, but now, she was closed off, a mystery I was desperate to solve.