IDOL

Chapter 4: Angel's Voice

Zari had promised herself that she wouldn't get her hopes up. Kael had made it clear that she was just like a little sister to him and his friends. After hearing Kael say it himself, she knew she had to lock away any other feelings. But even as she tried to accept it, her heart felt heavy. Being "just a little sister" didn't stop her from feeling the sting of disappointment.

As the group returned from their hike, Zari found herself deep in thought, her mind racing between memories of the day and her tangled emotions. Kael had been so kind to her, so genuine. She couldn't help but smile at how much he cared for her, but that smile always faded when she reminded herself of what he truly saw her as little sister. Nothing more.

That afternoon, as they reached the house, Zari approached Jaxon. "I've been thinking," she started, hesitating for a moment. "I want to move to the house. I've missed it, especially the backyard. Remember when I used to talk about wanting to spend more time there when I was younger?"

Jaxon gave her a warm smile, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Of course I remember. You always said it was your favorite spot. You're welcome to move in whenever you're ready, Zari. This is your home too."

She nodded, feeling a sense of comfort in his words, even though her heart ached from earlier. The thought of moving to Korea, being closer to Jaxon and the memories of their childhood, was comforting. But still, there was that lingering sadness she couldn't quite shake.

In the late afternoon, Zari wandered to the backyard, the place she had missed the most. She found her favorite spot under the shade of a large tree and sat down with her sketchbook and a novel. The soft breeze brushed through her hair, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget about everything else.

As she flipped through the pages of her book, a song hummed quietly in her mind. *The Only Exception* by Paramore—it was her favorite song. She closed her eyes, letting the lyrics flow through her thoughts, and before she knew it, she was singing softly, her voice carried by the gentle wind.

What Zari didn't know was that the members had arrived back at the house for a break. Their training had been intense, and with a holiday in their schedule, they had decided to chill at Jaxon's place. As they relaxed in the living room, Kael noticed that Zari wasn't around.

"Where's Zari?" he asked Jaxon, who was lounging on the couch.

Jaxon smiled, sipping his drink. "Probably in the backyard. She's been talking about wanting to spend time there ever since we got back."

Kael nodded and decided to check. As he walked toward the backyard, he heard a soft voice, delicate and pure. His steps slowed, mesmerized by the sound. He reached the edge of the doorway and peeked around the corner, his breath catching in his throat.

There was Zari, sitting beneath the tree, her face tilted slightly toward the sky as she sang. Her voice was like nothing he had ever heard before—gentle, yet powerful, like an angel's. Kael stood frozen for a moment, not wanting to interrupt, but unable to stop himself from being captivated.

When Zari finished the last note, she opened her eyes, startled to see Kael standing there, watching her. Her face flushed a deep pink, embarrassment washing over her.

"K-Kael," she stammered, standing up quickly. "I didn't know you were there."

He stepped forward, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Zari, that was amazing. Your voice... it's incredible. Why didn't you ever tell anyone you could sing like that?"

Her cheeks burned even more, and she fidgeted with the edge of her sweater. "It's just something I do for fun. It's not a big deal."

Kael shook his head, his expression sincere. "No, it *is* a big deal. You've got talent, Zari. Seriously."

She felt her heart flutter at his praise but quickly reminded herself not to let it get to her. She couldn't fall for him. He only saw her as a sister, after all. But hearing those words from him, seeing the genuine admiration in his eyes, made it hard to keep her walls up.

"I—thank you," Zari said softly, looking away, trying to hide how flustered she was.

Kael continued to watch her for a moment, clearly impressed. "You know, you don't have to keep that voice hidden. People would love to hear you sing. I know I would."

Zari smiled faintly, though her heart raced. "I'll think about it."

As much as she wanted to keep her distance, she couldn't help the way her feelings stirred whenever Kael looked at her like that. Despite her best efforts, she was slowly falling, and no matter how many times she reminded herself that she was just his "little sister," the connection between them felt impossible to ignore.

As Kael turned to head back inside, Zari's gaze lingered on him. She knew she was in deep, but she promised herself once again—she couldn't let her heart get too attached. Even if she was drawn to him in ways she didn't understand, she had to remember where she stood in his life.

But as she watched him disappear into the house, a small part of her wondered if maybe, just maybe, things could change.

For now, though, she'd keep singing, and keep her feelings locked away, hoping her heart wouldn't betray her again.