[Fanfic 12 chòm sao] Under the Blessing stars _ SaMa

Chapter XVII: English Version

The sun peeked through the curtains of the small but cozy apartment, casting a warm glow on the neatly arranged furniture. Aries was already up, bustling around the living room with a feather duster in one hand and a mop in the other. She hummed softly as she cleaned, her usual laid-back demeanor replaced with surprising diligence.

Aria, still in her pajamas, padded into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. She stopped in her tracks, blinking in surprise at the sight of her sister working so hard this early in the morning.

"Wow, who are you, and what have you done with my sister? This place hasn't looked this clean in... months," Aria teased, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

Aries smirked back. "My friend's coming over today."

Aria raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, a friend, huh? Is it a boy?"

Aries snorted, shaking her head as she rolled her eyes. "Nope. Just a girl. A pretty one, if you're wondering."

Aria chuckled, leaning against the counter with her coffee mug. "I don't mind a sister-in-law, you know."

Aries shot her a look, grinning but brushing off the comment as she wiped down the table. "Why aren't you getting ready for work yet? Aren't you gonna be late?"

Aria stretched lazily. "I'm off today. There's a big ceremony at work, but it's not mandatory, so I decided to take the day off."

Aries paused mid-clean, glancing over her shoulder with a mock groan. "Oh man, you're home today? You're gonna steal my friends again! They always like you more than me!"

Aria smiled knowingly, her voice light as she took a sip of her coffee. "Well, I can't stop people from liking me. I'm just too charming."

Aries laughed and rolled her eyes, focusing on getting the place perfect for her guest. Aria always had that magnetic charm, the kind that could light up an entire room without trying. People just naturally gravitated toward her, and it was no wonder Aries's friends always ended up getting along with her sister so well. But despite all the jokes, Aries never felt jealous. How could she? Aria was her role model, the person who loved her most. No one could hate Aria.

A knock on the door came a little after 10 a.m., and when Aries opened it, Sagittarius burst in, her energy filling the room. She wrapped Aries in a big hug, slightly sweaty from the heat outside, and breathed a sigh of relief once inside.

"Oh, thank goodness for shade. It's boiling out there!" Sagittarius exclaimed, her breath heavy as she held up a tray of iced teas and a bag of fruits.

"I brought enough for three since you said Aria would be home, too!" she added, flashing a wide grin.

Aries smiled and introduced Sagittarius to Aria, who gave a welcoming nod and helped her put the fruit in the fridge. The apartment, though modest, felt like a cool haven compared to the heat outside, especially with the fans spinning softly in the corners.

Sagittarius, ever the curious one, began exploring, her eyes widening as she spotted an old magazine. "Oh my god, is this an old issue of Modern Dance? I've been looking for this one!"

Aria laughed as she watched Sagittarius flit from one corner of the room to another, marveling at every little detail—magazines, art pieces, quirky decorations. Aries, meanwhile, headed into the kitchen to prepare a simple udon soup for everyone.

Sagittarius plopped onto the couch, exclaiming, "You guys have so many cool stuff!" She spotted an old gaming console by the TV and immediately perked up. "Wait, you have retro games? Can we play?"

Aria chuckled, sitting down next to her. "Sure, if you can handle losing."

While Aries cooked, Aria and Sagittarius became engrossed in a friendly competition, playing one of Aria's childhood games. The sound of laughter and playful taunts filled the room, their voices echoing with lightness and joy.