If the Sun Has Faded Away (UNDER REWRITING)

Chapter 1 : An unexpected declaration of love from the quiet neighbour

The little five-year-old girl threw the ball at me, her eyes sparkling with expectation and excitement as she waited to see if I would catch it. The ball flew low enough for me to grab it easily, but I decided to miss it on purpose.

The moment she saw the ball sail past without me catching it, Jessie squealed in delight. "I won! I won!"

I pulled a mock-disappointed face. "That was a close one... Too bad."

Jessie jumped and twirled, her joy contagious as she danced around. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her exuberance.

"If you want, I can teach you how to catch, Akka," she offered earnestly.

"Yes, sure," I winked, my smile growing even broader. I loved the way she called me "Akka," the Tamil word for "elder sister," in her sweet, innocent voice. Every time she said it, it made me feel warm inside.

Even though Jessie was Uncle Joseph and Auntie Radha's daughter, I considered her my little sister. I could still remember the day Auntie Radha introduced me to Jessie, just a few days after she was born. It was hard to believe how quickly the years had passed. Almost in the blink of an eye, Jessie had turned five—today was her fifth birthday.

I knelt in front of the little darling. "Since I lost, can I get a consolation prize?"

"Do you want a kiss?" she asked, her mischievous smile making me laugh.

I nodded, grinning. She quickly pressed her soft lips against my cheek.

"She's very fond of you," a voice came from behind me.

I turned and realized the front door was wide open. Standing in the doorway, with his arms crossed, was Crowther—Jessie's older brother.

How long had he been watching us? I wasn't sure, but it made me feel self-conscious. Without my noticing, he had observed my playful interaction with Jessie.

Thank goodness for my brown skin—otherwise, Crowther would have easily seen the blush spreading across my cheeks.

Wait... had Crowther just spoken to me? I could hardly believe it. Despite being my neighbor for years, he and I had never really talked. He was always so quiet and reserved, even more than George, who was famously the "Quiet One" among my closest friends—John, Paul, Ringo, and George.

Crowther had always been the lonely type. I never saw him with friends, and he never seemed to mind being alone. He was a good guy, though—kind-hearted, sweet, and even good-looking. But our exchanges had been limited to the occasional greeting or shy smile.

So, to hear him initiate what could be a real conversation took me by surprise.

"Y... yes," I stammered.

Damn. That was the best I could come up with? And even then, my voice wavered.

Crowther must have noticed my nerves because his smile faded, and he averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Divya. I didn't mean to disturb you," he said, still not looking at me. "I'll go inside. You two carry on."

"Don't you want to play with us, Anna?" Jessie's voice suddenly cut through the awkward tension. I had almost forgotten she was standing there with us. She had addressed Crowther in Tamil, calling him "Anna," meaning "older brother."

"No, Jessie. Maybe next time," Crowther replied with a soft smile for his little sister. He turned to leave, but something made me call after him.

"Crowther... You can stay if you want."

He stopped in his tracks, staring at me as if he couldn't believe I had actually invited him. Slowly, a shy smile crept onto his face.

Was it possible for anyone to be as reserved as him? I couldn't help but think. Even George seemed more outgoing by comparison.