Liya's POV
This idiot had been irritating me since my birth.
"Adi!"
"What? I was just teasing you!"
"Mama!! Adi is irritating me again!!"
Mama came out of the kitchen with a spatula on her hand. Why is everyone so dramatic in this house?
"I will ground both of you if you make any sound again!! Your papa just came back from a trip. He is sleeping. Don't make noise."
Wow....papa was sleeping upstairs. How could he hear us?
"Didn't you say our walls are soundproof?" Adi asked mama.
Mama threw her spatula at him.
Satisfaction.....
"This is all your fault" Adi accused me.
"Excuse me!! you're the one who started this!"
I hate this house! I wish I could change my family like Marian changes her boyfriends.
"Mama,do you need help. You had a headache this morning. Are you okay now?"
Here comes Miss oh so perfect Serrano.
Doesn't she ever get tired of being this perfect?
"No sweetheart. I can handle it. You go study. I'll make your coffee."
Oh her coffee mama?? What about mine?? And Adi's. This idiot doesn't even drink coffee. Maybe juice for him?
"Liya,do you need help with your homework? Mama said you were struggling to do your homework." Aani asked me sweetly.
Oh I hope you can turn your words into sugar and mine into bitter ground.
Seriously mama?? Are you even my mama too or you're just her mama?
"I don't need that. I don't need to be a topper like you. Passing the exams are enough for me!" I replied bitterly
"What's your problem now?" Mama was literally glaring at me.
"Nothing. Just funny how the golden child can do no wrong."
Adi grinned. "Careful, Liya. You're poking the lioness."
Aani finally looked up. "I didn't do anything to you."
"That's the problem," I snapped. "You never do anything wrong. You breathe and everyone claps."
Papa came downstairs hearing the chaos.
He snapped at me "Liya—"
"And don't start, Papa," I shot back. "We all know she's your favourite."
The room went quiet.
Aani stiffened. "That's not true."
"Oh really?" I laughed bitterly. "You are mama's first husband's kid . The perfect memory. The saint."
Adi muttered, "Uh-oh."
My eyes locked onto Aani, sharp and cruel.
"At least I'm your real daughter." I looked at papa.
The words hit like glass shattering.
"Aani's my real daughter too," Papa said sharply.
I scoffed. "Biologically? No."
Mama stood up so fast her chair screeched. "Enough."
But Aani spoke first—calm, controlled, terrifyingly steady.
"You think I chose this?" Aani asked quietly. "You think I wanted Papa to die?"
I faltered for half a second… then hardened. "You still get everything."
Aani stood. "I get responsibility. Expectations. Pressure. You get excuses."
"That's not fair!" I shouted.
"No," Aani snapped back for the first time in years. "What's not fair is you using my father's death like a weapon."
Papa stepped forward. "Liya. Apologise. Now."
I looked at him—hurt, angry. "You love her more."
Papa's voice softened but didn't bend. "I love you all. But I won't let you disrespect your sister."
My eyes filled with tears, pride warring with pain. "She's not even—"
"Finish that sentence," Mama said quietly, dangerously, "and you're grounded for a month."
Silence.
I swallowed, fists clenched. "Whatever."
I stormed upstairs, door slamming hard enough to rattle the walls.
Aani's POV
Adi exhaled. "Well. Family bonding achieved."
I sank back into her chair, blinking rapidly.
Papa walked over and rested a hand on her shoulder. "You okay, princesa?"
I nodded. "I am. I just… wish she didn't hate me."
Mama sighed, rubbing her temples. "She doesn't hate you. She's insecure."
"And dramatic," Adi added.
Papa looked toward the stairs, jaw tight. "I'll talk to her."
Mama shook her head. "We both will."
I still can't figure out why Liya is always this rude to me. Did I do something to her? Why is she always so insecure of me. Because I was always obedient to Mama-Papa? Because I never disrespect her? Or it was because our fathers were different? Or she had her own reasons that I don't know about?