A sharp, silver sliver of December air sliced through the gap in my bedroom window, instantly brushing against the warmth of my cheeks. I leaned into it for a brief second, closing my eyes as the freezing breeze sent a sudden, violent shiver cascading down my spine.

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Rubbing my bare arms to fend off the chill, I was about to pull the glass shut when a familiar, booming voice echoed from the downstairs hallway.

"Cutie pie, down now! You’re going to be late for school!" I rolled my eyes affectionately, pivoting on my heel. "Coming!" I yelled back, slamming the window shut before the winter frost could completely claim my room.

I sprinted toward the bed where my freshly pressed school uniform was waiting. I quickly pulled on the crisp fabric, smoothing down the pleats of the skirt before layering the structured school blazer over my shoulders. Grabbing my backpack from the desk, I slipped out of my room and shut the door behind me.

The moment my bare feet made contact with the icy white marble of the living room floor, I froze. My toes curled against the cold, and I squeezed my eyes shut, silently cursing my own forgetfulness. When I opened them, my brother was standing a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, a deeply unimpressed expression anchoring his features.

I looked from his stern face down to my bare toes, biting my lower lip in a practiced display of guilt. "Oops. Sorry," I muttered, widening my eyes into the absolute best version of my signature puppy-dog look. It was a calculated move; I knew for a fact he was utterly defenseless against it. Siddharth let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head as a reluctant softness broke through his tough facade. He walked over, gently gripping my wrist to guide me toward the plush sofa.

"How many times do I have to tell you to put on your socks, cutie pie?" he chided softly, sinking down onto the floor in front of me. He pulled a thick pair of warm winter socks from his pocket and carefully slid them onto my cold feet. "You haven't changed a bit since you were a kid. Still completely reckless and irresponsible."

I giggled, looking down at the top of his head as he worked. "And you haven't changed either." He paused, arching a single, perfect eyebrow up at me. "Oh, really?"

"Yep. Always hovering, always worrying," I said, leaning forward to wrap my arms tightly around his neck. Siddharth chuckled, a warm sound that resonated against my chest, and patted the back of my head. "And you’re still entirely too sweet and..." He pulled back just enough to pinch my cheeks, twisting them gently. "...way too full of trouble."

We both laughed, the sound filling the cavernous house, before he pressed a quick, affectionate kiss to the top of my head. "Alright, let's move it. Otherwise, you're going to miss the morning bell, and I am absolutely not calling the administration office to bail you out today."

Liar, I thought, a smug smile spreading across my face as I stood up. He always called the principal. He would invent the most elaborate corporate excuses just so the school wouldn't deduct my attendance points. I knew him entirely too well. "Why are you laughing?" he asked suspiciously. "Nothing! Let's go to school, big brother," I chimed, intentionally trying to dodge the conversation.

Siddharth shook his head, pointing a warning finger at me. "You are never going to learn your lesson, are you?"

"Never, big brother!" I yelled over my shoulder, already sprinting out the front door.

"Your shoes, Aarohi!" he shouted from the hallway.

"I know you've got them!" I called back, giggling as I hit the crisp December morning air. Waiting in the driveway was his latest obsession: a sleek, midnight-black Rolls-Royce that he had proudly purchased just a few weeks ago. I popped open the passenger door, sliding into the leather seat and instantly flipping down the sun visor to check my reflection in the mirror.

A minute later, the driver's side door clicked open. Siddharth tossed my backpack into the backseat before tossing a pair of standard school loafers onto the floor mat. Without a word, he reached over, clicked my sun visor shut, and looked at me deadpan.

"You look ridiculous," he said smoothly, leaning down to grab one of my feet to help me shove the shoes on. "Takes one to know one," I shot back, flashing him a cheeky grin.

He let out a short laugh, tightening the strap of my second shoe with a definitive snap. "Alright, smart mouth. Let's go before your teachers lock the gates." He fired up the engine, the powerful car purring to life as we pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road.

I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, watching the familiar neighborhood blur past. It had only been a few months since we relocated to this part of the city. We had to move closer to the corporate district so Siddharth could manage the company headquarters after... after the accident.

A dull, familiar ache throbbed in my chest. Two years. Two years since the car crash took our parents away in a single, devastating night. Overnight, Siddharth had traded his carefree mid-twenties to inherit my father's entire business empire, single-handedly pulling the weight of our family on his broad shoulders. He had pulled strings to get me enrolled in the most prestigious private academy in the area, ensuring I had everything I could ever need.

He had become my brother, my father, and my mother all at once. And he never let me feel the void of what we lost. I shook my head violently, forcing the dark thoughts out of my mind. If I let myself spiral into the past, my brain would inevitably wander toward him—my childhood crush, the boy I had spent years trying to scrub from my memory. And I absolutely did not have the emotional bandwidth for that today.

Instead, I focused on the towering winter trees and the sleek luxury cars driving alongside us. "You look beautiful today, by the way, cutie pie." I turned my head toward the driver’s seat. Siddharth was staring straight at the road, looking effortlessly sharp in a tailored black button-down, his jawline shadowed with a hint of stubble.

My heart softened. "Thank you," I said softly, before offering a playful grin. "You don't look too bad yourself, big brother. Almost handsome." He smirked, not breaking his gaze from the traffic ahead. "I don't need the validation, kiddo. I already know I'm a ten out of ten." I groaned, making a dramatic, gagging face. "Brother, please."

He glanced over, letting out a loud laugh. "Stop making that face. You look exactly like a grumpy teddy bear."

"I am not a teddy bear!" I protested, crossing my arms over my chest. "Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," he teased, though the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. He cleared his throat, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel. "So, seriously, how's the new term going?" I turned back to the window, watching the brick gates of my school loom closer in the distance. "It's fine. I’m actually adjusting. I even made a few new friends."

"Good. That's what I want to hear." I took a deep, centering breath, looking down at my hands. "But you know, today is a big day. We finally find out who our new mathematics professor is going to be".Siddharth nodded slowly. "Oh, yeah? Well, hopefully, he's a decent guy." I crossed my fingers tightly, holding them up. "Praying he isn't another version of Mr. Peter."

Siddharth glanced at me, confused. "Who the hell is Peter?"

"My chemistry teacher." I replied.

"His name isn't Peter, Aarohi. I reviewed your faculty syllabus." I rolled my eyes. "We call him Peter."

He raised an eyebrow. "We?"

"Me and Ishika," I clarified, referring to my best friend. "He has this terrifying Peter Pan complex, I swear. I just hope the new math professor is normal." Siddharth kept his eyes fixed on the road, pulling the car smoothly into the school's drop-off lane. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief second as the car came to a gentle halt. The ambient hum of the engine, the chatter of students pouring through the gates, and the crisp winter air all swirled together, making everything feel intensely real.