April’s heart raced as she scanned Ophelia’s room for an escape. Her father’s heavy footsteps echoed on the other side of the door, and her mind scrambled for a plan. “Don’t let him in! I’ll hide in there,” she whispered urgently, pointing to the bathroom.

Ophelia hesitated but nodded, and April slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. She pressed her ear against it, listening intently as Ophelia opened the door.

“Is something wrong, Dad?” Ophelia asked innocently.

“You’re not grounded anymore,” Alex announced, his tone softer than usual. “Sen will be here at 4 to pick you up. He’s taking you shopping for your wedding dress.”

“Really?” Ophelia’s voice lit up with excitement as she rushed forward to hug him. “Thank you, Dad!”

Alex chuckled, his tone tinged with affection. “I’m glad you’re happy. I thought you might still be angry with me.”

“I could never stay mad at you, Dad,” Ophelia said with a warm smile.

April clenched her fists as she listened from the bathroom. Her father’s doting tone, the affection he so freely gave Ophelia—it stung. Memories of her own punishments flooded her mind, the way Alex had never hesitated to discipline her harshly, never softened his voice, never cut her any slack. She glanced at the bathroom floor, brushing away a stray tear.

“Lucky you, Ophelia,” she muttered bitterly under her breath.

A knock on the bathroom door startled her. “It’s clear,” Ophelia called softly.

April stepped out, schooling her features into a calm expression. “What did Dad say?” she asked, feigning curiosity.

“I’m not grounded anymore!” Ophelia said with a giggle.

“That’s great!” April replied with a bright smile. “You’re really lucky.”

“Let’s go shopping together then,” April suggested.

Ophelia hesitated. “Actually… Sen is coming to pick me up. We’re going to look for my wedding dress.”

April’s face fell. “Oh, that stinks. I just thought we could spend some time together.”

Seeing her sister’s disappointment, Ophelia paused. “Wait, why don’t you join us?” she said, her smile returning. “We can pick out your bridesmaid dress too!”

April’s lips twitched in a subtle smirk. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“Of course!” Ophelia said brightly. “You’re my sister and Sen’s childhood friend. It’ll be fun!”

“Alright then,” April said with a wink. “I’ll get ready too.”

An hour later, the honk of a car horn signaled Sen’s arrival. Both sisters stepped outside, and Sen leaned out of the driver’s side window, surprised to see April.

“April, you’re coming with us?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, is that okay?” April said, her voice tinged with feigned embarrassment. She fiddled with her bracelet, her eyes darting away. “Sen, I hope you can forgive me for the other day. I feel awful about how I acted.”

Sen chuckled, his warm smile putting her at ease. “Oh, come on. I know how you are. As long as you’re okay, I’m fine.”

“Thanks,” April said softly, returning his smile.

“Alright, let’s get going, ladies,” Sen said, unlocking the doors.

Ophelia reached for the front passenger door, but April was quicker, sliding into the seat with practiced ease. “Sis, let me have some time with my bestie,” April said with a playful pout. “After all, you’ll have him for the rest of your life.”

Ophelia blinked, then smiled apologetically. “Oh, sorry! Sure, go ahead.” She climbed into the backseat as Sen started the engine.

The drive was filled with lighthearted conversation, though April made sure to steer most of it her way. She regaled Sen with stories from their childhood, subtly reminding him of their shared history.

“You’ve always been such a klutz,” April teased, nudging his arm lightly.

“And you’ve always been a troublemaker,” Sen shot back with a laugh.

Ophelia chimed in from the backseat, her soft voice cutting through their banter. “I didn’t know you two had so many memories together. It’s nice hearing about them.”

April glanced at her sister in the rearview mirror, her smile never faltering. “Oh, we’ve been through a lot. Right, Sen?”

“Definitely,” Sen agreed, his tone warm. “April was always dragging me into her schemes.”

Ophelia giggled, but her eyes held a hint of unease as she watched the easy camaraderie between them.

As they neared their destination, April leaned back in her seat, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. The day had only just begun, and already, she was making her presence known.

The rest of the ride passed in a comfortable rhythm, but beneath the surface, April’s mind was already at work, planning her next move.