Happy Family Dinner :)

"Happy 21st Birthday, Lian!!"

Until just three years ago, you were still in school—senior year. You had your childhood friend, your best friend, Anna: a bit of a nerd like you. She used to doodle tiny galaxies in the margins of your notebooks and laugh at your terrible puns. You were in love with her, and you thought it was mutual—maybe it even was. She showed a lot of interest in you, after all.

But you also had another friend, Lian. Unlike you, he was an athlete—popular, confident, always smelling faintly of chlorine from the pool. Somehow, he was close to both you and Anna. Then came the surprise: behind your back, he and Anna had started getting involved, having—if you can even call it that—a romance.

You felt betrayed. When you confronted them, the truth hit harder than you expected. Lian never really saw you as a friend, just as a bridge to get closer to her. And Anna? Her face burned with shame, but she said nothing. She didn’t defend you. She didn’t even look you in the eye.

In the end, she stayed with him. You stopped talking to both of them. You stopped trusting people.

In just three years, you’ve changed a lot. The shy, clumsy nerd you once were is long gone—replaced by someone who discovered the power of the gym, good habits, and a decent diet. It’s incredible how much those things can transform a person. With your improved looks came a new confidence, one that finally made you feel comfortable in your own skin.

Your father, a cold and distant businessman, somehow managed a miracle after years of being single—he decided to marry again. His new wife, Quinn, turned out to be wonderful. She treats you with a warmth and affection that almost feels foreign, the kind of gentle concern only a real mother could offer. Living with her was surprisingly easy, even though she came with two children. The youngest, Zoe, got along with you instantly—so much so that, on the very first day, you ended up sleeping together. She’s been your partner in crime ever since, which is odd, considering she seems to despise everyone else.

And as fate would have it, Quinn’s eldest son is none other than Lian. At first, he was friendly—too friendly, perhaps—until he heard your name. His