章節 14: Graduation and jealousy

The next day, Luke woke up feeling recharged, like his entire body had been infused with energy overnight. Every muscle felt stronger, and his breathing came easier, as if he'd been filled with a mysterious power.

If just being a 1-Star Warrior felt like this, then Luke couldn't imagine how amazing it would feel to reach the 2-Star Warrior or higher.

Sitting up, he looked around the room as the morning light poured in, casting a warm, golden glow. He felt different, not just physically—something had shifted within him.

"Alright," he murmured, clenching his fists as he stood up. Today was the day of his graduation ceremony.

He thought it would be nice to relax and hang out with some friends. In this life, he'd managed to make a few, and he wasn't as introverted as he used to be. Heading to the small dining area, he made himself breakfast and ate leisurely.

After eating, he decided to relax before leaving; it was also his sister's graduation day; she would most likely accompany him.

Maybe he forgot to mention it, but his sister is in the same school as him, but in different classes. As for why she's already moving to her college dorm, it's because she said she wanted to quickly get settled in.

After a glance at the clock, he muttered, "Already noon," feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

He went to his closet, selecting a dark blue button-down shirt and neatly pressed black pants. The shirt wasn't designer, but the color brightened his eyes, giving him a bit of extra confidence. A simple silver chain on his wrist completed the look, and he ran his fingers through his hair to give it a presentable style.

Looking in the mirror, he grinned and nodded. "Alright, this'll do," he said, adjusting his collar one last time.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a message.

"Hey, man, are you ready yet?" It was Matthew, one of his closest friends who'd been with him through thick and thin.

"Just about. Meet you at the main entrance?" Luke replied.

"Sure thing. See you there!" Matthew texted back, followed by a thumbs-up emoji.

Luke took a deep breath, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door—only to find his path blocked by his younger sister, Leila.

She stood in the doorway, looking up at him with an odd, hesitant expression. Dressed in simple jeans and a fitted white T-shirt, her look was understated but perfectly suited her. Her black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, accentuating her natural beauty. Luke smiled—his little sister was growing up fast.

Leila's brows were furrowed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She seemed hesitant, unusual for someone who usually spoke her mind.

"Leila? Is something wrong?" he asked gently.

She looked up, opened her mouth, then hesitated. "Are you… going to see her?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Hm?" Luke blinked, caught off guard. "See who?"

Leila pursed her lips before finally saying, "Celeste."

For a moment, Luke was speechless. His crush on Celeste wasn't exactly a secret to those close to him, but he hadn't expected Leila to bring it up, especially since she didn't know Celeste well.

He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Celeste? Well… yeah, she'll probably be at the ceremony. Why?"

Leila's shoulders tensed, and she gave him a look filled with frustration. "I just don't get why you're always so excited to see her."

Luke tilted his head, surprised by her tone. "Leila, what's this really about? You know Celeste is just my classmate, right?"

"But you like her," she muttered in her heart, her eyes flashing with an intensity he hadn't seen before—something between protectiveness and jealousy.

"I don't think Celeste even knows I exist," he said, half-joking.

Leila's thoughts raced, but she held back, biting her lip. "If only he knew! But he can't find out!" she screamed inwardly, cursing herself for even bringing it up.

Luke noticed the flicker in her eyes but brushed it off as just his sister being overprotective, maybe even a bit possessive. She'd always been like that.

"Don't worry, Leila. Someone like Celeste probably doesn't even notice me," he added, trying to reassure her.

"Are you kidding?" Her voice was sharper than she intended, but she quickly softened, forcing a smile.

"I mean… Who wouldn't notice you today? My brother is so handsome, and some bitches might try to get their claws into you. But don't worry, I'll protect you from those gold diggers," she said with a serious expression.

Luke laughed, missing the hidden meaning behind her words. "Shall we go?" he asked.

"Mm, yeah, I'm all ready," Leila nodded, grabbing her purse. She quickly linked her arm with his before they headed out.

Luke rolled his eyes but let her hold on as they walked out together.

As they walked a few blocks, they ran into some neighbors who waved and greeted them warmly.

"Haha, Leila hasn't changed one bit!" one of the men teased.

"This little girl really adores her brother," a woman added with a chuckle, causing Leila to blush and Luke to smile sheepishly.

Leila's behavior was familiar to these neighbors, who had seen her cling to her brother since they were kids.

And as Luke walked, arm-in-arm with his fiercely loyal sister, he couldn't help but feel grateful.

He remembered his sister from his previous life; their relationship wasn't like this one, but it wasn't that bad; they still talked occasionally or when she wanted something from him.

Really, the difference between these two sisters is like night and day. On that earth, Incest was frowned upon; the only place where it may be allowed was in Sweet Home, Alabama.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of these memes that he had seen online about Incest.

But here, it seemed to be a common occurrence.

Unfortunately, this world doesn't have the sense of humor that Luke was used to.