CHAPTER 7 : SISTER BY CHOICE
913 Words
The golden rays of the morning sun stretched across the campus of Crescent Moon College as students hurried to their lectures. The air buzzed with excitement, laughter, and conversations, but among the crowd, two young women walked side by side with smiles that could brighten anyone's day.
Ariel and Ava.
They had become one of the most familiar pairs on campus.
Where one went, the other followed.
If Ariel was in the library, Ava was usually sitting beside her with a stack of books.
If Ava volunteered for a campus event, Ariel would be the first to offer her help.
Students often joked that they looked alike—not because of their appearance, but because they smiled the same way whenever they were together.
As they entered the college gates, Ariel linked her arm with Ava's.
"Morning, Sis."
Ava laughed.
"Morning, Sis."
The simple word warmed both of their hearts.
At first, it had been Ariel who started calling Ava "Sis." She never wanted Ava to feel like an outsider or a guest in her family. To Ariel, family wasn't only about sharing blood—it was about sharing love, trust, and a place to belong.
Soon, the nickname became a habit.
Neither of them could remember the last time they had called each other by name without teasing.
"Sis, you're going to be late," Ava said with a playful grin.
"I won't if my favorite sister walks a little faster."
"I'm your only sister."
"And that's exactly why you're my favorite."
The two burst into laughter, earning amused glances from nearby students.
As they reached the lecture hall, one of their classmates smiled.
"You two really are inseparable."
Ariel nodded proudly.
"Of course. She's my sister."
Ava looked at her, touched by the words.
She knew Ariel wasn't speaking out of pity.
She meant every syllable.
During lunch, the pair sat beneath the old maple tree near the academy gardens, their favorite spot on campus.
Ariel unpacked the lunch Victoria had prepared.
"As usual, Mom packed enough food for four people."
Ava giggled.
"Aunt Victoria always worries we'll go hungry."
"She worries too much."
"That's because she loves us."
Ariel smiled softly.
"She really does."
Without hesitation, Ariel broke a piece of bread in half and handed one portion to Ava.
"Here, Sis."
"Thanks."
Ava accepted it with a grateful smile.
Watching them from a nearby table, a group of students whispered.
"They're not biological sisters, are they?"
"I heard Ariel's parents took Ava in years ago."
"They're lucky to have each other."
Neither Ariel nor Ava paid attention to the whispers.
They had heard similar comments many times before.
To them, it didn't matter what others thought.
Their bond was real.
Later that afternoon, Professor Rowan assigned the class a practical exercise in the academy's training field.
Students were divided into pairs to practice defensive movements.
Without hesitation, Ariel chose Ava.
The professor smiled knowingly.
"I expected nothing less."
Throughout the exercise, they encouraged one another instead of competing.
"Nice move, Sis," Ariel said after Ava successfully blocked an attack.
"I learned from the best."
"Oh? So I'm your teacher now?"
"No," Ava replied with a laugh. "You're just the best sister anyone could ask for."
Those words made Ariel's cheeks warm.
When class ended, the professor called them over.
"You two work well together."
Ariel grinned.
"We've had years of practice."
"I can tell."
He looked at Ava.
"You trust Ariel completely."
Ava answered without hesitation.
"With my life."
The professor nodded thoughtfully.
"That kind of trust is rare."
As evening approached, Ariel and Ava returned to the Silver Moon Pack for the weekend.
Victoria welcomed them at the front door with a warm embrace.
"My girls are home."
Ariel hugged her mother tightly.
"We missed you."
Victoria kissed both of them on the forehead before leading them inside.
Dinner was filled with laughter.
Daniel listened patiently as Ariel recounted a funny incident from class while Ava added details that made everyone laugh even harder.
After the meal, the four of them gathered in the living room.
Victoria handed each girl a small gift.
Matching silver bracelets.
"I had these made for you."
Ariel admired the delicate design.
"They're beautiful."
Ava's eyes shimmered with emotion.
"One bracelet has the moon," Victoria explained, fastening it around Ariel's wrist.
"The other has a star."
She gently placed the second bracelet on Ava's wrist.
"The moon and the star shine brightest when they're together."
Ariel immediately held out her wrist.
"Look, Sis. They match."
Ava smiled so brightly that tears gathered in her eyes.
"They're perfect."
Victoria noticed the emotion in Ava's face and gently cupped her cheek.
"You've always been part of this family."
Unable to hold back any longer, Ava threw her arms around Victoria.
"Thank you... Mom."
The room fell silent.
Victoria's eyes widened before she hugged Ava even tighter.
"You can call me that anytime."
Daniel smiled warmly from across the room.
"Our family just got a little bigger."
Ariel laughed through happy tears.
"I told you years ago that you were my sister."
Ava turned to her.
"And I'll always be your sister."
The two young women embraced, unaware that fate had already begun writing a different future for them.
For now, they were simply two girls who had chosen each other as sisters.
Their bond seemed unbreakable.
But sometimes, the deepest wounds are not inflicted by strangers.
Sometimes... they come from the person you once called Sis.
- Writer
