The Love We Shouldn't Have.

Episode One — AMARA There are some people you meet and forget five minutes later. Then there are people you meet once and somehow, they stay in your head. I didn't know Damien would become the second kind. It was a Friday evening when I first saw him. I stood beside Nathan's car, holding the last box we had packed. "Careful with that," Nathan warned, taking the box from my hands. I rolled my eyes. "It's just clothes, Nathan." "It's my clothes." "And?" He laughed. "You always have something to say." "Because you're dramatic." He leaned closer and kissed my forehead. "And you love me anyway." I smiled. "I do." Those three words came easily. At least, they used to. We were laughing when a black Mercedes drove through the gate. I barely paid attention until the driver's door opened. A man stepped out. Tall. Dark. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a silver watch around his wrist. His expression was calm, almost unreadable. Nathan suddenly stopped smiling. "That's my brother." I looked at him. "Your brother?" "Damien." I looked back at the stranger. Damien. I'd heard that name before. Nathan had told me stories about his older brother, but I'd never actually met him. Damien had left the country several years ago and rarely came home. Damien closed the car door. Then he looked up. Straight at me. Our eyes met. His eyes were dark, intense, and impossible to read. Then Nathan touched my shoulder. "Amara?" I blinked. "Sorry." Damien walked toward us. Nathan smiled and opened his arms. "Bro!" They hugged. "It's been a long time," Nathan said. "Too long," Damien replied. His voice was deeper than I expected. Nathan stepped aside. "And this is Amara. My girlfriend." Damien looked at me. I smiled politely. "Nice to meet you." "Amara," he said. The way he said my name made me uncomfortable. "Nice to meet you too," I replied. "Likewise." He walked past us and went inside. Nathan noticed. "You okay?" I immediately looked at him. "Yes." "You were staring." "I wasn't." He laughed. "You definitely were." "I was just surprised. I've never met him before." "Don't worry. You'll get used to him." I frowned. "I don't need to get used to your brother." Nathan laughed again. "Why are you suddenly defensive?" "I'm not defensive." "Okay, girlfriend." I pushed his shoulder. "Shut up." He pulled me closer. Later that evening, I stayed for dinner. Nathan's mother welcomed Damien home with excitement, and everyone gathered around the dining table. I sat beside Nathan. Damien sat opposite us. I tried not to look at him. But every time I accidentally lifted my eyes, I found him already looking at me. The first time, I ignored it. The second time, I looked away. The third time, I became irritated. "Damien," Nathan's mother said, breaking the silence, "you haven't told us much about your plans." Damien looked away from me. "I'll be working from home for now." "How long are you staying?" He paused. "Indefinitely." Nathan smiled. "Good. Maybe we can finally spend some time together." Damien nodded. "Maybe." I lowered my eyes to my plate. Indefinitely. When I got home that night, I threw myself onto my bed. My phone rang. Nathan. I answered. "Hey." "Hey, baby." I smiled. "Did you miss me already?" "Of course." We talked for a few minutes. Then his voice changed. "You seemed quiet today." "I was tired." "Was it Damien?" My smile disappeared. "What about him?" "Nothing. I'm just asking." I sat up. "Nathan, why would you ask me that?" "Because I noticed you looking at him." My heart skipped. "I was curious. That's all." There was silence. Then Nathan sighed. "Amara, don't overthink it. Damien is just... different." "Different how?" "I don't know." He laughed softly. "He's always been difficult to understand." I smiled. "Sounds like your family has enough drama already." "You have no idea." Then he said something that made my stomach tighten. "Actually, there's something I should tell you." "What?" "Damien is staying here for a while." I froze. "Oh." "He's going to be around a lot." I forced a laugh. "Okay." "Why do you sound worried?" "I'm not worried." "Promise?" "Promise." We said goodnight. I didn't understand why the thought of seeing Damien again made me nervous. He was Nathan's brother. Nothing more. Nothing less. The next morning, I went back to Nathan's house to return something I'd forgotten. I walked through the front door and heard voices coming from the kitchen. Then I saw him. Damien. He was standing by the kitchen counter, holding a cup of coffee. He looked up. Our eyes met. "You're Amara," he said. I nodded. "Yes." He took a slow sip of his coffee. "You forgot something?" "Yes." I walked past him, trying to ignore the strange tension in the room. Then his voice stopped me. "Amara." I turned. "Yes?" He stared at me for a moment. Then he said quietly, "You should probably stay away from me." My heart pounded. I frowned. "Why?" He didn't answer. Instead, he looked away. "Just trust me." I swallowed and nodded, although I didn't understand. "Did I do something?" I asked. His jaw tightened. "No." "Then why are you telling me to stay away?" Damien looked almost nervous. "Because you're Nathan's girlfriend." The answer should have settled everything. Instead, it made my chest feel tight. "I know," I whispered. "Good. Then remember that." Before I could respond, footsteps sounded from the hallway. Damien immediately stepped away from me. Nathan appeared with a smile, unaware of what had just happened. "Baby!" He walked over and kissed my cheek. I forced myself to smile. But as I looked at Damien again, I realized something. His warning had not sounded like a threat. It had sounded like fear. You should probably stay away from me. To be continued.........