In the dead of the night, an ominous nightmare ensnared Silvia’s restless slumber. In the haunting vision, the voices of her family dripped with bitterness as they hurled cruel words at her—each one a venomous arrow aimed squarely at her fragile heart.

Her mother’s voice resonated with disappointment, its icy tendrils of disapproval tightening relentlessly around her. “You’re supposed to be my daughter, not my son.”

Silus, too, added to the chorus of despair, his words laced with self-loathing. “When I stand next to you, I feel like garbage.”

But it was her father’s crushing words that delivered the final, devastating blow, shattering her already fragile resolve. “In the end, you couldn’t even bring your brother home despite all the trouble you’ve given me. Tell me, Silvia, what can you do?”

Silvia’s eyes snapped open, her body drenched in a chilling layer of perspiration. Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, each one carrying the heavy burden of her deepest fears and insecurities. She clung to her trembling legs, seeking solace in the unforgiving darkness of her room, haunted by the harrowing visions that had tormented her sleep.

Silvia wrestled with the restlessness of a sleepless night, ultimately bearing witness to the glorious sunrise.

On an early Saturday morning, she found herself in the cosy embrace of her kitchen, preparing a simple yet hearty breakfast of sizzling bacon and fried eggs—a labour of love for her hardworking father.

His strong dedication to work, even on weekends, was glued in Silvia’s mind as she watched him depart, her gaze still clouded with the lingering spectres of the unsettling nightmare.

In a bid to banish those haunting shadows, Silvia determined to lose herself in the mundane routines of household chores. She scrubbed the dishes with a diligence born from distraction, tended to the laundry’s cycles, and swept the floors.

Fatigue eventually overtook her, and she succumbed to the welcoming cushions of the living room couch, stifling an involuntary yawn. Her momentary respite was interrupted by the melodic ringtone of her phone, where Camila’s name illuminated the screen like a beacon of connection amid her solitary morning.

Silvia picked up the phone with a sense of curiosity. “Hello?”

“Hey, Silvy, are you free today?” Camila’s voice, like a warm embrace, flowed through the receiver.

“Yes, what’s up?”

“I’ve got these amazing coupons for Hyde’s Café. They’ve just opened a new branch nearby. It’s this super trendy franchise that’s been blowing up on social media.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

Camila’s laughter filled the airwaves. “Well, that’s because you’re practically a social media hermit. But don’t worry, I’m here to keep you in the loop. I’ll head over to your place now, and we can go together. Consider it a little treat for all your hard work.”

“What would I do without you, Mila?”

“I know, I’m the best.”

With the promise of an outing with her dearest friend, Silvia’s exhaustion seemed forgotten, replaced by a glimmer of hope and excitement for the day that lay ahead.

As the girls arrived at Hyde’s Café, they were met with an impressive sight—a long line of patrons snaked its way outside the entrance.

Silvia’s eyes widened in awe as she surveyed the scene. “Wow, they must be super popular.”

Camila, however, detected an intriguing detail amidst the crowd. “Yeah, but it’s strange, isn’t it? It seems like it’s only girls waiting in line.”

“Are we going to have to wait too?”

“Nope, I booked us a table.”

“You’re too good.”

Stepping inside the café, a tinkling bell above the door marked their entrance. Camila’s keen eyes spotted the barista behind the counter, and her expression turned unmistakably sour as she knew who he was. “Now I get what all the hype is about. This café is owned by his family.”

“Whose family?”

“Aiden Hyde, the guy I warned you about,” Camila replied with a hint of irritation. “These girls have no idea what a player he is.”

Silvia’s gaze, almost involuntarily, drifted to the barista, Aiden Hyde himself, as he expertly brewed coffee. He exuded an undeniably magnetic allure, particularly in the captivating hazel depths of his eyes. With an effortless flicker of charm, he locked eyes with Silvia, smirking flirtatiously. She, however, quickly averted her gaze, the initial attraction dissipating under the burden of discomfort.

Camila, always vigilant and protective, gently nudged Silvia towards their reserved table, distancing her from Aiden’s dangerous charisma. “We’re leaving as soon as I use the coupons on those sponge cakes.”

Savouring the last drop of their lattes, the incessant chatter of girls fawning over Aiden’s attractiveness grated on Silvia and Camila’s last nerves. They could no longer endure the raucous atmosphere any longer and swiftly settled the bill before exiting the café.

Outside, they spotted Aiden engrossed in a phone call, supposedly seeking refuge from the tiresome throng of female customers. His gaze, though, shifted towards Silvia and Camila, and an unwelcome recognition sparked in his eyes.

“I’ll call you back later, babe,” Aiden abruptly ended his call.

Camila couldn’t hide her agitation. “Shit, he saw us.”

Aiden ambled over to them, projecting a friendly yet slightly suspicious demeanour. “Camila! Nice to see you at my café. How was it?”

For a girl her age, Silvia was quite tall, yet Aiden still managed to tower above her. He casually swept away a few unruly strands of hair tickling his eyebrows.

Camila made it clear she had no desire for his unwanted company. “Don’t act so friendly with me.” She firmly grasped Silvia’s arm and attempted to steer her away, but Aiden blocked their path.

“Wait, you didn’t introduce me to your cute friend yet,” he sneakily proclaimed.

“She doesn’t need to know you. Bye!”

Aiden pouted playfully. “You’re no fun, Camila. I’ll see you at school then.” He then turned his attention to Silvia. “And nice meeting you, beautiful.”

Silvia felt repulsed by his flirtatious behaviour as Camila decisively dragged her away, the latter not wasting an ounce of energy to even bat an eye at Aiden.

Silvia cast a curious glance at Camila. “Something tells me there’s more to this than you’re letting on.”

Camila hesitated for a moment, avoiding eye contact. Silvia’s persistent stare eventually broke her silence. “Fine, I’ll tell you! I trust you anyway. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…Aiden and I used to date.”

Silvia couldn’t help but burst into laughter, her amusement echoing through the street.

Camila appeared dumbfounded by Silvia’s exaggerated reaction. “Stop laughing! I know, I was an idiot back then, and it’s my biggest regret. I didn’t know what he was like until I started dating him. He’s such a jerk.”

Trying to regain her composure, Silvia wiped the happy tears from her eyes. “What did he do to make you hate him so much?”

“This happened a year ago. He asked me out and I just accepted it without thinking much, but he broke it off after a week and started seeing another girl just two days later. Then, he did the same thing to her.”

Silvia cracked up again at the farcical confession. She had never expected her carefree and seemingly uninterested-in-dating friend to have such a vulnerable side. The contrast between Camila’s usual character and the brief story of her ill-fated romance with Aiden was simply too amusing to ignore.

Camila punched Silvia’s arm out of spite. “Relax. You can’t even count that as dating.”

“You’re right. He’s a real jerk.”

As the pleasant afternoon with Camila slowly transitioned into evening, Silvia found herself seated at her desk in the comforting solitude of her bedroom. Her thoughts, like drifting clouds, meandered aimlessly. Aiden’s face, however, stubbornly resurfaced in her mind, a pinch of familiarity tugging at her consciousness.

With a dismissive shake of her head, Silvia attempted to dispel these trivial thoughts and refocus. Her attention shifted to the cherished family photo resting on her desk—an image that held an entire world of memories within its frame. As she gazed upon the smiling faces frozen in that captured moment of time, a wistful sigh escaped her lips.

With a weary heart and the room now bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains, Silvia retreated to the comfort of her bed. The silence enveloped her, like a cocoon, cradling her in its gentle embrace. Her vision gradually blurred as the relentless pull of fatigue claimed her, drawing her once more into the mysterious and unpredictable realms of dreams.

The start of a fresh new week at school brought with it a renewed sense of determination coursing through Silvia’s veins. She had pledged to herself that she wouldn’t falter again, not after the mortification of her recent tardiness.

With resolute purpose, she arrived at the school gates early, a lone figure navigating the silent corridors. She was steadfast in her quest to avoid another humiliating encounter with Miss Cowan.

Silvia decided to maintain a discreet distance from Camila, her closest confidant, fearing that their tight-knit friendship might inadvertently raise suspicions while she donned her Silus persona. Standing in solitude by the homeroom door, Silvia awaited the chime of the school bell with bated breath. Each second felt like an eternity as she contemplated the gravity of her mission.

In the distance, a familiar yet distinctly masculine voice reverberated through the hallway, calling out, “Oi, Silus.”

The voice sent an electrifying shiver down Silvia’s spine, and her gaze shifted towards its origin. There, steadily approaching, was Aiden, a figure of intrigue and uncertainty in her clandestine world.

As Aiden drew nearer, his initial irritation gave way to an enigmatic bemusement. His penetrating eyes locked on Silvia’s face, peering deep into her soul with an intensity that sent tremors through her being. Nerves gripped her, compelling her to take a hesitant step backwards. Yet, the unyielding wall behind her served as a stark reminder that there was no escape.

 “W-what?” Silvia stammered.

Aiden’s smirk took on a more insidious quality, and he continued his thorough examination of her. “What’s a girl doing dressed as a guy?”