Clara sat close beside Eric on the bench outside her house, gently swinging her legs. The evening air was soft, and the way she kept smiling made it hard for Eric to focus on anything else.
"Eric," Clara called quietly, slipping her hand into her bag.
"Hm?" Eric leaned in slightly.
She pulled out a small box.
"I have something for you."
Eric blinked. "For me?"
Clara laughed softly. "Don't look so surprised. Just take it."
She opened the box slowly. Inside was a black cord bracelet with a small silver charm. Simple, but carefully chosen. It looked personal, like she'd picked it just for him.
Eric smiled without realizing it. "Clara… it's really nice. Why are you giving this to me?"
She tucked her hair behind her ear, a little shy. "No reason. I just thought it suited you."
Eric slipped it onto his wrist. "Thank you. I really like it."
The softness on his face made Clara feel shy too. They talked for a bit longer, laughing quietly, until her family called her inside.
"Get home safe," Clara said, waving.
"I will. Go on," Eric replied, still glancing at the bracelet like it was something precious.
Eric had just turned to leave when—
Carl was standing by the gate.
He didn't look angry.
But something was off. Like he was holding himself back.
Eric stopped. "Carl? What are you doing here?"
Carl stepped closer, his eyes dropping to the bracelet on Eric's wrist.
"I want to ask you something."
His voice was tight.
"What is it?" Eric asked, confused.
Carl took a deep breath.
"Are you… dating my sister?"
Eric paused. He didn't want to lie. "Yes. Why?"
Carl lowered his head for a moment, then looked up again.
"Do you remember what I told you before? To stay away from my sister. Why are you still close to her?"
Eric stared at him.
"What's your problem? Clara hasn't done anything wrong."
Carl didn't answer. He just looked at Eric sharply, like there was something he wanted to say but refused to.
Eric felt irritation rise.
"Carl… what kind of brother doesn't support his own sister being happy? Do you even want her to be happy?"
Carl clenched his jaw.
"This isn't about happiness."
"Then what is it?" Eric pressed. "She's kind. She doesn't hurt anyone. Why do you want me away from her?"
Silence.
It dragged on long enough for Eric to lose patience.
"If you can't even answer that, I'm leaving," Eric said quietly, disappointment heavy in his voice. "I'm tired."
He turned and walked away without looking back.
Carl didn't stop him.
He just stood there, fists clenched, his expression full of conflict.
---
That night, everything changed.
A short message from Clara appeared on Eric's phone:
"Eric… can we slow down a little? I just need some space."
The sentence was short.
But it weighed a ton.
Eric read it over and over, trying to understand.
Why now? Why space?
He called. No answer.
He replied. Her responses were brief, distant.
His stomach tightened.
Lying in bed, unable to sleep, the words kept replaying in his head.
Why space? Why now? What happened after I left?
The more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.
---
Carl's house was quiet when Eric walked in. Carl had just returned from dropping Clara off, and his mood seemed fine at first. But Eric sensed something was off the moment he stepped inside.
Carl sat in the living room, arms crossed, his face tight like he was holding something in. Eric's eyes fell on the table.
The bracelet.
Clara's bracelet.
The cord was snapped.
Eric stopped cold.
His stomach dropped.
"Why is the bracelet broken?" Eric asked quietly, his voice shaking.
Carl stood up.
He wasn't panicked. He didn't look guilty.
"I found it. Slipped out of my hand."
The way he said it was too casual. Like it meant nothing.
Eric picked it up. "Clara gave this to me. You know it mattered."
Carl replied without looking at him.
"You keep things like that? You know relationships like this don't last anyway."
Eric flinched.
"Carl… what is wrong with you?"
Carl didn't answer. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Eric caught his arm.
"Where are you going?"
"Where I should be," Carl replied flatly.
---
Later that night, after promising to meet, Clara sent another message.
"Can we… not meet for a while? I need time. Sorry."
No explanation.
No context.
Her tone felt scared.
Something snapped in Eric.
He went straight to find Carl.
That bastard.
---
"Carl. We need to talk. Now."
Carl set his cup down. "About what this time?"
"Clara." Eric stared him down. "You talked to her, didn't you?"
Carl stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
"What did you say to her?" Eric demanded, his voice tightening. "What did you say until she started avoiding me?"
Carl laughed softly. Cold.
"I just told her the truth."
"The truth?"
Carl walked into the living room. Eric followed.
Carl turned, his gaze icy.
"You're not suitable for my family, Eric."
Eric felt like the floor dropped out beneath him.
"What?"
"My family doesn't need someone so desperate to be accepted," Carl continued sharply. "Clara too. You're a burden to her."
Eric's breathing grew shallow.
"I can't believe you'd say something like that."
"You still don't get it?" Carl stepped closer, his voice edged with contempt.
"Stay away from me. Stay away from my family. Including Clara."
It felt like Eric was being split in two.
His mouth went dry. His throat tightened.
"Why are you suddenly like this? Have you always hated me?"
Carl paused.
Then he answered quietly, brutally clear.
"I never even considered you a friend. So leave us while I'm still speaking nicely."
The words cut straight through him.
Eric stood there for a moment, eyes red. He didn't shout. He didn't argue. He held onto what little dignity he had left.
"Fine."
That was all he said before turning away and slamming the door behind him.