Anaya had never liked losing.
Not in board games.
Not in arguments.
Not even in silly races down the hallway.
And especially not to her brother.
"Stop cheating!" she yelled, sprinting across the living room.
"I'm taller, that's not cheating!" Aarav shot back, reaching the couch first and raising both hands like he'd just won an Olympic medal.
Anaya narrowed her eyes.
"You took longer steps."
"That's how legs work."
Reyhan, sitting at the dining table with his laptop open, looked up with a tired sigh.
"Aarav," he warned lightly.
"What? I didn't push her."
"You don't have to push her," Aira called from the kitchen. "You just have to breathe wrong and she'll start a war."
Anaya gasped. "Mumma!"
Aira walked in, wiping her hands on a towel, trying not to smile.
Anaya crossed her arms.
"I don't like losing."
"We know," Aarav muttered.
She threw a cushion at him.
Reyhan finally stood up, walking over to his daughter. He crouched down in front of her.
"You don't have to win everything," he said gently.
"I do," she replied immediately.
"Why?"
She hesitated.
Because losing felt like being ignored.
Because losing felt like being second.
Because she liked being noticed.
But she didn't say any of that.
Instead, she lifted her chin.
"I just do."
Reyhan smiled faintly.
"That attitude is going to cause problems one day."
Anaya didn't look worried.
"Then I'll solve them."
Aarav snorted.
"You'll create them."
Anaya turned toward him slowly.
"Say that again."
"See?" Aarav said, pointing at her. "Problem."
Aira stepped between them before it escalated.
"Enough. Both of you."
But she noticed something.
Aarav always teased.
Anaya always reacted.
And yet—
If someone else even slightly upset her, Aarav was the first one standing in front of her.
Protective.
Possessive.
Pretending he didn't care.
Later that evening, when the house quieted down, Anaya sat on the floor of her room, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
She tilted her head.
"Why do I hate losing so much?" she muttered.
Because somewhere deep down, she wanted to be chosen.
She didn't know that yet.
She only knew she hated the feeling of being overlooked.
And she would fight it.
Every single time.
Down the hall, Aarav leaned against the wall outside her door.
He wasn't spying.
He just liked making sure she was fine.
Even if she drove him insane.
Inside the kitchen, Aira watched them both quietly.
Reyhan wrapped an arm around her waist.
"She's stubborn," he murmured.
"She's yours," Aira replied.
Reyhan smiled slightly.
"She's dangerous."
Aira didn't disagree.
Because somewhere in that fierce little girl was a storm waiting to grow.
And storms didn't ask permission before arriving.
---
The next era had begun.
And Anaya had no idea she was about to meet someone
who would refuse to lose to her.