Becoming Ryan

Rain tapped softly against the café windows while the city drowned outside in silver lights and moving shadows.

Inside, everything smelled like coffee, cinnamon, and old jazz music.

Aeries stabbed her fork dramatically into Ryan’s pancake.

“You’ve changed.”

Across from her, Ryan didn’t even look offended. He calmly took a sip of coffee while scrolling through something on his phone.

“Good evening to you too.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. That was my pancake.”

“You didn’t deny it.”

Ryan sighed tiredly and finally looked up.

God.

Sometimes it still startled Aeries how identical they looked.

Same green eyes.

Same sharp jawline.

Same brown hair.

Twins but Identical

But while Aeries looked like trouble wrapped in eyeliner and sarcasm, Ryan somehow looked composed even while exhausted.

And lately…he always looked exhausted.

“You’re imagining things,” he said.

“I’m not.” Aeries leaned forward. “Ever since you joined I.I, you’ve become weird.”

Ryan snorted softly. “Weird?”

“You disappear for days, barely answer calls, and now you sit like some depressed mafia boss drinking black coffee.”

“It’s called maturity.”

“It’s called emotional damage.”

That finally made him laugh.

A real laugh.

Quiet and warm.

Aeries grinned proudly.

There he is.

For a second, the strange distance vanished and he looked like her Ryan again.

Not that version that came home at midnight with bruised knuckles and tired eyes.

Neither the version that locked his room nor the version that checked behind him while walking.

Ryan shook his head. “You watch too many crime shows.”

“And you avoid questions too much.”

“I’m in a competitive institute, Aeries. Everyone there’s half-dead.”

“Still. I don’t like it.”

Ryan’s expression softened slightly.

“You worry too much.”

“And you hide too much.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Rain rolled down the glass beside them.

Ryan looked outside quietly before speaking again.

“You should apply for the I.I scholarship next year.”

Aeries blinked.

Then immediately: “No thanks.”

Ryan raised a brow. “Why?”

“Because unlike you, I enjoy peace.”

“You enjoy chaos.”

“That too.”

“I’m serious.” Ryan leaned back in the booth. “I.I opens doors, Aeries. Big ones. High-ranking jobs. Powerful connections. Opportunities normal schools can’t give.”

Aeries rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Wow. Listen to Mr. Future President.”

Ryan pointed at her with his coffee cup. “Exactly.”

She laughed.

“No seriously,” he continued. “You’re smart enough.”

“Maybe but not genius like you and I’m okay in my normal high school.”

Ryan stared at her for a second like he genuinely couldn’t understand that answer.

“Aeries,” he said carefully, “your martial arts competitions and makeup artistry hobbies won’t magically build your future.”

She gasped in fake offense.

“Excuse you. My eyeliner alone deserves national recognition.”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I.” She crossed her arms proudly. “Maybe one day those hobbies will take me higher than the sky.”

Ryan blinked.

Then deadpanned, “Higher than the sky means death.”

For two seconds there was silence.

Then both burst out laughing so loudly nearby customers glanced at them.

Aeries nearly choked on her drink.

Ryan shook his head, laughing under his breath.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

She smirked proudly.

Ryan smiled again — softer this time.

The kind of smile that always made Aeries feel safe.

Like no matter how cruel the world became, her brother would always stand between her and it.

“I’ll make it someday,” Ryan said suddenly.

Aeries looked at him.

There was something different in his voice now.

Something serious.

Certain.

“When I finish competing at I.I…” He lowered his voice dramatically. “I’m going to become president.”

Aeries stared at him for a second.

Then snorted.

“You?”

Ryan looked offended. “Wow.”

“You cry during sad animal movies.”

“That’s empathy.”

“You almost died watching Titanic.”

“That old couple scene was devastating.”

Aeries laughed again before holding up her hands.

“Okay okay. Future president Ryan. I support you.”

Ryan pointed at her warningly.

“But don’t tell anyone yet.”

Aeries narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“To who exactly? You bring zero friends around.”

Ryan sipped his coffee casually.

“I have friends.”

“Oh really?” She leaned forward instantly. “Then why have I met every human being in your life except them?”

“They’re busy.”

“You’ve met their families though.”

Ryan froze very slightly.

Aeries noticed immediately.

Especially—

one name.

“Merec.”

Ryan groaned instantly.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“Your daily Merec obsession.”

Aeries tried to look innocent.

Which failed immediately.

“I’m not obsessed.”

“You ask about him every single conversation.”

“That’s because you never let me meet him.”

“Because you’re weird.”

“I’m curious.”

“You’re nosy.”

“You literally met your friends’ families.”

Ryan laughed under his breath.

“Again with Merec, huh?”

Aeries looked away casually, pretending to inspect the dessert menu.

“I’m talking generally.”

“Mhm.”

“I just want to see I.I from inside once.”

Ryan smirked knowingly.

“I.I… or Merec?”

Aeries nearly inhaled wrong.

“Oh my God, shut up.”

Ryan laughed properly this time.

A rare, open laugh that made nearby people glance over.

Aeries pointed at him dramatically.

“You’re annoying.”

“And you’re blushing.”

“I AM NOT.”

“You absolutely are.”

She grabbed a sugar packet and threw it at him.

Ryan caught it easily, still laughing.

Then his phone buzzed on the table.

The smile faded from his face so quickly it almost hurt to watch.

Aeries noticed.

She always noticed.

Ryan picked up the phone.

One message.

His expression changed.

Not fear exactly.

But tension.

Like someone had quietly wrapped wire around his ribs.

“You okay?” Aeries asked softly.

Ryan locked the screen immediately.

“Yeah.”

“That was suspiciously fast.”

“It’s nothing.”

“You always say that.”

“Because it usually is.”

Aeries studied him carefully.

The dark circles under his eyes.

The tiredness hidden beneath the jokes.

The strange heaviness he carried now.

Something at I.I had changed him.

She was sure of it.

And suddenly she wanted to see that place more than ever.

To understand what kind of world could swallow her brother slowly like this.

Ryan stood from the booth and tossed money onto the table.

“Come on,” he said lightly. “I’ll walk you home.”

Outside, rain swallowed the streets in silver smoke.

The twins walked side by side beneath the glowing city lights.

Same face.

Same eyes.

Same blood.

Yet somehow…

Aeries suddenly felt like Ryan was already drifting somewhere she couldn’t follow.

Halfway down the street, his phone buzzed again.

Ryan checked the message.

And stopped walking completely.

The color slowly drained from his face.

Aeries frowned immediately.

“Ryan?”

He stared at the screen for a long second before locking the phone.

Then he smiled.

Too quickly and perfectly.

“Nothing,” he said.

And for the first time in her life; Aeries didn’t believe him.

Ryan locked the phone so fast it almost slipped from his hand.

Aeries frowned.

“Ryan… what happened?”

He stared at the rain-soaked street ahead.

And for the first time since entering I.I—

her brother looked terrified.

“If anything ever happens to me,” he said quietly,

“don’t come looking for answers.”

Aeries leaned in with a playful spark in her eyes. “I’ll even follow your soul, got it?”

Ryan stayed quiet, simply watching her with a calm, unreadable gaze. “I know you too well… that’s exactly why I’m saying no,” he said softly.

But Aeries didn’t step back. Instead, she moved closer, her hand clutching the fabric of his coat as if letting go would mean losing him forever. Her expression turned serious, almost pleading. “You’re joking, right, Ryan? Don’t say things like that…”

For a brief moment, Ryan just looked at her—really looked at her. Then his gaze caught the faint paleness of her face and the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. A small smile finally broke through. “Prank…”

Before he could finish, Aeries punched his upper arm with full force. Ryan burst into laughter.

He quickly pulled her into him, one arm wrapping around her shoulders as he brought her into a tight hug. “Sorryyyy…”

Her voice trembled, barely holding itself together. “You’re so mean, Ryan…”

Ryan softened immediately. “And you’re too good…”

They looked at each other for a moment, smiling despite everything—then lightly pushed each other away and walked forward together, swaying in a playful zig-zag as if the world around them didn’t matter at all.