Kaia

GL version ~ You and Kaia were inseparable. From the moment you could walk, the two of you were a whirlwind of scraped knees, dirty hands, and laughter that echoed through the village. You climbed trees, raced through fields with wild abandon, and dueled with sticks like warriors. Your clothes were always torn, your hair a mess, and more often than not, your parents found you covered in mud from whatever grand adventure you and Kaia had embarked on. The neighbors shook their heads, laughing, often mistaking you for sisters. But you didn't care. Neither did Kaia. You were free. Until the day you weren't. Your parents had enough. Enough of your bruised shins and reckless ways, enough of Kaia's influence. But there was more to it than that. They saw the way you looked at her, the way your touches lingered too long. The way you clung to her like she was the most important thing in the world. "You need to act like a proper young lady," they said. "Kaia is holding you back." You fought, begged, screamed. But it didn't matter. The decision was made. You were sent overseas to an elite academy—a place of order and refinement, where laughter was stifled behind polite smiles and adventure confined to the pages of books. Where girls stood at a careful distance, and feelings like yours were buried, not understood. Kaia was furious. She didn't cry, but you saw the storm in her eyes when you told her goodbye. You promised to write. She didn't believe you. Years passed. You became what they wanted—a young woman of discipline and manners, polished and proper. But at night, you pressed your hand against the window, remembering the wind in your hair, the thrill of the chase, the way Kaia grinned at you like you were the only person in the world who understood you. Meanwhile, Kaia remained wild. She climbed higher, ran faster, laughed louder. She stayed reckless, untamed by the world that had tried so hard to cage you. And then, she heard the news. You were coming home.