Nothing Changed, Everything Did
Country: Aurivelle
City: Cressford
Alvara
I was still scrolling through my phone after finalizing the payments.
“Alvara…”
I looked up.
And of course.
Isabella’s eyes were already shining.
I sighed immediately.
“Oh no. No, don’t start,” I said, sitting closer and wiping the tears that had already escaped. “We are not doing this again.”
“I…I know,” she sniffed, trying to laugh at the same time. “I just… this is a lot.”
“You better process it fast,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Because this is your life now.”
She let out a shaky breath, then looked at me again.
“Thank you.”
“Bella…” I warned softly. “Don’t make me regret being nice.”
That earned a small laugh.
Then she sniffed again, trying to compose herself.
“Stop calling me Bella,” she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. “That name is reserved for your mother alone ”.
I blinked.
Then scoffed.
“Oh wow. So I’ve been replaced?” I folded my arms. “I didn’t know my own mother outranked me as your best friend.”
She gasped dramatically.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“Jealous?” I let out a short laugh. “Please. I can get a better best friend in two business days.”
“Lies,” she said immediately. “You’d cry.”
“I would not.”
“You would.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You literally cried yesterday.”
“That was emotional growth,” I snapped.
She burst out laughing.
“Be careful though,” she added, her tone suddenly mischievous. “So you don’t go and pick another Mila.”
She froze.
Too late.
I raised a brow slowly.
“…Mila?”
She winced.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I stared at her for a second.
Then I laughed.
“Please,” I waved it off. “I’m way past that. You should know me by now.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
“You’re actually strong,” she said softly. “It’s scary sometimes.”
“I’ve suffered too much to be weak,” I replied lightly.
She smiled.
Then I leaned closer, squinting at her face.
“Also… look at you,” I said, clicking my tongue. “All this crying. You’ve ruined your makeup.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Excuse me? This is your fault.”
“How?”
“You keep doing things that make me emotional!”
I laughed.
“I thought you said you were strong?”
“I am,” she shot back. “Just not when it comes to you.”
That…
That softened something in me.
And I smiled.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
I glanced down.
A message.
Short.
Both properties are processed. Approved. Secured.
No delay.
No complications.
Almost immediately, Isabella’s phone buzzed too.
“I got a message,” she said, turning her screen to me.
I nodded, reading mine again, I had added her contact with mine.
“The system will be reset for you immediately, ma’am. You’ll be able to configure your personal access…codes, biometrics, everything.”
I looked at her.
“Well… this just got real.”
“Very real,” she muttered.
I quickly set my six-digit passcode, the system accepting it instantly.
Done.
I glanced up.
And the next thing I knew, Isabella pulled me into her.
My head rested against her shoulder.
Her hand came up, gently stroking my hair.
Soft.
Slow.
Comforting.
I didn’t say anything.
Didn’t pull away.
I just let myself stay there.
Quiet.
We arrived in Cressford just as the evening light began to settle.
Everything looked the same.
The same narrow streets.
The same familiar houses.
Nothing had changed.
And somehow… everything had.
The car slowed to a stop in front of our house, then drove off toward Isabella’s.
I stepped out..
“ALVARA!”
I barely had time to react before a body slammed into mine.
“Leo…!” I laughed, stumbling slightly as his arms wrapped tightly around me.
“Careful,” I said, trying to steady myself as I pulled back to look at him. “When did you become this big?”
He grinned, clearly proud.
“I told you. I’m not a kid anymore.”
I raised a brow, looking him over slowly.
“Hmm… still looks like the same annoying boy to me.”
“Wow,” he scoffed. “I welcome you home with love and this is how you repay me?”
“With honesty,” I replied sweetly.
He rolled his eyes, but his grip didn’t loosen immediately.
“…I missed you,” he muttered.
“I missed you too.”
I pulled back fully this time, still smiling.
“Where’s Mom?”
Leo jerked his head toward the house.
“In the kitchen. Cooking.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“What is she making?”
His grin widened instantly.
“Creamy mushroom pasta.”
I froze.
“…my favorite?”
He nodded slowly, enjoying every second of my reaction.
“Of course. What else? She’s been talking about it since morning like she’s preparing for a national celebration.”
I laughed as we walked inside together.
The moment I stepped in…
The smell hit me.
Warm.
Familiar.
Home.
Mom stepped out of the kitchen almost immediately.
For a second…
We just looked at each other.
Then I moved
.
Straight into her arms.
I held her tightly, breathing her in like I hadn’t realized how much I needed this.
“I missed you so much, Mom,” I whispered.
She held me just as tightly.
“I missed you too.”
Her voice was steady…
But I felt it.
Everything she wasn’t saying.
“I’m proud of you,” she added softly. “You did well.”
I pulled back slightly, nodding, not trusting my voice.
Before the moment could get too heavy..
Leo cleared his throat loudly.
“So…” he said, folding his arms. “Where’s the security?”
I blinked.
“What security?”
“You know,” he continued seriously. “The bodyguards. The convoy. Black cars.
Dramatic entrance.”
I stared at him.
“…are you okay?”
He ignored me completely.
“You’re famous now, aren’t you? I was expecting at least two men in black suits following you around.”
I laughed.
“Leo, I just won a competition. I didn’t become president.”
“Are you sure?” he shot back immediately.
“Because your face is everywhere online.”
I paused.
“…what?”
“Oh yeah,” he nodded eagerly. “Clips, videos, pictures…everything. I saw like ten posts before you even got here.”
I blinked again, caught off guard.
“Wait… seriously?”
He looked at me like I had just offended him.
“You didn’t know?”
I shook my head slowly.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Well,” he said proudly, “I’ve been telling everyone you’re my sister.”
I raised a brow.
“Oh? So now you remember?”
“Please,” he scoffed. “I’ve always known. I just didn’t know you’d become famous this fast.”
I laughed.
“You just want bragging rights.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” he fired back. “Do you know how painful it is that I already graduated? I missed my moment!”
I shook my head, amused.
“Don’t worry. You’re going to university soon. You’ll have plenty of time to annoy people there.”
“Annoy?” he gasped. “I prefer the word inspire.”
“Leo,” Mom called from the kitchen, clearly trying not to smile, “let your sister breathe.”
“I am letting her breathe,” he said defensively. “I’m just celebrating her presence.”
“By talking too much?” I added.
“Exactly.”
I laughed softly.
God…
I missed this.
All of this.
“Go freshen up,” Mom said, stepping back into the kitchen. “Then come eat. I made your favorite.”
I nodded.
“Also,” she added, glancing back at me, “your room is just as you left it. The bags the driver brought are already inside.”
I smiled.
I stepped into my room…
And paused.
Nothing had changed.
Everything was exactly the way I left it.
The bed is neatly made.
My books are arranged the same way.
Even the curtains were tied just how I used to leave them.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
Mom must have been cleaning it every day.
I set my bag down and took a slow breath before heading into the bathroom.
A quick shower.
A moment to reset.
Then I changed and stepped back out, making my way to the kitchen.
Mom was already moving around, completely in her element.
“Let me help,” I said, reaching for a plate.
She turned immediately.
“No. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I just want to help.”
“No,” she repeated, this time smiling. “I want to treat you like the celebrity you are.”
I laughed.
“Mom, I’m not a celebrity.”
She gave me a look.
“You’re my celebrity. Now sit down and watch.”
I shook my head, smiling, and settled on the low stool in the corner.
“Call Isabella,” she added. “Tell her to come with her father. I’m cooking for all of us.”
I nodded, already pulling out my phone.
Isabella picked up almost immediately.
The moment I told her..
Her excitement came through the line.
I smiled and ended the call.
Then I stayed there with Mom.
Talking.
Laughing.
Falling back into something so easy… so familiar.
Not long after, the door opened.
Leo’s voice echoed first.
“They’re here!”
“Good evening, sir,” I said, turning to her father.
“Alvara,” Mr. Soren nodded warmly. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, sir.”
“Come in, come in,” Mom called from the kitchen. “Dinner is ready!”
Isabella didn’t wait.
She rushed straight into the kitchen.
“Bella…!” Mom exclaimed, laughing as Isabella hugged her.
“Enough of the emotional reunion,” Leo said loudly from behind us. “I’m hungry.”
“Shut up!” Isabella and I snapped at the same time.
He blinked.
Then shook his head dramatically.
“Of course. My two nightmares are back.”
Isabella pulled away instantly, turning to him.
“Still talking?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “I thought six months would improve you.”
Leo scoffed.
“If anything, I’ve upgraded.”
“To what?” she shot back. “A louder version of yourself?”
I stepped between them quickly, already laughing.
“Don’t start.”
“Too late,” Leo said, folding his arms. “She started it.”
“Me?” Isabella gasped. “You literally called me a nightmare!”
“That’s because you are,” he replied calmly. “You and my sister together? That’s chaos.”
She placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
“Wow. After everything I’ve done for you.”
“What exactly have you done?” he asked.
She paused.
“…I exist.”
“Exactly,” he nodded. “That’s the problem.”
I burst out laughing.
“Okay, enough,” I said, shaking my head.
“Let’s eat before this turns into a full war.”
We moved to the dining area, the table already set.
The food was placed down…
And just like that, everything softened.
For a while…
It was quiet.
Not awkward.
Just peaceful.
The kind of silence that comes from being full… not just with food, but with comfort.
“This is really good,” Mr. Soren said after a few bites, nodding appreciatively.
Mom smiled, pleased.
“Thank you.”
“I told you,” Isabella added proudly, pointing her fork slightly. “I’ve been bragging about her cooking.”
Dinner slowly turned into laughter.
Stories.
Little updates from both sides.
Leo, of course, made sure to mention our “fame” at least five more times.
Mom just kept smiling.
It felt like time hadn’t moved at all.
Like nothing had changed.
But deep down…
I knew everything.
That made this moment even more precious.
After dinner, we helped clear the table… despite Mom insisting we shouldn’t.
By the time everything settled, it was already late.
Isabella stood, stretching slightly.
“We should go,” she said, glancing at her dad.
He nodded.
I walked them to the door, Leo trailing behind us.
At the entrance, Isabella turned to me.
Her expression is softer now.
“Tomorrow?” she asked quietly.
I nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
She smiled.
Then pulled me into a hug.
Quick.
Tight.
Enough.
“I missed this,” she whispered.
“Me too,” I replied.
She pulled back, then glanced at Leo.
“Try not to annoy her too much tonight.”
Leo scoffed.
“She’s the one annoying me.”
Isabella smirked.
“See? Nothing has changed.”
“Unfortunately,” he muttered.
She laughed, shaking her head.
“Goodnight, troublemaker.”
“Goodnight, problem,” he replied.
I smiled as they stepped out.
We stood there for a moment, watching them leave… until silence settled back in.
Then the door closed.
“Go and rest,” Mom said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“You must be tired.”
I nodded.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I walked back to my room slowly.
Everything is still the same.
Just like I left it.
I changed into something comfortable and lay down on the bed.
The ceiling stared back at me.
Quiet.
Still.
But my mind…
Wasn’t.
Tomorrow.
The word lingered.
I turned slightly, pulling the blanket closer.
How was I going to say it?
I exhaled slowly.
Mom would be shocked.
Of course she would.
Maybe even worried.
Maybe she would think I was rushing things.
And Leo…
A small breath escaped me, almost a laugh.
He would definitely overreact.
Ask a hundred questions.
Complaint first…
Then adjust.
He always does.
But Mom…
My gaze stayed fixed on the ceiling.
She wouldn’t just react.
She would feel it.
Every part of it.
Every change.
I closed my eyes slowly.
“Tomorrow,” I whispered into the quiet.
Because no matter what…
I was going to tell her.