Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 50 (Angel's POV) Dilrah wasn't someone I paid much attention to. She was always in Ava's background and quiet and almost invisible. But there was something about today, something about the way she stood by the window and stared out at the rain, that madestop and really look at her.

She was tall and almost towering over me, with caramel skin that glowed even in the dim light of our dorm. Her hair fell in soft waves, a mix of dark brown and auburn, and she had this striking face with sharp cheekbones and a small nose and full lips that always seemed to be set in a frown. There was an air of sadness about her, like she carried the weight of a thousand worlds on her shoulders.

But it was her eyes that caught my attention. They were deep brown and almost black, with long lashes that framed them perfectly. But they looked hollow and empty, and it sent a chill down my spine.

I was about to walk away when she suddenly turned to me. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw something there, something raw and desperate. "You ever feel like you're trapped, Angel?" she asked in a low and trembling voice. "Like no matter what you do, you're always stuck in the splace?" I blinked and felt taken aback by her sudden openness. Why was she suddenly talking to me? "Yeah," I admitted. "I think everyone here feels that way." She let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. "No, you don't understand. It's different for me." She paused like she was debating whether to continue. Then, she took a deep breath. "You have time?" "Yeah, sure," I replied, feeling curious now. "What's going on?" Dilrah glanced around the room like she was checking to make sure no one else was listening before she motioned forto sit with her on the small couch by the window. "I need to tell someone," she muttered to herself. "I can't keep it in anymore." I nodded and sat down, waiting. She stared at her hands for a moment, then started to speak.

"Before I chere, I was living in a small apartment in the city," she started, and her voice sounded bitter. "I thought I had everything figured out, you know? I was studying art at a community college and working part- tat this crappy diner to pay the bills. It wasn't glamorous, but it was mine." She paused and swallowed hard. "Then I met Ava. She walked into the diner one day, all confidence and charm, and she noticed me. Said I had potential, said she could helpmake something of myself." I frowned and already sensed where this was going. "And you believed her?" "Of course I did," Dilrah snapped without any heat in her words. "I was young and desperate for someone to see me, to see something inthat was worth saving. She started takingout and showingoff to her friends and introducingto people in her world. It was intoxicating." "Letguess," I said quietly. "She asked for something in return." Dilrah's laugh was bitter as her eyes narrowed. "You're quick. Yeah, she did. At first, it was just little things like running errands and keeping her company at parties. But then it escalated. She started askingto do things I wasn't comfortable with." I nodded and encouraged her to continue. "Like what?" "She haddeliver packages to her 'friends,"" Dilrah explained, and her voice trembled. "At first, I didn't think anything of it. But then I realized those packages weren't innocent. They were drugs. And when I tried to pull away, she threatened to ruin me. Said she'd make sure I'd never work or study again." I felt a surge of anger on Dilrah's behalf. "So you felt trapped." "Yes," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. "She knew everything about me. My family and my past and my dreams. And she used it all against me. I ended up doing things I never thought I'd do just to keep her happy, to keep her from destroying me." My heart ached for her. "And that's how you ended up here?" Dilrah nodded as a tear slipped down her cheek. "One night, I tried to stand up to her. Told her I wasn't going to be her puppet anymore. She... she snapped. I don't even remember how I ended up in the center. One minute I was in my apartment, and the next, I was here." There was a long silence as I absorbed her story. "Why are you tellingthis now?" I asked gently.

"Because," Dilrah replied while wiping her tears, "I see the way Ava looks at you. The way she watches you. She's trying to control you too, Angel. And I can't... I can't let her do to you what she did to me." I reached out and placed my hand over hers. "You're not alone, Dilrah," I said softly. "We're not alone. I need you to know this." She looked at me, really looked at me, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes. "You mean that?" "Yes," I promised and squeezed her hand. "You don't have to face this alone anymore. We'll watch out for each other." Dilrah let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. "I... I didn't think anyone would ever care." I smiled and tried to lighten the mood. "Well, you've gotnow. And trust me, I'm not going anywhere." She chuckled, and the sound was so foreign and so out of place that it madelaugh too. We sat there for a while, talking about anything and everything-our families, our dreams, our fears. She toldabout how she grew up in a small town and how she always felt like an outsider, even in her own home. How she turned to art as an escape and a way to express herself when words failed her.

"I wanted to paint the world the way I saw it," she said, and her eyes shined. "All the beauty and the pain and the chaos. But then... I lost my way." "You'll find it again," I told her. "I know you will." Dilrah looked at me, and her expression was vulnerable. "How can you be so sure?" "Because," I said with a grin, "I'll be here to remind you every step of the way." She laughed again, and it was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. For the first time, I saw her smile reach her eyes. "You're something else, Angel." "Yeah, I've been told," I said with a smirk.

We continued talking, and the bond between us grew stronger with each passing minute. I learned more about her in that hour than I had in weeks, and it felt like I'd known her forever.

But then, just as we were about to wrap up, Dilrah's expression shifted and her eyes have to be careful, she warned in a low tone. "Ava... she doesn't let go easily. She'll try to break you, just like she broke me." I swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll be ready." "No," she said firmly and gripped my hand. "You don't understand. Ava... she's dangerous. More dangerous than you think." "What do you mean?" I asked as my heart skipped a beat.

"She's got connections," Dilrah whispered and glanced around as if someone might be listening. "People in high places, people who can make problems disappear. If she thinks you're a threat... she won't hesitate." I felt a chill run down my spine, but I forced myself to meet her gaze. "Then we'll take her down together." Dilrah's eyes widened, and I thought she was going to argue. But then she smiled, a real and genuine smile. "You're crazy, you know that?" "Yeah," I admitted with a grin. "But that's what makesdangerous." Dilrah laughed and shook her head. "Okay, Angel. If anyone can do it, it's you."

We sat there in silence for a moment and let the weight of our words settle between us. Then, without thinking, I NO reached over and hugged her, holding her tight. "Thank you," I whispered. "For trusting me." She huggedback and her arms trembled. "Thank you," she replied. "For givinghope." And in that moment, I had gotten a new friend and valuable ally.