It's Your Turn To Cry and Beg, Dear Uncle
Chapter 58: Unbreakable Bonds

Chapter 58: Unbreakable Bonds

Orlando froze in place, but his eyes never left Kyra’s figure. She was staring ahead with a bitter smile, her gaze devoid of hope as well as utter disgust towards herself. Yet, she had no choice but to force herself to keep moving forward.

Some believe it’s impossible to truly evaluate ourselves, thinking only others can do that. Even a mirror fails to provide a perfect reflection.

But they’re wrong.

Deep down, we often understand our flaws better than anyone else. Still, our natural defense mechanisms push us toward denial, shielding us from harsh truths.

That’s how Kyra was. She closed her eyes to the truth before her because it was always easier that way. Then, she wouldn’t have to face the pain from people’s rejections.

Orlando pressed his lips together, his entire body stiff. He didn’t know what to say, even though there was so much he wanted to discuss with his little sister. In the end, only his hand moved, reaching out to grasp Kyra’s.

Though he wasn’t skilled at comforting people, he knew he had to address her doubts. He couldn’t let those fears haunt her any longer.

"No," Orlando said firmly. His eyes remained fixed on Kyra. "You are not disgusting."

Kyra’s eyes widened. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Orlando. She could see how serious he was and the hand that was holding hers tightened as if trying to convince her.

"No one can predict the future, and no one can fully control their heart. You know this feeling might be misjudged by others and so you tried to deny it in the beginning. Isn’t that true?"

Kyra nodded weakly. Orlando smiled.

"Your feelings aren’t wrong. If you think you’re disgusting, then James is even worse for pursuing you. As the older one, shouldn’t he have more self-control? It’s one thing to reciprocate your feelings, but did he really have to pounce on you right away?"

Orlando chuckled softly after saying that, while Kyra sat frozen in stunned silence. Her previously sad expression shifted into one of shock, and the next moment, her cheeks turned crimson. She immediately glared at Orlando.

Her brother was truly terrible at comforting people. Was a comment like that really appropriate in a moment like this?! She’d come to him in sadness, seriously seeking advice, yet why on earth was he bringing up that incident at the hospital?!

Kyra pursed her lips. "You all really won’t let that go, huh?"

Orlando laughed again, even covering his mouth with his hand to stifle it. "Ahem... What can I say? That was quite a memorable scene. It was the first time I saw someone so consumed by passion they didn’t even care where they were."

This time, the embarrassment Kyra felt was on a whole new level. She wanted to dig the deepest hole possible and bury herself alive. For now, all she could do was bury her face in her hands. Yet, the man beside her showed no mercy and kept pressing on.

"So, did you enjoy it too?"

Kyra: "..."

Fuming, Kyra immediately squeezed Orlando’s hand with all her strength. Using both hands, she clenched so hard that Orlando winced.

"Ow! Okay, okay! I’m sorry!"

"Hey! I said stop!!"

"Hmph!" Kyra turned her face toward the window beside her, sulking.

After Kyra finished torturing his hand, Orlando could only feel his fingers throbbing as if they were sprained. There were even nail marks on the back of his hand. But instead of getting angry, he smiled, seeing how much better Kyra seemed now. He might not have a knack for heartfelt words, but at least Kyra had regained some of her spirit.

"So, are you feeling better now?" Orlando asked softly. He leaned his head against the steering wheel, looking at Kyra with a gentle smile.

The young woman froze, staring at him. Oh... so he was trying to cheer me up.

Initially, Kyra saw Orlando as insensitive, incapable of serious conversations. How could he joke at a moment like this? She even suspected he was making fun of her. But slowly, her heart softened, and a faint smile crept across her face.

"Thank you," Kyra said in a quiet voice.

Orlando grinned and ruffled her hair. Kyra could only sigh in resignation as her hair became a mess.

Orlando understood all too well. The hospital incident was their first glimpse into James and Kyra’s relationship. Instead of a proper announcement, they were met with an intimate scene between the two—naturally, everyone was stunned. Meanwhile, Kyra was left feeling confused and humiliated, particularly because James had yet to provide her with any clarity.

Even though they had initially sensed something odd when James introduced Lila as his girlfriend during his birthday celebration, they brushed it off, thinking it was nothing out of the ordinary.

None of them suspected that there was something going on between Kyra and James. So, when the truth came to light, it was only natural that Kyra was the first to think negatively.

Being the youngest and always protected by her older siblings, she couldn’t help but feel vulnerable. Moreover, on the day they visited Kyra in the hospital, after chatting briefly with James, they left without seeing her again, which only worsened her overthinking.

"Enough, stop letting your mind wander like that," Orlando said warmly. His gaze was filled with tenderness. "None of us think badly of you. No matter what, you’re still our little sister. There’s no way a bond that’s lasted over 10 years would be destroyed by just one issue."

He clicked his tongue and put on an exaggeratedly smug expression. "Don’t underestimate your brothers. When problems arise, we don’t judge recklessly. Even if you did something wrong, there’s no way we’d corner you."

"Honestly, what kind of image do you have of your brothers in that head of yours?" Orlando asked, poking Kyra’s forehead.

Kyra pouted and rubbed the spot where he had poked her. But, instead of feeling sorry, Orlando just shook his head.

"Do you see us as monsters or evil demons?" Orlando sighed deeply. "Come on, at most, we’d scold you and teach you to get back on the right track."

His eyes glanced straight out the car window, watching the restaurant guests coming and going. "Like you said, we’re objective people. There’s no way we’d judge you from just one perspective."

"Remember this, Kyra," Orlando continued, turning his attention back to her. "Never think like that again. If there’s something worng, don’t keep it bottled up. Trust us."

Kyra’s lips curled into a smile, genuinely touched by Orlando’s words. It seemed her brother could be surprisingly wise when he wanted to. After all, Orlando was far more mature and experienced in life than she was.

Nodding, Kyra said, "Alright, I won’t think negatively anymore. Thank you, Brother."

"Good. Now let’s get going before my phone explodes from messages and missed calls from the others—and your boyfriend."

Kyra burst into laughter, especially when she saw Orlando’s sour expression. She quickly opened the car door. However, as soon as they got out and Orlando locked the car, they saw Anthony, Harvey, Oliver, and James walking toward them.

Kyra glanced at Orlando and saw her brother grumbling under his breath. She laughed again.

Sure enough, as soon as they reached Kyra and Orlando, the others bombarded Orlando with questions about why they were so slow and what they had been doing sitting in the car even though they had arrived a while ago.

Orlando simply spread his arms and shrugged. "We were having a heart-to-heart session! A heart-to-heart, I said. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a proper conversation like this. Of course, I wanted to check in on how my little sister is doing."

Then, clapping his hands, he added, "Oh! I also asked her if she enjoyed James’ kiss that day!"

Kyra: "..."

Anthony: "..."

Harvey: "..."

Oliver: "..."

James immediately glared at him and didn’t hesitate to deliver a smack to the back of his best friend’s head. Kyra’s face turned as red as a boiled lobster, even worse than before. She instantly retracted her earlier feelings of being touched by Orlando’s kindness!

She smacked Orlando on the shoulder and hysterically yelled, "Why are you bringing that up again?!"

But to Orlando, Kyra’s hits felt like gentle pats. Only James’ punch caused him real pain, leaving him rubbing the back of his head to check for a bump.

Meanwhile, Oliver stared at him with disgust and disapproval, clearly baffled by his friend’s antics. Anthony and Harvey, on the other hand, were struggling to hold back their laughter. After all, they shared the same slightly twisted sense of humor as Orlando.

And at that moment, Harvey dared to tease Kyra further by asking, "So? Is James good at kissing? He’s supposed to be the most virgin one among us."

Anthony burst out laughing right away, slinging an arm over Harvey’s shoulder. Kyra, mortified beyond belief, was on the verge of tears. Oliver frowned and immediately smacked both Harvey and Anthony on the head, silencing their laughter.

By then, James’ expression had grown dangerously dark, his sharp gaze boring into the three friends who had relentlessly teased his girlfriend. If looks could kill, Harvey, Anthony, and Orlando would’ve been dead hundreds of times over, minced into fine pieces.

Kyra hung her head, no longer daring to meet her brothers’ eyes. Her image had been utterly ruined by them. Unable to endure her embarrassment any longer, Kyra turned and ran away from her brothers.

Anthony and Harvey, realizing they had gone too far, nervously glanced at Oliver and James. Among the five of them, it was Anthony, Harvey, and Orlando who enjoyed teasing their little sister the most.

Kyra’s reactions are just too funny! screamed their inner thoughts.

Sometimes, they couldn’t resist teasing Kyra because her reactions were just too adorable, especially since none of them had a younger sister. Even among their cousins or nieces, no one was as entertaining as Kyra.

Oliver took a deep breath to rein in his frustration. "You guys, please grow up a little. James, go after Kyra."

James nodded but made sure to glare at each of his friends in turn before leaving. He managed to catch up with Kyra just as she reached the front of the restaurant. Gently, he grabbed her wrist.

Kyra turned to look at James, her face scrunched in a pout. James chuckled at his girlfriend’s expression. Pinching her cheek softly, he said, "They didn’t mean any harm. You know how they are—they’ve always been this playful with you, haven’t they?"

"Oh, so now you’re defending them?" Kyra glared at him.

James tried to stifle his laughter. Leaning down slightly so their eyes were level, he asked in a doting tone, "Why? Do you want me to take your side?"

"Isn’t that natural as my boyfriend?" Kyra shot back.

James raised an eyebrow, surprised by how boldly she referred to him as her boyfriend. His lips curled into a grin that stretched from ear to ear, and he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her cheek.

"So, what does my princess want me to do?"