The sun was warm on Jiko’s face as he walked into the party. It was held in a beautiful pce, all lit up with fairy lights and overflowing with flowers. There was a sweet st in the air, probably from the gardenias tucked into the flower arras that hung from the arches. The pce buzzed with happy noises – kids ughing as they ran around, an old couple dang slowly to the music of a string quartet, and groups of people ughihe apple juice fountain.

  Jiko stopped just ihe entrand tugged at the colr of his navy suit. He usually wore jeans and sneakers, so he felt a bit awkward in sual clothes. But then he saw Tito, beaming with pride as he held his bride, and it made the disfort worthwhile. Tito, always the picture of happiness, looked absolutely thrilled, his dark hair a little messy, like he couldn't tain his excitement.

  o Tito stood Julie, looking stunning in a d pearl dress. The train of her dress flowed like liquid moonlight, and her bouquet of pale roses and eucalyptus almost seemed sedary to how radiant she looked. Jiko felt a pang in his chest as old memories surfaced. He’d imagihis moment so many times, both in happy daydreams and anxious nightmares, a fusing mix of unresolved feelings and grudging admiration. Julie’s smile was dazzling, the kind that makes everyone believe in love at first sight. Everyone, except Jiko.

  He gripped the apple juice gss he’d taken from a passing waiter. As Julie’s eyes sed the crowd, they briefly met his – a quick, cool, and polite gnce. Her expression gave nothing away, but Jiko felt the weight of all their past disagreements. The awkward holiday dinners. The stiff greetings at family gatherings. The unspoken tension that always huween them. She was his brother’s dream girl, the ter of Tito’s world, and now, she was officially a perma part of Jiko’s life too.

  "Well, if it isn’t Mr. Grumpy in a suit,” es a teasing voice beside him. It’s Rizvan, one of Jiko’s oldest friends and the self-procimed expert in stirring the pot. Rizvan’s mischievous grin is impossible to ignore as he ks his gss against Jiko’s.

  “So,” Rizvan tinues, his tone dripping with pyful malice, “your aremy is moving in now. What’s your pn? Gonna start a war during the toast?”

  Jiko exhales a ugh, shaking his head. “Melt her icy heart,” he says, lifting his gss in a mock toast. “She’s family nht?”

  “Bold strategy,” Rizvan replies, his eyebrow arg. “What if she just freezes you out again?”

  “Then I’ll thaw her out,” Jiko retorts, a devilish glint in his eye. He leans closer, l his voice spiratorially. “Or maybe I’ll just let her realize how annoying I be when I try.”

  Rizvan burst out ughing, loud enough to make some of the uests turn and look. Jiko’s little smirk disappeared as he looked back at Tito and Julie. They looked so happy together, and for a sed, Jiko wondered if his sarcastic attitude was just a way to hide his real feelings. He couldn't deny hoy his brother was, and Julie… well, she was hard to figure out. Maybe, Jiko thought, it was time to ge things, to start fresh and try to get along instead of always being at odds.

  The party was in full swing around him. Jiko finished his apple juid moved further into the crowd, ready to join in.

  Jiko approaches the newlyweds with a wide smile, his steps steady despite the buzzing nerves beh his polished demeanor. The st of roses and the faint tang of various beverages fill the air as he weaves through the lively crowd, his sharp suit catg the golden glow of string lights above. Tito spots him first, his face lighting up with a grin that could rival the sun.

  “Jiko!” Tito excims, pulling him into a brotherly hug. There’s a warmth to it, the kind that only years of shared memories and unditional support fe.

  Jiko stepped back a little, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he cpped Tito on the shoulder. “Seriously, grats, big brother,” he said, meaning every word. “You really did good this time. She’s great.” He started to offer his hand to Julie, but then stopped himself and turo face her properly.

  Julie looked up at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and a little bit of caution. She looked absolutely beautiful, her veil fluttering in the gentle breeze, her makeup perfect. But Jiko could also see a hint of vulnerability beh her posed exterior. He paused for a sed, his usual fident attitude wavering.

  “Julie…” he begins, his voice softer than expected. “I o say this. I’m sorry. For everything. For every cold shoulder, every snide ent, every… everything.” He exhales sharply, feeling the weight of the years they’ve spent at odds. “I was wrong. And now that you’re part of this family—our family—I want to start fresh.”

  Julie’s eyes widen, and for a brief moment, the chatter of the celebration fades into the background. She studies him, her gaze pierg yet not unkind. The sileretches, and Jiko braces himself for a dismissive reply. Instead, Julie tilts her head slightly, her lips curving into a hesitant smile.

  “Jiko,” she says slowly, her voice ced with a mix of disbelief and cautious hope. “I—thank you. I wasn’t expeg that.” She pauses, her fiightening around her bouquet. “I’m sorry too. Maybe… I judged you too quickly. Maybe I should have tried harder to uand you.”

  There was a moment of quiet uandiween them, a fragile but hopeful feeling in the air. Tito, who had been watg them with a look of obvious relief, cpped his hands together. “Well, I hought I’d see this,” he joked, grinning from ear to ear.

  Julie pyfully rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling warmly. Jiko chuckled, and the tensioween them seemed to fade away.

  As the music got louder and the eveni on, Jiko kept thinking about what Julie had said. Could this really be a fresh start? Could they actually build a e after all this time? He raised his gss to Tito and Julie as they walked onto the dance floor, feeling a lightness in his chest he hadn't felt in a long time.

  For the first time in years, the idea of family didn't feel so difficult.