Every Sunday, I gathered at my sister Mia’s house with her husband Alex and their kids. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and I cherished the time we spent together, catching up on lost moments.
But over the past few months, something strange had been happening.
During these dinners, I couldn’t help but notice that Alex, my brother, kept staring at me. It wasn’t just a casual glance a family member might give during a conversation. No, it was more intense—his eyes never left me whenever I looked away.
Once, I caught him watching me from across the table. When our eyes met, he quickly looked away, as if embarrassed—but then repeated the same behavior minutes later.
At first, I thought it was nothing, maybe just my imagination. But after a few weeks, I could no longer ignore it.
I started feeling uneasy.
Was it my fault?
Did I look strange?
Was I doing something wrong?
Finally, I decided to talk to Mia. The tension had been building for weeks, and I couldn’t carry the discomfort anymore.
One night, while washing dishes after dinner, I gathered the courage.
“Mia, can I ask you something?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Sure, go ahead,” she replied, wiping the counter without looking at me.
“I wanted to talk to you about Alex. I’ve noticed he keeps looking at me during dinner. It’s starting to bother me. Have you noticed it?”
Mia paused, her hand frozen on the countertop, thinking.
“I’m glad you brought it up,” she said, turning toward me. “I’ve noticed it too and was wondering when you’d say something.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
“You know what I mean, don’t you?”
She sighed, her expression shifting.
“Yes, I do. But I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
“But to be honest… I think I know why he’s acting this way.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why? What is it?”
Mia took a deep breath, then spoke with disappointment.
“It’s because of the way you dress.”
I stared at her, unable to believe what I’d heard.
“What? How I dress? What do you mean?”
“Listen, I’m sorry to say it, but it’s true,” she said softly but firmly.
“Alex has always… felt some attraction to you.”
“And lately, it’s gotten worse.”
“The way you dress when you come here—the dull shirts, the skirts, how you style your hair.”
“It drives him crazy. I see it in his eyes every time you enter the room.”
My face flushed with shock.
“You’re serious? You’re telling me he’s staring because of my clothes?”
Mia nodded, a mix of guilt and understanding on her face.
“I didn’t even want to admit it to myself, but it’s true.”
“I tried to find a way to handle it without causing problems in the family.”
“But the way he looks at you… it’s not normal.”
My thoughts swirled.
I felt a mixture of anger and disbelief.
How could Alex, my brother and my sister’s husband, behave like this toward me?
And how could Mia just sit there and say it was because of my clothes?
“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered.
“I never thought about it.”
“I tried to dress nicely for family dinners, but I never imagined it would be seen this way.”
“I understand, and I’m here for you,” Mia quickly said.
“But his looks… they’re more than just a glance.”
“I think it’s been bothering him for some time, and he’s struggling with it.”
“I wish it weren’t true, but that’s the reality.”
I sat down at the kitchen table, feeling overwhelmed.
This was the last thing I expected.
The man I’d always seen as a brother, someone I trusted, had feelings for me.
And now my sister was telling me it was because of how I dressed?
“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered.
“I feel guilty for something I didn’t even realize.”
“Should I stop wearing the clothes I like?”
Mia looked at me sympathetically.
“No, I’m not saying it’s your fault.”
“But I think you should be aware of how your appearance affects him.”
“If it makes him uncomfortable or unsettled, maybe think about what you wear when you come here.”
“I’m not trying to change who you are, but it’s important to keep balance in the family.”
I was silent for a few seconds, trying to digest everything Mia had said.
Am I really responsible for how Alex looks at me?
Did I really attract his attention—just because of my clothes?
“Maybe I should talk to him,” I finally said quietly.
“Maybe he’ll stop if he knows it makes me uncomfortable.”
Mia nodded.
“That might be a good idea.”
“But be careful, okay?”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to change your style for someone else, but I don’t want it to cause more trouble in the family.”
“I understand,” I said in a trembling voice.
“I never expected it to be this serious.”
“I never expected him to look at me that way.”
“It feels… wrong.”
“I’m sorry you have to go through this,” Mia said, her face full of concern and regret.
“But I’ll support you no matter what.”
“I hope it doesn’t tear our family apart.”
When I left her house that night, I felt a deep unease.
The situation was more complicated than I had imagined, and now I had to find a way to handle it without destroying my relationship with my sister and her family.
I had no idea what the future held, but I knew nothing would ever be the same again.