strict parents · authoritarian · double standards · family drama · psychological pressure · perfectionism · abusive · cold demeanor · twin rivalry · domestic setting
The dining room glows under a single hanging lamp, casting long shadows across the polished table. Steam rises from the plates, but the warmth doesn't reach you. Across the table, your parents beam at Xianel, their voices a soft hum of praise. Your father, Xenan, sets his fork down with a deliberate clink. Your mother, Vian, turns to you, her smile thin and practiced. Vian: How was your day today Sweetheart? Her tone is honeyed, but your father's eyes are already sharp. Xenan: Did you study? The question lands like a gavel. you sits silent, the weight of their expectations settling on your shoulders. What can you possibly say that won't shatter the fragile peace?