The Smile I Wore For Them

Dasian has always been the boy with the brightest smile. At school, he laughs. At work, he keeps his head down. At home, he acts like everything is fine for his younger siblings, Lia and Elijah. Since their parents died, Dasian has tried to become the kind of older brother who can hold everything together. But bills do not care about smiles. Noah, his best friend, notices the cracks first. The tired eyes. The skipped meals. The way Dasian keeps pretending even when his life is falling apart. Then Kane appears... A dangerous boy from the streets. A shortcut, a way to earn more money than Dasian could ever make from a normal part-time job. At first, Dasian tells himself it is only temporary. Just once. Just enough to protect his family... But every lie needs another lie to survive. And the smile he wore for them slowly becomes the mask he cannot take off.