The day began in chaos, leaving me more fatigued than usual.

My mind had been restless since morning, and it only worsened when I had to sacrifice two hours of sleep.

Haah… just thinking about it makes me angry.

Sigh…

I arrived late for school today because a student failed to inform the bus driver of their absence, causing us to waste unnecessary time.

Despite that, I managed to arrive just before homeroom began.

I thought I’d have a moment to catch my breath.

But the moment I entered the classroom, Jia tugged me aside to help someone with their homework.

“Everyone, turn to page 29.”

The teacher’s voice snapped me back to reality. I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on the lesson.

“Are you tired?”

…Or so I thought.

The homeroom teacher arranged Rhia’s seat next to mine.

Although she hadn’t exchanged a single word with me yesterday, as soon as she sat down today, she began talking to me every few minutes—even during class.

I signaled for her to be quiet several times, but she seemed indifferent to my gestures. Pressing my forehead, I tried to refocus on the lesson.

“Do you have a headache?”

You’re the one giving me a headache.

I wanted to say that, but instead I closed my eyes briefly before turning to her.

“Hey, we’re in the middle of class, you know?”

I responded in an irritated tone. If the teacher caught us, he’d probably assume I was part of the chatter too.

Just imagining his punishment sent shivers down my spine.

“Let’s talk after class, Rhia.”

Even after saying that, I kept glancing at her, worried she might start talking again.

But she remained silent, so I turned my attention back to the front.

Yawn...

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I fell asleep during class.

But I can’t guarantee what my body might do while I’m sleeping, so that’s out of the question.

I just need to wait until break—then I can nap peacefully in the infirmary.

As I organized my thoughts, I sensed Rhia glancing at me from time to time.

I didn’t have the energy to say anything, so I let her look as much as she wanted.

But—

That turned out to be a fatal mistake.

She kept doing it—even after class ended.

During an off period, I went to help some students finish their remaining homework.

“Bian, did you do something to Rhia? Why is she staring at you like that?”

One of the students asked me the very thing I wanted to know as well. I had hoped her intense gaze would fade with time.

But it didn’t. It became increasingly uncomfortable.

Haah… I regret not telling her to stop sooner.

Even while she was with other students, her eyes never left me. I couldn’t take it anymore and walked over to her.

“Is there something you want to talk about?”

After a brief silence, she smiled and replied,

“You said we’d talk after class, so I’m looking forward to it.”

That’s true. But why does it feel like she wanted me to ask first?

Before I could respond, she continued,

“That’s why I’ve been looking at you.”

“Then let’s talk—”

I stopped when I noticed the students beside her glancing over. Seeing that, I said,

“Looks like you’re busy right now. We can talk later. But could you stop staring at me? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

Without waiting for her response, I turned to leave.

Then I stopped.

I heard a faint sound.

I glanced back at Rhia. “Did you say something?”

She flinched for a moment, then quickly smiled.

“No, nothing at all. Sorry if it seemed that way.”

I studied her for a few seconds before returning to my seat and resting my head on the desk, hoping to relax my eyes until lunch.

That moment of rest didn’t last long.

“Bian, that’s a new look. You look like a zombie.”

Jia teased me as soon as she sat down beside me. I looked up and gave her my kindest smile.

“Haha. Oh, my Jia… do you have a death wish? Please tell me how… you… want… me… to… fulfill… it… for… you.”

She laughed.

“Haha… no, silly.”

We both smiled like idiots before I changed the subject.

“I’m not really in the mood for jokes today, Jia.”

“Ahem… okay. But what happened?”

She immediately returned to her usual self. I sighed.

Even now, I’m amazed when I compare her past behavior to how she is now. 

She barely acknowledged anyone before—now she’s this playful.

Yet rumors still circulate that she only acts like this around me.

“What’s wrong? Why’d you go quiet?”

“Nothing. I’m just a bit worn out.”

Jia fell silent. I could tell she wanted to ask something, but the way she fidgeted with her fingers showed she was holding back.

“What were you talking about with Rhia?”

Instead of answering, I decided to tease her.

“Why? Worried Rhia and I might get closer than you and I?”

Her expression twisted as if she’d heard something disgusting. 

And—

That reaction stung.

“Hey, I’m offended by that look.”

“Then stop saying gross things.”

Sigh…

"It’s nothing serious. She was staring at me, so I told her to stop.”

Jia tossed out a question casually. A very stupid question.

“Did you mess with her?”

That irritated me.

“Do I look like the type to do that?”

She burst out laughing.

“Not really. You’re too boring for that.”

Annoyed, I rested my head on the desk again. Her laughter faded, leaving silence between us.

I knew she’d stay beside me until the next class.

Seeing her like this, it’s hard to believe those rumors about her.

I hesitated, considering whether to ask her about the rumors, then lifted my head slightly.

“Hey… you know those ru—”

She turned to look at me. However, I stopped mid-sentence after meeting her eyes.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

I lowered my head again. Jia started patting my head. The motion made me drowsy, but I resisted sleeping.

**********

When lunch break began, I headed to the infirmary. As I opened the door, I saw a few students chatting with the teacher.

Before I could greet her, she asked,

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, Miss.”

She nodded and turned back to the others.

She believes I suffer from insomnia. That’s why she never questions my naps and always wakes me before class.

As I moved forward, I noticed Rhia among the students.

And once again, her eyes were on me.

Ignoring it, I walked toward the bed. I didn’t think she wanted to talk.

“What brings you here, Bian?”

However, her question proved that my assumption is indeed wrong.

"I came to take a nap.”

She followed me silently until I reached the bed.

“Do you need something else?” I asked.

She shook her head and returned to her group.

What a peculiar girl.

She seemed comfortable with others, yet a subtle unease lingered within me.

It had only been two days, but something about her made me uncomfortable.

As if she spun a web of words, trapping someone before they realized it.

I fell asleep almost instantly, yet my eyes remained open in the dream.

This is the only place where I don’t have to run or be tortured.

The darkness didn’t lessen—it simply stayed calm, gentle, warm.

I lay on the ground, resting my mind.

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my eyes.

My body flinched. I thought the shadows had come to torment me again.

I braced myself.

Instead, I was only met with a surprising touch: a hand gently patted my head.

I’ve seen fragments of the past and present here. I’ve been tortured here.

But I had never been patted like this.

I tried to rise, but the hand tapped my forehead three times.

As if telling me to stay still, it resumed its gentle rhythm.

It was funny, strange… but comforting.

I told the unseen presence, 

“I can’t sleep in my dreams, so patting my head is useless.”

It remained unresponsive to my words; yet, the patting continued.

Slowly, my eyelids grew heavy and I felt an unexpected drowsiness.

The sudden shift in circumstances stirred anxiety within me.

"This is impossible. I’ve never been able to sleep here.”

Still, no answer.

Just before drowsiness consumed me, a soft voice reached my ears.

{Good night, Bia.}

It was so faint, so gentle, that I wondered if it was my own voice.

Yeah. It must be me.