“We don't know,” Vivian responded to her mother. Completing the final lunch box, Elena made her way to Bian's room. Bian has never been late for breakfast, sometimes she even wakes up before everyone.

“Is she feeling unwell?” Elena mutters to herself. After she came in front of Bian's room she turned the doorknob. She stepped inside and started talking. “Bian wake up or else you are going to be late for school “

Elena assumed Bian was still asleep, but to her surprise, Bian was already almost ready for the day. She stepped closer and asked, “Are you alright? Why are you running late today?” 

Slowly Bian looked at her mother And replied, “I just overslept, Mom.” Elena observed her closely. She noticed Bian lacked the usual energy she had in the morning. "You look a bit tired. Did you not get any sleep today?” she asked Bian.

“I'm still sleepy, Mom.” Elena's gaze flickered over Bian's face once more before she turned to leave the room. 

Bian once again looked at the mirror. Her expression was unchanged as she examined her reflection. Everything appeared as it always did, yet when her gaze met her own eyes, she was dissatisfied. She placed her hand on the mirror and said, “These things shouldn't be here. These aren't Bia's eyes." There was void instead of light or emotion, eyes full of emptiness. 

Bian left her room and went down to the dining room. Her eyes were devoid of life as she surveyed her surroundings. After she caught a glance at her siblings, a smile came on her lips – a smile full of guilt. Without a word exchanged, she took her place at the table and began to eat her breakfast. As soon as she sat on the bus she closed her eyes, as if she was waiting for this moment.

“Sis, wake up. Sis.” I was startled awake by a voice calling out to me. It felt like déjà vu. It's like something like this happened before. I blinked my eyes, looked outside, and was taken aback, “We are in front of the school!?”

“Why are you saying it like you are supposed to be somewhere else?” A student smiled at my confused expression. I didn't say anything to her and got off the bus. My head throbbing with a dull ache so I leaned against the side of the school gate and pressed my head. 

Lost in a haze of bewilderment, I found myself engulfed in a cloud of confusion, my thoughts swirling like an off-track within my mind. I remember last night the darkness didn't torment me in my dream. It was the first time I had a quiet dream in my house. 

"I also remember having a conversation with Mom earlier this morn....." A shiver trailed down my spine as I recalled that. My headache also increased. 

“Ugh…….Did I really speak with Mom?" I'm starting to doubt my own memories. 

“I did see.....…her this morning, didn't I? What did we talk about?” Fear seeped in, tightening the grip on the fragile threads of my memories.

A sudden touch on my head jolted me back to reality. When I looked up, I found Jia staring at me with a furrowed expression. “What are you doing in the middle of the gate?” Her voice laced with anger, also shattered all of my thoughts.

I became perplexed by her behaviour and asked her, “Why are you so angry?” My question seemed to only stoke the flames of her anger because she started to speak furiously, “I asked you first. What are you doing?” 

I became flustered and attempted to cool her down, “O…okay, let's calm down first. I was trying to remember if I had any conversations with my mom.” I answer her as fast as possible.

“Why are you thinking of that here?” However, she asked me another question without allowing me a moment to collect my thoughts. “I…I...I just…” Her anger left me at a loss, and my voice was shuttering.

“Do you need to think about that now?” Now she doesn't even let me finish. I don't know what made her angry, but Jia becomes the scariest when she gets angry. It's futile to speak another word. Even thousands of words won't reach her now. So the safest option is to stay silent. “Why aren't you saying anything? Why the silence now?” 

Yet, it doesn't seem like she'll let me choose that, staying silent is now out of the question. I must be crazy thinking of stupid things out of nowhere. I mustered my courage and looked at her, “I did have a conversation with my mom. I was just thinking about what we were talk…. Nooo, I…I mean I wasn't thinking of anything.” However, I hastily corrected myself after seeing her fiery expression.

Jia didn't say anything and signaled me to walk. I start walking without saying anything further. “But seriously, what made her so angry?” I muttered to myself. 

After taking a few steps I heard some buzzing sound behind me. Just as I was about to glance back, Jia held my hand and guided me forward. I wanted to ask her if she said something. 

“Don't say anything. Just keep walking. We are going to be late for homeroom.” But when I looked at her, she had a grim expression and firmly stopped me from saying anything. As we arrived in front of our classroom, her voice softened considerably.

“Please go ahead. I'll come inside in a few moments.” She said gently before letting go of my hand.

Observing her unusual display of intense emotions, I held back my words and walked into the classroom. It's rare for Jia to show extreme emotions like this. She entered the classroom as I settled into my seat. Her expression looked much better as if nothing happened a few minutes ago. “Huff.” Releasing a sigh, I gazed out of the window.