It had been days since that peculiar incident happened. I tried to talk to Jia about it.

But each time I approached her, she would evade the conversation or run away.

With all of this, there is one thing that has changed.

Whether it was during class, lunch break, or anything else, Jia stared at me with intense, intimidating eyes.

If I weren't familiar with her personality, I would have assumed I did something wrong to her.

One time, I asked her.

("Why are you acting like this? Did something happen?” 

“Nothing.”)

Yet, her response remained the same as usual.

The only thing I can do is wish that she would tell me as soon as possible.

As the days passed, other students also started to think there was an unknown tension between us.

“B…Bian, Bian.”

“Hmm?”

A faint whisper from one of the students jolted me back to the present moment.

We were doing our group assignments.

I looked at him; before I could say anything, he resumed his hushed conversation.

"Bian, please sort out your arguments fast. Jia is quite scary when she's in that state.”

“...”

Momentarily, I became speechless; then rage boiled within me.

I glared at Jia. However, as soon as my gaze met hers, she turned her face.

I really want to punch that head of hers a few times and shake some sense into her.

Sigh…

“Rhia, stop talking.”

All of the students turn their attention to Rhia. It's not that she was talking; it's the students beside her. 

But she never stops them.

As we talked a few times, there were a few things I learned about her. 

Rhia always wore a smile and never uttered a "No" to anyone. 

While some might deem this a good trait, I always feel uneasy whenever I see her smile.

Speaking of Rhia, there is news going around that a transfer student will join class B starting tomorrow. 

"Hand in your assignment and head to your classroom.”

Once the teacher left the lab, I rose from my seat and made my way to Jia's side. 

She was somehow ready to run, so I grasped her shoulder and said, 

"If you don't come with me now and run away, I'll never talk to you again.”

Jia understood I was serious about it, so she accompanied me to an empty classroom. 

Despite her compliance, she remained silent, avoiding my gaze as if I had come to scold her.

Sigh…

Now that I think about it, I kept sighing more frequently because of her.

To break the lingering silence, I asked her, 

"Do you realize people are starting to think we had a big fight? That's why you're acting like this?”

“What!? Who said that?”

“That's not my point. At least tell me why you're acting this way?”

“...”

Jia remained silent, almost as if words were caught in her throat. 

She was lost in contemplation, grappling with the decision of whether to confide in me or not. 

After a few more moments of deliberation, she finally broke her silence.

“I'm just making sure you're okay.”

Her unexpected response left me bewildered. I tilted my head in confusion and said, 

“I'm perfectly fine and healthy.”

"That's not what I meant.”

{I'm…keeping…those…things…from…you.}”

"Sorry, what did you say? I couldn't hear you.”

Jia locked eyes with me without averting her gaze.

She came closer and started patting my head, or perhaps more accurately, messing with my hair again.

Whenever she evades the conversation, she always messes up my hair.

"Alright. If you don't want to say anything, I won't ask anymore.”

“...”

“But please stop staring at me as if you want to kill me. And stop messing up my hair.”

Jia withdrew her hand, and I readjusted my locks.

"That's all I can do for now, Bia. Please be careful.”

“Huh? Did you say someth…”

When I looked up to see her, Jia had already dashed off.

Did she possess some sort of supernatural ability to flee faster? 

If not, how did she consistently manage to disappear before my very eyes?

The rest of the period went peacefully, although Jia still looked in my direction from time to time. 

However, it was no longer as if she would kill someone.

Yet, I felt anxious and calm at the same time.

****************

"Big sis, why are you going to bed early tonight?"

Vivi was accompanied by the eager gazes of the other three companions beside her.

"I'm sorry. I have to get up early tomorrow. The day after tomorrow is the weekend, so we can talk and play a lot that day, okay?”

All four of them were so excited to share their whole days with me.

But now they are disappointed; yet, they understand me and left the room.

The bus driver informed us that he was going to add a new student tomorrow and pick up some students earlier than usual.

The coincidence is that the new student is none other than our batch's second transfer student.

I looked at the place where my siblings had been sitting a moment ago. Waking up earlier isn't the only reason I went to bed early.

In the last few days, my dreams have taken a peculiar turn.

One time, they tortured me so much that I thought I might not see the next day.

But in my next dream, they became so calm as if nothing had happened, much like the current moment.

I look around and see the shadows. This situation scares me.

The day the shadows stayed calm, my memories became blurred.

Instead of my usual walking, today I just lie down.

Sometimes I wish I could sleep here. On a day like this, my body feels relaxed, but not my mind.

Perhaps, if I could succumb to sleep, maybe my mind would also feel relaxed.

“Do…you...want…to…sleep...here?”

An unfamiliar voice echoed in the darkness, sending a shiver down my spine.

Attempting to rise in alarm, I found myself immobilized, unable to move an inch.

A shadow came in front of me to cover my eyes.

Resistance was futile, so I just helplessly lay down.

I feel so stupid to ever entertain the thought that this dream could ever change.

“Those days had just given me so that I wouldn't break.”

“No, you…won't…be…tortured.”

My body flinched after hearing the same voice again.

I thought I was hearing wrong, but I wasn't. There really was another voice besides mine.

Was it the shadow, or was there another person? 

Has the shadow finally talked to me?

This situation makes me anxious. There were lots of questions I wanted to ask.

When I tried to speak, suddenly a hand started to pat my head, and it made me sleepy.

The hand also felt a little smaller than last time.

Wait!

Last time?

When?

“Shh… Good… Night… Bia.”