"Who are you…?"
The question slipped out before I could stop it, trembling at the edge of my breath.
Zhan didn't react.
Not even a flicker.
He simply walked toward me, calm, steady, as if my question carried no weight at all. His face was blank, almost unreadable, and that made it worse… because I knew there was something behind it.
There always was.
"You're thinking too much, Lu Ying," he said softly, stopping just a step away from me. "You should rest a little more… and you'll be back to yourself."
Back to myself?
What does that even mean?
He took another step closer.
My heart tightened.
Something in me… panicked.
Without thinking, I turned and ran.
The wind rushed past me, my thoughts chasing after me, louder than ever.
Something is wrong.
But what?
I kept running until I saw them Shaan, Lian, and Alex...standing together, their heads close, talking in low voices. The moment I approached, they stopped.
Too quickly.
Too carefully.
"Lu…" Shaan spoke first, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "About that sister thing… it was just a prank. I didn't think you'd take it seriously. Sorry, man."
A prank.
Of course.
I looked at him for a second longer than I should have.
His acting was terrible.
Or maybe…
I was just too tired to care anymore.
"Is that so?" I forced a small smile. "You scared me, you know."
Relief flashed across their faces.
"I'm going to the resting area," I added, turning away before they could say anything else.
I didn't wait for a reply.
Behind me, their voices lowered again.
"It's better this way," Shaan muttered. "Even if it's a lie… I don't want to burden him."
"Yeah…" Alex agreed, quieter than usual.
Lian didn't sound convinced. "So we're just going to leave it like that?"
"It's my problem," Shaan said firmly. "I'll deal with it."
There was a pause.
Then both Lian and Alex spoke at the same time.
"It's ours too, dummy."
Their voices faded as I walked further away.
I didn't want to hear more.
I didn't want to think more.
So instead… I decided to move.
To breathe.
To just… exist.
I asked the teacher for permission to walk around the island, and as I turned-
Kai was already there.
"Here to explore?" he asked, like he had been waiting for me.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "How do you always know what I'm thinking?"
He didn't answer directly.
"We could discover it together," he said instead.
I stared at him for a second… then smiled.
"Sure. Let's go dig up some buried bodies while we're at it."
He nodded seriously.
"…Okay."
I burst out laughing. "I was joking! Don't be so serious."
A faint blush spread across his face, and he looked away, embarrassed.
"Then… let's uncover the mysteries of the island," he corrected himself.
"That sounds better," I grinned. "Let's go."
The island was… vast.
Much bigger than it looked from afar.
And the deeper we walked, the stranger it felt.
Kai walked beside me quietly, but every time I asked something, about a plant, a tree, even the direction- we were heading, he answered instantly. Smoothly. Like he already knew.
"You know a lot," I said, glancing at him. "And you're really good with directions too… it's like you've been here before."
He paused for a fraction of a second.
"I just like plants," he replied, his voice calm again. "They're beautiful… in every way."
He hesitated.
"…just like mast-"
He stopped.
Then smiled, covering it up.
I didn't push.
Some things… felt better left untouched.
We eventually returned to the beach, stopping before the forest as Kai suggested we shouldn't go too deep.
The sun was beginning to set.
Golden light spread across the ocean, reflecting off the waves like scattered pieces of the sky. The horizon blurred where the sun leaned into the waiting arms of the moon, and for a moment…
Everything felt still.
Peaceful.
Like the world had paused just for this.
I stood there, watching, wanting to lose myself in that moment… to forget everything else.
But my thoughts came back.
They always do.
The wind picked up, carrying sand along with it, brushing against my face.
Some of it got into my right eye.
"Lu," Kai stepped closer, concern in his voice. "Your eye is red… let me see."
His tone softened, almost gentle.
"I'm fine," I said, smiling faintly. "It'll pass."
But tears slipped out anyway.
Not just from the dust.
The sunlight blurred.
Everything blurred.
"Kai… you go ahead," I said quietly. "I'll catch up later. I just… want to stay here for a bit."
He looked at me for a moment, then nodded.
"Don't take too long."
And just like that… he left.
I sat down on the sand, hugging my knees slightly, staring up at the sky.
"Why are you so dull today?" I murmured. "Aren't stars supposed to shine…? Why can't I see any patterns…?"
The sky stayed silent.
Then-
One star flickered.
Just one.
And for some reason…
It looked like him.
I laughed softly.
"Why him again…? That idiot's face is shining now?"
"Is it?"
My breath stopped.
I turned.
Zhan.
He was standing there.
No.
He was already sitting beside me.
When did he get here?
He looked up at the sky, his presence… strangely comforting, yet unsettling at the same time.
"You went exploring, didn't you?" he said casually. "You should've called me. Why did you go with Kai?"
His tone shifted slightly, almost pouting without meaning to.
"I know more about plants than him," he continued, a little faster now. "I know which ones are poisonous, which ones are useful, herbs, medicines… animals too. Snakes, insects-"
He suddenly stopped.
"…Sorry. I'm talking too much."
I stared at him.
Then… smiled.
A small smirk forming on my lips.
"I should have called you?"
He blinked.
For once…
Zhan looked caught off guard.
I should be scared or mad at him right?, then why my mind is soo at ease?
And for some reason-
That felt… nice.