Lila couldn't stop thinking about the girl. Aria. The name kept circling in her mind. There was something about her… something Lila couldn't explain. The next day, she arrived at school earlier than usual. She entered the classroom and sat in her seat, her eyes drifting again and again toward the door. She was waiting. For what… even she didn't know. Suddenly, the door opened. A soft breeze entered, making the curtains move slightly. And then Aria walked in. There was a gentle smile on her face.
Her eyes were bright and full of warmth. As soon as she entered, she said something to Maya, and the two of them laughed softly. So normal… so carefree. But Lila froze. A strange pressure formed in her chest. For a brief moment, Aria's eyes met hers. Then— Aria smiled at her. A warm, sincere smile. Lila quickly looked away. But the feeling inside her didn't disappear. "Hey!" A cheerful voice broke her thoughts. Lila looked up and saw the same group from yesterday. "This time, you don't get to say no," Ethan said with a grin. Ryan smiled slightly.
"We came to try again." Maya spoke gently,
"Why do you always stay alone? You can sit with us." Lila stayed silent for a moment. Her eyes slowly shifted to Aria. Aria was smiling softly, watching her. There was no pressure in her gaze. No suspicion. Just kindness. "…Okay," Lila said quietly. The group was surprised. "Really?" Ethan almost jumped. Aria laughed softly.
"See? We finally succeeded." Her laughter was light and contagious. For a brief moment, a faint smile appeared on Lila's face… though she didn't even realize it. The class went on. But Lila's attention kept drifting toward Aria. Aria talked, laughed, and occasionally teased Maya. She felt so normal… so warm.
Someone who didn't belong to darkness at all. And yet Lila couldn't shake the feeling that something was hidden beneath that normal smile. At lunchtime, they all sat together. Ethan kept talking, Ryan occasionally stopping him. Maya listened quietly. And Aria… She glanced at Lila from time to time. "You're really quiet," Aria said with a soft smile. "Are you always like this?" Lila paused for a moment. "Maybe," she replied shortly. "Maybe?" Aria raised an eyebrow playfully.
"That's an interesting answer." There was curiosity in her eyes. But no pressure. No suspicion. Just a simple desire to understand. Suddenly, Aria froze. Her hand stopped on the table.
The smile on her face faded for a brief moment. Her eyes went distant… As if she was looking somewhere far away. "Aria?" Maya called. Aria blinked and snapped back.
"Yeah? It's nothing… I'm fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. But that smile wasn't the same. Lila saw everything.
Every small detail. Her eyes slowly darkened. "This…" "This isn't normal…" It felt like Aria wasn't just hiding something… But that she didn't even know what she had forgotten. Lila looked at Aria one last time. Aria was smiling again. Soft. Bright. Carefree. But now Lila knew There was something behind that smile. Something that would change everything.