Episode 3 : The Sun, Her & Peace

The next morning started exactly the same.

I stood at the bus stop, watching Zehao climb onto the crowded bus.

He leaned out of the doorway for a second, waving at me with a grin before the bus disappeared into the noisy morning traffic.

I waved back faintly, then turned toward the university.

But my mind wasn’t there.

It was still stuck on Miles.

On his texts.

On the way his words lingered in my head long after the screen went dark.

I hated that.

A tired sigh escaped my lips as I walked down the sidewalk

. Even after sleeping, exhaustion clung to me like a heavy coat.

Maybe because I kept thinking about him too much.

I need to control myself.

“He’s an asshole,” I whispered under my breath.

At that exact moment, a loud car horn blasted beside me.

I flinched so hard my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“Fuck—”

I stumbled backward, glaring toward the sleek black car that had pulled up beside me.

Of course.

Miles.

The window rolled down slowly, revealing him sitting lazily behind the wheel of a glossy black Rolls-Royce, one hand resting on the steering wheel like he owned the entire street.

Expensive sunglasses hid his eyes, but the smug curve of his lips was impossible to miss.

“Get in,” he said casually. “I’ll take you to university.”

I blinked at him in disbelief. “Why should I get in your car?”

He lowered his sunglasses just enough for his sharp eyes to meet mine directly. That cocky expression only deepened.

“Because,” he drawled, “I don’t want some broke, poor mute cashier getting swollen feet.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

For a second, all I could do was stare at him,

shocked. Angry. Embarrassed.

But Miles was too good at hiding things behind sarcasm.

Before I could snap back, he tilted his head slightly and added in a quieter voice, “You’ll have to deal with me all day at the café anyway. Maybe this is my advanced apology.”

And somehow, that made it worse.

Because beneath the arrogance, beneath the teasing and cruel jokes, there was something else in his voice. Something softer. Something almost careful.

That was the dangerous part about Miles.

He could insult you and make your heart race in the same breath.

I crossed my arms tightly, refusing to let him see how badly he was affecting me.

“You seriously don’t know how to talk like a normal human being, do you?”

Miles smirked faintly. “Normal people are boring.”

The morning sunlight reflected against the black car, making it look even more expensive than it already was.

Students walking past slowed down just enough to stare, whispering quietly to each other.

Of course they were staring.

A guy like Miles didn’t exactly blend into the background.

I glanced around uncomfortably before lowering my voice. “People are looking.”

“And?” he asked lazily.

“And I don’t need rumors.”

His sharp eyes stayed on me for a second too long before he spoke again.

“Bit late for that.”

I frowned immediately. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Instead of answering, he unlocked the

passenger door with a soft click.

“Get in before I change my mind.”

I stared at the open door suspiciously.

This felt dangerous.

Not murder dangerous.

Emotionally dangerous.

“I can walk by myself,” I muttered weakly.

Miles leaned his head back against the seat with a quiet sigh, like I was exhausting him personally.

“You’ve been standing here arguing with me for five minutes instead of leaving.”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

Because annoyingly—

He was right.

That stupid smug look appeared on his face immediately.

“There it is,” he said softly. “Your survival instincts are terrible.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet you’re still here.”

The tension between us felt strange. Heavy. Like something neither of us fully understood yet.

I hated it.

Which unfortunately meant I also liked it a little.

That realization alone almost made me walk

away.

Almost.

But instead, after one final glare at him, I walked around the car and slid into the passenger seat.

The door shut softly behind me.

The inside of the Rolls-Royce was ridiculously nice.

Black leather seats, soft lighting, the faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with coffee.

Everything about Miles felt expensive.

Even the silence around him.

He glanced at me briefly before pulling back onto the road.

“There,” he said casually. “Now your poor cashier feet are safe.”

I rolled my eyes and stared out the window.

“You’re actually the worst.”

“Hm.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The city moved around us quietly while soft

music played somewhere in the background.

Then suddenly—

“You look tired.”

I blinked and turned toward him.

His teasing tone was gone again.

That caught me off guard more than the question itself.

“I’m fine,” I said automatically.

“You look dead.”

“How sweet. You always know exactly what to say to women.”

“I’m serious.”

I looked away quickly toward the window.

Because the problem with Miles wasn’t just that he noticed things.

It was that he noticed the things I tried hardest to hide.

The exhaustion.

The stress.

The fact that some mornings I felt like I was surviving life instead of living it.

“You should sleep more,” he said quietly.

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

“Oh yeah?” I muttered. “Between university, three jobs, and raising my little brother, I’ll schedule a nap immediately.”

The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

I didn’t usually talk about my life so casually.

But Miles stayed quiet.

Too quiet.

When I glanced at him again, his grip on the steering wheel had tightened slightly.

“You really work that much?” he asked.

I shrugged lightly, pretending it wasn’t a big deal.

“Some people don’t get trust funds and luxury cars.”

The teasing response never came.

Instead, Miles looked straight ahead at the road, jaw tense.

Then after a few seconds, he spoke quietly.

“You think I’m making fun of you because you’re poor.”

I blinked slightly at the sudden seriousness in his voice.

“Aren’t you?”

He let out a humorless laugh under his breath.

“Katie,” he said softly, “if I cared about money that much, I wouldn’t even look twice at half the people in this city.”

My chest tightened slightly.

The car suddenly felt too warm.

Too small.

Dangerous.

Because there it was again—

That strange softness hidden underneath all the arrogance.

And somehow, that version of Miles scared me more than the rude one ever could.

Then naturally—

He ruined the moment completely.

“You still looked ridiculous pretending to be mute though.”

I gasped in betrayal.

“MILES.”

The ride to the university felt strangely quiet.

Not uncomfortable.

Not exactly comfortable either.

Just… warm. Weird. Heavy with something neither of us wanted to acknowledge.

The soft music playing in the background mixed with the low sound of the engine while the city passed outside the windows.

Every now and then, I could feel Miles glancing at me before looking back at the road again.

And every single time, my heartbeat betrayed me.

I hated this feeling.

The closer we got to the university, the more nervous I became.

Because reality was waiting there.

People.

Rumors.

Whispers.

And Miles being seen with me? That alone would become campus news for the next ten years.

The second the university gates came into view, I straightened immediately.

“Stop the car.”

Miles glanced at me briefly, confused. “What?”

“I said stop the car.”

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Why?”

“Just stop the damn car, Miles.”

The sharpness in my voice made him look at me properly this time.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything.

Then with a quiet sigh, he slowed the Rolls-Royce and pulled over near the side of the road just before the main entrance.

The car fell silent.

I reached for the door handle quickly.

“I’ll walk from here.”

Miles stared at me. “You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

His jaw tightened slightly. “Why?”

I hesitated for half a second before answering.

“Because I don’t want people seeing me around you.”

The words sounded harsher out loud.

But they were true.

I didn’t want the rumors. Didn’t want the attention.

Didn’t want people asking questions.

I especially didn’t want anyone noticing the strange tension growing between us.

Miles looked at me quietly for a second.

Something unreadable flickered across his expression before he leaned back against his seat again.

Then he gave a short nod.

“Smart decision.”

The casual tone in his voice almost sounded cold.

Like he suddenly regretted offering me the ride in the first place.

For some reason, that bothered me more than it should have.

Before I could say anything else, Miles looked away and gripped the steering wheel again.

“Get to class, cashier.”

I rolled my eyes automatically before stepping out of the car.

The cold air hit my face instantly.

A second later, the Rolls-Royce drove away smoothly, disappearing down the road without another glance back.

And somehow…

The silence he left behind felt oddly

disappointing.

I shook the thought away immediately.

Absolutely not.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and walked toward the university gates like usual,

blending into the crowd of students rushing to morning lectures.

The hallways buzzed with noise, conversations, laughter, complaints about assignments.

Normal.

Safe.

Far away from complicated feelings and dangerous boys with sharp eyes.

By the time I reached class, exhaustion had already started creeping back into my body.

I dropped into my usual seat near the window with a quiet sigh while students slowly filled the room around me.

A few minutes later, the lecture started.

Or at least I think it did.

Because honestly?

Everything sounded painfully boring.

The professor’s voice blended into meaningless background noise while warm sunlight poured through the classroom windows.

I rested my cheek against my hand for a moment.

Just for a second.

And without realizing it—

I fell asleep.

The sunlight spilled softly across my face, warming my skin gently.

Loose strands of hair fell near my eyes while the golden light made everything around me look softer somehow.

Peaceful.

Completely unaware of the classroom.

Completely unaware that someone was staring.

— Miles’ POV —

I was bored out of my mind.

The lecture was useless.

The professor sounded like a dying documentary narrator.

And Leo and Daimen were somehow arguing over basketball teams instead of paying attention.

I leaned back lazily in my chair, barely listening to anything around me.

Then my eyes landed on her.

And suddenly—

Everything else disappeared.

Katie was asleep.

The sunlight coming through the windows wrapped around her softly, making every feature stand out in a way that genuinely stole the breath from my lungs for a second.

Her expression looked peaceful for once.

No arguing. No glaring at me. No sarcastic comments.

Just quiet.

Beautiful.

I stared longer than I should have.

Way longer.

Something tight twisted painfully in my chest as I watched her sleeping against the sunlight like she belonged inside some impossible memory I wanted to keep forever.

It was dangerous.

The way she made me feel was dangerous.

Without thinking too much about it, I slowly pulled my phone from my pocket.

Carefully.

Quietly.

Like I was afraid the moment would disappear if

I moved too fast.

Then I took a picture.

And another.

My heartbeat felt strangely uneven while I looked at the photos on my screen.

She looked so soft.

So innocent.

Nothing like the chaotic, stubborn girl constantly fighting with me.

For the first time in a long time, something inside me felt calm.

But underneath that feeling—

There was fear too.

A quiet fear curling tightly in my chest.

Because deep down,

I knew this was becoming something I couldn’t control anymore.

And that terrified me more than anything.

It didn’t take long before the professor noticed me sleeping.

Honestly, I couldn’t even blame him.

I had never fallen asleep during class before.

Ever.

So when the lecture suddenly went quiet around me, the professor slowly walked over to my desk with visible confusion on his face.

“Katie?”

I felt a light shake against my shoulder.

“Hm…” I mumbled sleepily, barely awake.

Then another shake came, slightly firmer this time.

“Katie.”

I flinched awake instantly, blinking against the sunlight while rubbing my eyes in confusion.

A few students snickered quietly.

The professor crossed his arms, looking somewhere between concerned and amused.

“Did you sleep well?”

Heat rushed straight to my face.

“I’m sorry—”

“Go wash your face,” he interrupted gently. “You look exhausted.”

I nodded quickly, too embarrassed to argue.

The second I stood up, I could feel everyone staring at me.

Including Miles.

I avoided looking at him completely as I hurried out of the classroom.

The hallway felt cooler and quieter compared to the noisy lecture room.

I sighed softly while walking down the corridor, dragging my feet slightly.

Honestly… I didn’t even feel like washing my face.

I didn’t feel like doing anything.

So instead of heading toward the bathroom, I slowly made my way outside toward the

university’s main grounds.

The campus looked peaceful during lecture hours.

The large trees swayed softly in the breeze while sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating shifting patterns across the ground.

Eventually,

I reached a wooden bench beneath one of the biggest trees on campus and sat down heavily.

A tired sigh escaped my lips.

“What am I even doing?” I muttered quietly to myself, leaning my head back against the bench.

“Why does everything feel so… uninteresting lately?”

The words felt strange leaving my mouth.

Because honestly?

I didn’t understand myself anymore.

Everything lately felt messy. Confusing.

Especially whenever Miles was involved.

I closed my eyes for a second—

Then suddenly, something cold lightly touched my hand.

I blinked and turned my head.

And immediately froze.

Theo stood beside the bench, holding out a bottle of strawberry juice toward me with a soft smile resting on his lips.

The sunlight filtering through the trees made him look almost unreal.

Warm eyes. Messy dark hair. That calm, easy expression.

“Take it,” he said gently. “You look a little lost. It might help.”

For a second, I forgot how to speak.

“Oh— no, no, I’m okay,” I said quickly, shaking my head.

But Theo simply laughed quietly under his breath before placing the drink into my hands anyway.

“You don’t have to resist everything, you know.”

Then, without hesitation, he sat down beside me.

Close enough for me to catch the faint scent of his cologne when the breeze shifted.

It smelled clean. Warm. Familiar somehow.

My fingers tightened awkwardly around the bottle while my heartbeat suddenly became

painfully noticeable.

Why was I nervous?

It was just Theo.

The universally loved senior with the unfairly pretty face and dangerously calming smile.

No big deal.

I looked down at the unopened juice bottle awkwardly before Theo suddenly reached over and took it gently from my hands.

“You didn’t even open it,” he teased softly.

Before I could react, he twisted the cap open easily and handed it back to me again.

“There,” he said. “Now drink.”

I stared at him for a second before letting out a tiny embarrassed laugh.

“…Thank you.”

Theo smiled.

Not cocky like Miles.

Not teasing.

Just soft.

Comfortable.

I took a small sip of the strawberry juice while trying to ignore the butterflies aggressively attacking my stomach.

After gathering a little courage, I glanced toward him.

“Why aren’t you in class?”

Theo looked genuinely amused by the question.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

I blinked at him in shock, immediately opening my mouth to defend myself.

But before I could argue, he laughed softly again.

“Relax,” he said warmly. “I don’t mind.”

His voice carried this strange calming effect that made it hard to stay nervous around him for too long.

Theo leaned back slightly against the bench, looking up at the trees above us.

“I just needed a break,” he admitted quietly. “Things get loud sometimes.”

For some reason, hearing someone like Theo say that surprised me.

I looked down at the juice bottle again before smiling faintly.

“Yeah,” I murmured softly. “I get that.”

A comfortable silence settled between us.

Not awkward.

Not forced.

Just easy.

Then after a moment, Theo turned toward me again.

“What’s your name, by the way?”

I blinked.

“My name?”

He nodded once.

I looked at him for a second before answering quietly.

“Katie.”

Theo repeated it softly like he was testing how it sounded.

“Katie.”

And somehow, hearing my name in his voice made my chest feel strangely warm.

“That’s a beautiful name,” he said with a small smile. “Fits a beautiful girl.”

My breath caught slightly.

“Oh.”

That was it.

That was my entire intelligent response.

Theo laughed quietly at my stunned expression

while I immediately looked down at the juice

bottle again to hide my embarrassment.

“And you’re Theo,” I muttered after a second. “You’re kind of… famous around campus.”

His eyebrows lifted in amusement.

“Famous?”

“Among girls,” I clarified sarcastically.

That made him laugh properly this time.

The sound was warm and real enough to pull an accidental smile out of me too.

“God,” he said while shaking his head slightly,

“you’re cute.”

I nearly choked on the juice.

Theo looked at me for another second before speaking again, softer this time.

“I’d like to be your friend.”

I blinked slowly.

“Friend?”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “Friends.”

There was something sincere in his eyes that made it impossible to refuse him.

“You don’t mind, right?” he asked gently.

I looked at him quietly for a second before smiling a little.

“No,” I admitted softly. “I don’t mind.”

Theo’s smile widened immediately.

Then he held out his hand toward me.

“Deal?”

I laughed quietly before shaking his hand.

The moment our hands touched, butterflies exploded in my chest all over again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Theo pulled out his phone afterward and grinned slightly.

“Then give me your number so we can hang out sometime.”

I bit my lip nervously before eventually typing my number into his phone.

Not long after, the loud university bell rang across campus, signaling the end of the lecture period.

Theo stood up from the bench smoothly, adjusting his bag over his shoulder.

“See you soon, Katie.”

I smiled before I could stop myself.

“See you soon too.”

Then he walked away across the campus grounds, sunlight catching against his figure while students greeted him from every direction.

And somehow…

I kept staring until he disappeared completely.

A weird fluttering feeling stayed inside my chest long after he left.

Eventually, I stood up too and made my way back toward class to collect my things.

Most of the students were already leaving by the time I entered the classroom again.

Conversations filled the air while chairs scraped loudly against the floor.

The professor was gone.

I quickly grabbed my bag from my desk and swung it over my shoulder before heading

toward the door—

Only to stop suddenly.

Miles stood directly in front of the exit.

Like he had been waiting there.

His sharp eyes landed on me immediately.

“Where were you—”

Before he could finish speaking, Leo and Daimen suddenly appeared behind him.

“Dude, let’s go,” Daimen complained dramatically.

“What are you waiting for?”

Miles glanced back at them briefly before looking at me again.

Something unreadable flashed across his face.

Then just as quickly, his expression turned lazy again.

“Nothing,” he muttered casually. “Let’s go.”

Leo and Daimen didn’t question him.

The three of them walked away down the

hallway together, their voices slowly fading into the crowd.

Meanwhile, I stood there frozen for a second.

Then finally—

I let out a relieved breath.

“Thank God,” I whispered quietly to myself. “I survived.”

After university,

I headed straight to the café.

The soft bell above the entrance door rang the moment I stepped inside.

The warm smell of coffee and vanilla wrapped around me instantly, familiar and comforting after such a long day.

Julie was near the tables, arranging chairs properly while wiping down the desks with dramatic determination.

“Hey there, Julie,”

I greeted with a tired smile.

She looked up immediately and smiled back. “Finally. I was starting to think you abandoned me.”

“I considered it,” I teased weakly.

Julie gasped dramatically. “Heartless.”

A small laugh escaped me before I walked toward the staff area in the back.

Two other workers were already there preparing supplies for the evening rush, but I barely paid attention as I dropped my bag into the locker and tied my apron around my waist.

The second I stepped back outside, the café had already started getting busy.

Customers filled the tables slowly, soft conversations mixing with the sound of coffee machines and clinking cups.

The next few hours blurred together quickly.

Taking orders. Making drinks. Smiling politely.

Trying not to collapse from exhaustion.

I had just returned behind the counter to prepare another coffee when Julie suddenly slid beside me dramatically like she was entering a movie scene.

“Katie,” she whispered suspiciously.

I narrowed my eyes immediately. “Why do you sound evil?”

She ignored that completely.

“There’s a party at a club this Thursday,” she said

excitedly. “You’re coming with me.”

“Thursday?” I repeated blankly while pouring

coffee into a cup. “I don’t know…”

Julie looked offended already.

“I can’t leave Zehao alone that late,” I explained softly. “You know club parties always end after midnight.”

“Oh, come on,” Julie whined dramatically, lightly shaking my arm. “Don’t reject it so quickly. You still have two days to think about it.”

I sighed quietly.

Honestly, parties sounded exhausting.

Then Julie suddenly looked at me with big pleading eyes.

“It’s my birthday,” she said softly. “I don’t really have anyone besides you, so you have to come.”

My heart immediately weakened.

That was unfair.

Very unfair.

I looked at her for a few seconds before finally sighing in defeat.

“I’ll try,” I said reluctantly. “One hundred percent try.”

Julie’s face lit up instantly.

“I knew you’d say yes!”

“I didn’t say yes.”

“You basically did.”

I rolled my eyes while she grinned proudly beside me.

Then the café became busy again before I could argue further, and both of us returned to work immediately.

By the time my shift finally ended, my entire body felt exhausted.

The streets outside were colder now, the city quieter as night settled in.

Eventually, I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door before stepping inside quietly.

The moment I entered, soft footsteps hurried toward me.

“Sister, you’re back.”

I looked up immediately.

Zehao stood in the hallway wearing oversized pajamas, his sleepy eyes looking up at me softly.

A small smile appeared on my face instantly.

“Zehao?” I said while slipping my shoes off. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

He hesitated for a second before answering quietly.

“There wasn’t anything to eat today… so I’m still hungry.”

My heart dropped immediately.

Oh no.

I completely forgot to cook before leaving earlier.

Guilt hit me instantly.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I said quickly, walking toward him.

“Sit down for a few minutes, okay? I’ll cook something right now—”

But before I could finish, Zehao looked at me hopefully.

“Sister… can we order pizza today?” he asked

quietly. “I’m craving it.”

I blinked at him for a second.

Then smiled softly.

Zehao almost never asked for things.

Never complained. Never demanded anything.

So whenever he did ask for something small like this—

I could never refuse him.

Not when he was the reason I worked this hard in the first place.

I reached up and gently fixed his messy hair with my hand.

“Of course, baby boy.”

His face brightened immediately.

And just like that, every bit of exhaustion I felt became worth it.

I quickly grabbed my phone and sat down beside him on the couch, ordering the pizza while

Zehao quietly leaned against my shoulder.

One click.

Done.

“I ordered it,” I told him with a smile. “Now go watch TV for a little while. I’m going to get freshened up before it arrives.”

Zehao nodded happily before grabbing the remote.

And as I walked toward my room, hearing his quiet excitement behind me somehow made the apartment feel warmer than it had all day.

It didn’t take long for me to freshen up.

A few minutes later, I walked out of my room wearing an oversized T-shirt and soft shorts, my hair tied into a messy bun that was already falling apart.

The apartment felt warm and quiet compared to the chaos of the outside world.

Zehao was curled up on the couch, completely focused on the TV.

I smiled softly as I sat beside him.

“What are you watching?”

“Cartoons,” he answered immediately without looking away from the screen.

I laughed quietly. “All the time with these cartoons. You seriously never get tired of them?”

“Nope.”

The confidence in his tiny voice made me smile again.

Then suddenly—

The apartment bell rang.

Zehao’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Looks like your pizza is here,” I said.

He sat up so quickly it made me laugh under my breath.

I walked toward the door and opened it carefully.

Since I had already paid online, the delivery man simply handed me the pizza boxes.

“Thank you,” I said politely before taking them and closing the door behind me.

The smell of warm pizza immediately filled the apartment.

The second I placed the boxes on the table,

Zehao sat properly like he was attending an important business meeting.

“I’ll only eat three slices,” he announced seriously.

A soft giggle escaped me.

“You can eat as much as you want.”

I opened the box and served him a slice first before taking one for myself.

For a little while, everything felt peaceful.

Simple.

Warm.

Zehao ate happily while the cartoon noises filled the background, and for the first time all day, my chest finally felt lighter.

Then—

Buzz.

My phone lit up on the table.

I glanced at the screen casually.

Miles.

Immediately, my stomach tightened strangely.

I stared at the notification for a second too long before quickly locking the screen again and placing the phone face down on the table.

I wasn’t ready to answer him.

Honestly… the effect he had on me lately scared me a little.

And that alone was dangerous.

Before I could think about it further, Zehao suddenly looked toward me.

“Sister,” he said carefully, “is there any cold drink in the fridge?”

I narrowed my eyes at him immediately.

“Cold drink?” I repeated dramatically. “You want to get sick or something?”

He pouted instantly.

And unfortunately for me—

That pout always worked.

My heart softened so fast it was embarrassing.

A quiet chuckle escaped my lips as I shook my head.

“There’s cold drink in the fridge,” I admitted while standing up. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Zehao immediately placed his pizza slice down and held his hand up proudly.

“You’re the coolest sister ever.”

I laughed softly before high-fiving him.

His tiny dramatic actions somehow made even the hardest days feel lighter.

Still smiling to myself, I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge before grabbing the cold drink bottle.

But as I turned around—

My eyes landed on a folded paper sitting on the kitchen table.

I frowned slightly.

It looked familiar.

Setting the bottle down for a second, I picked the paper up carefully.

And immediately froze.

Parent Meeting Notice.

Tomorrow.

My expression slowly softened.

He forgot?

No.

Zehao never forgot important things.

A painful feeling settled quietly in my chest.

He hid it.

Probably because he didn’t want to bother me.

Because somewhere along the way, my little brother had started treating himself like a burden instead of a child.

That realization hurt more than I wanted to admit.

I quietly folded the paper again before walking back into the living room.

Zehao looked up at me innocently while chewing his pizza.

I placed the cold drink on the table before holding up the notice slightly.

“You didn’t tell me there’s a parent meeting tomorrow.”

For a second, his expression shifted almost nervously.

Then he looked away.

“I forgot,” he mumbled softly.

The lie was obvious.

And somehow, that made my heart ache even more.

I sat down beside him carefully.

“Zehao,” I said gently, “I’m coming with you tomorrow.”

His head lifted immediately.

“But you have university.”

The concern in his voice caught me off guard.

Even now—

He was worried about me first.

I reached over and gently fixed a strand of hair away from his forehead.

“I can miss one day,” I told him softly. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

He stayed quiet for a moment.

Then finally nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

I smiled faintly at him.

“Now finish eating and go sleep afterward, alright?”

This time, he didn’t argue.

And while he quietly ate beside me, I looked down at the parent meeting notice in my hands and felt something heavy settle inside my chest.

Because no matter how exhausted I was…

No matter how many jobs I worked…

I would never let Zehao feel alone.

After we finished eating the pizza, I reached over and took the remote from Zehao’s hands before turning the TV off.

“Alright,” I said softly, standing up. “Bedtime.”

Zehao smiled tiredly and climbed off the couch immediately.

The apartment was quiet now, filled only with the faint sounds of traffic outside the windows as we walked down the hallway together.

I followed him into his room while he climbed onto the bed and pulled himself beneath the blanket.

For a second, I just stood there looking at him.

So small.

So precious.

Sometimes it scared me how much of my world depended on him being okay.

I pulled the blanket properly over his shoulders before brushing his messy hair back gently.

“Sleep well,” I whispered.

Zehao looked up at me sleepily.

“Sleep well too, sister.”

A small smile spread across my face instantly.

“Goodnight, baby.”

I turned the lamp dimmer before quietly walking out of his room and leaving the door slightly open like I always did.

Then I headed toward my own room.

The second I stepped inside, I stopped.

…Mess.

Clothes on the chair. Makeup scattered across the desk.

Dust near the shelves.

I sighed dramatically.

“I should probably clean this before it becomes a crime scene.”

Honestly, I was exhausted.

But sometimes cleaning helped quiet my thoughts.

So I started picking everything up slowly.

I gathered the dirty clothes first and carried them toward the laundry area before coming back to organize the rest of the room.

One by one, everything slowly returned to place.

I folded clothes neatly into the closet.

Rearranged my tiny makeup collection.

Lined up the perfume bottles carefully on the shelf.

The room slowly started feeling calmer.

Cleaner.

Like maybe my life wasn’t completely falling apart after all.

Eventually, I grabbed the vacuum and cleaned the floor too, the soft buzzing sound filling the silence around me.

Nearly an hour later, I finally looked around the room proudly.

“Well,” I muttered to myself, placing my hands on my hips dramatically, “look at that.”

Everything was finally clean.

Then suddenly—

Zehao’s school uniform.

My eyes widened slightly.

“Oh no.”

I quickly walked out toward the washing machine, grabbed his uniform from the basket, and carefully placed it inside before starting the wash cycle.

The soft hum of the machine filled the quiet apartment.

Now everything was finally done.

Exhaustion hit me all over again.

I walked back into the living room and dropped onto the couch with a tired sigh before grabbing my phone from the table.

The second the screen lit up—

I froze.

8+ messages from Miles.

My stomach immediately tightened.

Why was I nervous just from seeing his name?

I stared at the notifications for a few seconds before finally gathering enough courage to open the chat.

Miles: Where are you?

Are you ignoring me?

Are you busy?

What are you even up to?

You’ll regret not replying back.

Then—

Are you with Theo?

I blinked in disbelief.

Excuse me?

A small annoyed expression immediately crossed my face.

Who exactly did he think he was asking questions like that?

More messages appeared underneath.

You know we still have to see each other at university tomorrow.

(smug emoji)

I can always visit your coffee shop too, cashier.

(eye roll emoji)

Then finally—

You there?

KATIE?

ARE YOU ALIVE?

Despite myself, a quiet laugh escaped my lips.

He was unbelievable.

Completely exhausting.

And somehow…

Ridiculously easy to think about.

I hesitated for a moment before finally typing back.

Me:

I’m here.

Not even one second later—

My phone buzzed immediately.

I stared at the screen in shock.

Had he seriously been waiting?

Miles:

Who cares.

My eyes widened.

I quickly typed back.

Me:

You say “who cares” but replied so fast like you were waiting for me.

A few seconds later—

(eye roll emoji)

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Then another message appeared.

Miles:

I’m going to sleep. See you tomorrow, stupid.

The insult should’ve annoyed me.

Instead, it weirdly felt… familiar.

Comfortable.

Dangerous.

My fingers hovered over the screen for a second

before I finally replied softly:

Me:

Goodnight.

And somehow—

That tiny conversation stayed in my chest long after the chat ended.

— Miles’ POV —

I laid back against my bed, exhaustion finally settling into my body.

The room was dark except for the faint glow of my phone screen beside me.

I should’ve slept earlier.

I was tired.

But for some reason, I couldn’t fully relax without talking to her first.

Even if it was only for a few minutes.

Even if she drove me insane.

A small smile pulled at the corner of my lips as I stared up at the ceiling.

Then finally, with Katie’s last message still lingering in my mind, I closed my eyes and let sleep take over.

— Katie’s POV —

By the time I finished everything, Zehao’s uniform was washed, dried, and neatly pressed for tomorrow morning.

The apartment had gone completely silent.

I turned the lights off one by one before finally walking back into my room.

The clean scent of laundry filled the air softly.

I barely had enough energy left to crawl into bed before exhaustion completely took over.

The second my head touched the pillow—

I was asleep.

The next morning, I woke up thankfully on time for once.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly before slowly sitting up in bed, my hair completely messy and falling all over my face.

A yawn escaped my lips as I slipped my feet into my slippers and dragged myself out of the room half-asleep.

The apartment was still quiet.

I walked straight toward Zehao’s room and pushed the door open gently.

“Zehao,” I mumbled sleepily while walking toward his bed. “Wake up.”

He groaned softly beneath the blanket.

I grabbed the edge of it and pulled it down dramatically.

“Come on,” I said. “Your uniform is already

pressed.

Get ready while I make breakfast.”

Another yawn escaped me before I added,

“And don’t forget today is the parent meeting.”

That immediately got his attention.

Zehao slowly sat up while rubbing his eyes, and I smiled faintly before leaving the room and heading toward the kitchen.

The cold floor against my feet nearly killed me emotionally.

Still half-awake, I started making pancakes for him quietly while the soft morning sunlight slowly filled the apartment through the windows.

The smell of warm pancakes soon spread through the kitchen.

After finishing, I carefully placed them onto a plate, adding chocolate syrup on top before pouring a warm glass of milk beside it.

Not long after, Zehao walked out wearing his neatly pressed uniform, his backpack hanging from one shoulder.

“You’re not taking the school bus today,” I told him while placing the plate in front of him.

He looked up curiously.

“We’re going together in a taxi.”

He nodded obediently before sitting down and immediately starting breakfast.

Meanwhile, I walked back into my room to get ready.

After searching through my closet for a minute, I finally pulled out a soft light pink dress that reached my knees.

Simple. Pretty. Comfortable.

I took a quick shower before stepping out nearly ten minutes later, warm steam still clinging to my skin.

Standing in front of the mirror, I dried my hair carefully before tying it into a neat bun, leaving a few soft strands framing my face naturally.

A little perfume.

Lip balm.

Then finally shoes.

When I walked back outside, Zehao had already finished eating and was waiting patiently with his bag beside him.

I crouched down in front of him and fixed his shoelaces properly.

“Done.”

He smiled softly.

Then together, we left the apartment.

A few minutes later, the taxi arrived, and we climbed inside quietly while the city slowly woke up around us.

—

Not long after, we reached Zehao’s school.

The moment we entered through the gates,

Zehao turned toward me.

“Bye, sister.”

“Have a good class,” I replied with a smile.

Then he headed toward his classroom while I walked toward the principal’s office.

I stopped outside the door and knocked politely.

“Can I come in?”

A firm but calm voice answered from inside.

“Yes, come in.”

I opened the door carefully before stepping inside.

The principal greeted me with a polite smile.

“You’re Zehao’s sister?”

I nodded while sitting down.

“Yes.”

The principal adjusted her glasses before smiling warmly.

“He’s a very smart boy,” she said proudly. “One of the top students in his grade.”

Warmth immediately spread through my chest.

Then she pulled out several papers and artwork from the desk.

“He’s also an excellent artist.”

My eyes widened slightly as she showed me Zehao’s drawings.

Beautiful sketches. Detailed coloring. Careful shading.

I stared at them in shock.

“Zehao drew all of these?”

The principal nodded proudly.

“He’s extremely talented.”

I looked down at the artwork quietly, emotions swelling inside my chest.

When did he become this good?

Then the principal pulled out his report cards.

99 out of 100. 50 out of 50. Top marks everywhere.

Pride hit me so suddenly it almost hurt.

“He’s very intelligent,” the principal continued kindly. “We’ve never had any complaints about him.”

I smiled softly, trying to hide how emotional I suddenly felt.

But then—

Something on the wall caught my attention.

A colorful poster.

School Trip — Grade 6 Students.

I frowned slightly before pointing toward it.

“Is the sixth grade going on a trip?”

The principal nodded immediately.

“Yes. They’ll be staying at a hotel from Thursday morning until Friday morning.”

Then her expression softened slightly.

“But Zehao said he doesn’t want to go.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“He refused when we asked earlier.”

A painful feeling settled inside me immediately.

Of course.

He probably didn’t want me spending extra money.

The principal leaned back slightly before speaking again.

“Even hardworking students need time to relax,” she said gently. “Too much studying without enjoyment can become unhealthy.”

I knew she was right.

Zehao deserved normal childhood memories too.

Fun.

Friends.

Trips.

Not just watching me struggle every day.

I straightened slightly in my seat.

“Actually,” I said firmly, “he will go.”

The principal looked slightly surprised.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

A small smile spread across her face before she handed me a paper.

“Then please sign this form and complete the payment at the office.”

I nodded and signed the form carefully before standing up.

As I thanked her and walked out of the office, my

chest felt both proud and heavy at the same time.

Proud because of Zehao.

Sad because he hid this from me.

A few minutes later, I reached the payment office.

The manager looked up from his desk.

“For the sixth-grade trip?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Student name?”

“Zehao.”

He checked the papers quickly before nodding.

“Alright. Since the form is signed, the total payment will be forty dollars.”

Forty dollars.

For a second, my mind immediately started calculating expenses automatically.

Groceries. Bills. Transportation.

It was a lot.

But the thought disappeared almost instantly.

I worked for Zehao.

Everything I did was for him.

Without hesitation, I took out the money and paid for the trip completely.

After finishing the process, I headed toward Zehao’s classroom one last time.

I knocked softly on the door.

“Sorry for disturbing the class.”

The teacher smiled politely.

“It’s alright. Are you Zehao’s sister?”

I nodded.

“Can I speak to him for a minute?”

A moment later, Zehao walked out into the hallway looking confused.

I guided him slightly away from the classroom before smiling softly.

“I paid for your trip.”

For a second—

Pure shock covered his face.

“The trip?! But—”

“No ‘but,’” I interrupted gently. “You’re going.”

His eyes widened slightly.

“You’ll have fun with your friends, okay?”

Then I slipped some extra money into his hand.

“And buy yourself a good lunch too.”

He stared at the money quietly before looking back at me.

His eyes looked emotional.

Then suddenly—

He hugged me tightly.

“So tightly.”

“You’re the best sister,” he whispered softly. “I hope I have you in every universe.”

My heart physically hurt.

I hugged him back immediately, holding him for a few seconds longer than usual.

Then finally, he pulled away smiling brightly for the first time that morning.

A real smile.

Not the careful one he usually wore around me.

And somehow…

That alone made every dollar worth it.

“Now go back to class,” I said softly.

He nodded happily before waving at me and running back inside.

I stood there watching him for a moment before

finally turning around and walking out of the school.

I still had hours before my shifts started.

And honestly—

For once, I didn’t want to rush anywhere.

So instead, I walked.

The city slowly faded quieter around me until eventually, I reached a peaceful park filled with soft wind and blooming flowers.

Only a few people were there.

It felt calm.

Quiet.

I sat down on the grass slowly, letting the

sunlight warm my skin while I stared at the flowers absentmindedly.

For the first time in days, my thoughts felt still.

Then suddenly—

A familiar voice spoke behind me.

“What a coincidence.”

My entire body froze.

— Author pov —

Each day of katie life is filled with chaos, so now what will happen today? who is that person who called out on katie? if you wanna know

to be continued

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