I tried to think of something to distract my mind from thinking that I slept with Kanae. If they'll find out, I'm in deep trouble. Especially Joan and Emily. I mean, it's not actually "slept with" as in I fucked with him. It's just sleeping in the same bed as him. Just sleeping in the same bed as him. Just sleeping in the same bed. Sleeping in the same bed. Same bed. Same bed. That's all!!

My phone alerted me, saying I have an incoming call from Joan. Speaking of the devil that I'm waiting for...

I answered it and exited Kanae's bedroom to not further bother his slumber.

"What is it?" I asked in a coarse voice.

"So how far did you go with Kanae?" She bluntly but innocently asked. I can imagine her eyes sparkling in delight an excitement.

My face flushed into a hundred shades of pink, resulting to me sliding down the door. "What do you mean?!" I asked in surprise.

"You know, you two were hanging out yesterday and you went to different places so...how far did you go, starting from your house?" She continued like it's no big deal.

I don't know how to respond to that so I simply didn't respond at all.

"Are you still there, Celeste?" Joan asked through the phone.

"Oh uhh.... It's a bad idea to talk to me about places. I really don't know how far we went through." I simply responded instead. It's a disgrace, I know but I don't want to not respond to it at all. It will make me more suspicious.

"Oh I see..." She trailed off. "Actually, I have been tailing you two starting when I saw Kanae visiting your house."

Her next statement made me jolt even more in embarrassment. I roll on the ground, desperate to hide my face and voice.

"I was chatting with Kanae but I think he noticed that I was actually watching as he kept on going to other places when I message him." She continued. That didn't made it better.

Well, so now I have an idea why Kanae kept on typing on his phone whenever he asks me where I want to go next.

"I wonder why you didn't notice though." I can FEEL her smirking from the other line. I can even imagine her trying to nudge me and tease me if I'm with her. "Are you too indulged with the fact that you're on a date with Kanae?"

"A d-d-d-date?!!" I unconsciously shouted it out loud. I immediately closed my mouth afterwards, knowing that Kanae is still asleep.

"Are you worried that Kanae will wake up? Don't worry. He didn't sleep a wink. I chatted with him the whole night and even until now." Joan explained.

I, in a panic, slammed the bedroom door open and panicked even more when I saw his eyes forming dark circles like a certain animal that I forgot, and are glued to the phone screen. I wonder what he's messaging Joan now.

"Kanae?" I walked towards him. I feel a bit afraid because he looks like an alive corpse-- a walking corpse, no... An awake corpse.

He didn't respond even upon sensing my presence. I walked closer until I managed to turn his head away from the phone and made him look at me.

My, he looks horrible. This is what sleep deprivation do to humans.

"Do you hear me, Kanae?" I stared at him directly in the eyes.

He slowly reached out to my face and caressed my cheek. His eyes drooped and a bit blurry means that he thinks he's in a dream.

"Did you sleep well, my princess?" He asked with his hand still gently caressing my cheek. I think he's in a daze.

I took his hand and acted like it really is his dream so he can continue on with his sleep. "Yes..." I replied with a warm yet weak smile.

"I'm glad..." He whispered and finally closed his eyes.

I gently placed his arm beside him and rolled him to a more comfortable position. I doubt that he could sleep well in a side-view position.

I took my phone again and went outside, this time more cautiously. I walked downstairs (which was unbelievable because I didn't expect to find it soon) and continued to call with Joan.

"Wait a minute..." I realised that I left the call on while I was trying to make Kanae sleep. "Joan, don't you dare!" I threatened.

"I already recorded it~~" She hummed in triumph. She now has something to blackmail me with. "I can't wait to post this at school!"

"Joan!!"

"Just kidding, just kidding~~ Kanae will kill me!" She laughed it off like she has nothing to blackmail me with and force me to obey her every command. I don't know if it will affect Kanae though.

"Anyway, Kanae told me that Carol told him that you were freezing just by the front gate of your own house. What happened? Did those mean parents of yours forcefully kicked you out?" Joan has a good intuition. Probably because she knows everything that I keep hidden from others.

"Yeah, what a great guess." I genuinely complimented.

"That was expected." She comments. "So where are you staying at now? Oh wait, I know: Baade Residence."

"That was expected too." I commented. "I'll have to prepare breakfast now." That was a lie. I just wanted this conversation to end quick so she wouldn't say anything about me and Kanae further.

"Now THAT'S unexpected! You know how to cook? Or handle food at the least?" Really... Joan has a very good intuition. Probably came from her angel instincts.

"Don't underestimate me."

She laughed. "Ok. Bye." She said, promptly hanging up afterwards.

If she finds out that I can't cook or just downright can't handle food, I'm screwed!

I slid down the kitchen door and stared at the open window. The wind howls in the morning. I'm happy that there's no classes today or I'll have trouble trying to keep up with the coldness of the season.

Kanae's house sure is quiet. And I don't even know where it's located so I don't know if people not passing by here is normal.

I heaved a heavy sigh. Speaking of Kanae, he's still sleeping soundly in his bedroom. I don't want to wake him up but I'm hungry and there's no food. I can't just wake him up and cook for me or at least buy me some...

Time passes and all I could think of is how I'll get food. A thought passed through my mind so I snapped my fingers in triumph. I took my phone again and dialled Zan. "Hello?" I called out.

"What is it, Celeste? Are you ok?" He answered with a hint of tiredness in his voice-- strained but ready to help nevertheless.

"Teach me how to cook again." I eagerly demanded.

•

After successfully cooking a meal, I started to dig in myself. Of course, I am planning to give some to Kanae as a token of appreciation for taking care of me the whole day.

I take my time eating, waiting for Kanae to come down and eat with me... Wait what am I thinking?! I can eat by myself and have no problems with it so why do I want Kanae to eat with me too? This is unacceptable! What is wrong with me?!

I smashed my head on the table in attempt to clear my mind off it.

The blood dripped down my forehead. I calmly wiped it off with just my hand and continued on like it's nothing. It wasn't that much painful anyway.

•

I finished my meal and I still have plenty of time left. Kanae is still sleeping and I got nothing to do (save for the fact that since I don't know how to wash the dishes, I left it all by the sink), I might as well visit my house and eventually take my room back.

I travelled by foot. With no map in my had, no phone, GPS or whatnot, nothing at all! I followed my instincts and ran towards the path that I believe leads me to my house.

•

After a while, I miraculously reached my house and not the London Bridge as usual. But there's something unusual with the atmosphere in this house. I know the atmosphere here is heavy in default but this time, it's heavier. I don't know what Patricia or Johnny is thinking about right now that kills their carefree and happy life before.

I felt even heavier when I managed to get in the gate. There weren't any other guards in sight, the car in the garage is gone along with Sebastian, and the door is unlocked. On there is a note that I assumed written by either Patricia and Johnny.

I ran to the door, stepping on the porch and rashly took the note from the door. It says: "FOR SALE." But there was writing on the back as well. On the back, it says:

"Dear Celeste,
As you can clearly see, this house is for sale. We had gone bankrupt, that's why we are desperate to sell you to the other rich families to claim our wealth back. We forcefully took you out because you are too troublesome to handle when packing up. Don't think we actually hate you.
Sincerely Yours,
Johnny"

•

December 5. Monday. Before Class.

I just don't get it...

"Hey!" AC slammed her palm on the table, not startling me at the least. "Why are you spacing out? You're like that for a month! I'm surprised your grades didn't plummet down the ground." She insulted but with concern. Still, I refuse to answer.

I couldn't see AC, I couldn't hear her, I couldn't feel her-- basically, I can't sense her. She's nothing to me.

This past month, all I could think of was that letter addresses specifically to me. Johnny didn't mention where they're headed or where they are now. I couldn't go to them because I have no sense of direction. If ever there is an address, I'll go there, asking people around but no. No one knows their whereabouts. Even now. No one's looking for me since only Patricia and Johnny knows my existence as their adopted child.

So I stayed at the Baade residence for the meantime. Currently, I'm living there now. Ever since that letter come to life, my mind broke down and so, I'm spacing out with numerous attempts to snap me back to reality but all attempts failed.

"Look here!" AC suddenly grabbed me by the collar, raising me up the ground. "There are people who are worried sick about you and all you can do is not care?!" She shook me around and slapped me. "What are you going to do to your luxurious life that you wasted?!" She shook me again and again. I'm beginning to feel dizzy. "Say something, answer me!!" No... "Hey!!" No...

I pushed her aside and held my head tight. I feel dizzy yet I don't think I'll puke anytime soon. I couldn't puke. All I could feel was: dizziness and the ability to puke but really, I couldn't.

I stand in all fours, with my head staring at the ground, barely keeping up with its own weight.

After a moment, my sight became dark and blurry. My mind became blank...like when I'm sleeping?

•

School clinic.

Is the school nurse here now, I wonder?

I slowly opened my eyes. Once I fully opened them, I lie down on a bed. I perfectly know where I am-- in the clinic. In a corner, I see someone doing something on a computer. I guess she's the school nurse. Was she the one that lay me down here on one of the beds? I looked around. It's quiet if not for the keyboard sounds produced by the computer.

"School nurse." I called out.

She immediately jolted and slowly looked at me with a forced smile. "Yes?" She asked in fear.

"Can I leave now?" I pointed at the door.

"Yes. You may." She said in a calm and refined voice. She then turned around and continued working on the computer.

I stood up from my bed and headed towards the door. Before I could exit, I turned to the school nurse again and said in a calm monotonous voice, "thank you for being here for me." I then continued exiting the door. I heard it lock from behind me. As expected.

No disguise or fake name can pass through my senses except if it's a supernatural being. That "school nurse" is not the real one.

I took a glimpse of what was in the computer as I turned to face her.

"The Auden Bankruptcy"

•

Dismissal.

I walk side by side with Kanae. We are heading outside to go home. The only ones who know that we're living together is our group and no one else, especially if it's Emily.

As I thought of this, I turned around to check if someone is stalking us. Kanae immediately noticed my sudden turn and raised a brow in response. "What is it?" He asks.

I said nothing in reply, which is usual nowadays. Because of the heavy impact that I received from Johnny's letter, I wasn't able to act or speak properly yet, as AC said, my grades didn't plummet down the ground so teachers and other staff members don't seem to care.

I walked towards the lockers. I can sense someone. I sense someone!
Who is it, I wonder?

"Missy, what do you want to eat for dinner?" Kanae called me out, his voice sounded far.

In panic, I ran to the exit, where he is. I walk side by side with him again. I answered, with the usual calm, quiet and solemn voice, "anything."

•

Baade residence. 8 pm.

Kanae just took a shower. He exited the bathroom with a towel on his head, drying it. He is wearing his pajamas already while I'm still staring at the calendar on the wall on the left side of his bed.

"20 days." I murmured. Kanae heard because of how quiet it is. I was murmuring the days left before I marry. If I want to retrieve my family and wealth back, I need to marry Carol Evans.

"20 days." Kanae repeated, looking out the window.

"I don't want to marry." I softly complained as I turned to the right side of the bed.

"You don't have to." Kanae reassured me. He's still looking out the window. He doesn't look like he's waiting or watching anybody, just looking out, looking like he's intrigued with the scene.

"If you are in my situation, what will you do?"

"It depends. If I like the person I'm being forced to marry, then I would and if there's someone else that holds a special place in my heart, I wouldn't. That simple." He stopped moving his hand that moves the towel on his head to dry his hair. He is now entirely focused on the scenery outside the window.

"Hmm... Is that so?" I hummed in an unfamiliar tone.

Kanae finally sat down on his side and wrapped himself with his blanket, turning on the left side. He turned off the lights from both his room and the lamp beside him and I don't know if he began to sleep.

•

The wall clock starts to be more hearable-- the ticking, the noise it makes, can be heard in the whole room. Glancing on the said noisy wall clock, the time is: 1:00. I'm sure that Kanae is already asleep by now.

I quietly stood up from my bed and jumped out the window, organising after myself, like I didn't leave the house at all.

I went straight down until I reached a street. From there, I walked towards the former Auden residence. I don't intend to enter my former house but instead, the neighbouring house. I sneaked inside their house and entered what seems like Carol's room. I turned on the lights, which made him wake up in fright. He panicked as soon as the lights turned on. The face that he refuses to show to anyone, the face that hides everything, the face that holds a lot of information about his background-- the face that I want to see from him...is being shown exclusively to only me. How lucky.

"Hey." I casually raised my hand and flashed out a wide smile.

"Celeste? In my room? In my house? In this neighbourhood?" He withdrew the gun that he hides under his pillow and stared at me in awe and shock. "Is this a dream?"

"I wish it was." I heaved a sigh. "Listen, I just want to talk about this arranged marriage of ours." I softly pleaded. He sat down on his bed and listened to me attentively. His eyes focused on only me, his back straight, and is keeping his mouth shut. "If I don't marry you, what will happen to my family?" I wish there's a way to make tea without waking anyone else.

Carol heaved an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "You don't know anything." He says in a disappointed tone. "If you don't marry me, your family will remain poor and helpless. You can never return to your family ever again."

"What a harsh condition." I monotonously commented. "So unless I marry you, they will accept me as their beloved Auden daughter?"

"If you say it like that, it would seem like you are desperate for attention."

"I'm not." I quickly denied, my face not moving an inch.

"Don't worry. The marriage is going to happen soon." He stood up from his bed and slowly walked towards me. "20 days." He murmured. He then took out a rose out of nowhere and shoved it on my face. "I look forward to meeting you again, beautiful flower." He said with his "flirt voice".

I smacked the rose away from his hand and went towards his bedroom window. I jumped immediately afterwards, then Carol looked down to check on my body. Once he didn't see me and moped his way back to his bedroom again, I cancelled out my invisibility ability and walked to Kanae's house.

A fresh new start. I thought. It all started when Patricia and Johnny were acting weird. It all started when Carol and Jasper were acting weird. It all started when Kanae was acting weird. Basically it started when everyone was acting weird.

Carol Evans. The name rings in my head. He is a big flirt. I first met him when my group is slowly breaking apart and he guided me to my house. Was our meeting planned from the start? Did he meet me just so he could get close to me and so, I wouldn't mind getting married to him? Is that the plan?

Why..?

Why am I forced to do this?

I don't want to elope with him, I don't want to encounter a fresh new start! I don't want to!!

I ran, forgetting where the Baade residence is.

I want to go home...

"Oh, Little Miss!"