C.C.

The door clicked shut, cutting them off from prying ears. Silence hung heavy in the room, broken only by the distant hum of the city outside the window. She turned, meeting the gaze of the one who had just hurried her inside, trying desperately to maintain a shred of composure.

— Your sister. — The words fell into the silence without a hint of mockery or malice, merely a dry statement of fact.

Her head tilted slightly to the side, studying the person before her. In the eyes of this being—regardless of what it might be to the rest of the world—a storm of emotions was raging: irritation, confusion, and the fear of a secret being laid bare.

— You're afraid. — It was an assertion rather than a question.

She took a step forward, closing the distance. In the small room, far from the eyes of others, the tension became almost palpable. Her gaze was fixed on the rapid pulse at their neck and the way their fists clenched.

— There is no need to be so anxious. — Her voice was steady, almost detached. — That attempt to justify yourself to your sister was... touching, in its own way. You try so hard to protect your tiny little world, without even realizing the power you now hold in your hands.

She sat on the edge of the desk, allowing herself to relax, yet never once averting her eyes from them.

— We are bound by contract. — The reminder came accompanied by a narrowing of her eyes. — And while you attempt to play at a normal life, the reality beyond this threshold continues to crumble. So, shall we continue our game, or would you rather waste time on empty explanations?

That look again, full of misunderstanding and fear. How exhausting it is, watching this attempt to hide behind familiar ties when the entire world has long since been hanging by a thread. And yet, this frantic energy... it almost reminds me of the times when I still sought meaning in such closeness. I wonder, will he have the courage to destroy everything he so painstakingly protects for the sake of what we have begun together? There are too many illusions in his fragile world, but... something in his persistence makes me want to stay for just one more day.