The morning sunlight streamed through Ava's bedroom window, painting the room gold. She yawned, stretching, but her mind was restless. Even though the stalker incident was "over," her heart still pounded every time she remembered the lake, Judith, or that man.
Kira was already in the kitchen, humming softly in Korean while making breakfast. "Ava, hurry up," she said with a playful smirk. "You're going to be late for uni."
Ava rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "You know, Kim yoon Kira, one day I'm going to stop calling you by your full name. One day."
Kira laughed, slipping into her native tongue. "그럴 수 없어 (geureol su eopseo). You'll never stop."
Their laughter was interrupted by a knock at the door. Ethan stood there, casual but somehow magnetic, holding a small coffee in hand. "Morning, Ava. Thought you might need this."
Ava's cheeks warmed as she took it. "Thanks, Ethan."
Kira's eyes narrowed slightly, watching Ethan hand Ava the coffee, her jaw tightening for just a fraction of a second.
"Everything okay?" Ava asked, noticing Kira's silence.
"Fine," Kira said curtly, turning back to her breakfast.
Ava frowned, sensing tension she didn't fully understand. Her heart skipped in a strange way, torn between the two people she cared about most.
⸻
Campus Walk
Later, the three of them walked to uni together. Ethan chatted casually, teasing Ava about her overpacking for classes. Kira stayed close to Ava, sometimes brushing against her arm in small, protective gestures.
Ava laughed at Ethan's jokes, then felt Kira's hand squeeze hers lightly. Her stomach fluttered, confusing her.
She realized she liked how Ethan made her feel safe and comfortable, but Kira… Kira made her feel alive, daring, and bold.
The thought made her chest twist.
⸻
Evening — Subtle Jealousy
That evening, the three went out to grab dinner. Kira slipped into her cold-but-playful Korean mode whenever Ethan tried to get close to Ava, subtly teasing him in Korean so only Ava could understand.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What did she just say?"
Ava smirked nervously. "Nothing… just don't get on her bad side."
Kira's lips curved slightly, a small victorious smile. Ava could feel her pulse race.
After dinner, Ava tried to talk to Kira about it, about her confusing feelings, but Kira just shook her head, saying she was too tired and needed sleep.
Ava watched her leave, heart heavy.
She realized tonight was only the beginning.
Her feelings for Ethan were clear, her feelings for Kira were growing… and she had no idea how to navigate the storm brewing in her heart.
The Call — A Heavy Twist
The house was quiet. Too quiet.
Ava and Kira were in the living room, their mood still awkward from Kira avoiding her earlier.
Then Yuri's phone rang.
She answered casually… but the moment she heard the voice on the other end, her face froze.
Miyeong looked up instantly. "What happened?"
Yuri's voice trembled.
"It's… it's the girl from earlier. The one Kira said helped at the lake. The one who said her name was Helen."
Ava and Kira looked at each other in confusion.
The voice on the phone continued, and Yuri's knees almost buckled.
Miyeong rushed to her, grabbing her arms. "Yuri, what is it?"
Yuri whispered, barely able to speak:
"She's gone."
The room fell into total silence.
Ava's heart dropped. Kira stopped breathing for a moment.
Miyeong slowly sat down, covering her mouth.
"Gone…? But she was awake. She talked to them. She was fine."
Yuri nodded, shaking.
"The doctor said she collapsed suddenly. They tried but… she didn't make it."
Ava whispered, "So… Helen was Judith all along?"
Her voice cracked.
She didn't know whether to cry, scream, or run.
And Kira…
Kira felt something deeper than shock.
A strange mix of guilt, fear, and a sense that something didn't add up.
Because in her mind, she kept hearing Judith's last words to her:
"Kira… don't trust him."
Nothing about this felt like an accident.
Nothing felt natural.
Someone had silenced Judith.
Someone who knew she was about to tell the truth.
And Kira knew exactly who that someone might be.
Funeral Scene — Kira Meets Jack
The funeral was held at a small, quiet chapel near the outskirts of town.
The sky felt heavy, like it understood the mood.
Ava stayed close to Yuri and Miyeong, her eyes low, her mind spinning.
Kira, on the other hand, kept scanning the room. Even with the stalker caught, she felt… uneasy.
People whispered.
Some cried.
Some stared at Ava and Kira like they were walking mysteries themselves.
Kira stepped outside for fresh air.
She leaned on the railing, trying to calm her thoughts.
Then someone spoke beside her.
"You look like you're trying to decide whether to stay or run."
Kira turned her head.
A boy stood there. Tall, dark-haired, soft brown eyes. He didn't look like he knew her, but he also didn't look uncomfortable. Just… observant.
Kira blinked. "Do I know you?"
He smiled a little.
"No. But my name's Jack. I've seen you around campus."
Kira didn't answer. She wasn't in the mood for strangers.
Jack continued, still calm.
"You were close to her, right? Judith."
The way he said her name made Kira's eyes widen slightly.
Jack held his hands up.
"Relax. I'm not here to stir anything. I just… noticed you looked like you needed someone to talk to."
Kira scoffed under her breath.
"Don't we all."
Jack smiled again — not flirty, not pushy. Just friendly.
"Well, if you ever need a break from all this…"
He handed her a small piece of paper with his number.
"You can talk to me. No pressure."
Kira didn't take it. She just stared.
Jack placed it on the railing instead.
Then he nodded politely and walked back inside.
Ava came outside just then, wiping her eyes.
"Who was that?" she asked softly.
Kira shrugged. "Nobody. Just a boy."
But the way she said it made Ava look twice — not jealous, but unsettled.
Like something tugged inside her chest without permission.
When they walked back inside together, the small paper fluttered in the wind… and Ava saw Kira hesitate for half a second before leaving it there.