"What are you doing here?"
Ruby's chopsticks froze right in front of her open mouth. The haze blurring her vision briefly blinded Ruby from recognizing the people coming to her table. Her hand moved, approaching her mouth, and sent the hot pipping noodles in. Ruby chewed while swinging her other hand to chase away the steaming vapor.
Little by little, two shadowy figures became more alive. The two shortened the distance in a glance before finally stopping beside Ruby's and Erin's table, looking down from above their heads.
Zayn and Zin were bewildered. They felt a bit unreal finding Ruby sitting nonchalantly inside the cafeteria of their academy.
After knowing the identity of the two, Ruby got back to eating her noodles as though their arrival were nothing but mere flies flying to pollute the air.
Different from Ruby, Erin hardened on the spot. Her pupil dilated when her eyes shifted to Zayn and Zin. Her gaze caught sight of the people behind the two young masters who looked equally bewildered as Zin and Zayn. Although they didn't know anything about the situation, they still went with the twins because they think it would be interesting.
The whole cafeteria got their attention hooked to the center. The loud laugh, the sound of clinking cutlery, the complaints, or even the breathing noise, everything gradually vanished to nothingness.
Zayn's temple bulged from being ignored. If it was at home, he might have already argued like usual with Ruby, but since they were outside, Zayn had to hold back. His narrowed eyes stared at Ruby for a moment, then he indignantly turned away. His eyes were shut because he was really annoyed while his mouth let out a 'Tsk'.
Zin glanced at his brother. He learned to be smart and asked the dazed Erin, "You know Ruby?"
"O-O-Oh, Yes."
"Where did you guys meet?"
Erin confusedly replied, "We are roommates."
Zin and Zayn were both startled. They stared at Ruby in shock. It was their first time hearing about Ruby slamming the steering wheel from finance and going astray out of the road to turn to art.
Seeing the two were speechless, the guys behind them exchanged glances.
One of them suddenly chimed in, "If I'm not mistaken, I heard that Young Master Zin and Young Master Zayn's true little sister's name is Ruby Heather."
"What? That's the girl who took Young Miss Crystal's place?"
"She seems dull, not like Miss Crystal at all."
"I think I get why the two Young Master dislikes her. I would also hate it if my sister is like this slow-witted girl."
"Look, she doesn't even budge. Do you think she's deaf?"
"She's not deaf. But maybe, foolish? I bet part of her brain was ruined from that incident."
They laughed and giggled happily like a bunch of idiots. That's what Ruby thought inwardly.
No comes back came out of Ruby's lips who was busy slurping the soup. Her attitude looked like she was a bystander with no relation to the person being made fun of, irritating Zayn and Zin to the bone. Even Erin couldn't resist her concern from spilling out from her gaze.
Does she understand that she was being insulted?!
Eventually, Zayn couldn't take it anymore. His face was livid. Zayn snapped angrily, "Shut up!"
"Believe it or not, I will break your neck if you say one more word about her!"
Zin fueled the fire and said comically, "It's better to have a discussion with their elders."
The faces of all young masters were distorted when the elders were brought up by Zin. Someone grumbled in defense, "Young Master Zin doesn't have to go that far. We just wanted to help you vent. Didn't Young Masters say you hate this little sister?"
Zin choked. He was caught off guard that he couldn't immediately respond.
Zayn gritted his teeth. His expression became unsightly by the minute. But he just can't utter a single denial. He glimpsed to the side, finding Ruby's thoughtful face. Zayn's eyelids twitched.
Deep down, Zayn worried if Ruby was having any weird ideas forming inside her brain.
They had never hated her.
Never.
Zin steadied his breathing and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense."
Ruby calmly interjected, "I don't care."
Her bowl was cleaned out when they were too occupied with their own disagreement. Ruby brushed her lips with a tissue, afterward, she got up and tidied her slightly disheveled hair.
Erin followed closely. She hurriedly finished her food and got up to leave with Ruby.
"Wait."
Zayn said, "Let's talk."
Ruby didn't react to Zayn. However, she silently stared at Erin.
Erin jolted, and speedily muttered, "It's ok, it's ok. I'm gonna go back to the dorm."
The crowd dispersed after Ruby left with the twins. Though the drama wasn't too exciting, it was still a huge gossip to know Crystal's stepsister was in the same academy as them. Furthermore, it seems the relationship between Heather's siblings wasn't that great remembering their stiff interaction.
The students murmured within their own circle regarding the upcoming drama. Jeering and mocking laughs could be heard from everywhere. Some would compare Ruby and Crystal, some would lament Ruby's bad luck, and some would say a few words of sympathy, while others couldn't wait to watch Ruby's downfall for trying to go against her role as Crystal's shadow.
Lily sat at the table on the edge of the cafeteria alone. She was already there before Ruby and Erin came. Lily watched the commotion with a straight, clear gaze.
Lily clamped her mouth shut tightly. Her eyebrows sharpened. Then she left at the same time as Erin.
Zayn walked in the front, whereas Ruby and Zin followed in the back. They looked up ahead without saying anything.
Ruby put a blank expression on her face. The twins couldn't guess what was going on inside her head.
Zin gulped to moisten his throat. Raising his balled palm to cover his tensed facial muscles, Zin grunted in annoyance.
After a lot of hesitation, he spoke in a whisper voice, "I know your roommate. She's from the acting department. So.. you.."
The dorm was assigned to students according to the department they were in. That means, Ruby was in the acting course, which was surprising given how she could only glare with resentful eyes.
Zin and Zayn were from the management department specializing in managing an entertainment company. Their building was in the opposite direction from the acting department. However, they would come to visit Crystal from time to time. So they more or less knew most of the students there.
Normally, they wouldn't have crossed paths with Ruby because they would rather go to a restaurant nearby for a meal than eat in the cafeteria. But they were somewhat glad today for being too idle to come with the others.
Ruby stayed silent all the way to the garden behind the library.
When Ruby felt like the place was deserted enough for a talk, she was the first to hit the breaks.
Ruby directly asked, "What is it?"
Zayn stumbled on his words, "That's, uh, Mom wants to meet you."
Ruby: "....."
"And Dad was, hm, he was worried about you living by yourself."
Ruby: "....."
"We were also...what, that, uh, arghh... Haizzz." Zayn ruffles his hair in frustration.
After that, the atmosphere went quiet with Zayn crouching on the ground and burying his head between his arms. His black hair stuck out here and there like thorns.
Zin was calmer than him, he slowly said, "We want to drop by your place, but big brother forbids us to."
Ruby gazed alternated lightly at the two of them, "Is that all?"
Zin and Zayn froze hearing the coldness seeped within Ruby's tone.
Ruby swept her hair to the back and continued on, "Since it has come to this, let me ask you something."
"Do you see me as your sister?"
Zayn shot up from the ground, "Of course we do, you dummy!"
If they didn't why would they bother to keep provoking her or fighting like cats and dogs with her when there are other things to do?
"Really? Even though the Ruby before you is different from the past Ruby?"
"What's the difference? You are you. You are our youngest!"
Ruby's lips curved. Her eyes bent like a crescent moon. The scattered stardust glittering in her soft almond eyes captivated those who dwelled on it. However, the words she said were ruthless, "This is one of the reasons she died."
"You can't even differentiate us. So, how do you expect her to understand your dishonest feelings?"
Ruby heaved a heavy sigh, "You guys are naive if you are hoping her to gradually realize your feelings through those crook ways of yours."
Seriously, humans can't be separated from lies.
'Including me,' Ruby thought in slight nausea.
Zayn was beyond confused. His brows furrowed hard as he was trying to process Ruby's words.
"What are you talking about?" Zayn took a step forward to grab Ruby but was pulled back by Zin.
"Zayn, wait!"
"What?"
Zin pulled Zayn further away from Ruby warily, "Don't come close to her. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Ruby chuckled. Her arms were opened wide to her side.
"Why, afraid?"