Although they decided to be like before, that incident still left a mark, making it impossible for them to act like before. Adelia started distancing herself from Louise, and Willow himself refused Charlie's invitations to hang out. Their interactions were not limited to the ones in school, and an occasional text or two.
Adelia stared at her phone, lost in thought. Willow passed by and saw her looking emptily at the lock screen.
"Why're you not unlocking it, Adel? Just staring at the screen?"
"It's..." she became uncomfortable but still continued, "Louise texted me. I...I just don't know what to say, I guess. I'm just staring at the 'hi,' but I still don't dare open it because if I do, she'll know I have seen her message. I just – I just don't want her to think I'm not replying on purpose, you know?"
Willow nodded before patting her shoulder reassuringly. "...happens sometimes."
Adelia was thankful that he didn't question it further. She nodded gratefully, "...yeah."
He was about to walk off when his own phone dinged. It was a message from an unknown number."Who's that? It...it shouldn't be from Charlie, right? I did reply to his message 2 days ago, and he isn't the type of person to try messaging with a new number to see if I'm ignoring him. He trusts me...right?"
Still, he was afraid and didn't reply to the hello. The person on the other end continued typing and sent out a short message.
'I know your secret.'
"What the heck?" Willow cursed as he read the text. Adelia saw him and curiously came over to see what happened.
"What's this? A text?"
"Yeah. Unknown number," Willow handed his phone to Adelia to let her see for herself, "First they sent 'hello,' now this strange message."
"What is this, Willow?" she said worriedly, "Do you– do you think someone knows about our transmigration?"
Willow felt ominous as he stared at that message, something making him unable to stop. Adelia waved her hands in his face, trying to get his attention. "Will?"
Willow was startled and instinctively tore his gaze away from the phone. "It– it's probably nothing. I bet it's just some stupid prank by a dumb kid, nothing to worry about."
"...Will, your palms are sweating."
There was yet another ding as that person sent another message.
'I know where you came from, Willow Astor.'
"W-Willow....what's this?" Adelia panicked, "This person definitely knows something! What – what do we do?!"
A look of horror dawned in her eyes as she imagined the worst. "Oh my god...what if they tell everyone? What if – everyone knows our secret?"
"Will...what do we do?" she was shivering as she imagined their faces filled with distrust and hate. "Everybody...all of them will hate us! They'll no longer love us! Dads...they'll hate us too. Even Louise –"
She was terrified and muttered, "Even Louise...she likes Adelia. Not some imposter who took over her body. She – she'll hate me..."
Willow realized her meaning and stuttered, "Charlie...what will he think? He will– he'll no longer like me, right? The one he loves is the boy who saved him before, and that isn't me. Surely– surely Charlie would be angry. I–"
Adelia was crying now. Tears dripped out of her red eyes as her breaths quickened. "Willow...it's over! It's all over –"
Her words were cut off when there was yet another ding.
'Terrified, aren't you? Scared that I'll tell everyone?'
'Hmm...what should I do? Tell or not tell?'
Adelia's sobs quickened when she read that. She was all over the place as she incoherently wept. "It's over...all is finished...we – we can do nothing..."
Willow's heart broke on seeing his sister like that. Adelia's bossy nature and narcissistic personality always annoyed him to no end, but right now, his ears yearned to hear her usual careless voice and god-may-care attitude. He always wished for her to become more mature and start worrying about things but...seeing her like this, he couldn't help but wish for the usual immature girl back.
"Adelia...Adelia, calm down," Willow's palms were sweating as he tried to assure her, "No one will find out. No one will know...I'll make sure of that." That's right. He's her brother and he's going to protect her, no matter what. He – he'll protect them all. Protect them all from the truth and stop this person at all costs.