The sun, once blazing at the zenith, was now surrounded by five ominous black orbs. As the hours passed, the fiery brilliance of day dimmed, giving way to dusk. The orange hue of twilight bathed the sky, casting long shadows over the almost-deserted school grounds. The once-bustling corridors now echoed with an eerie silence, broken only by the soft patter of footsteps.
Sofia walked alone, her arms wrapped around a stack of documents freshly retrieved from the empty student council office. Her expression was melancholic, her pace unhurried as if the weight of her thoughts slowed her down. As she passed a window, the fading sunlight illuminated her delicate features, highlighting the faint worry etched into her brow.
"Brother…" she whispered, the word lingering in the air.
It had been days since he left, and in all that time, no news of him had reached her. The void of information gnawed at her, twisting her heart with worry. Though she believed in her brother's strength, her heart could not help but ache with the longing and anxiety of an only sister.
The thought of going after him had crossed her mind countless times. Yet each time, she shook her head, her resolve wavering. If she were to follow him, she feared she would only burden him. And burdening her brother was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Brother, you big dummy," she muttered with a small, bittersweet smile, her voice wavering between fondness and exasperation. "If you don't bring me souvenirs, I'll beat you down when you return."
There was strength in her voice, an attempt to hold onto hope, but the emotion behind her words betrayed her true feelings. Beneath her strong façade lay a deep yearning for his presence.
As the evening shadows deepened, Sofia finally left the school grounds, her heart heavy yet laced with a quiet anticipation.
***
The night unfolded, swallowing the horizon in a blanket of darkness. Inside an apartment owned by the prestigious Saint Stella Academy, the gloom seemed even more pervasive. The room was a chaotic mess, the only sources of light being the flickering indicators on the water dispenser and the faint glow of the light switches.
Garbage littered the floor—crumpled instant noodle cups, discarded wrappers, and empty bottles—forming a depressing mosaic of neglect. Most of the apartment was untouched, save for the center of the chaos, where a woman in her twenties lay sprawled among the debris.
Her once-lustrous golden hair now hung limp and lifeless. The glow in her eyes, which had captivated so many, had dimmed to a hollow emptiness. Dark circles marred her delicate features, evidence of sleepless nights and inner turmoil.
Claudia, the ever-loyal servant, murmured softly, "My lady…"
Her voice was barely audible, her lips quivering as she fought back tears. The kidnapping incident had shattered her, leaving her a shadow of her former self. She had been strong once—or so she thought—but her failure to protect her mistress haunted her endlessly.
Self-loathing festered in her heart. The weight of her perceived weakness pressed down on her, suffocating and relentless. She had even considered ending her own life, the guilt consuming her. But one thought held her back: If I leave this world, who will be there for my lady when she is saved?
The sound of the doorbell shattered the oppressive silence. At first, Claudia ignored it, hoping whoever it was would leave. But the ringing persisted, grating against her frayed nerves. With a groan, she forced herself to her feet and trudged toward the door.
She cracked it open without glancing through the peephole, her lethargy overriding caution. Standing on the other side was Sofia, her youthful face framed by the soft light of the hallway. In her hands, she held a neatly wrapped lunch box.
"What do you need?" Claudia's voice was a weak whisper, tinged with irritation.
"Would you mind letting me in?" Sofia asked, her smile warm yet unwavering.
Claudia hesitated. She didn't have the energy for visitors, least of all the younger sister of the man she admired. But Sofia's persistence was well-known, and Claudia, exhausted in every sense, stepped aside to let her in.
The younger woman walked into the chaotic apartment, her expression betraying nothing. She placed the lunch box on the cluttered dining table and sat down gracefully, her movements deliberate.
Claudia stood awkwardly, unsure of what to say or do. Silence stretched between them like an invisible wall, thick and suffocating. Finally, unable to bear it, Claudia broke the stillness.
"What is it that you need from me?" Her voice was devoid of its usual warmth, replaced by a brittle sharpness.
Sofia didn't react to the tone. Instead, she glanced at the lunch box and said softly, "I noticed you haven't been attending school. When I asked about you, the administration wouldn't give me an answer. So I decided to check on you myself."
Claudia raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched into her features. "That's it? You came all this way for that?"
Sofia chuckled, a delicate sound that broke through the tension.
"What's so funny?" Claudia snapped, though her voice lacked venom.
"I was just thinking how strong you are," Sofia said, her eyes meeting Claudia's.
Claudia blinked, taken aback. "Are you mocking me?"
Sofia shook her head, her expression sincere. "Not at all." She paused before continuing, her tone gentle yet firm. "Miss Claudia, my brother... did he promise you something?"
Claudia hesitated, unsure of where this was going. But under Sofia's steady gaze, she finally nodded. "Yes."
"Then that's all you need to hold onto," Sofia said, rising from her seat.
Claudia frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sofia turned to face her fully, her voice carrying a quiet confidence. "My brother always keeps his promises. No matter what it takes, he will come through. That's just who he is. It's one of his bad habits." Her lips curled into a small, wistful smile. "But it's also what makes him special."
She walked toward the door, pausing with her hand on the handle. "So stop wallowing, Miss Claudia. Eat, rest, and take care of yourself. My brother would hate to see you like this when he comes back."
Claudia stared after her, dumbfounded. As Sofia opened the door, Claudia called out, her voice tinged with a rare playfulness.
"Conceited brat. You're just scared I'll steal your brother from you."
Sofia glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Do your worst. But let me tell you this: my brother doesn't have time for pathetic women."
With that, she closed the door behind her, leaving Claudia in stunned silence.
For a moment, Claudia stood frozen. Then her gaze fell to the lunch box on the table. Tentatively, she opened it and took a bite. The flavors burst across her tongue, warm and comforting in a way she hadn't felt in weeks.
"This isn't even your cooking," she muttered, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "How haughty of you to bring someone else's food and lecture me like that."
But despite her grumbling, the food—and Sofia's words—stirred something within her. That night, Claudia cleaned her apartment, tended to her appearance, and prepared for school.
Though their bond was unconventional, a quiet understanding had formed between the two women, tied together by their shared admiration for the same man. For the first time in weeks, Claudia felt a spark of hope, and in her heart, she silently thanked the younger woman.