Connie was determined to talk to her sister.
But maybe this wasn't as simple a task as she initially thought.
She had already failed at the first basic step: catching her attention.
[Hello.]
Those were the words Connie had written on a piece of paper and placed right in front of Asha.
Asha was completely immersed in a cartoon.
She had narrowed her focus solely to the TV, making her oblivious to any kind of interaction around her.
No matter how large Connie made the words or how much she poked her, Asha wouldn't so much as glance in her direction.
When Connie's hope was almost depleted, a friend's hand appeared.
"It's not your fault," said Priyanka, patting her shoulder. "Once Asha is interested in something, she can't focus on anything else."
Priyanka had been watching Connie's attempts to interact with Asha from a distance, her face clouded with concern.
It was good that Connie was willing to engage, but the timing simply wasn't ideal.
"Try again after dinner. I'm sure she'll want to talk with you then," she said, encouraging Connie to stay hopeful.
"Okay, Mom. I'll try later."
There wasn't much Connie could do except wait.
Priyanka watched her daughter leave the room, worry still etched on her face.
The only time Asha gave any attention was at the end of the episode. With the automatic play option disabled, Asha had to manually switch to the next episode each time.
Asha had been watching for two hours straight, without drinking water, going to the bathroom, or even shifting her posture.
This wasn't good for her health.
Priyanka had told her to take a break three times already, but Asha's only response had been:
[One more.]
At first, Priyanka accepted this without much concern.
But after the next episode ended, she tried again.
[Let's take a bath. Dinner will be ready soon.]
Priyanka wanted to properly introduce Connie to Asha since their first meeting had been less than ideal.
She believed that after dinner, things would settle and work out. But that would only happen if Asha was willing to give up her entertainment.
And her answer to that was obvious.
Of course not.
[Just one more.]
Asha believed that by adding the word "just," her sentence would sound more persuasive.
But Priyanka began to doubt whether one more episode would be enough, seeing how deeply immersed Asha was.
Despite her inner doubts, she still accepted. She couldn't refuse Asha's wishes.
Asha rarely showed interest in anything, after all.
And then, three more episodes passed.
Every time an episode ended, Asha would say the same thing.
[Just one more.]
"..."
Watching the clock hands move non-stop, Priyanka knew she couldn't keep being lenient.
Asha was only a child. It's very hard for kids to control their impulses, and Asha was an even more special case due to her intense focus on her activities.
With her mind made up, Priyanka took the remote before Asha could and held her hands as she tried to reach for it.
[It's time to eat. Let's take a bath.]
After writing those words, two empty eyes stared at her face.
Asha's hands started to shake, a clear sign of anxiety.
She clutched her clothes and rested her head on Priyanka. The sight of her expressionless face and cute actions was so disarming that Priyanka became speechless for a moment.
She only came to her senses when she noticed Asha's hands slowly reaching for the remote as if trying to catch her off guard.
It wasn't time to be mesmerized by her daughter, but to be firm.
The fact that Asha was acting this way only showed how addicted she had become to this animated series.
Priyanka could control the time spent using an app, but Asha needed to understand the decision.
[And from now on, just two episodes per day.]
Asha's grip on her clothes tightened, reflecting her inner emotions.
Her eyes stared intently at Priyanka, but her resolve wouldn't be shaken this time.
In a desperate attempt, Asha extended her hand, showing five fingers.
The meaning was clear to both of them.
Asha wanted to watch more episodes.
Before, Priyanka would have easily allowed more. But after seeing Asha unable to control herself in front of the allure of Super Drill, she changed her mind.
Two episodes were the limit Priyanka could allow.
That's why, even as Asha began lowering the number of fingers, Priyanka maintained her firm stance.
[No concessions. Bathroom, now.]
Asha loosened her grip on her clothes as if accepting the reality.
Priyanka's heart ached, seeing Asha looking like an abandoned puppy.
Her hand unconsciously stroked Asha's head, as if to soothe her emotions.
Maybe some exercises in self-control would help her.
Asha usually appeared very mature, her face neutral, giving off a natural sense of trust.
But in moments like this, Priyanka was reminded of her immaturity. It was a miracle that this childish side remained, even after all her traumatic experiences.
At this thought, her strokes became more careful, as if handling something fragile.
The fact that Asha was acting this way with her also reflected the deep trust she had in Priyanka.
In the hospital, Priyanka hadn't had the opportunity to form a more personal bond, and that was one of her regrets.
This time, she wanted to strengthen their connection, and taking a bath together seemed like a good way to start.
Priyanka extended her arms to Asha's armpits and, without any effort, lifted her gently.
Asha's natural scent filled her lungs, bringing a sense of calm to her mind.
She had become more and more proficient in embracing Asha's small body.
Usually, Asha would accept her touch without question, but this time her body language showed clear confusion.
She pointed at the wheelchair with her little fingers, as if asking why she wasn't there.
With practiced ease, Priyanka adjusted Asha's body to one arm while holding the notebook in the other.
[I'll give you a bath. It's hard in the wheelchair.]
While Asha could move her upper body, she couldn't walk, and often had depressive thoughts when left alone.
Priyanka knew Asha wouldn't do anything dangerous in the bathroom, but the "What if" was still frightening enough to intervene.
Asha wouldn't be having quiet, solitary moments in the bathroom anytime soon.
*
Priyanka was looking at Asha's body with analytical eyes.
'Not even a scar remained.'
Before, it was possible to notice some small scars, but now even the traces of those scars had disappeared.
Her natural healing abilities were far beyond those of a common human.
But no matter how many exams she took, her body always showed normal results.
How far had the ones responsible for this gone to hide the evidence?
Asha never spoke about it, and Priyanka avoided asking questions.
If she didn't want to talk about it, Priyanka would respect that. Only two weeks had passed since they met, and there was plenty of room for growth.
Rather than getting lost in her worries and hypotheses, Priyanka wanted to genuinely enjoy the moment they were sharing, bathing together.
Asha often felt like a doll. She accepted Priyanka's hands cleaning her hair without trembling or reacting.
Her skin was very smooth, and her hair, similarly, had an irresistible texture. It was short, and her expressionless face gave her both an innocent and mature aura.
Bathing Asha brought back many memories of Priyanka's childhood.
She and her mother had once shared a close bond.
Her mom would bathe her and tell her many stories, from fairy tales to personal experiences and dreams.
Priyanka would talk about her day, what she had done, the things she had studied, and her worries.
A smile naturally spread across Priyanka's face.
She never expected that someone like her would become a mother one day.
Unlike her kind mother, she was cold and straightforward. Instead of her mother's emotional approach, Priyanka preferred a more rational one.
As she grew older, the concept of independence became more central to her actions.
She moved away from her parents and rarely contacted them, except in cases of emergencies or occasional events.
Would Asha grow distant someday too?
Priyanka's mood immediately darkened.
Now, Asha was a well-behaved girl, but one day she would grow up, become a teenager, and eventually an adult.
Like Priyanka, she might seek independence and drift away from them.
Priyanka gently caressed Asha's hair, as if trying to prolong the bath.
Asha was a wonderful child. She was smart, responsible, and beautiful.
Surely, she would catch the attention of many boys.
What would Priyanka do if one day Asha got married?
On one hand, she would be happy to see Asha pursue her own happiness and build her own family, but on the other hand, she would have to endure the feeling of her daughter leaving the nest.
Right now, Asha seemed so fragile and dependent on her. The thought of someone else taking her place triggered many emotional defenses in Priyanka's heart.
Priyanka wanted to savor this moment as much as possible before that inevitable future arrived.
She focused intently on washing Asha, losing herself in the rhythm of the task.
So immersed was she in her thoughts that she failed to notice Asha's hands trembling slightly.
The bath lasted at least 30 minutes.
When Priyanka finally finished the long bath session, she realized that Asha had fallen asleep.
Steady breathing came from her small body, which was resting against Priyanka's.
Asha was so light that Priyanka hadn't even noticed that Asha was only being supported by her.
'I think I overdid it.'
It was natural for Asha to be tired after such a long bath.
Priyanka quietly lifted Asha in her arms. After the bath, her body had the soft scent of soap, and her wet hair formed some cute curls.
Asha hadn't eaten dinner or talked properly with Connie, but that was okay.
Many things had happened today, and she needed rest.
After the bath, Priyanka dressed her in pink pajamas and dried her hair before placing her in bed.
Priyanka sat on the edge of the bed, tenderly stroking Asha's hair.
She looked like a little princess, sleeping peacefully.
Priyanka had spent the entire day caring for her, yet she didn't feel tired of it.
From feeding her to bathing her, every moment filled her with contentment.
Mentally, Priyanka couldn't be more satisfied, but her body was starting to protest.
Four days. For four days, Priyanka had barely slept 30 minutes.
She had also renovated an entire room, cooked, and handled numerous adoption documents.
'I should sleep too...'
Asha was safe now, in her home. Priyanka could finally have some peace and rest after so long.
That was what she had promised her husband as well.
With these thoughts, Priyanka got up from the bed, but a small hand faintly clutched her clothes.
It was Asha. It seemed her habits persisted even in sleep.
A smile appeared naturally on Priyanka's tired face.
With her right hand, she brushed Asha's bangs aside and pressed her lips gently to Asha's forehead.
Kiss.
The kiss was full of care and affection.
As if sensing her intentions, Asha gradually loosened her grip.
"Sleep well."
With those words, Priyanka turned off the light and quietly closed the door.
*
"You're finally here." Doug looked at his wife while sitting on the bed, reading a book under the glow of a lamp.
"I had a promise." She filled the empty space on the other side of him.
Doug turned off the lamp and lay down on the bed, mirroring Priyanka's position.
Two faces stared at each other in the dark, face to face.
"So, no more work from now on?" he asked, his voice filled with doubt.
"For now."
Priyanka was still uncertain about how long she would stay away from her work.
But at least until things with Asha were resolved, she would avoid it.
"Is something on your mind?" Doug sensed her unease.
"I'm thinking about staying at home for a few weeks to deal with Asha's situation."
"Oh, that's a good decision."
Priyanka had initially thought of using her time bank instead of the governmental leave.
She believed she could resolve things in two weeks and return to work.
But she dropped that idea on the very first day after the adoption.
Asha's situation wasn't one that could be fixed in two weeks. She needed an adult close by.
On the first day, Asha fainted at the front door and couldn't communicate properly with Connie.
Their relationship would take time to develop and needed Priyanka's active involvement.
A hand discreetly touched hers, pulling her from her thoughts.
"I'm happy you're finally sleeping with me."
"I had slept before too."
"I knew you were 'waking up' in the middle of the night to work."
"…"
What Doug said was true. Priyanka would close her eyes until he fell asleep and then secretly work. She did it to keep him from worrying.
But Doug hadn't slept either during those nights.
He waited for her to sleep, but she worked without pause.
The subject of her work was always the same.
It was all about Asha.
"She is a good child."
"Yes, she is."
"Instead, aren't you the bad kid who skips nights?"
"I have nothing to say," she smiled slightly.
Their eyes locked, neither saying a word, wrapped in their own moment.
Doug caressed her hair, and Priyanka grasped his hand in a tender gesture.
Tonight, the night should have been theirs alone.
Or at least, that was the hope...
Tok-Tok—
A sound came from the door, unnoticed at first as they were lost in each other.
But reality would always knock sooner or later.
Tok! Tok!
At the louder sound, both Priyanka and Doug snapped back to their surroundings.
Priyanka reacted first, quickly getting up from the bed.
At this hour, the children should have been asleep. Connie wouldn't come unless it was something urgent, which immediately triggered Priyanka's alertness.
Creek!
She opened the door, expecting Connie, but instead, Asha was there.
She was clutching a pillow in one hand and a notebook in the other.
Why was Asha here at this time?
Moving alone in the dark was dangerous.
What if she fell and no one was around?
A flood of questions filled Priyanka's mind, but they all evaporated with Asha's next action.
[CAN WE SLEEP TOGETHER?]
Asha extended her hands towards Priyanka, the words elegantly written in her notebook.
The content was striking, but what was more surprising was Asha's expression.
Her face was twisted into a fragile, broken smile. It was one of the rare moments Asha had shown emotion.
Priyanka immediately felt a surge of complex emotions.
Asha's trembling smile was as if she was fighting to hold it up, trying to hide tears behind it.
Those gestures shattered Priyanka's walls.
What kind of nightmare had shaken her child so much?
Her body moved instinctively. Before she knew it, Asha was in her arms.
She had only one goal.
To ease her worries.
"Doug, can you sleep outside tonight? Asha had a nightmare."
Though it sounded like a request, her tone left no room for debate.
Doug, of course, wouldn't refuse.
Her gaze alone could strike fear into anyone.
With a wry smile, Doug nodded.
"No problem. Have a good night."
Creek...
Doug slipped out of the room quietly, leaving just Asha and Priyanka.
Priyanka felt two small hands clutching tightly onto her clothes.
The gesture made it clear just how frightened Asha was.
Priyanka held her tightly, wanting to banish all her fears.
For someone like Asha to display such vulnerability, Priyanka couldn't fathom the depths of her pain.
As if handling a delicate jewel, she laid down on the bed, keeping Asha close.
She embraced her as though trying to shield her from every hurt.
But as if sensing Priyanka's anxiety, a small hand began to stroke her head.
Asha's hands rested gently on her, slow and steady.
Just like in the hospital before.
At first, Priyanka had felt embarrassed to be patted by a child, but not anymore.
Maybe because she always stroked Asha's head, it had become a familiar exchange between them.
Asha was probably just mirroring the behavior, a gesture of reciprocity. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
With these thoughts, Priyanka allowed herself to sink into the mutual comfort.
She hadn't slept much these days, but Asha felt like an addictive comfort.
In some strange way, the very reason she couldn't sleep was the reason she could rest peacefully.
Priyanka wondered who was really comforting whom.
Her heart felt so full, but did Asha feel the same?
She looked at the child in her arms, only to be met with a surprising sight.
"...!"
Asha was smiling softly, her eyes peacefully closed.
It was completely different from the face that had appeared at the door.
Priyanka couldn't look away.
It was only the second time she had seen her smile.
It lasted just a fleeting moment, but it was undeniable.
As much as Priyanka wanted to hold onto that sight, she also felt the urge to pull away.
What if she had a heart attack from this overwhelming joy?
Asha likely had no idea of the immense power her innocence held.
That very innocence was terrifying.
Priyanka hugged her tightly, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside her.
Small hands clung to her back, and the soft rhythm of Asha's breathing echoed in the quiet room.
At that moment, Priyanka felt utterly complete.
It was as though she needed nothing else—not shelter, not food.
Seeing Asha asleep in her arms, Priyanka felt her own eyelids grow heavy.
Little by little, she was enveloped by Asha's presence, her scent, and the warmth of her care.
Maybe she would never sleep the same way again.
It was a revelation for her own sleep quality, but a looming challenge for her husband.
But that was a story for another time.
*
"The stars are beautiful tonight." Connie murmured, her gaze fixed on the vast sky as she lay on the grass, arms, and legs stretched out in a relaxed sprawl.
Around her stood a massive tree, with a small telescope pointed toward the heavens.
This was her sanctuary, her secret base.
The candy stash she'd brought along was hidden here, and a little treehouse perched at the top of the tree added to the charm.
Feeling the cool breeze gently brush against her, Connie's heart grew heavy with melancholy.
She couldn't shake the image she had seen earlier.
Asha had entered her parents' room and gone to sleep with them.
Connie couldn't recall the last time she had done the same. It must have been years ago.
Her parents had told her she was too old to sleep with them.
As time passed, they drifted apart. The moments they once shared together gradually faded away.
Maybe that's what growing up was about.
Connie had always looked forward to growing up, with all its promises and possibilities.
But right now, adulthood didn't seem so appealing.
"Maybe being an adult isn't that fun after all."
She could understand people moving on, leaving those they once cared for behind.
It had been a constant in her life.
Like her friends who had drifted away, even her family seemed destined to follow the same path.
At first, Connie thought the problem was physical distance, but now, living in the same house as her parents, it was clear her heart was elsewhere.
Far from home.
Sniff.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew these feelings were ugly, and that she shouldn't cry over them.
But here, in her safe place, nostalgia washed over her.
This was the only place where she could open her heart without fear.
Memories of her mother gently stroking Asha's head flashed in her mind.
Connie lifted her hands to her own head in the cool night air.
"Stroke my head..." she whispered to the stars, longing for the comfort she used to receive.
Her heart opened further as the words spilled out.
"Kiss my forehead..." she muttered, remembering how her mother had lovingly tucked Asha into bed.
Her chest tightened, and the tears began to fall faster.
What did she want?
"Care for me."
She longed for their attention.
"Love me."
And for their love.
The tears flowed freely now, revealing all the raw emotions she had kept buried.
All the ugliness and neediness she despised, even in herself.
Sniff.
The only thing that seemed to calm her amidst all this turmoil were the stars above.
Compared to the vastness of the universe, her worries felt so small. The beauty of the stars made her feel insignificant, yet connected.
What a dream it would be to shine like the stars, always bright and constant.
She spent a long time just lying there, gazing up at the sky.
When her emotions finally steadied, her face turned a deep shade of red.
She decided not to dwell on it any longer and focused on something that could cheer her up—food.
Her treehouse was stocked with the candies she had secretly bought using her pocket money.
Wiping her tears, Connie approached the large tree, placing her hands on its trunk, and swiftly began to climb.
She had done this countless times before. Her hands bore the calluses of her many climbs.
The treehouse was her personal haven.
She had built it herself using leftover materials from the garage, putting her heart and soul into the project.
But tonight, something was off.
As she reached the top and entered, she froze.
Her candies were scattered everywhere, and strange sounds emanated from within the treehouse.
The whole structure creaked ominously as if it might collapse at any moment.
'What...?'
This was her secret spot. No one else knew about it, and her house was far from the city.
Could her parents have found out about her hideaway?
Or was it someone else...?
A wave of worry tightened in her chest.
Neither possibility was good.
If her mom found out how she had been spending her pocket money, she'd be in serious trouble. And if it was someone else... well, that could be even worse.
Her instinct kicked in.
'Run!'
Without hesitation, Connie spun around, ready to bolt in the opposite direction.
But it was too late.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
Standing right in front of her was a creature, unlike anything she had ever seen.
It had pink eyes and skin, with its face smeared in candy and saliva.
The thief was here, and it wasn't human.
"Ah..."
A wild lion, its fur a bizarre pink, stood where no lion should ever be—in the peaceful countryside she called home.
"Ahh!!"
*
Author note
Guys, if the chapter doesn't appear, it's probably because the chapter is so big or hard that three of four days weren't enough to finish. Check the comments on the last chapter or my profile (ScribbleHub) and you will see some estimated deadlines (based on guesswork).
Please don't charge me when I already posted a notice. I get so embarrassed o(TヘTo).
The next volume is named Spoiled Peridot.