Chapter 2: Why Are You Here, Elara?
"Elara, wait!" Julian called out, speeding up to catch her.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Did you hit your head somewhere?" Julian furrowed his brow as he jogged ahead and blocked her path.
Dawn, now inhabiting Elara's body, halted and raised her head to look at him. He's tall too, she mused, closing her eyes briefly to push away the stray thoughts swirling in her head. She opened them again, focusing on Julian's face.
"Nothing's wrong with me," she replied curtly, stepping around him and continuing down the path.
Julian turned to watch her, his face filled with confusion as he rubbed his nose. Why is she acting so strange today? And the way she looked at me… it gave me chills.
He had known Elara for years, ever since they were children, but something about her was different today—more distant, less... herself. Lost in thought, Julian didn't realize that Elara was already far ahead. By the time he snapped out of his thoughts, she was nearly out of sight.
"Hey!" he yelled, jogging after her, trying to catch up.
---
Elara—no, Dawn—didn't stop walking until she reached the quiet cafe she had spotted earlier. She chose a table in the far corner and sat down, unable to contain the grin spreading across her face. I can't believe this is real! I'm actually in the world of the novel!
She was giggling to herself when Julian finally arrived, slightly out of breath. He entered the cafe, scanned the room, and spotted her sitting alone, her elbows propped up on the table, her head resting in her hands as she gazed out the window with a dreamy expression.
Is she... giggling? Julian blinked in confusion. This wasn't like Elara at all. The Elara he knew wasn't the type to randomly burst into fits of laughter—especially not in public.
He walked over, standing next to her, unsure of what to say. "Have you lost your mind or something?" he asked, half-joking but with a hint of genuine concern in his voice.
Dawn turned her head to look at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She wasn't sure if it was the absurdity of her situation or the fact that Julian looked so puzzled, but she couldn't help herself.
Julian took a step back, unnerved by the mischievous glint in her eyes. Just as he was about to speak again, her expression shifted abruptly, and she straightened in her seat.
Her mood change was so sudden that Julian instinctively mirrored her, standing a bit straighter as if bracing himself for whatever was coming next.
"Julian," she said, her tone now serious, "let me ask you something."
"Uh, sure," he replied cautiously, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down.
"Do you know Bianca?" she asked, her voice sharp and direct.
Julian tilted his head in confusion. "Bianca? Who's that?"
Dawn studied his face intently, searching for any sign that he might be hiding something. But from the furrowed brow and slight frown, it was clear he genuinely had no idea who she was talking about.
Right, Dawn thought, relaxing slightly. Bianca hasn't come into the picture yet. According to the novel, Bianca would only show up in a few weeks, right before Elara's 18th birthday. Julian wouldn't have met her yet.
Dawn leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "Never mind," she muttered, more to herself than to Julian.
Julian raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed by the abrupt shift in conversation. "O...kay?" he said slowly. "What was that all about?"
Dawn didn't answer. She was already lost in thought again, piecing together the timeline of events from the book. If she was right, she only had a short window before Bianca arrived and the entire plot of the story kicked into high gear.
I still have time to prepare, she reassured herself. Elara hadn't met Bianca, that means it was all in her hands how the story will flow.
Julian watched her for a moment, unsure of what to do. He could tell something was bothering her, but whenever he tried to ask, she brushed him off. Deciding not to press her further, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.
Dawn suddenly stood up, grabbing her bag from the floor. "Let's go," she said, already heading for the door.
"Wait, what? Where are you going now?" Julian asked, standing up quickly to follow her.
"I have things to do," Dawn replied, waving a hand dismissively over her shoulder. She pushed the door open and stepped outside, not waiting for him.
Julian sighed and threw a longing glance at the coffee cup that had just been placed on their table. "But we didn't even finish..." he muttered under his breath, reluctantly abandoning his coffee and rushing out after her.
---
"How did you get here?" Dawn asked once Julian had caught up, her pace brisk as she headed down the street.
Julian, still trailing slightly behind, tripped over a loose stone on the sidewalk but managed to regain his balance. "I... rode my bike," he replied, wincing a little.
"Where is it now?" she asked, not breaking her stride.
"It's parked near the library," Julian said, breathing heavily from trying to keep up.
"Good. Go get it and go home," she instructed, still walking ahead of him.
"What about you? Where are you going?" Julian asked, his curiosity piqued. He quickened his pace to walk beside her.
"I'm heading home too," she said, keeping her gaze fixed ahead. "I have... important things to think about."
"Do you want a ride, then?" Julian asked, his voice brightening with hope.
"No thanks. I'll walk," she replied, glancing at him briefly before continuing down the street.
Julian's shoulders slumped, his expression deflated like a kicked puppy. He slowed his pace, watching her walk ahead. Dawn noticed his dejected look and felt a small pang of guilt. He's way too easy to read.
She stopped walking and turned to face him. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" she said, her voice softer this time. "I just need some time alone today."
Julian's face lit up instantly, his mood flipping at her words. "Okay! I'll text you later, then!" he called out, waving as he turned around to head back to his bike.
Dawn watched him jog off with a small smile on her face. He's so easy to please.
---
After parting ways with Julian, Dawn didn't go straight to Sinclair family mansion but wandered aimlessly around the residencial area, her mind racing with thoughts about her situation.
Elara is 17 now, she reminded herself. Just a month away from her 18th birthday. That was when everything in the book had started to go downhill for her.
Elara had lived her entire life as the cherished daughter of the Sinclair family, but just weeks before her 18th birthday, the truth about her had come to light. That was when Bianca had appeared—the real Sinclair heiress, the long-lost daughter who had been switched at birth.
Dawn frowned, recalling the details. The book never explained how the Sinclair family discovered the truth about the switch. It just... happened.
But that doesn't make sense, she thought, her brow furrowing deeper. No one in Elara's family suspected anything for 17 years. How could they have uncovered the truth so suddenly?
She walked past the park, her thoughts still tangled in the plot. In the novel, Elara's family had been loving and supportive, even after Bianca's arrival. They hadn't thrown her out or treated her cruelly—at least, not at first. But their affection had gradually shifted toward Bianca, leaving Elara feeling abandoned and isolated.
Dawn's head began to ache from all the thinking. She found a nearby playground that was left desolate, walked in and sat on a bench, leaning back and staring up at the sky.
There has to be more to this. Maybe someone was already looking into the switch behind the scenes.
But who?
As far as Elara's memories were concerned, her relationship with her family had always been strong. Her parents, her two older brothers, even her grandparents—all of them had doted on her. No one had ever treated her like an outsider.
Dawn sighed, rubbing her temples. I need to figure this out. I can't just let things play out like in the book.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a shadow fall over her. Opening her eyes, she saw a tall, handsome young man, about 20 years old, standing behind the bench. He was smiling down at her, leaning forward slightly, as if he had been watching her for a while.
"Why are you here, Elara?" he asked.