"Aunty—sorry—Lena, first of all," Jinx said, tilting her gaze from Kai and onto the fair, brown-haired lady.

"JINX!" Lena's face reddened.

"Sorry, I won't repeat it again. I promise," Jinx said, lowering her head as if bracing for a slap that never came.

"Before you tell me what you aren't saying, where is the jeep? I didn't see it outside," Lena asked, in a voice stripped of all emotion.

Jinx scratched the back of her head, forcing a careless smile. "Uhmm, two tires got punched, so I left it on the roadside while heading toward Vamus College."

Lena's brows drew together. "Oh," she said quietly, then turned her dimmed gaze toward Kai. "So does that mean he wouldn't be enrolled this year too?"

"I managed to get there," Jinx said immediately, the words spilling out faster than usual. "So he will be enrolled this year."

For a heartbeat, Lena froze. Then, the tension drained out of her face. "Then… that's good news." She exhaled and took two steps upward, leaving Jinx and Kai standing below.

Halfway up, Lena stopped. She turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Jinx with an unsettling calm. "Aha, Jinx," she said. "Now tell me, what is it that you wanted to say earlier?"

"He went out today too," Jinx exclaimed, relief and excitement slipping into her voice before she could even stop it.

Kai's breath hitched. He opened his mouth, the words burning at the back of his throat—but stopped.

Beside Jinx, one of the shadow beings stood stiffly, its head shaking in a warning gesture.

Kai let out a slow breath, closed his eyes, and then lowered his head. 'Although I went out, I left no traces. No one saw me. No one knew.'

His thoughts spiraled, clashing and tearing at each other. Two minutes passed before he finally raised his head.

Lena kept a straight gaze at him. "Did you go out?" she asked. "Yes or no?"

The words were simple, but they detonated inside his skull like a nuclear bomb. Kai looked away, his jaw tightening, lips pressing inward as if to hold himself together.

"Yes, but—"

"But what?" Lena stepped down abruptly, her chest rising and falling fast. "Hmm. I don't need to hear it." She paused, then sighed. "Everything will change once you set foot into the college."

She turned and walked back toward the second floor without looking back.

Anger burned behind Kai's eyes as he stared at Jinx. 'What did you get in return?' he screamed silently, his gaze catching the subtle gestures the shadow beings made around Lena.

"I know you're insulting me in your head," Jinx said flatly, not bothering to glance at him. "And I don't give a fuck about it."

Kai walked past her, went straight into his room, and slammed the door shut.

Inside, the room was like a prince's room—clean floor, neatly made bed, and a wall-length wardrobe crammed with books like a mini private library.

He dropped into the chair by the open window and slammed his fist on the stool. "Right now, there is no need to say anything about not wanting to attend the college."

His head fell forward as he inhaled sharply. Shadows gathered around him, their long, limb-like arms wrapping over his shoulders, pressing close with silent comfort.

Kai lifted his head and stared at the night birds flying in the dark sky. "What should I do now, Higris?"

Higris was the name he had given to the shadow that fed him with information. Of all the shadows, it never left his side.

It had been there the day they entered the city after escaping the chaos at the Western Temple. It had been there when he was small—feeding him, steadying him, and helping him take his first step.

The shadow slipped free from the others and leapt through the open window, landing soundlessly on the ground below as if it had legs.

"I can't do that today," Kai said quietly. "Maybe another time." A faint smile tugged at his lips. Higris lingered, then surged back into the room.

The evening air stirred as Kai lay back on the bed and drifted into sleep.

Across the mansion, lights shut off one by one, as if guided by a single unseen hand. Yet one room remained lit.

In the pink-glowing room, Jinx stood before a large mirror, smiling.

"Will this be okay for a first time after years of not seeing each other?" she murmured, spreading her arms and inspecting the short black dress clinging tightly to her skin.

On the neatly made bed, her Samsung S22 Pro lit up.

Ding! Ding!! Ding!!!

"At long last," she whispered. "He called." Her smile widened as she stared at the name glowing on the screen—B.B.C, with a large wet potato icon beside it.

"Really?!" She laughed, chest heaving as she stared at it again and again. She grabbed the phone, steadied her breath, and pressed it to her left ear. "Hello, B.B.C."

A sweet male voice answered, romantic music playing faintly in the background.

"Okay, will you come pick me up?" She paused, then turned all her attention to the voice.

"Okay," she said, smiling softly and drawing spirals on her belly. "At least tell me what that name means," she added, laughing.

"I'll be waiting at the same place you dropped me off," Jinx said, then ended the call.

"This guy will drive me crazy," she muttered, cheeks warming as she turned back to her reflection again.

"Since he called, I'll change my plans for today. Just for him. Mick can wait." Her lips pressed together.

She grabbed a small black bag, its sides stretched tight as if it might burst.

"Hope they are all asleep," she whispered, peeking out and scanning the corridor. "Well then," she breathed heavily. "Let's move."

She slipped out through the main gate.

The moment it closed, a light flicked on inside the mansion.

In Lena's room, a figure stood by the circular window, unmoving. It watched the vehicle Jinx entered, its gaze following it until it disappeared into the distance.

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