Eiden lay there on his bed, asleep, when he was stirred awake by a voice. It was familiar, a voice he instantly recognized. Still half-asleep and disoriented, he furrowed his brows in confusion. Was that Sasha? he thought, sitting up abruptly. Didn’t she go home already?
Dragging his half-awake self to the door, he opened it slowly. Standing at the stairs was Sasha, her figure lit softly by the hallway light. She looked up at him, arms crossed, and said casually, "Dinner is ready. Come down."
Eiden blinked, rubbing his eyes as he asked, "I thought you went home?" His voice carried genuine confusion. Sasha tilted her head slightly, smiling. "Why do you think so?" she asked, raising a curious brow.
"I saw you go out the gate and walk off," Eiden explained, scratching the side of his head as if trying to confirm his own memory. Chuckling lightly, Sasha replied, "I was on my way to the market to get some groceries. Miss Dally asked me to. Apparently, someone was feeling down, so she thought it wasn’t a good idea to disturb him." Her gaze fell on Eiden with a teasing glint in her eyes.
Eiden opened his mouth to reply, but stopped himself. Whatever he had planned to say melted before it reached his lips. He simply gave a silent nod and followed her down the stairs.
As they descended, the comforting aroma of food wafted through the air, and soon Eiden’s eyes landed on the dining table. It was filled with an impressive number of dishes, an image he had grown familiar with. Whenever Sasha was involved in cooking, it was inevitable that more dishes than usual would be prepared. But today, it wasn’t just Sasha. His mom, Dally, had assisted her, which only meant one thing there would be variety, color, and flavor across the entire table.
Dally and Sasha always had a particular synergy when it came to cooking. Something about their rhythm in the kitchen, the way they moved around each other, sharing tools and tasks without stepping on one another’s toes, was almost mesmerizing. Their fluency and efficiency surpassed even the coordination Sasha had with her own mother, Miss Selena. Though Miss Selena was a skilled cook herself, it was with Dally that Sasha seemed to form an almost unspoken connection in the kitchen.
As Eiden entered the dining area, Sasha pointed silently toward the sink. He nodded and washed his hands without saying anything. Taking his seat, he began to eat. As expected, the flavors were perfect, with each dish harmonizing with the next. But despite the wonderful meal, Eiden’s focus wavered. Across the table, Sasha and Dally were engaged in lively conversation, exchanging stories and small laughs. He listened passively but didn’t chime in. The topics they discussed barely registered in his mind. His interest simply wasn’t there.
At one point, Sasha asked, "Where is Mr. Algir?" Dally responded with a smile, "He’ll be late today." That was all Eiden caught before his attention drifted again. Once he finished his food, he thanked both of them politely and excused himself, heading upstairs. The warmth and laughter from the dining room faded behind him as he retreated into the quiet solitude of his room.
Sasha and Dally remained at the table a while longer, finishing up their own plates at a more leisurely pace. When they were done, Sasha helped Dally with the dishes. The clinking of utensils and running water filled the kitchen in a steady rhythm. While scrubbing a plate, Dally glanced toward the stairs and asked in a thoughtful voice, "Do you know what happened to Eiden?"
Sasha, who was standing beside her, paused for a moment. Her hands stilled over a glass she was rinsing. Slowly, she turned her head to face Dally, then returned her gaze back to the dishes. Her voice came soft but steady, "It’s nothing important. Just some kind of phase."
But Dally was a mother, and a perceptive one at that. She didn’t believe the words, but she chose not to press. Instead, she nodded gently and said, "Look after him." Sasha gave a small nod in response, continuing with the dishes. The rest of the cleanup continued in silence.
Upstairs, Eiden sat at his desk for a while, trying to distract himself. He read a few Chapters of a novel, then flipped through some notes, doing a bit of studying. His mind was clearly not fully in it, and after roughly thirty-six minutes, he closed the book with a tired sigh. The weight on his shoulders hadn’t lifted. He turned off the lights and laid down on his bed, deciding to sleep early that night.
Time passed quietly in the house. The only sound was the ticking of the wall clock and the occasional rustle of leaves from the window left ajar. The silence pressed softly, almost like a blanket over the house. The fan above spun slowly, humming like a lullaby. The walls of Eiden’s room felt strangely heavier tonight, not with noise but with quiet thoughts. His chest rose and fell slowly as he stared at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come.
Later as the lights dimmed and the house grew even quieter, Sasha stood silently in the hallway. She was outside Eiden’s room, her hand raised in the air, ready to knock. But something made her pause. Her fingers hovered just a breath away from the door, but they didn’t touch it.
The faintest expression of conflict passed over her face. Her lips parted as if to call out, but no words escaped. Her eyes were filled with a mix of hesitation and quiet concern, emotions she couldn’t quite name. She stayed like that for a few seconds longer, frozen in place by the weight of invisible thoughts. After a moment, she exhaled softly and lowered her hand.
Without a sound, she turned around and walked toward the guest room, which had become almost like her dedicated room at this point. As she reached the doorway, she paused once more and glanced over her shoulder at Eiden’s door.
Her eyes lingered for a heartbeat before she quietly entered her room, closing the door behind her.