Because either they didn't care—which she doubted—or they were giving her space. Letting her breathe. Not pushing.
And that... that was somehow worse. Because it meant they'd noticed. They'd heard. They just weren't going to make her explain.
Veer glanced over his shoulder, catching her staring. He grinned. "You hungry? Cutie's stew is actually decent when he doesn't burn it."
"I don't burn it," Cutie shot back from across the room.
"You burned it last week."
"That was 'one time.'"
Sparrow squawked something that sounded like agreement, meat still dangling from his beak.
Kaya's mouth twitched despite herself. "I'm fine," she said quietly.
Veer just nodded and went back to his flowers.
And that was it.
No interrogation. No suspicion. No demands for answers.
Just... normal.
Kaya stood there for another moment, then turned and walked back to her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
'''
Kaya sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands.
