Waking up the next morning, Irene found herself wrapped in soft sunlight filtering through the cracks of the shack's wooden walls.
Her body was fragile
and both her health and her mind were never the best topics for her.
Yet somehow, after everything that happened yesterday…
she woke to the gentle chirping of birds.
Strange.
"Irene."
Carlo's voice pulled her out of her drifting thoughts.
"…Carlo."
He stepped inside, loosening his shoulders as he saw her awake.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I… am not in pain."
"That's good."
"…"
Carlo had gotten used to taking care of her.
Every time Irene fainted
whether from stress, from exertion, or from simply pushing her frail body past its limit
he was the one who stayed by her side.
Even if she always woke up fine,
it never stopped worrying him.
"…About what happened…" Irene began, breaking the silence.
"He ran away," Carlo said immediately. "Pesky child."
"…I see."
Carlo leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching Irene quietly as she tried to piece together last night's events from her bed.
"You should stay home for the time being," he said.
"What are you saying?" Irene frowned softly.
"I can handle our expenses."
"…"
Irene looked away, embarrassed.
Her fingers twisted in the blanket.
"I was just trying to help…"
She meant it, Carlo knew she did.
But he also knew that wasn't the only reason she pushed herself yesterday.
"…"
Carlo held back his thoughts for a moment, then spoke gently:
"At least stay away from trouble."
"I will," Irene replied, offering him a faint, tired smile.
The conversation ended as Carlo took his leave for work, leaving Irene alone in the room.
***
Later that day, Irene sat behind the shack, biting into a small loaf of bread.
It was tasteless, dry… but filling enough.
The air was soft.
The forest breathed gently around her
rustling leaves, chirping birds, distant wind.
A rare calm.
Irene leaned back against the wall and looked up at the sky, drifting into thought.
Never
not in a thousand years
would she have predicted something like yesterday to happen.
It had only been one day,
yet it felt unreal.
Like a dream that slipped away too fast,
like a season that passed in the blink of an eye.
She couldn't decide if the memory was a strange dream
or a nightmare.
But there was proof.
She lowered her gaze to her hands.
Light scratches ran along her skin, now wrapped neatly in fresh bandages
done by Carlo while she slept.
Evidence of the strange boy,
of red eyes in the dark.
She brushed her fingers over the bandages.
So it wasn't a dream after all.
…
Yes… it wasn't a dream.
Because at this very moment
she noticed something.
Irene questioned herself for a moment, wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.
A shadow behind the trees.
It looked familiar.
Her heart tightened.
She knew.
It had only been yesterday for her…
and she could never forget a presence like his.
It was him.
The strange boy had come back.
But why?
What was he doing there?
Irene turned her eyes toward the figure, squinting through the bright sunlight.
She struggled to make out his shape, the light was too harsh, washing everything out.
The boy stepped aside,
moving into the shade so she could see him clearly.
And just like before…
Their eyes met.
Curious.
Silent.
Full of questions.
Adrian was the first to move.
He stepped forward.
Instinctively, Irene stepped back, just one step
but she didn't run.
Adrian continued walking.
Forward, slow, steady.
Forward again.
Until the distance between them was only an arm's length apart.
***
Adrian spoke first, surprising her.
"Are you still scared of me?"
"…What do you mean?" Irene replied softly.
"Do you hate me?"
"…Hate… I…"
The questions came rushing
She struggled to answer even simple questions.
Adrian lowered his gaze and spoke gently.
"I'm sorry."
So… he came here just to apologize, Irene thought, pulling herself together a little.
Adrian's eyes shifted to her left arm , the one wrapped in bandages.
He really did look sorry.
"It's fine… this is nothing,"
"…Does it hurt?"
Does it hurt?
"Of course it does."
"Sorry."
This time, the apology felt flat.
Empty.
As if he didn't actually understand what he was saying.
What is wrong with him?
The way he talks…
Is he really here to apologize?
Irene held her thoughts in, unsure what to make of him.
"…Forget what you saw," Adrian said suddenly.
Forget… what?
Yesterday?
"It's fine…" Irene replied.
"Please keep it as our secret."
Our secret…!?
Irene's face flushed instantly.
But Adrian didn't even react , he didn't seem to understand how heavy those words sounded.
"...Okay… I won't tell anybody," she said quietly.
"Thank you."
Strange.
Very strange.
Irene had never met anyone like him before.
"… I came here just to say so. I'll be leaving now."
Consistent and blunt, Adrian turned and began walking away.
"Hey…" Irene shouted before she even realized it.
She didn't know why she did.
She just knew she wanted to talk more.
About what? She had no idea.
The boy stopped
he listened to her voice.
But now what?
What was she supposed to say?
"About what happened… do you want to have a chat?"
The question slipped out before Irene could stop herself.
It was simple… yet for her, painfully embarrassing.
She wasn't good with words , not at all , and the moment she heard herself speak, she wanted to curl up and dig a hole to hide in.
Her cheeks warmed.
Her fingers tightened around her skirt.
But Adrian… paused.
A chat?
A chat with the person who attacked you yesterday?
He blinked, surprised.
His expression shifted , not dramatically, but enough for Irene to notice.
He… seemed interested?
His head tilted slightly, as if the idea itself was unusual, foreign… yet somehow appealing.