Alex didn't sleep.
Again.
That message kept replaying in his head.
Ask your mother why she cried the night you were born.
Morning came too fast.
The classroom felt louder than usual.Chairs scraping. People laughing.Everything annoyed him.
Lina sat two seats away.
Not next to him.
That hurt more than he expected.
He tried to talk to her.
"Lina—"
She stood up.
"Not now," she said quietly."I need time."
Time.
That word scared him.
Chris wasn't in class.
Alex kept checking the door like an idiot.Every time it opened, his heart jumped.
Nothing.
Just empty air.
At lunch, Alex finally snapped.
He went home early.
The house was quiet.Too quiet.
His mom was in the kitchen, washing dishes.Her hands moved slowly.
Carefully.
Like she already knew.
"Mom," Alex said."Who is Chris?"
The plate slipped from her hand.
It shattered.
Silence.
She didn't turn around.
"…Where did you hear that name?"
Alex's throat went dry.
"So it's real."
His mother closed her eyes.
And for the first time—
she looked old.
"You weren't supposed to find out like this," she whispered.
Alex's chest burned.
"Find out WHAT?"
She turned.
Tears already falling.
"You had an older brother," she said."And I failed both of you."
The room spun.
Alex grabbed the chair to stay standing.
"Why did you lie to me?"
"To protect you," she cried."From him."
That answer didn't make sense.
Nothing did.
Alex's phone buzzed.
A call.
Chris.
He answered without thinking.
"You talked to her," Chris said calmly."Good."
"Why?" Alex shouted."Why come back now?!"
Chris was silent for a second.
Then—
"Because she's lying to you again."
Alex's blood ran cold.
Outside, thunder rolled.
Lina stood across the street.
Watching the house.
Watching him.
Her phone in her hand.
A message unsent.
And Alex realized—
Everything was about to collide.