My Adorable Little Rascal

Sunny squints hard at her phone screen, brows scrunched like she's interrogating a criminal.

"Same time as before."

Skylar theatrically wipes imaginary sweat from her forehead and throws up a thumbs-up: "Relax, relax. This time is definitely different!"

Sunny doesn't flinch. Her eyes flick sideways toward Julian, who sits far too still.

Then—without warning—Skylar leans over and pinches Julian's thigh beneath the table.

"Ah—!" Julian jolts upright as his chair screeches against the floor: "A-Ah! Yeah, totally! This time is definitely different!"

Skylar grins like she's just won a gold medal: "See? Teamwork!"

Sunny raises an eyebrow: "More like team assault."

Still, she mutters under her breath, eyes locked on the loading screen: "I just hope it's not a weird kind of different."

Her phone buzzes with a soft chime.

All three instinctively lean in.

The screen lights up.

Game Result — EQ Score: Skylar Trinh: 100/100; Julian Jiang: 100/100.

A beat of stunned silence.

Sunny freezes. Her mouth hangs slightly open. Her hand twitches.

"…What the hell?!"

Julian blinks: "Is... that good?"

"Niceee! Bravo, bravo!" Sunny claps, the rhythm chaotic—like she can't decide if she's genuinely impressed or completely losing faith in humanity.

Skylar clasps her hands together like a bashful bride: "Aww… you flatter me..."

Sunny's face flips like a light switch: "You think that's a compliment?! You two score bottom tier in human interaction but ace some paper test? I swear, just hanging around you both shortens my lifespan!"

Skylar sighs internally: Here we go again...

Strangely, this time, she doesn't feel irritated.

Just... tired. Like her energy battery ran out five minutes ago.

She glances at Julian.

He notices, of course.

He leans in slightly and whispers: "How do you feel?"

Skylar shrugs: "Nothing much."

Julian nods: "Same."

They pause. Not awkward—just still. Like the air decides to hold its breath along with them.

Sunny narrows her eyes: "What are you whispering about?"

Skylar jerks upright: "Nothing!"

Julian smirks: "She said you're annoying."

Skylar's eyes bulge: "I DID NOT! You have to believe me!"

She spins toward Julian, betrayed: "Hey! You were part of this too!"

An ominous aura creeps from Sunny's corner. She cracks her knuckles like a villain preparing for a boss battle."Little angel..."

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Skylar bursts out laughing before Sunny even touches her. "Nooo! My stomach—I can't—!"

She flails like a fish on land, trying to escape Sunny's evil fingers.

Julian stands off to the side, arms folded. His shoulders tremble.

Skylar catches it.

She freezes mid-giggle. Eyes narrowing:

That jerk is laughing at me.

Unbelievable. No conscience. Traitor. You're done for tomorrow.

Eventually, the chaos dies down.

Sunny wipes tears from her eyes, still giggling: "You squeal like a baby mouse."

"Thank." Skylar groans: "Always happy to serve."

Just as the mood cools, Sunny pauses.

Her eyes land on Skylar's outfit—long sleeves and pants, even though the fan spins full blast and the heat feels like summer's revenge.

She tilts her head: "Isn't it hot today? Why do you always dress like that? Don't you feel warm?"

Skylar keeps smiling. But her voice quiets: "No. I've dressed like this since I was five."

The answer comes too fast. Too smooth.

Sunny picks up on it.

She leans further: "Lemme see what's under there."

Skylar flinches. Her hands fly to her sleeves, gripping tight.

"Don't." Her voice is sharp—too sharp.

Sunny blinks. But her curiosity doesn't leave: "If you don't, I'm gonna tickle you again..."

"Haha—stop! Please!" Skylar laughs, but it sounds wrong now. Off-kilter.

Sunny chuckles too, but the mood shifts. There's something else in her voice.

Concern.

"Come on... Just show us. What are you hiding?"

She reaches out.

Skylar reacts instantly—jerking away like a cornered animal. Her eyes sharpen—not angry, but guarded. Defensive.

A shadow flickers behind them.

Sunny freezes.

In that instant, the girl she's been laughing with disappears.

And all that's left—

is fear.

Skylar clutches her arms to her chest. Her breathing quickens. Her sleeves slip slightly—and the feel of open air on skin yanks her backward—

A hallway. Cold. Empty.

A voice: "You said you wouldn't tell anyone."

A smile—once kind—twisted by memory.A scream, buried deep. Still echoing inside her.

She forces the image away.

The room snaps back.

Julian steps forward. His expression darkens.

Sunny doesn't try again.

Silence spreads.

Skylar opens her mouth. Nothing comes out. Her head lowers. Her body trembles.

"I'm tired," she says.

And then—

she collapses.

Not fainting. Not falling asleep.

Just—folding.Like her entire frame gives out at once.

She sinks to her knees. Arms wrapped around herself. Head bowed low.

Her sleeves slide back into place.

Underneath, something hums—A scar that doesn't forget.

Sunny stands frozen.

Julian's fists are clenched. His knuckles go white.

Skylar doesn't cry.

She just stays there. Quiet.

And in that quiet, Sunny thinks:

Something has broken.

But she doesn't know how to ask.

Not yet.

Julian doesn't move.

His eyes remain unreadable.

But in his chest—something has already begun to stir.

The chapter ends.

But the silence—

remains.

Like a door left ajar.

Like a truth not yet spoken.