Chapter 12
Some memories don't fade.
They don't blur with time,
don't soften with distance.
They stay—
quiet, untouched,
waiting.
And sometimes…
they return when you least expect them.
The sunlight was warm.
Gentle.
It filtered through the leaves, scattering soft patterns across the ground.
Laughter echoed in the air—
light, carefree, untouched by anything heavy.
A younger Naiiyraa sat on the grass, her hands covered in dust, her brows furrowed in frustration.
"This isn't fair," she muttered, struggling to fix the small wooden toy in her hands.
"It's not supposed to be easy."
The voice came from behind her.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Zubii.
Naiiyraa turned immediately, her face lighting up.
"You said you'd help me!"
Zubii smiled as she walked closer, sitting beside her.
"I said I'd teach you," she corrected gently.
"Not do it for you."
Naiiyraa pouted.
"That's basically the same thing."
"It's not," Zubii said, amused.
She picked up the broken toy, examined it briefly, then placed it back into Naiiyraa's hands.
"Look closely," she said.
"You're forcing it."
Naiiyraa frowned.
"I'm not—"
"You are," Zubii interrupted softly.
"You're trying to fix it quickly, not properly."
The younger girl hesitated, then looked down again.
"…Then what should I do?"
Zubii adjusted her grip slightly.
"Be patient," she said.
"Things don't break all at once, and they don't get fixed all at once either."
Naiiyraa stayed quiet, listening.
"And if you rush," Zubii continued,
"you might damage it even more."
The words were simple.
But they stayed.
Naiiyraa tried again—slower this time.
Carefully.
And this time—
the piece slid into place.
Her eyes widened.
"I did it!"
Zubii smiled, softer now.
"See? You didn't need me to fix it."
Naiiyraa looked up at her.
"…But I needed you to teach me."
For a moment, Zubii didn't respond.
Then she gently placed her hand on Naiiyraa's head.
"And I always will."
The wind moved through the trees.
The sunlight shifted.
Everything felt warm.
Safe.
Certain.
And then—
it broke.
Naiiyraa's eyes snapped open.
Her breath came uneven.
The warmth vanished instantly, replaced by the cold stillness of the room.
Dark.
Quiet.
Real.
For a few seconds, she didn't move.
Didn't think.
She just stared at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling.
"…Zubii," she whispered.
The name felt distant now.
Fragile.
Like something she could almost reach—
but never touch again.
The room remained silent.
Too silent.
Naiiyraa sat up slowly, pushing the blanket aside. The cold floor met her feet, but she barely reacted.
Sleep was gone.
Completely.
Her gaze drifted toward the window, where faint traces of night still lingered.
"…Be patient."
Zubii's voice echoed faintly in her mind.
Naiiyraa let out a quiet breath.
"I am," she whispered.
But it didn't feel true.
She stood and walked toward the mirror.
For a moment—
she just stared.
At her reflection.
At the person standing there.
"…Who even are you right now?" she murmured.
No answer.
Of course not.
She lifted her hand slightly, as if to touch the glass—
but stopped midway.
Something felt off.
Not outside.
Inside.
Like something was slowly shifting out of place.
Behind her, Mimi stirred slightly but didn't wake.
Naiiyraa glanced back.
For a second—
something sharp flickered in her expression.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Something quieter.
More dangerous.
"…You're living my life," she whispered.
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
She froze.
Her own voice felt unfamiliar.
Wrong.
She looked away immediately, shaking her head.
"No… that's not—"
But she didn't finish.
Because a part of her knew—
it wasn't entirely false.
She moved toward the window again, gripping the edge slightly.
"He believed her," she said softly.
No hesitation this time.
"He chose her."
The memory replayed—
clear and unforgiving.
I already met her.
Her grip tightened.
"…I was right there."
A pause.
"And it still wasn't me."
The frustration didn't explode.
It sank.
Deep.
Heavy.
Like something settling instead of breaking.
"…Zubii would've known what to do."
The thought came naturally.
And that's what made it hurt more.
Because Zubii wasn't here.
No calm voice.
No quiet guidance.
No gentle reassurance.
Just silence.
Naiiyraa slowly slid down to the floor, her back resting against the wall.
Her knees drew closer.
For the first time—
she didn't try to fix anything.
Didn't plan.
Didn't pretend.
She just sat there.
Still.
Breathing.
Even that felt heavy.
"…What am I supposed to do now?" she whispered.
No answer came.
Only the faint sound of the wind outside.
Across the room—
Mimi shifted again, still asleep.
Unaware.
Peaceful.
Naiiyraa looked at her.
This time—
she didn't look away.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
"…How long," she murmured,
"before this stops feeling temporary?"
Silence followed.
Because deep down—
she already knew.
Things like this never stayed under control forever.
The sky outside slowly began to lighten.
Morning was coming.
And with it—
another day of pretending.
Naiiyraa closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
The softness from earlier—
had faded.
Not completely.
But enough.
Something else had taken its place.
Quieter.
Colder.
More distant.
"…Fine," she whispered.
A decision.
Small.
But real.
"I'll play along."
Her gaze shifted away from Mimi.
"Let's see how long this lasts."
The first light of morning slipped into the room.
And for the first time—
Naiiyraa didn't feel like the same person who had gone to sleep.
End of Chapter 12