After a few minutes of silence, I suddenly heard my phone vibrate beside me and for a brief moment my heart started beating faster as I thought it might be Kael, but when I looked at the screen, it was Sophie instead, sending several messages in a row as my phone kept vibrating in my hand.
"Good evening Liora, how are you?""Will you come back after the holidays or earlier?""You haven't texted me in a while…""I miss laughing with you in class."
As I read her messages one by one, I couldn't help but think about how much I missed Belgium, the classroom, and those simple moments that now felt so far away, almost like another life I wasn't sure I could return to.
I slowly lifted my eyes and noticed my father looking at me, and without him saying a single word, I understood that I shouldn't be on my phone during dinner, so I locked it and placed it next to me before continuing the meal in silence, occasionally glancing at everyone around the table.
Once dinner was over, I followed Giulia into the kitchen to help her clean.
"So?" she asked while handing me a plate.
"Not him," I replied calmly. "It was just my friend from Belgium."
She gave me more dishes to dry.
"And you didn't answer her?"
I paused for a moment, thinking carefully.
"She thinks I'm coming back after the holidays… but I don't know what to say."
Giulia looked at me once she finished washing the dishes.
"Then just tell her the truth."
I frowned slightly.
"Except I still plan on going back."
She smiled, as if she already knew I wasn't sure of myself.
"Oh really? And when exactly, and how?"
I crossed my arms lightly.
"I have enough money. Dad just has to let me go… or I'll leave without permission."
She sighed softly while putting the dishes away.
"You're really complicated," she said. "You'll like it here, don't worry."
I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah… we'll see."
After leaving the kitchen, I went back to my room, closed the curtains, and sat on my bed before calling Sophie on video.
"Helloooo Liora!" she said with excitement.
I smiled immediately.
"Sophie!!"
"How are you?"
"I'm good, and you?"
She made a disappointed face.
"Not good, we were supposed to go shopping today!"
My smile slowly disappeared.
"Sophie…" I took a deep breath. "I'm going to stay here longer than expected, but I'll try to come back earlier."
She looked confused.
"Longer? Why?"
"It's a long story…" I said, looking away.
She understood and didn't push further.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated again in my hand, and my eyes instantly moved to the screen.
Kael.
"I'm sorry, I won't be able to tomorrow. I have an appointment. Maybe another time?"
My expression changed slightly, and I felt a small disappointment I couldn't really explain.
"Sophie, I think I should sleep… I'm really tired."
She smiled while eating a cookie.
"Same, I'll sleep soon too. Good night, Liora."
"Good night."
I ended the call.
I stared at Kael's message for a few seconds before typing a reply.
"It's okay, maybe another time… the day after tomorrow?"
After sending it, I turned off my phone and picked up a book to read before sleeping.
At around 3 a.m. the moonlight softly filled my room and I suddenly woke up because of a movement, only to realize it was a cat that had entered.
"Oh! You scared me, I thought you were a monster," I said with a small laugh while gently petting it.
"I don't even know your name…"
Then suddenly, just like the night before, a light appeared from the hallway at the exact same hour.
3 a.m.
Not wanting to get involved, I quietly got up and closed my door completely before going back to bed, pulling the blanket over me while the cat curled up next to me and slowly fell asleep.
But just before closing my eyes, I thought again about Kael's message.
What kind of appointment could he possibly have… and why did it even matter to me?
Should I try to find out?