The next day—
I didn't feel normal.
Not even close.
Sleep had come.
Barely.
But my mind—
It hadn't stopped.
Meera's words kept repeating.
"They're not on your side."
I clenched my jaw.
"…Yeah, great timing," I muttered.
Because now—
I couldn't ignore it.
Every interaction.
Every answer Luna and Kiara had given me.
Every time they avoided something.
Every time they said—
"You're not ready."
"…What if she's right?" I whispered.
That thought—
Was worse than anything else.
I walked into the classroom.
Same as always.
Noise.
Movement.
Normal.
But the moment I stepped in—
Two pairs of eyes locked onto me.
Luna.
Kiara.
Waiting.
Of course they were.
"You're late," Kiara said casually.
I didn't reply.
I walked straight to my seat.
Sat down.
Silent.
That alone—
Was enough.
"…Something's wrong," Luna said.
Not a question.
A statement.
Good.
Saved me the effort.
"Yeah," I replied.
Kiara leaned forward slightly.
"Wanna share?"
I looked at both of them.
Really looked.
For the first time—
Not as allies.
But as variables.
Unknowns.
"…We need to talk."
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"Ominous."
Luna didn't react.
"Go on."
I exhaled slowly.
Then—
I said it.
Direct.
No hesitation.
"You're not telling me everything."
Silence.
Just like that—
The air changed.
Kiara didn't smile.
Luna didn't blink.
"…What makes you say that?" Luna asked.
Calm.
Too calm.
"That's not an answer."
"It's a question."
"Answer mine first."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
That hit.
Harder than expected.
Kiara exhaled slowly.
"Well… that was quick."
I clenched my fist.
"So you admit it."
"We never denied it," Luna said.
"That's not the same thing."
"It is."
"No, it's not."
My voice rose slightly.
I didn't care.
"Every time I ask something important," I continued, "you both either dodge it or say I'm 'not ready.'"
"Because you're not," Luna replied.
"There it is again."
"That doesn't make it wrong."
"It makes it frustrating."
Kiara leaned back.
Watching.
Quiet.
For once.
"That thing," I said, "the door… the mark… everything—"
I stopped.
Then looked straight at them.
"What exactly am I to you?"
Silence.
That question—
Landed.
I could see it.
Kiara's expression shifted slightly.
Luna's eyes sharpened.
"Answer me," I said.
Luna spoke first.
"You're someone important."
"That's vague."
"It's the truth."
"It's not enough."
Kiara leaned forward now.
Serious.
"You want the blunt version?"
"Yes."
"You're useful."
There it was again.
That word.
Useful.
My stomach tightened.
"…That's it?"
"No."
"Then what else?"
"You're also a risk."
I let out a short laugh.
"Wow. Amazing combo."
"It's honest," Luna said.
"I didn't ask for honesty. I asked for clarity."
"And we're giving it."
"No," I shook my head. "You're giving me fragments."
"Because that's all you can handle right now."
That—
That pushed me.
"Stop deciding that for me!"
The room went quiet.
A few students glanced over.
I ignored them.
"I'm the one dealing with this!" I continued. "I'm the one being followed, marked—"
"We know," Luna said firmly.
"Do you?" I snapped.
"Because last night—"
I stopped.
Too late.
Both of them caught it.
"Last night?" Kiara repeated.
Luna's gaze sharpened.
"What happened?"
I hesitated.
Then—
"…Something came into my room."
Silence.
Kiara went still.
"…What?"
Luna didn't move.
But I felt it—
That shift.
"That shouldn't be possible," she said.
"That's what I thought."
"What kind?" Kiara asked.
"Same as before."
"Did it touch you?"
"No."
"Did you respond?"
"…Yes."
Kiara cursed under her breath.
Luna's expression darkened.
"That shouldn't be happening yet," she murmured.
"Yet?" I repeated.
Silence.
"See?" I said. "You just did it again."
No reply.
Good.
"And there's more," I added.
Kiara looked at me.
"…Go on."
"…I met someone."
"A new entity?" she asked.
"No."
A pause.
"…Meera."
That changed everything.
Kiara frowned.
"Who?"
Luna's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That girl… Meera. I remember her."
Better.
Natural.
Connected.
"She was in my room," I continued.
"What?" Kiara snapped.
"That's not possible."
"That's the second time I've heard that."
"She knew about the door," I said.
Silence.
Heavy.
"She said I'm 'ready.'"
No reaction.
"She said you two aren't on my side."
That—
Finally hit.
Kiara's expression hardened.
Luna didn't react immediately.
But I saw it.
That shift.
"…And you believed her?" Kiara asked.
"I didn't say that."
"But you're thinking about it."
I didn't answer.
That was enough.
Kiara sighed.
"Great. Just great."
Luna stepped closer.
"Listen carefully," she said.
"That girl—Meera—shouldn't know about the door."
"…Why?"
"Because knowledge like that—"
She paused.
Too late.
"—is restricted."
My chest tightened.
"…Restricted?"
Kiara muttered, "Yeah… this just got complicated."
I looked between them.
"So there are things even you don't expect?"
"Yes," Luna replied.
"And she's one of them."
Silence.
That changed everything.
"…So what now?" I asked.
Kiara leaned forward.
Serious again.
"Now," she said,
"We figure out what side she's on."
"And if she's not on any side?"
A pause.
Then—
Luna answered.
"…Then she's the most dangerous one."
My chest tightened.
Because deep down—
That felt right.
Way too right.
And suddenly—
This wasn't just about trust anymore.
It was about choosing sides.
Without knowing—
Which one was right.