Chapter 73 Nothing Changed

Chapter 73 Nothing Changed
Selene stepped outside first, the morning air cool against her skin. The sky was pale blue, and the sun was only beginning to warm the ground. The garden still looked neglected, but the light softened its rough edges. Kai followed her a second later, closing the door gently behind them.

For a few moments, they simply walked side by side along the narrow dirt path beside the house. The grass brushed lightly against their legs. A bird flew from the fence and disappeared into the trees.

“You look thinner,” Kai said casually, though her eyes studied Selene’s face carefully. “Were you not eating properly?”

Selene gave a small laugh. “I was injured. I guess that does that.”

Kai nodded slowly. “Injured how?”

Selene shrugged lightly. “I don’t remember exactly. I woke up with bruises and pain. The people who found me said I must have fallen.”

Kai’s gaze lingered on her for a second too long.

“Fallen?” she repeated carefully.

“Yes,” Selene said, bending slightly to touch one of the dry flowers. “The forest ground is uneven.”

Kai hummed softly, pretending to accept the answer.

They continued walking.

“How long were you gone?” Kai asked after a moment.

“I’m not sure,” Selene replied honestly. “Time felt strange. I wasn’t counting.”

Kai let out a quiet breath.

“You had us worried,” she said. “Christopher especially.”

Selene kept her face relaxed.

“Is he still the same?” she asked casually. “Still serious all the time?”

Kai smiled faintly. “Worse.”

Selene laughed softly.

“That sounds like him.”

Kai glanced at her again, as if searching for a crack in her tone.

“You don’t seem… upset,” Kai said carefully.

“About what?” Selene asked.

“About leaving,” Kai clarified.

Selene thought for a second before answering.

“I was confused,” she said slowly. “But not angry. I think I was just overwhelmed.”

Kai nodded slowly.

“Do you remember our last conversation?” she asked.

Selene looked at her with a slight frown, as if trying to recall something distant.

“Not clearly,” she admitted. “Was it important?”

Kai hesitated.

“No,” she said quickly. “Not really.”

They reached the edge of the garden where the trees began. The breeze was stronger there, carrying the scent of damp soil.

Kai crossed her arms loosely.

“So what do you plan to do now?” she asked.

Selene looked ahead at the forest.

“I guess I need to ease back into things,” she said. “I don’t even remember the recent class schedule.”

Kai’s lips curved slightly.

“You always complained about early classes,” she said.

Selene chuckled.

“I still might.”

Kai relaxed a little at that.

“Everyone thought you ran away,” Kai added, watching her reaction closely.

Selene only blinked slowly.

“Ran away?” she repeated softly.

“Yes,” Kai continued. “Christopher said you were upset about something.”

Selene tilted her head slightly.

“Was I?” she asked lightly.

Kai shrugged. “You were quiet that week.”

Selene nodded slowly, letting silence sit between them.

“I don’t remember being upset with anyone,” she said after a moment. “If I was, I guess it wasn’t important.”

Kai’s shoulders lowered slightly.

“That’s good,” she murmured.

They began walking back toward the house.

“Do you remember the river?” Kai asked suddenly.

Selene paused mid-step, then continued walking naturally.

“I remember water,” she said carefully. “Cold water.”

Kai’s breath hitched almost invisibly.

“That’s it?” she pressed gently.

Selene nodded.

“It felt like a dream.”

Kai studied her face again, searching for fear or accusation. She found neither.

Before she could ask another question, footsteps approached from the side path.

Christopher.

He was walking toward the house with his usual steady stride, but the moment he saw Selene standing beside Kai, he stopped.

His expression froze.

For a second, he looked exactly like Kai had earlier—stunned, disbelieving.

“Selene?” he said, his voice low.

Selene turned toward him calmly.

“Christopher,” she greeted gently.

He stared at her as if trying to confirm she was real.

“You’re—” he began, then stopped.

Kai quickly stepped closer to him.

“She came back yesterday,” Kai said lightly, though her voice held tension.

Christopher’s eyes did not leave Selene.

“How?” he asked bluntly.

Selene kept her expression soft.

“I wish I knew,” she replied. “I don’t remember much.”

Christopher’s jaw tightened.

“You don’t remember?” he repeated.

She shook her head slightly.

“It’s blurry. The forest. Falling. Waking up somewhere else.”

Christopher exchanged a quick glance with Kai.

“You fell?” he asked carefully.

“That’s what I think,” Selene said. “Do you know what happened?”

Christopher hesitated for half a second too long.

“We thought you ran,” he said finally.

Selene looked mildly confused.

“Why would I run?” she asked.

Christopher opened his mouth, but no answer came immediately.

Kai stepped in smoothly.

“You were overwhelmed,” she said. “We had an argument.”

Selene blinked as if surprised.

“We did?” she asked softly.

Christopher watched her face closely.

“Do you remember what it is about?” he pressed.

Selene frowned slightly, looking genuinely thoughtful.

“Again, no,” she said after a moment. “Was it really that serious?”

Kai forced a small laugh.

“Not really.”

Christopher still looked unconvinced.

He stepped closer.

“You don’t remember the outing?” he asked quietly.

Selene looked from him to Kai.

“Again, what outing?” she asked again.

Christopher’s eyes searched hers for something—anger, recognition, anything.

He found only confusion.

Kai placed a hand lightly on his arm.

“She just said she doesn’t remember,” Kai said gently.

Christopher inhaled slowly.

“You hit your head?” he asked.

“Probably,” Selene replied with a small shrug.

Christopher studied her posture, her breathing, her tone.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

Selene smiled faintly.

“I’m standing here, aren’t I?”

Kai let out a soft breath, almost relieved.

Christopher’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though not completely.

“We were worried,” he said carefully.

Selene nodded.

“I’m sorry,” she replied gently.

There was a long pause.

The three of them stood in the morning light, the wind moving softly through the trees. The tension between them was invisible to anyone watching from a distance, but it was there.

Christopher finally stepped back.

“You should rest,” he said.

Selene nodded obediently.

“I will.”

Kai gave her a bright smile that almost looked real.

“We’re just glad you’re back,” she said.

Selene smiled back.

“I’m glad too.”

Christopher turned slightly toward the path again, but his eyes lingered on her for one last second.

He was still unsure.

Still calculating.

Kai walked closer to Selene again.

“See?” she said lightly. “Nothing changed.”

Selene looked at the house, then at the quiet trees beyond it.

“Yes,” she said softly.

Nothing changed and that was exactly what made it dangerous.