Unpredictable Connection

27. Unspoken Storms

Becky's POV:

I was still holding onto that brief moment with Freen — a flicker of warmth I hadn't felt in a long time. But guess happiness really does have a short shelf life.

The second I stepped out of the library, I spotted Irin and Char waiting near the parking lot. One look at their faces told me something was off. Char handed me her phone, and when I saw the photo... I froze.

I was beyond shocked.

As far as I could remember, the library had been empty. Just the librarian and her assistant, both too lost in their own world to care about Freen or me. So then... who?

We went back home — well, technically Irin's house, but it's ours now. We've been living together long enough to call it that.

Dinner was quiet until Char suddenly cleared her throat. I'd noticed she'd been out of it since I saw her in the parking lot. Irin frowned and gently patted her back.
"Are you okay?" she asked.

Char nodded. "Yeah... I'm fine."

I reached over and took her hand, offering a small smile. "Char, you're my cousin. You know I won't judge you. You can tell me anything."

She didn't say a word, and Irin narrowed her eyes before adding, "Well, I won't judge either."

I let out a soft chuckle and nodded, letting it go for now. Char looked like she needed space more than pressure.

After dinner, as we washed the dishes together, Irin nudged me subtly and gestured toward Char.

Her jaw dropped a second later, and so did mine.

"Char, hey—hey! I just washed those! Why are you washing them again?" I stopped her before she could go further, then blinked in disbelief. "Wait... are you putting them in the oven? Why? They go on the shelf, right next to it — see?"

Char snapped out of her daze and gasped. "I'm so sorry... I'll fix it!"

She started frantically rearranging everything like she'd committed some unforgivable mistake. Irin and I exchanged a look.

Char wasn't just distracted.
She was lost — completely somewhere else.

Irin stepped forward and gently took the dishes from Char's trembling hands. I turned her to face me, my voice calm but firm.
"What's wrong, Char?"

I needed to know. Whatever was weighing her down — it wasn't small.

Irin joined in, humming gently, "Since when did we start hiding things from each other, huh?"

But Char stayed silent. Her lips pressed together like she was trying to keep something from slipping out — not from us, but from herself.

I glanced at her, concerned. She looked like she was fighting with her own thoughts, stuck somewhere deep.

And honestly, I wasn't in the best shape either. My mind was still spinning from that viral photo — me and Freen in the library, her arm around me, both of us smiling like the world had softened for a second. I had no idea who took it. No idea what would happen once I showed up at college tomorrow. And now... Char was unraveling, too.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Char... take your time, okay? And when you feel ready to talk, I'm right here."

Irin nodded, stepping closer and cupping Char's cheeks with a warm smile. "Got it, you pillar?"

Char let out a small chuckle, her eyes softening for a second. She nodded.

"Go to bed and get some rest," Irin said gently. "Becky and I will finish up here."