BEHIND THE MASK

part 1

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In a quaint, sunlit kitchen, Miss Lee sat at the head of the table, watching her children, Felix and Hyunjin, eat their lunch. The room was filled with the aroma of freshly cooked food, yet a thick silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional clinking of utensils against plates.

Felix, with her steely gaze fixed on her plate, methodically cut her food into precise pieces, not once looking up. Her twin brother Hyunjin, equally stoic, mirrored her actions but occasionally glanced around the room, taking in their new surroundings. They had only moved into this house the previous day, and the unfamiliarity of it all seemed to amplify their usual reticence.

Miss Lee cleared her throat, attempting to break the silence. "So, how do you both like the new house?" she asked, her voice light and hopeful.

Hyunjin looked up briefly, his expression unreadable. "It's fine," he said curtly, before returning to his meal.

Felix didn't respond, her eyes remaining firmly on her plate. Miss Lee sighed inwardly but didn't press further. She knew better than to force a conversation with her children, especially when they were adjusting to a new environment.

She took a sip of her tea and set the cup down with a soft clink. "I know it's been a lot of changes lately, moving here and all," she began, trying a different approach. "But I think this place will be good for us. A fresh start."

Hyunjin nodded slightly, a gesture that Miss Lee had learned to interpret as agreement. Felix, on the other hand, remained silent, her fork moving mechanically as she ate.

"Remember when we moved to Australia?" Miss Lee continued, hoping to engage them. "It was a big change, but we managed to adjust. I'm sure we can do it again here."

Hyunjin's expression softened a bit. "Yeah, I remember," he said quietly. "It was difficult at first, but we got used to it."

Felix glanced up briefly, her eyes flickering with a hint of recognition before she quickly looked back down. "It was... okay," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Miss Lee smiled, feeling a small victory in getting even a minimal response from Felix. "See? We can handle this too. And who knows, maybe it will be even better here."

The twins remained silent, but Miss Lee could tell they were listening. She decided to change the subject to something lighter.

"So, what do you both plan to do now that we're here? Any thoughts about school or work?" she asked, trying to sound encouraging.

Hyunjin shrugged. "I don't know. We haven't really thought about it."

Felix, still silent, glanced at her brother, her eyes conveying a silent agreement.

"Well, you don't have to decide right away," Miss Lee said, trying to sound encouraging. "Take your time to settle in. But remember, you both have so much potential. Don't let it go to waste."

Hyunjin gave a noncommittal grunt, while Felix remained impassive. Miss Lee sighed, knowing that it would take time for them to open up and find their paths.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, with Miss Lee talking about the new town and the places they could explore together. She shared anecdotes from her own life, hoping to draw them out of their shells, even if just a little.

As they finished their meal, Miss Lee stood up and began clearing the table. "I'll take care of this. You two go relax for a bit," she said with a smile.

Hyunjin and Felix nodded, standing up and leaving the kitchen. As they walked away, Miss Lee couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. It was a small step, but it was a step nonetheless.