The Hidden Scar

The Visitor

few days later 

in class 

aera's pov 

Jimin's words were a constant stream, filling the quiet left behind by the others who had gone off to basketball practice. I was used to it by now—the way he never seemed to run out of things to say. It was almost comforting in its predictability, especially during our art project sessions. I didn't mind it, and he never seemed to notice that I never smiled.

His phone buzzed on the desk, cutting through his latest story. He picked it up, his expression changing as he read the message. There was a spark of surprise, followed quickly by something warmer.

"It's my sister," he said, a bit of excitement in his voice. He didn't hesitate before inviting her over, his tone almost bubbling with happiness. Then, without missing a beat, he turned to me and invited me to meet her as well.

As Sana, the name I used with Jimin, it was only natural for him to include me. But inside, I was Aera, the girl who didn't smile, who was always on guard. The curiosity flickered in my mind—what kind of person was his sister? Would she see through me the way I feared others might?

I followed him out of the classroom, my thoughts swirling with questions. Meeting his sister wasn't something I had planned for, but now it was happening. I would have to face whatever came next.

authors pov 

s Aera and Jimin walked into his house, the familiar warmth of the place wrapped around them. Jimin's sister, who was waiting in the living room, lit up as soon as she saw him. Without hesitation, Jimin rushed forward and hugged her tightly, his usual enthusiasm showing through.

"Hey, sis! It's been too long!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy.

Aera, or rather "Sana" as she was introduced, stepped forward with a polite smile, though her face remained numb, as always. "Hello, it's nice to meet you," she said, trying to sound cheerful despite the lack of expression on her face. Her inability to smile made the moment feel slightly off, but she hoped her tone conveyed enough warmth.

There was a brief pause, an awkward silence that hung in the air for just a few seconds before Jimin broke it with his non-stop chatter. He began telling his sister all about their day, filling the room with his lively energy.

Suddenly, the sound of Aera's phone ringing cut through Jimin's words. "Dring, dring." She glanced at the screen and saw an unknown number. Excusing herself from the conversation, she stepped aside to answer the call, leaving Jimin to continue talking.

On the other hand, as soon as Aera—or "Sana"—stepped away to take her call, Min Ju's eyes narrowed slightly. There was something about this girl that didn't sit right with her. As Jimin continued talking, she leaned in closer to him, lowering her voice.

"Jimin, there's something off about her," Min Ju whispered, glancing towards where Sana had gone. "Why doesn't she ever smile? I've been watching her since she arrived, and not once has she shown any real expression. It's strange, don't you think?"

Jimin frowned, his usual cheerful demeanor faltering for a moment. "She's just shy, maybe," he replied, trying to brush off his sister's concerns. But the seed of doubt had been planted.

Min Ju wasn't convinced. "Shy is one thing, but this... it's different. I'm telling you, Jimin, I don't think you should trust her so easily. You never know what someone could be hiding."

Jimin's gaze flickered towards the spot where Sana had been standing, his thoughts beginning to churn. He trusted her, that much he was sure of—she had been around often enough for him to feel comfortable with her. But Min Ju's words echoed in his mind, mingling with his own growing curiosity about Sana's lack of facial expressions.

As much as he wanted to ignore it, he couldn't help but wonder why she never smiled. It was something he decided he would ask her about, but not now. He would wait until tomorrow, when they were alone again, and then he'd get to the bottom of it.