Chapter 8: White

Four houses away from Êyavia's family home was Alisa's house. Unlike Êyavia's house, which boasted a traditional architectural style with intricate decorative patterns, Alisa's house embraced a modern, minimalist, and clean style while maintaining an elegant touch. This all-white villa was arguably the brightest and most striking building among the darker houses in the Pallin neighborhood. Yet, it did not choose to plant the characteristic white flowering trees that had made the street famous, earning it the nickname "Land of White Flowers". Instead, in the spacious courtyard were small flowering trees in a myriad of colors�"red, yellow, purple�"making it even more prominent.

Ding-dong! Êyavia stood before the black glass door, which looked like something out of a science fiction movie, and rang the doorbell. She had not intended to go out, but her bedroom no longer offered her the same sense of security as before. Something had filled the room with suffocation �" no, that suffocation had now enveloped the entire house. She needed to get some fresh air, but staying outside for too long did not make her feel comfortable or at ease. She came here hoping to see Alisa, hoping to find some remaining sense of security after whatever might happen.

Alisa might not be at home. Her best friend had told her that after graduating, she had been accepted into her father's technology and architecture company. At the time, Alisa had openly expressed her displeasure, clearly stating her desire to find a different environment to avoid relying on her family. But for some reason, she changed her mind. It had been three months; she wondered if Alisa was even free.

The glass door suddenly rolled all the way to one side, without making a sound; the only sound came from the small bell hanging on the door. Êyavia had not paid much attention to it before, but after everything that had happened, sounds and details like this held a strange allure. She stared for a moment at the tiny silver bell, no bigger than a baby's fist, but that was only for a fleeting instant. After a few seconds, she shook her head and went inside the large mansion. Except for the cleaning robots, there was not a soul in sight. Alisa's parents were similar to Êyavia's parents �" both workaholics who, even after completing their tasks, would still try to find something else to keep themselves busy. Perhaps that was why, when Êyavia's family first moved here, the laws of attraction had unexpectedly brought the two families closer.

Êyavia, as usual, went to Alisa's room as if it were her own home.

Alisa left the door open and lay sprawled on the bed. Êyavia went inside and did what best friends often do when visiting each other's homes: she climbed onto the bed, pushed aside all the stuffed animals, and sprawled out on it. Neither of them spoke, just lay silently on the bed that seemed big enough for four. Only when the minute hand on the ladybug-shaped alarm clock had moved three-quarters of the way did Alisa slowly turn and sit up. With dark circles under her eyes and messy hair, she asked Êyavia, "Hey, wanna eat something?"

Êyavia still did not open her eyes, just shook her head. Seeing this, Alisa just smirked and went downstairs. Five minutes later, she returned with a box of pizza that had only two slices left. The smacking sounds and the awkward way Alisa was eating were something else entirely. Can a job really change a person so much?... If you threw her out on the street, no one would think this was the image of a wealthy young lady whose parents worked at some famous technology company. After only three minutes, Êyavia still could not resist the temptation of food. No matter how tired she was, food was still very important to her; she found it hard to give it up even though she was not really hungry. Alisa just smirked, unsurprised by this scene.

“What? Is work in Prismara that tiring?” Êyavia said, lying face down and eating a slice of pizza.

Alisa shook her head: “No. Work varies, but I thought a place full of intellectuals would be so civilized, nobody would have thought it was so scandalous. And what about you? Are you tired of staying home all day?”

Êyavia did not look Alisa in the eye, only speaking in a low voice: "A lot of things happen, you wouldn’t understand."

"Alright, alright, if you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t. How’s Stalas doing these days? Last month I asked him for a painting, he just said yes, and then he hasn’t contacted me since." Alisa took a tissue to wipe her hands and searched for the comb hidden somewhere on the messy dressing table to comb her frizzy hair.

“That painting should probably be for another time, the boy has been acting strangely lately,” Êyavia paused slightly at the words 'acting strangely', then continued, “He said if I saw you, I should tell you that.”

Alisa turned her head back, clicked her tongue, sighed, and began to comb her hair. “You know, Viv? Burying yourself in busyness is an effective way to relieve headaches, believe me.”

Êyavia glared at Alisa and replied, “You seem to be becoming more and more like our parents; becoming a copy of them would be my last resort.”

“But you don’t have any other choice, do you, Viv? Come to Prismara with me!”

Êyavia pondered for a moment before replying, “I’m not sure anymore. It’s been three months, and I don’t even know what I’m waiting for anymore.” Getting into Prismara would be no difficulty, as both of their parents worked there and held considerable positions. But for some reason, Êyavia always felt hesitant about choosing this path. She should have been happy about such a favorable path. Yet, she never stopped feeling like something was wrong, something was missing. So she waited, waiting to see if what she was lacking would willingly reveal itself to her.

What was she hoping for? What did she truly want?

I still have time! I can still rewind! Maybe the shortcoming I've always felt is that I sensed something was happening to Stalas. If I can save him, everything will be alright!

Alisa, brushing her hair, stared intently at her best friend's expressionless face reflected in the mirror, seemingly wanting to say something more but ultimately unable to utter a word. Stalas did not attend the same university as they, so Êyavia and Alisa were inseparable. It would be great if they could work together at this company, but Êyavia remained the same; there was always a certain distance between them that Alisa did not understand. Alisa did not want to stir up that distance; if she could, she would simply observe from afar in silence. Some boundaries are difficult to cross, even for those who have been close since childhood. If one does not want them to waver, do not touch them.

"Oh, right! You said that when you asked Stalas to draw, he just nodded in response, right? Do you remember what day it was?" Êyavia's question suddenly broke the silence in the room. Alisa, busy tending to her skin after a long, tiring night, quickly turned to look at Êyavia with a puzzled expression: "That was last month. It's hard to remember now."

“Try to remember then?” Eyavia sat up, looking at Alisa expectantly.

“Um… I think it was a day or two after your birthday, that’s all I remember, I’m not sure of the exact date. But what’s the matter? Why are you suddenly asking about this?” Alisa replied.

“As I said, Stalas has been having some strange problems lately, and what you just said reminded me of a few things. Um, well, I have something to do at home!”

"Leaving already?" Alisa nodded goodbye to Êyavia but could not help but turn back and add, “If anything happens, find me!” Êyavia nodded and hurried away. Alisa watched her until she disappeared completely before turning back to continue what she was doing.

Êyavia then hurried home. She immediately grabbed a notebook still covered in dust and a pen. She paused, wondering if she could bring these two things into the Pillar, then she realized that on previous occasions, even her clothes had gone with her, so perhaps these two handheld items could also be brought along. She closed her eyes, repeating to herself that same mantra. She only opened her eyes when she heard the sound of the wind chimes.

“You seem happier than usual, do you not?” a familiar voice asked.

Êyavia smiled and nodded repeatedly: “I’ve just found a new clue!” Perhaps this was the first time she had spoken to a stranger with such confidence and joy, and the stranger was a god no less.

Hopefully, this time it would be successful. She thought to herself, then jotted down a date in her notebook: “June 14th,” the day after her birthday. Then she closed her eyes and silently repeated the date in her head. The sound of the wind chimes faded, replaced by the pattering of raindrops against the windowpane.