Silvia quickly entered her mother’s car after giving the ginger tea to Liam earlier.

She heard Liam saying something, but she could not answer him right now.

As she sat in the front passenger seat where her mother was holding the steering wheel and watching her get in, Silvia froze for a moment before closing the car door with a soft thud.

She could not speak inside the car. Her head remained lowered. Even though the car heater was already on, she strangely still felt cold.

"You didn’t tell me that your study group friend was that boy, Silvia." Her mother spoke in a pressing tone.

"That boy?" Silvia’s voice trembled slightly.

"Do you think you can fool your mother?" Her mother had not started driving yet. The car was still parked right in front of the school gate.

"Never get close to that boy again."

Silvia bit her lip lightly, then gathered her courage.

"But, mom. I was only... doing what you told me to do. Liam is the childhood friend of the student council president. My goal was just to use him to build a connection with the prez."

Of course, that was a lie that hurt Silvia’s heart a little. But in front of her mother who controlled every aspect of her life, she had to say it.

"Once I get close enough to the prez, I won’t be friends with that boy anymore."

Silvia’s lips trembled slightly. She hid her hands, which were clenched so tightly that they turned pale, behind her bag.

Then, suddenly, her mother grabbed her hand. The touch felt very cold and extremely restraining.

"Silvia."

Silvia lifted her head, only to see her mother acting terrifyingly just like she used to.

"When will you come to your senses? Should I hang myself in front of you?" Her mother said, placing her palm close to her own neck.

Silvia’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes lost their light and her face turned pale.

"Mom..." Silvia gripped her skirt tightly. "I thought the doctors said you would be fine once you started taking the meds..."

Silvia remembered the paper she had seen on the table at home that morning. It read:

Prescription.

We wish for your health to be better.

Psychiatry Clinic.

Silvia spoke again in a small, painful voice. "I don’t understand why you always act this way. What could be the problem?"

Her mother’s eyes trembled slightly. Then she suddenly pulled Silvia into a hug and stroked her head.

"Mom only asks you not to get close to that boy anymore." Her mother whispered.

"Just... do as I say... If you don’t want to see me dead."

***

’Mother will always say she will die if I don’t do what she says.’

’I have been hearing that since I was six years old.

I have always followed what my mother says. Since I was a child, she told me that everything she did was for her little angel, which is me.’

’But even since I was a child, I already knew that mother would never listen to what I think.’

Silvia entered her room. Darkness filled her vision before she turned on the desk lamp that only illuminated a small part of the space.

That was enough for Silvia, because strangely she felt calmer like this.

She changed into her pajamas and sat down at her study desk.

She stayed silent there for a long time until someone finally crossed her mind.

’Has Liam gotten home safely?’

Ever since she met Liam, when she found his notebook and helped him with small things, those little moments were enough to make Silvia feel that there was at least someone who paid a little attention to her.

And that feeling was something new, something that strangely felt very comforting and warm.

That was why Silvia could not help but return that attention. As much as possible, she watched over Liam. When he was in class, when he fell asleep, when he was having difficulties, when he looked tired. Silvia would look for chances to help him too.

That was why, after hearing from Darren that Liam had been coughing lately, she had made ginger tea for him that morning.

Her phone rang for quite a while, making Silvia feel a little worried about Liam.

’Has he already gone to sleep? Or is he busy right now? Why isn’t he picking up?’

Then, suddenly the call was answered, making Silvia sit up straighter.

"Hello, Liam?"

She tried to make her voice as gentle as possible, even though she had just gone through a stressful situation that left her slightly breathless.

"Liam, did you get home safe?"

"Not yet." Liam’s voice came from the phone. "I’m taking care of something right now."

’Taking care of something? Taking care of what?’

Silvia almost asked "taking care of what?" but she held herself back, because that would definitely make Liam feel uncomfortable with her.

"Are you still outside? If so, please be careful, Liam."

In the end, Silvia could only worry about Liam from the other side of the phone.

However, she also frowned slightly when she heard faint rustling sounds from the call.

’What is Liam doing?’

"I just wanted to remind you that the next physics exam will be held next Tuesday. The material covers Chapters two to four. So you should review those three Chapters."

Silvia decided to make small talk, wanting to make the call last a little longer.

"Khhk... O-okay, thank you."

’???’

Silvia tightened her grip on the phone. Liam’s voice sounded very strange. When she pressed the speaker button for a moment, she could hear someone else’s breathing.

’Who is Liam with right now?’

"Also..." Silvia continued.

She focused her hearing again. Sure enough, something was off. Heavy breathing sounds kept coming through.

"Are you really okay...? You looked really tired yesterday, and you sound very tired now. If the pressure from studying is too much for you, it’s better to rest properly and do your hobbies or something. Your health is the most important thing, Liam." Silvia spoke at length again, trying to hear more of what Liam was doing.

Then suddenly something clicked in Silvia’s head.

’Wait... could he possibly be...?!’

Yes, that was possible. Considering Liam was a young man in his prime, he was probably doing what the teacher had explained during class back in middle school.

"I understand. Thank you, Silvia." Liam said with a raspy voice.

"Y-You’re welcome. W-Well... see you tomorrow, Liam."

"See you tomor—!"

The call was suddenly cut off. Silvia froze in place.

Her face turned red, and she immediately buried her head in her diary.

’What are you doing, Silvia?! Disturbing Liam while he was...’

Silvia shook her head vigorously. She had to erase that thought from her mind.

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on the door. Silvia, who had been flustered, quickly regained her composure. She looked toward the door and immediately recognized from the shadow in the gap that it was her mother.

Silvia’s face instantly turned gloomy. She spoke in a low voice.

"Just a moment, Mom. I will submit today’s diary entry."

She misses her Study Group.

And Liam.