Iris's POV
The moment I entered school the next morning, I realized something had changed.
People were staring.
Not in a bad way exactly… just curious.
Some whispered when Kaizer and I crossed the hallway. Others smiled slightly. A few juniors even looked excited while talking among themselves.
"The mother-child performance one…"
"I cried during that ending…"
"Their theme was so different…"
I awkwardly adjusted the strap of my bag and kept walking beside Anya while pretending not to hear anything.
Anya, however, was very much hearing everything.
"They better not start behaving like fan clubs now," she muttered.
Ahead of us, Lux turned dramatically toward a group of boys.
"Yes yes, thank you everyone," he announced proudly. "As the backstage emotional support system of the performance team, I accept your appreciation."
"You did nothing," Anya replied instantly.
"I suffered emotionally."
"You ate chips backstage."
Lux gasped. "How dare you expose industry secrets?"
I couldn't help laughing quietly.
For some reason…
today felt lighter.
Maybe because the performance was finally over.
Or maybe because for once, things had not completely fallen apart.
Soon during break, Kaizer and I were called to the principal's office.
The principal handed us a cream-colored envelope with a small smile.
"Your prize amount."
I carefully accepted it while Kaizer politely thanked her.
"And once again," she continued, "very good performance. The judges especially appreciated the emotional storytelling."
I glanced at Kaizer for a second before looking away again.
"Thank you, ma'am."
When we reached the cafeteria afterward, Lux and Anya were already sitting there watching videos from the cultural fiesta on Lux's phone.
"Look at this angle," Lux said dramatically the moment we sat down. "You two genuinely look famous."
Anya snatched the phone from him.
"You recorded the ceiling for half the performance."
"It was an artistic perspective."
I shook my head slightly while placing the envelope on the table.
Anya immediately leaned forward.
"How much?"
I opened it carefully.
The amount inside was enough to make my chest loosen slightly.
Not enough to solve everything.
But enough to breathe for now.
"We should split it equally," I said quietly.
Kaizer nodded immediately. "Obviously."
Lux looked offended. "Wow. Not even one percent for your hardworking management team."
"You'll get emotional blessings," Anya replied.
"I can't pay rent with blessings."
The word rent made my smile fade for just a second.
Only Kaizer seemed to notice.
His eyes briefly shifted toward me before he quietly looked away again.
---
After school ended, I adjusted my bag carefully and turned toward Kaizer.
"I need to go near my house owner's place for a bit."
He nodded once. "I'll come too."
I blinked slightly. "You don't have to."
"It's nearby anyway."
I had genuinely thought he would just take the bus like always.
But instead, he simply started walking ahead before turning slightly toward me.
"Coming?"
I stared at him for a second before quietly following beside him.
The walk itself felt strangely peaceful.
The evening breeze was cool, and dried leaves occasionally rolled across the road while students slowly disappeared toward their own homes.
For most of the walk, neither of us spoke much.
But somehow…
the silence didn't feel awkward anymore.
Soon we stopped in front of the owner's house.
"I'll come out quickly," I said.
Kaizer simply nodded and remained outside near the gate.
I stepped inside.
The owner sighed the moment he saw me.
"Iris, I already delayed the rent twice."
"I know," I replied softly.
"You're a good kid, but I can't trust promises forever either."
My fingers tightened slightly around my bag.
"I just need a little more time."
"There are already people asking for the room," he continued. "You should understand my situation too."
I lowered my gaze slightly.
"…I do."
Just then,
movement near the hallway caught my attention.
A little girl peeked from behind the wall.
Big eyes.
Tiny fingers gripping the edge of the door.
For some reason…
the moment I looked at her,
my head suddenly spun.
A sharp dizziness hit me unexpectedly.
I quickly held the nearby table for balance before the feeling disappeared almost immediately.
The little girl blinked at me before running away.
I frowned slightly.
Why did that feel so strange?
After finishing the conversation, I quietly stepped outside again.
Kaizer immediately looked toward me.
For a second, I almost forgot the heaviness in my chest.
Then I suddenly asked,
"Did you see a little girl here?"
He looked slightly confused.
"No."
I stared behind me once more before shaking my head lightly.
Maybe I imagined it.
---
Kaizer's POV
Even though she was trying to act normal, it was obvious her mood had dropped after the conversation inside.
And honestly…
I didn't need to intentionally hear anything.
The landlord had spoken loudly enough.
"She needs to move out…"
The thought stayed in my mind as we continued walking slowly.
After a while, I finally spoke.
"He was asking you to leave, right?"
She stayed silent for a moment before nodding.
"I'll manage."
The way she said it irritated me slightly.
Not because she was wrong.
Because she always said it alone.
Before I could properly think it through, the words already left my mouth.
"You can live with me."
She immediately looked up at me so quickly that I realized how wrong that sounded.
I cleared my throat almost instantly.
"I mean..."
I looked away briefly.
"My uncle is actually looking to rent the extra room in the house."
Complete lie.
"But it would probably be better if someone I already know stays there instead of strangers."
I finally looked back toward her.
She had clearly gone still.
Too still.
Right.
I went too far.
I was already about to take the offer back when she suddenly spoke first.
"…Will it not disturb you?"
That caught me off guard.
I shook my head immediately.
"Not really."
She looked genuinely hesitant now.
Not uncomfortable exactly.
Just careful.
Then quietly,
"Can I talk to your uncle first?"
Relief settled inside my chest so suddenly that it almost surprised me.
"Yeah," I replied calmly. "I'll send you his number."
"…Okay."
A tiny smile finally appeared on her face again.
And somehow,
seeing that smile felt worth the lie already.
When we reached her house, she quietly thanked me again before going inside.
I waited until the door closed.
Then immediately turned around and walked toward my own house.
The moment I entered, I pulled out my phone and stared at one particular contact for several seconds.
Uncle.
I really did not want to call him.
But eventually, I pressed dial.
He picked up almost instantly.
"Well well," his voice came amused. "You finally remembered you have an uncle.."
"I need a favour."
He immediately became serious.
"What happened?"
"One of my friends needs a room for rent temporarily."
Silence.
Then,
"…Friend?"
I ignored that tone completely.
"She's having some problems finding a place right now."
The moment I said she,
his voice became unbearably excited.
"Ohhh, so it's a girl."
"She's just a friend."
"A friend," he repeated dramatically.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"She won't stay if rent isn't involved, so please act normally when she calls."
He laughed loudly.
"This future daughter-in-law already sounds interesting."
I immediately cut the call before he could continue.
Then sighed heavily while lowering the phone.
But the moment I looked toward the gate outside,
I froze slightly.
Someone was standing there.
Iris's POV
The moment I entered my house, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it quietly.
The room was silent like always.
But somehow,
my thoughts weren't.
"You can live with me."
I covered my face with both hands immediately.
"Why did he phrase it like that…"
My ears still felt warm remembering the way I had looked up at him in shock.
And his expression after realizing what he had said,
I almost laughed again.
Almost.
Slowly, I walked toward my bed and sat down carefully, making sure not to put pressure on my injured foot.
Then I looked around the room.
The small kitchen.
The old table.
The wall decorations.
The tiny space I had slowly made feel like home over the past two years.
Leaving it felt strange.
But staying…
might not even be possible anymore.
I lowered my gaze quietly.
Honestly, hearing the owner say he was searching for new tenants had scared me more than I wanted to admit.
Not because of the room itself.
Because I was tired.
Tired of shifting.
Tired of rebuilding life again and again.
My fingers unconsciously tightened around the bedsheet.
And then,
my mind drifted back toward Kaizer again.
"It would probably be better if someone I already know stays there instead of strangers."
For some reason…
that line stayed with me.
Comfortable.
Simple.
Very Kaizer-like.
A tiny smile slowly appeared on my face before I realized it myself.
Then suddenly another thought came.
Wait.
That means…
we would become neighbors again.
I blinked.
Again?
My brows furrowed slightly.
Why did that word feel so natural?
As if it wasn't something new.
Then that little girl crossed my mind. Why did she looks at me like that? And then my head became dizzy.
A strange feeling flickered inside my chest for a second before disappearing just as quickly.
I shook my head lightly and picked up my phone instead.
A new message had already arrived.
Unknown Number.
I opened it.
> Hello little girl, I'm Kaizer's uncle.
I heard you might become our tenant.
I stared at the message silently.
Then another one came immediately.
> Don't worry, the house owner here is very handsome and kind.
I blinked slowly.
Then without meaning to,
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
The kind that escaped suddenly and filled the empty room for a moment.
And honestly…
it had been a while since this house heard that sound.