The Sisters Nightmare

Chapter 5. Morning Runs and Unspoken Things

That morning had that soft, quiet kind of energy—like the house itself was still stretching awake. You know the kind of morning where the air feels a little cooler than usual, and everything just invites you to move slowly… except Joy wasn’t built for slow mornings.

She was already up, tying her shoelaces with the kind of focus you’d expect from someone preparing for war, not a jog.

Luna leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching her like she was trying to figure out a puzzle. “You know,” she said, dragging the words out, “people usually jog to relax. You look like you’re about to fight the road.”

Joy didn’t even look up. “If I don’t run, my head will explode. Same difference.”

Aurelia walked in behind Luna, stretching her arms above her head, her movements loose, unbothered. “That project again?”

Now Joy exhaled sharply, stood up, and grabbed her hair into a quick tie. “Don’t even start. If I hear the word ‘project’ one more time, I might actually scream.”

They stepped outside together, the early morning light brushing across their faces. No noise yet from the rest of the neighborhood, just the faint sound of someone sweeping a compound nearby and birds doing their thing.

They started jogging at an easy pace, not rushing it. Just enough to get their bodies moving.

Joy didn’t take long before she started talking again. She never really held things in when something bothered her.

“I’m serious,” she said, shaking her head. “Working with those people? It’s like carrying three sacks of rice on your back while they argue about how to tie the bag.”

Luna laughed immediately. “That bad?”

“Worse. One of them keeps rewriting everything I do like he’s some kind of genius. The other one? She just agrees with whoever spoke last. No original thought. Nothing.”

Aurelia smirked a little. “And you? You’re the martyr holding everything together.”

Joy shot her a look. “I’m the only one who actually cares if we pass.”

“Or,” Luna added, tilting her head slightly, “you just like control.”

Joy opened her mouth to argue, paused, then scoffed. “You sound like my lecturer.”

They ran in silence for a few seconds, the rhythm of their footsteps syncing naturally. Then Luna spoke again, casually, like she was just picking a random thought out of the air.

“What about that guy?”

Joy frowned slightly. “What guy?”

“The one that watches you every time you walk past the science block. Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about.”

That made Joy roll her eyes, but there was a tiny shift in her expression—barely noticeable unless you were really paying attention.

“I don’t have time for nonsense, Luna.”

“Mhm,” Luna hummed. “That’s not what I asked.”

Joy exhaled, sharper this time. “He just… looks. People look. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Luna gave her a side glance, the kind that says, I’m not convinced, but I’ll let you talk.

“You ever notice,” Luna continued, “that it’s always the ones who say ‘it means nothing’ that end up thinking about it later?”

Joy didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she adjusted her pace slightly, like she was trying to outrun the conversation.

Aurelia chuckled softly. “Luna, if you weren’t older than me, I would honestly call you a child sometimes.”

Luna stopped jogging for a second, turning her head dramatically. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious,” Aurelia said, now smiling properly. “Not everything is about who is looking at who or who likes who. Some of us actually have sense.”

“Ah,” Luna said, nodding slowly. “Here we go. Lecture time.”

Aurelia ignored that and kept going. “Love, relationships… all of that? It complicates things. You start adjusting yourself for someone else. You lose focus. You make decisions you wouldn’t normally make.”

She spoke calmly, like she had thought about this more than once.

“I’ve seen it too many times. Someone is doing well, focused, moving forward… then suddenly they’re distracted. Everything becomes about that one person. It’s unnecessary.”

Joy glanced at her. “You sound very sure for someone our age.”

“I am sure,” Aurelia replied simply. “I don’t need that kind of distraction.”

Now Luna smiled—slow, knowing, almost mischievous.

“Don’t forget,” she said, dragging out each word just enough, “I know about your feelings for your kung fu master’s son.”

That landed.

Aurelia stopped running completely this time, then burst into laughter—real laughter, the kind that escapes before you can stop it.

“Oh please,” she said between breaths. “That is not—”

“Not what?” Luna cut in quickly. “Not real? Not important? Or not convenient for your argument?”

Joy slowed down too, looking between them. “Wait… that’s actually true?”

Aurelia wiped the corner of her eye, still smiling. “It’s not what she’s making it sound like.”

“Oh, so there is something,” Joy pressed.

Aurelia shook her head, but there was a softness in her expression now, something quieter underneath all that confidence she had just displayed.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said eventually. “It’s just… one of those things.”

Luna laughed. “Exactly. One of those things that you just said you’re too sensible for.”

Aurelia rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

Joy looked from one to the other, then let out a small breath. “So you both… have something going on. And I’m just here, dealing with group projects and stress.”

Luna nudged her lightly. “I thought you were happily single.”

Joy didn’t respond.

“Or,” Luna added with a grin, “are you trying to deny your profession?”

That made Aurelia laugh again, but Joy didn’t join this time. She just kept jogging, quieter now.

It wasn’t that she was upset. It was more like… something had been pointed out that she hadn’t really looked at properly before.

And sometimes, once you notice something, you can’t unsee it.

They slowed down as they approached the house again, their pace easing into a walk.

The smell hit them before they even got to the door—something warm, something familiar. Breakfast.

“Grandma is already cooking like we’re about to starve,” Luna said, smiling.

They stepped inside, and sure enough, the dining table was already set.

Grandma stood near the kitchen entrance, wiping her hands on her wrapper, her face lighting up the moment she saw them.

“There you are,” she said warmly. “Go and freshen up. Food is ready.”

But just as they were about to head off, she called, “Joy, come here for a moment.”

Something in her tone made Joy pause.

She walked over, a little curious. “Yes, Grandma?”

Grandma lowered her voice slightly. “Your mother and Noa… they haven’t woken up yet.”

Joy blinked. “Still sleeping?”

Grandma nodded slowly. “You know that’s not like them.”

And that was true. Mrs. Janny was not someone who slept in. And Noa? She was usually the first to run around the house in the morning.

Joy glanced toward the hallway, thinking for a second.

“Let me freshen up first,” she said. “Then I’ll check on them.”

Grandma nodded, but her expression stayed thoughtful.

A few minutes later, Joy walked down the hallway, her steps quieter now. There was no real reason to be tense, but something about the situation felt… off.

She reached the door, hesitated briefly, then opened it.

The room was calm. Too calm.

Mrs. Janny and Noa were both still in bed, lying there like nothing in the world could disturb them. Peaceful. Almost unusually so.

Joy stepped closer. “Mum?”

No response.

She moved nearer and gently tapped her mother’s shoulder. “Mum.”

This time, there was a slight movement. A shift.

Noa stirred too, turning slightly before opening her eyes.

It took a moment, but eventually both of them sat up, still looking a little dazed.

Joy crossed her arms lightly, studying them. “It seems like you two had a wonderful night.”

And then—

“No!!!”

They both said it at the exact same time.

Same volume. Same urgency.

Joy blinked.

Outside the room, the reaction wasn’t any different. The sudden shout carried, and within seconds, Luna, Aurelia, and Grandma were already looking toward the hallway.

“Did you hear that?” Luna whispered.

Inside, Joy just stared at them, confused.

Mrs. Janny cleared her throat, adjusting herself. “It’s not what you think.”

Noa nodded quickly. “Yes, not what you think.”

Joy raised an eyebrow. “Which is… what exactly?”

Neither of them answered.

And that silence? It said more than anything they could have explained.

By the time they all gathered at the dining table, the mood had shifted slightly. Not bad. Just… curious.

Grandma, of course, wasn’t the type to let things go easily.

“So,” she began, pouring tea like nothing was wrong, “what exactly happened last night?”

Mrs. Janny focused very hard on her plate. Noa suddenly found her food extremely interesting.

Nothing.

Grandma looked from one to the other, clearly not satisfied, but she didn’t push further. Not yet.

Breakfast went on, but the air carried that quiet tension—the kind where everyone is thinking something but not saying it.

After they finished eating, Mrs. Janny stood up, her tone more controlled now.

“Girls,” she said, “go and pack your bags. We’re leaving as discussed.”

The girls exchanged quick looks.

Joy nodded first. “We already packed ours.”

Luna added, “Just the twins left.”

Mrs. Janny gave a small nod. “Good.”

Joy stood up again, already moving. “I’ll help them.”

In the room, Calista and Thea were exactly what you’d expect—half organized, half chaos.

Clothes everywhere. Bags open. Decisions not made.

Joy stepped in, hands on her hips. “You two started packing or you started decorating the room?”

Thea grinned. “We’re thinking.”

“Think faster,” Joy said, already picking up clothes and folding them properly.

Calista watched her for a second, then smiled slightly. “You like being in charge, don’t you?”

Joy didn’t look up. “Someone has to be.”

It didn’t take long after that. With Joy leading, things fell into place quickly.

Bags zipped. Items checked. Everything ready.

Back outside, Grandma and Grandpa stood near the entrance.

There was something about that moment—simple, but heavy in its own way. Goodbyes always carry a certain weight, even when you know you’ll see each other again.

Grandma hugged each of them, holding on just a little longer than necessary.

“Take care of yourselves,” she said softly.

Grandpa nodded, his expression calm but warm. “And behave.”

Luna laughed. “No promises.”

That earned her a light tap from Aurelia.

Joy stood there for a second, looking back at the house, then at her grandparents.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

It wasn’t dramatic. Just honest.

And sometimes, that’s enough.