Chapter 7: Suspicious Changes
1009 Words
The strange thing about people is that they notice changes more quickly than we expect.
I realized that truth very clearly during the next few days.
In the past my routine had always been predictable. I waited for Ethan after class, joined the same activities he joined, and looked for every opportunity to stay close to him.
Everyone around me had grown used to that version of Aria Lancaster.
Now that I had stopped chasing after him, the difference became obvious.
At first it was only small reactions.
Curious glances.
Whispers between classmates.
Confused expressions when I walked past Ethan without greeting him.
I pretended not to notice any of it.
But someone else noticed everything.
Sofia.
That afternoon I was sitting quietly in the school library while reviewing some notes for an upcoming exam. The library had always been one of the few places where I could find peace, and today the calm silence felt especially comforting.
Rows of books surrounded me while warm sunlight filtered gently through the tall windows.
For a while I almost forgot about everything else.
Then a chair moved across from me.
I looked up.
Sofia had just sat down at the table.
Her sudden appearance surprised me slightly.
In my previous life she rarely came to the library unless she needed to study for something important.
Today her eyes were not on the books.
They were on me.
"Aria," she said softly.
Her voice carried the same gentle warmth she always used when speaking to others. Anyone watching us would think we were simply two sisters having a quiet conversation.
Yet something in her gaze felt sharper than usual.
I closed the book in front of me slowly.
"Yes?"
For several seconds she simply studied my face.
"You have been acting differently these days."
Her words sounded calm, but they carried a clear sense of observation.
I expected this question eventually.
After all Sofia had always been very perceptive.
"I do not think so," I replied lightly.
She tilted her head slightly.
"You used to spend a lot of time with Ethan," she continued.
The mention of his name felt strangely distant now.
"I suppose I did."
Sofia folded her hands on the table.
"But recently you have not been near him at all."
Her tone remained neutral.
Yet the way she watched me made it clear she was trying to understand the situation.
In my previous life I would have panicked under that gaze. I always cared deeply about Sofia's opinion because she was my elder sister and someone I admired.
Now I simply felt calm.
"I realized something," I said slowly.
Sofia raised an eyebrow.
"What did you realize?"
I met her eyes quietly.
"Chasing someone who does not care about you is exhausting."
The words hung in the air between us.
For the first time since sitting down, Sofia seemed genuinely surprised.
Her expression froze for a brief moment.
Then she smiled softly.
"You are talking about Ethan."
It was not a question.
I did not bother denying it.
Sofia leaned back slightly in her chair.
"You used to like him very much."
Her words sounded casual, yet they carried a subtle weight.
Yes.
I had liked him very much.
Enough to die for him.
Enough to sacrifice my entire life.
But those feelings belonged to a different version of me.
"I was young," I replied.
Sofia watched me carefully.
"You are still young."
Her response almost made me laugh.
Compared to the life I had already lived, the girl sitting here now felt like a distant memory.
"People change," I said quietly.
The library remained silent around us.
For several seconds Sofia said nothing.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table as she studied my face again.
I could almost see the thoughts moving behind her eyes.
She was trying to determine whether my words were sincere.
Eventually she spoke again.
"Ethan mentioned something earlier."
My gaze remained calm.
"What did he say?"
"He said you chose North Valley University."
I nodded slightly.
"That is correct."
Sofia’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"You always talked about Westbridge before."
That statement was true.
But it no longer mattered.
"I changed my mind."
Another silence followed.
This one felt heavier.
Finally Sofia leaned forward slightly.
"Aria."
Her voice softened.
"Did something happen?"
The question sounded almost caring.
If someone else heard it they would believe she was simply worried about her younger sister.
But I knew Sofia well.
She was not asking out of concern.
She was asking because my change disrupted the balance she had always known.
In the past I chased Ethan.
Ethan chased Sofia.
That simple triangle made everything easy to understand.
Now one piece had moved.
And Sofia wanted to know why.
I held her gaze calmly.
"Nothing happened."
She watched me carefully.
Then she smiled again.
"If you say so."
Her tone suggested that she did not fully believe me.
But she did not press further.
After a moment she stood up from the chair.
"I should return to class."
I nodded lightly.
"Alright."
She paused before leaving.
"Aria."
I looked up.
"If you ever want to talk about something, you can tell me."
For a brief moment our eyes met.
Her expression looked sincere.
Yet the memory of her standing beside Ethan in that hospital room refused to fade from my mind.
"I will remember that," I said.
Sofia gave one last gentle smile before walking away between the tall rows of books.
I watched her figure disappear quietly into the distance.
When she was gone, the library returned to its peaceful silence.
I opened my book again.
But my thoughts lingered on our conversation.
Sofia had noticed the change.
And if she noticed it, others would eventually notice it as well.
That did not bother me.
In fact it confirmed something important.
The path of this life was already beginning to move away from the past.
And the more distance I created, the harder it would become for the old tragedy to repeat itself.
- Writer
