"I also know that thinking about the past will not change anything, but… But I can't," she stopped for a moment, then said, "I don't have the strength. I am not that strong,"

while sitting on her bed, her head down.

I sighed and scratched my head, trying to cheer her up. To make a fresh start, I needed to distract her from our serious conversation.

After all, talking about painful memories only deepens the wounds.

And it's true—some wounds can only heal with time.

"Aris, I won't force you, and I understand that forgetting the past isn't easy," I began, thinking about what to say next. Then it hit me.

"That's it!" I exclaimed, catching Aris's attention with her tear-filled red eyes.

"I know what we have to do! Aris, be ready in the evening," I said, excitement bubbling up. It might not fully heal her, but it could help her regain a bit of herself.

"But… I don't…" Aris started to protest, but I wasn't in the mood to accept rejection. I left her room, determined to prevent her from declining.

Back in the living room, Aris's mother sipped her tea, looking at me expectantly. "Did you manage to talk to her, White?"

"Yes," I replied, unsure of how much progress we'd made. "I think I might be able to help her find her way back to herself."

Her mother's relief was palpable. I bid her goodbye and left for my apartment.

As I reached my door, I saw a familiar figure—a person in a hat and red clothes—standing there. My heart sank. It was none other than Luna, the student council president.

Trouble, I thought. Maybe I could avoid her for now. But Luna sensed my presence and called out calmly, "White."

I turned, putting on a fake smile. "Hello, Miss President. When are you coming here?"

She glanced at her wristwatch. "It's already 28 minutes and 17 seconds. I've been waiting for your return."

"Okay, did something happen? Why are you here?" I asked hesitantly, trying to ascertain why she had come.

"1 tea with 2 sugar cubes and keep it between 150-180°F," she replied, ignoring my question.

"What?"

"Do I have to say it again?" She asked, a smile playing on her lips.

"No! Wait a second." I opened the door wider, inviting her inside. As I did, Bell came running to the door.

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"Papa, you're back! Welcome back!" Bell exclaimed, spotting Luna standing behind me.

"Hello, Bell. How have you been? It's been quite some time since we last met," Luna said, stepping forward to pat Bell's head.

"Oh, it's Luna sis! Helloooo!" Bell giggled, clearly excited by Luna's presence.

"Here, you liked the cookies I made before, right? So, I made these specially for you." Luna handed Bell a packet of cookies, her smile kind and genuine.

"Yaayyyy! Cookies!" Bell exclaimed, running off to the kitchen with the cookies in hand.

"She's just like always, isn't she? Bell's Papa," Luna said, turning to me with that same smile.

"Right."

We settled in the living room, and I offered Luna a seat while I prepared tea for all of us. Pouring the tea, I noticed Luna's focus on it, just as she had in the clubroom. The silence hung awkwardly in the air, and I still didn't know how to handle Luna's presence. She gave off an uneasy vibe.

Just as I was contemplating how to start the conversation and ask why she had come, Luna broke the silence.

"The tea you made is quite good. I didn't expect you to be so skilled at it," she said, looking directly at me.

"Well, I've been taking care of myself for a long time, so I've learned many things… But wait, why are you here?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to the reason for her visit.

"What do you mean? Isn't it obvious? I came here to check on your health, and I'm relieved to see you're doing well," Luna replied calmly.

"That's it? You came all this way just for that?" I was taken aback. Luna, the rumored President whom everyone feared, had come here just to check on me?

"But… that's also interesting." Luna's smile sent a chill down my spine. "The dark aura you were giving off before has multiplied—it's doubled now. And the connection between you and Bell feels even deeper."

She patted Bell, who sat beside her, munching on cookies. Concerned, I asked Bell to take the cookies to the bedroom. If she overheard any more of this conversation and mentioned it to Aisha when she returned, things could get complicated.

"Are you sure you didn't die again and not realize it?" Luna's question was both weird and unsettling. I couldn't tell her the truth—that Aisha had revived me. Revealing that would put Luna in danger.

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Luna stood up and approached me. Her closeness sent shivers down my spine. Just then, someone entered the living room.

"White, you're back! I was out shopping, and I bought you…" Big sister Elsa's voice trailed off as she looked at Luna and me. Her face turned red, and she covered it with her hands.

"Ahhh… Sorry, I didn't know your girlfriend was here. It's my fault—I came in without knocking," Elsa stammered, clearly embarrassed.

"No, it's not like that," I reassured her. Luna walked over to Elsa and bowed.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Luna, the council president of the school and also the president of the paranormal investigation club. I came here to check on my club member… No, my friend." Luna's smile remained, but her eyes held a hint of mystery."

"Student council president? Oh my, White, I didn't know you had a friend who is a council president," Miss Elsa exclaimed, glancing from me to Luna. "Thanks. I'm Elsa, and I've been taking care of him since he was a child. He's like my younger brother. Luna, I hope you'll become good friends with White."

"Yes," Luna replied. She checked her watch and added, "Sorry, but I have to go. I have a piano class. It was nice meeting you." With that, she left.

"Oh, right! What was I saying?" Miss Elsa handed me a bag of fruits. "These should help with your recovery. I'll come back later after doing some laundry. And if you need anything, just come next door, okay?"

"Yes, and thank you, sis," I said as Miss Elsa departed.

Now I'm wondering when I joined the club and how Luna became my friend. Understanding what Luna is thinking remains an impossible puzzle.