Chapter 2
Mia blinked as she stared into Henry's eyes. Her heart raced for a moment, and everything went quiet. Henry's brow furrowed in curiosity as he asked, "Are you alright?" His voice was tinged with concern.
Mia stepped back and nodded. She wasn't sure if she was shy or embarrassed. Her gaze dropped as she heard the students' murmurs.
"I'm fine," she said, looking up to see Henry walking away. She noticed the students exchanging glances while others looked on with envy or awe. Soon, Henry disappeared into the sea of students.
"If only the ground could open and swallow me up at that moment. It's so embarrassing," she thought. She stood motionless for a bit as the other students walked away. Glancing outside, she saw Henry's entourage standing near his car.
"There's something off about him. I can feel it," she muttered to herself. She turned, only to see Hilda, Eve, and two other girls. From their expressions, they seemed cold. Mia forced a smile and tried to walk away, but Hilda blocked her path.
"I like your way of approaching a guy. Don't you think it's old-fashioned? I've seen that in a lot of movies where girls try to get a guy's attention. It's a shame because you two are on different levels," Hilda said, walking away with her allies.
"What the heck?" Mia muttered and left.
Henry was on the sofa when his dad walked in. He knew that any time his father sought him out, it had to do with Allen Group. Professor Charles entered, his eyes darting around the room like he was searching for something. He turned his back and told Henry that he would have to skip school the next day to attend a meeting with him.
"No. You know I'm not interested in science, let alone taking over Allen Group. Lily was the one who cared about it, and now she's just vanished," Henry said defiantly.
Professor Charles suddenly turned to him and grabbed his collar. "Haven't I told you not to mention Lily?" he snapped angrily.
Henry wasn't intimidated by his father's threat. "Why are you angry at the mention of Lily? Are you involved in her mysterious disappearance?"
Professor Charles released his collar and slapped him. "As long as you are my son, you are to obey me without question," he said furiously before leaving.
That night, Mia dreamed of Lily again. The girl stood at the edge of her bed, her dark hair falling like a curtain around her pale face.
"He's closer now," she whispered, "but so is the danger. Don't trust what you see."
Mia sat upright in bed, sweat dripping down her forehead. The room was still, but her heart pounded. Lily's voice lingered in her ears like an echo.
At Allen High School, Henry passed her in the hallway without a word, but Mia watched him carefully—the way he avoided everyone's gaze and the stiffness in his shoulders. He was pretending. She could feel it. Girls shrieked with delight, clearing a path for him as the students erupted with excitement.
Later that afternoon, during free period, Mia found herself wandering behind the library. The secluded garden path had become her refuge, a quiet place where the whispers of the strange didn't echo so loudly. She sat on a worn stone bench and pulled her diary from her bag, flipping to a page marked by a faded pressed violet and the name "Lily" written in ink.
Her thoughts spiraled again. Recently, Lily's face had been clear as day in her dreams—pale, ethereal, eyes filled with sorrow and secrets. She scribbled a new entry:
The door opened again last night. No sound, no whispers. Just darkness and her eyes watching me. I can feel something pulling at the edges of my thoughts. Am I the only one who sees her and remembers her?
A sudden rustle beside the hedges made her flinch.
"That's quite a serious face," came a voice.
Mia turned to see Henry standing with his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
"You followed me?" Mia asked, more startled than angry.
He stepped into the open. "Why would I follow you? I come here sometimes to think—didn't expect anyone else to be here."
They stood in silence for a moment. Henry glanced at her open diary.
"You write?" he asked.
"Just thoughts," Mia replied, walking away.
Mia suddenly paused. "There's something hidden in his personality. Could he be the reason Lily's appearances are so frequent lately? She tells me I'm getting closer—but to what? Could *he* be who she meant? And what danger is she talking about? He has an eerie vibe… This is too complicated."
She turned and saw Henry sitting on the bench with his head bowed. He seemed deep in thought.
Suddenly, someone poked Mia. She shivered in fear and turned to see Elise.
"You scared me," Mia said, relaxing.
"Do you have a crush on him?" Elise teased with a smile.
"That's not it," Mia said, irritated.
"If not, why are you staring at him, and why are you here?" Elise teased again.
"It was just a coincidence… and I feel something strange about him that connects to Lily. Maybe I'll ask him later," Mia said and walked away, leaving Elise behind.
The school was loud as usual. Mia walked through the hallway with books in her hand, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept thinking about her gift—her strange ability to detect lies—Lily's recent appearances, and Henry's mysterious nature. It felt like a curse.
At her locker, she saw Carl leaning against the wall with his usual smirk.
Why does it feel like I'm cursed? It was Hilda before, and now it's Carl, she thought.
"Well, if it isn't the lie detector," he sneered.
Mia didn't respond and tried to walk past him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you," Carl said, slamming his hand on the locker beside her.
Mia flinched but stayed calm. "What do you want from me, Carl?"
Carl stepped closer. "I heard you've been getting cozy with Henry. Think you're special now?"
Mia looked him straight in the eye. "I don't think I'm special. But you're jealous."
Carl's eyes narrowed. "Jealous? Of what?"
"You lie a lot, Carl. But I can hear it. Every time you speak, your words don't match the truth."
Carl laughed. "You've lost it. People think you're weird."
"You're scared," Mia said quietly. "Scared that people will stop listening to you once they know who you really are."
Carl's grin faded. "You better shut up," he snapped.
Just then, Henry walked around the corner. He saw Carl standing too close to Mia.
"What's going on?" Henry asked, walking toward them quickly.
Carl backed away. "Nothing. Just talking."
Henry looked at Mia. "Are you okay?"
Mia nodded. "Yeah."
Henry turned to Carl. "Stay away from her."
Carl scoffed. "Since when do you care so much?"
"Since now," Henry said, stepping in front of Mia.
Carl rolled his eyes and walked away, but Mia noticed the nervous look on his face. Henry turned back to her.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No. He just lies a lot," she replied.
Henry raised an eyebrow. "You can really tell?"
Mia nodded. "I just know… but it's hard to explain. There's a voice inside me telling me what's true and what's not."
"You're different," Henry said with a smile.
"Thanks… and for rescuing me from him," Mia said, walking away before Henry could say more.
After school, Mia was walking home alone. She kept thinking about what had happened earlier.
Why did he help me? Does he know who I am?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw Henry.
"Hey," he said, smiling.
Mia was surprised. "Hi," she replied. She looked around—it was just Henry.
"I saw you walking alone, so I thought I could walk with you," he said.
"You want to walk with me?" Mia asked. "What about your car and your entourage?"
"I told them to go home—but I'm sure they're following me from afar," Henry replied.
"Okay then," she said.
As they walked, they talked about small things—school, music, and movies. Henry wasn't at all what she thought he would be. He was kind, funny, and he listened to her.
"You're not like the others," he said suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Mia asked.
"You don't try to impress me or act fake. You're just… real," Henry said.
Mia smiled, feeling warm inside. "Thanks. I think you're different too."
Mia, who was once uncomfortable around Henry, had begun to grow close to him. They talked all the way until Mia reached home.