Jia's hair was tied back in a high ponytail that somehow made her look effortlessly put together. Devon sprawled across the couch, looking like he might need a nap to recover from what was probably no more than a few kilometers of jogging.
"Morning, Taryn," Jia said, giving me a quick once-over. "You look like you barely slept."
"Thanks for the observation," I replied dryly, rubbing my eyes. "You two seem overly chipper for this early in the morning."
"Someone has to balance out your gloominess," Devon said, tossing a pillow in my direction. It landed harmlessly at my feet, and I shot him a half-hearted glare.
"Don't mind him," Jia said, rolling her eyes. "He's just bitter I dragged him out for some fresh air. But seriously, are you ready? I'm driving you to campus today."
"Since when do you drive me anywhere?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Since yesterday plus you look like you'll fall asleep halfway there if you go alone using your bike," she shot back, finishing her water. "Hurry up. We don't have all day."
I sighed, retreating to my room to grab my backpack and finish getting ready. As I combed my hair and tied it into a simple braid, I couldn't help but replay Jia's words in my head. Did I look that bad? I glanced at myself in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes and an expression that screamed exhaustion—I wasn't exactly at my best.
Her willingness to drive me felt... deliberate. Maybe she noticed more than I thought. Maybe she wasn't as oblivious as she liked to pretend.
When I returned to the living room, backpack slung over one shoulder, Jia was already jingling her car keys impatiently. Devon had switched to playing a game on his phone, completely ignoring our departure.
"Let's go," Jia said, leading the way to grandfather's car.
The drive to campus was quiet. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur past.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" Jia asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
I turned to her, startled. "What do you mean?"
She glanced at me briefly before returning her focus to the road. "You've been weird since yesterday. Distracted, tired, and... I don't know. You just don't seem like yourself."
"I'm fine," I said automatically, though the words felt hollow.
Jia didn't buy it. "Taryn, come on. I might not be the best at this 'sibling bonding' thing, but I'm not blind. If something's bothering you, just say it."
How could I explain everything?
"It's nothing," I said finally, turning my gaze back to the window. "Just... school stuff."
Jia sighed, clearly frustrated but unwilling to push further. "Okay, fine. But if you want to talk about it, you know where to find me."
By the time we reached campus, the buzz of activity was already filling the air. Students streamed across the courtyard, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of excitement and chatter.
"Good luck today," Jia said as I climbed out of the car. Her tone was casual, but there was a hint of sincerity that caught me off guard. "And try not to overthink everything."
I nodded, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. As she drove off, I couldn't help but feel a small sense of gratitude for her presence—her steadying influence, even when I didn't want to admit I needed it.
My day went ahead like a blink.
After all the classes, I walked towards the library it was quiet, the kind of stillness that begged for focus but somehow made my thoughts louder. Zichen was already waiting at one of the back tables, his head buried in a book, scribbling notes in his research booklet.
As I approached, his concentration broke, and he glanced up with his easy smile.
"Hey, Taryn," he greeted. "I started without you. Hope you don't mind."
"I figured you would," I replied, settling into the chair across from him. "What do you have so far?"
He gestured to his stack of books, his enthusiasm barely contained.
"I've been diving into the evolution of constellations. Did you know that a lot of the star patterns we see today have shifted over millennia because of the Earth's wobble? It's wild how the same stars can tell entirely different stories depending on the time and place."
"I leave this task to you not to get excited about something that complicated," I teased, pulling out my notebook. "I think my focus on mythology will be more fun. Who doesn't love a dramatic story about gods and monsters?"
"You mean we're bringing both logic and flair to this project?" Zichen grinned. "We're unstoppable."
I couldn't help but smile. I did not know Zichen well, but his personality gave me warmth and safety.
We spent the next hour pulling books off the shelves, our respective stacks growing as we combed through the library's collection.
But as Zichen excitedly explained the connection between ancient Chinese star charts and modern constellations, I realized I hadn't absorbed a single word.
My thoughts were elsewhere—on the note and the growing mystery I couldn't explain.
"You're zoning out," Zichen said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "What's up?"
"Nothing," I lied quickly, avoiding his gaze. "Just tired."
He didn't look convinced. "You've been off all day. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I insisted, flipping through a book on mythology to avoid further questions.
As we delved deeper into our research, Zichen's watch beeped at 6:30 pm, signaling the end of our session, I realized how little progress we'd made.
The stack of books in front of me felt heavier, their pages untouched as my mind drifted from one distraction to the next.
"We'll have to pick this up tomorrow," Zichen said, standing and stretching. "But seriously, Taryn—if something's bothering you, you can talk to me. I mean it."
"Thanks," I said quietly, shoving my notebook into my bag. His concern was genuine.
As we left the library, the night air was cool against my skin, Zichen suddenly paused, glancing at me with a slight smile. "Hold on," he said, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over my shoulders in one smooth motion. "You look cold."
I blinked, caught off guard by the gesture. "Oh, you didn't have to—"
"It's fine," he said, cutting me off with a wave of his hand. "I'm tougher than I look."
I glanced at Zichen, his face thoughtful as he stared upward.
"You think the stars are watching us? Just like how you are looking at me now?" he asked suddenly, his voice soft.
I frowned, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "It just feels like... everything's connected, you know? Like the stars aren't just out there—they're part of us the same as meeting you too."
His words sent warmth like a jam spreading in my chest. I tightened my grip on my bag.
"Taryn?"
I turned to see Jia standing nearby, her eyebrows raised as she looked between the two of us. She was holding her phone in one hand, her car keys dangling from the other. I hadn't even noticed her pull into the parking lot.
"Jia," I said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," she replied, her gaze flicking briefly to Zichen. "Who's your friend?"
Before I could answer, Zichen stepped forward, offering Jia a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Zichen. Taryn and I were just working on a History Research for class."
Jia's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but she returned his smile. "Nice to meet you, Zichen. I'm Jia—Taryn's sister."
Zichen's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of realization crossing his face. "Oh, I didn't know. Well, it's great to meet you, Jia."
She nodded, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. I could tell she had questions, but thankfully she didn't voice them. Instead, she gestured toward the car. "I came to pick you up. Thought you might appreciate the ride."
"Thanks," I said, feeling a mix of relief and awkwardness as I turned back to Zichen. "I guess this is goodnight, then."
"Goodnight," Zichen said, his tone soft but steady.
His gaze held mine for a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets as he started down the path leading to the parking lot. "See you tomorrow, Taryn."
"Yeah," I replied, watching as his figure faded into the distance.
Jia waited until he was out of earshot before turning to me with an arched brow. "So, Zichen, huh?"
"It's not what you think," I said quickly, my cheeks flushing as I climbed into the passenger seat.
"Uh-huh," she said, her tone dripping with skepticism as she started the car. "Well, for what it's worth, he seems nice. Gentlemanly, even."
I glanced down at the jacket still draped over my shoulders, its warmth comforting against the evening chill. "He is," I admitted quietly, more to myself than to her.
Jia didn't push further, but the knowing smile on her face as she drove me home spoke volumes. And as much as I wanted to brush it off, I couldn't help but replay the moment in my mind—the way Zichen had handed me his jacket, the way his eyes had lingered just a little too long when he said goodnight.
By the time I stepped into the house and dropped my bag by the door, the realization hit me. Zichen's jacket was still around my shoulders.
"Oh, great," I muttered, pulling it off and holding it up. I'd been so distracted by Jia and the events of the evening that I'd completely forgotten to give it back.
"Now what?"