“I’m sorry, Su Ling. Everything in those letters… I made it all up.”
Tii sat there alone, a melancholy expression clouding her gaze. Her fingers intertwined unconsciously, as though trapped in memories that had long since faded away.
“My little sister… my parents… they’ve all been gone for many years now.”
“Tii…”
Su Ling gently held her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a past like that. You must’ve been in so much pain.”
Tii paused, then gave a faint smile—a smile full of quiet acceptance. She lightly patted Su Ling’s hand.
“It’s all right, little Su Ling. I’ve gotten used to this kind of life. I still miss them sometimes, but… it’s all in the past.”
Su Ling lowered her head. She had never imagined that the kind, gentle girl in front of her had endured such a heavy burden.
She couldn’t begin to fathom how much sorrow was hidden beneath each of Tii’s smiles—it made her chest tighten.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone, Tii…?”
Tii lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Su Ling. A flicker of inner struggle passed through them before she finally chose to speak the truth.
“Because that would’ve only made it more painful.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never told anyone about my past,” Tii said, taking a deep breath.
“I know that if I spoke about it, Amane, Bohm, and the others would treat me differently—they’d worry too much about me. I don’t want to burden them with my past or make them tiptoe around my feelings.”
She turned slightly, her eyes shimmering with mixed emotions. She let out a soft sigh and continued.
“Su Ling… you know, sometimes I do feel like opening up helps ease the pain a little.
“But it’s only temporary. Afterward, I always find myself reliving the same memories over and over again. It’s like a curse—every time I talk about it, it all comes rushing back. So I’d rather pretend nothing ever happened. That way, the weight is a little easier to bear.”
“Tii…”
Su Ling’s heart ached, a mess of emotions swirling inside her.
She understood Tii’s reasoning, but still felt a deep sympathy for the pain she carried alone. She looked into Tii’s sorrowful eyes, seeing the wounds hidden deep within.
“I don’t want to bring it all up again. Every time I do, I see it—the moment they died in front of me. That kind of pain… I can’t bear it a second time.”
“But…”
Su Ling felt a deep sorrow swell within her. Seeing Tii’s anguish-filled expression, she was filled with helplessness and heartbreak.
She couldn’t imagine the pain Tii had endured, or how she managed to survive through it. The thought of Tii suffering like that, alone and in despair, brought a sting to her chest.
“Tii… I really want to do something for you,” Su Ling said, voice trembling. “I don’t want to see you trapped in that kind of pain forever.”
Tii gave a soft smile, tinged with bitterness.
“Su Ling, you’ve already done more than enough. Your care and support mean the world to me. I don’t want to be a burden to any of you. I don’t want to be the cause of anyone else’s pain.”
“Besides, little Su Ling, I’m not weak. I don’t like being looked at with pity, or treated differently. I want to be someone who protects others—not someone who always needs protecting.”
You don’t have to force yourself to be strong…
Su Ling wanted to say that—but the words caught in her throat.
That firm, gentle smile from Tii persuaded her to stay silent.
Her thoughts drifted—imagining all the pain Tii must have endured.
The memories she so deliberately kept hidden must have been the most painful parts of her soul. She imagined Tii sitting alone in the dark at night, silently bearing that inner torment—the loneliness, the helplessness. Su Ling could almost feel her heart tearing apart.
“Little Su Ling, you’re such a dummy!”
Tii suddenly broke the silence. With a playful gleam in her eyes, she leaned in close and—without warning—pressed a soft kiss to Su Ling’s cheek before quickly pulling back with a mischievous grin.
Su Ling froze in shock. She clutched her cheek, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Wh-What—!?” Her face instantly flushed red, as if it were burning.
“Surprise attack! Hahaha!”
Tii burst into laughter, her voice bright and clear like the sound of silver bells echoing through the attic.
“Don’t make that face! Smile a little. See? I’m totally fine now!”
“Y-you didn’t have to kiss me all of a sudden…” Su Ling stammered, her voice filled with both shyness and protest.
Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely hear herself think.
Tii’s laughter gradually faded as she looked at Su Ling, her eyes soft and warm. She gently tilted her chin upward, red hair swaying with the motion and resting lightly on her shoulders.
“It’s because you’re just too cute,” Tii said gently, her eyes narrowing with a fond smile.
“Su Ling, you know… when I first saw you, you reminded me of my little sister.
“She was the most important person in my life—pure-hearted, kind, and strong. You’re just like her. So kind… and a little silly.”
“I’m not silly.”
Su Ling pouted at Tii’s words, but her heart warmed all the same.
As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, the sky transformed into a canvas of brilliant colors.
Golden light bathed the wooden windowsills of the attic, tracing their outlines in a soft glow.
The breeze stirred the curtains by the window, rustling them gently.
Inside the attic, only a few thin beams of light slipped through the gaps in the windows.
The scent of aged wood and old books lingered faintly in the air.
“Well, it’s getting late. Thank you, little Su Ling… for listening to me say all that.”
Tii rose quietly to her feet and dusted off her skirt. Her face had returned to its usual calm and gentle expression. She gazed out the window, where the last rays of sunlight had disappeared, leaving behind only the soft colors of twilight.
“Let’s head down. Otherwise, the others might start to worry,” Tii said softly as she walked toward the attic door.
“And… don’t tell anyone about what I said today, okay?”
Su Ling stood frozen for a moment, watching Tii’s back. Her heart swelled with emotion.
“Don’t worry about me, little Su Ling. I’ll be just fine.”
“…Yeah. I understand.”
Her voice was soft.
As Su Ling took a step forward, Tii had already reached the doorway.
She turned around and gave Su Ling one last warm smile.