Chapter 1: The Girl in the Mirror

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of rain tapping softly against my bedroom window.

For a few seconds, I simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember why I had gone home later than usual.

Then I remembered him.

Max Holland.

I closed my eyes again.

Not because I was tired, but because I was thinking.

I didn't usually think about people after meeting them. People were predictable. Give them enough time and they'd eventually show you exactly who they were. Some were easy to read, some took longer, but all of them had weaknesses.

Max was different.

I didn't like different.

I turned to my bedside table and reached for my phone. There were dozens of notifications waiting for me—messages from Sienna, missed calls from Ava, university announcements, and several social media notifications that I didn't care enough to open.

I answered Sienna first.

Sienna: Girl, buhay ka pa ba?

I smiled.

Me: Unfortunately.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Sienna: HAHAHAHA. Grabe ka. Where were you last night?

I stared at the message.

For a moment, I thought about telling her the truth.

Then I remembered that people didn't need the truth.

They needed a story they could believe.

Me: Got caught in the rain. Went home late.

Simple.

Harmless.

Sienna believed me.

Of course she did.

I placed my phone on the bed and walked toward the mirror.

My reflection stared back at me.

Long dark hair. Pale skin. Slightly tired eyes.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing frightening.

I smiled at myself.

The girl in the mirror smiled back.

"Good morning, Dahlia."

I tilted my head.

She did the same.

I wondered sometimes if people would still call me sweet if they could see what I saw whenever I looked at myself.

Probably not.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Dahlia?"

Ava.

I quickly opened the door.

My sister stood outside holding a cup of coffee and wearing the expression of someone who had already prepared herself for an argument.

"You weren't answering my calls."

"I was asleep."

"Until ten?"

I glanced at the clock.

10:07.

"I guess I needed it."

Ava sighed and handed me the coffee.

"You could've at least told me you were coming home late."

"I didn't know I was going to."

She studied my face.

Ava had always been observant in her own way. Not enough to notice the things I didn't want her to notice, but enough to worry whenever something seemed wrong.

"You look pale."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because I'm always fine."

She frowned.

I smiled.

She relaxed.

It was that easy.

"Eat something before you leave," she said. "And please don't skip lunch again."

"Okay."

She started walking away, then suddenly turned around.

"Oh, by the way."

"Yeah?"

"Mom called."

My smile disappeared for half a second.

Only half.

"What did she say?"

"She wants you to come home this weekend."

I looked away.

"I'll think about it."

Ava sighed.

"Dahlia."

"I said I'll think about it."

She knew better than to push.

"Fine. Just don't disappear again."

I nodded.

She left.

The moment the door closed, the room became quiet again.

I took a sip of coffee.

Too sweet.

I made a face and placed it on the table.

Then my phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

I stared at the screen.

One message.

Unknown: You forgot your umbrella.

My fingers stopped moving.

I read it again.

Then again.

A slow smile appeared on my face.

I typed.

Me: Who is this?

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown:You really don't remember?

I leaned against the edge of my desk.

Interesting.

Me: Should I?

A few seconds passed.

Then:

Unknown: Max.

Of course.

I stared at his name.

There was no reason for my heartbeat to change.

Yet it did.

Not because I liked him.

I didn't.

I simply found him interesting.

That was all.

Me: I still have your umbrella.

Max: I know.

I frowned.

Me: Then why did you text me?

His reply took longer this time.

Max: I wanted to make sure you got home safely.

I almost laughed.

People were strange.

They met someone once and suddenly decided they cared whether that person made it home.

Me: I did.

Max: Good.

I waited.

Nothing else came.

For some reason, I found myself staring at the conversation longer than necessary.

Then another message appeared.

Max: See you around, Dahlia.

I locked my phone.

Enough.

I had a class in forty minutes.

I got dressed, fixed my hair, applied a little makeup, and looked at myself in the mirror one last time.

Perfect.

That was the word people liked to use.

Perfect.

I picked up my bag and headed downstairs.

Sienna was already waiting outside the house.

She immediately started talking the moment she saw me.

"Finally! Akala ko hindi ka na pupunta."

"I said I'd go."

"You also said you'd wake up early."

"I did wake up early."

"Ten in the morning isn't early."

I smiled.

She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. Come on."

We walked toward campus together, talking about random things—professors, assignments, an upcoming party, and the latest university gossip.

Normal things.

Safe things.

Things that made life feel ordinary.

Until we entered the main building.

I felt someone's eyes on me.

I stopped for a second.

Sienna continued walking before noticing that I wasn't beside her anymore.

"Dahlia?"

I looked across the hallway.

Max was standing near the stairs.

His eyes were already on me.

He didn't look away when our eyes met.

Neither did I.

For a moment, the noise around us seemed to disappear.

Then his gaze dropped to my hand.

The umbrella.

I was still holding it.

He smiled.

I smiled back.

Sienna looked between us.

"Wait."

She leaned closer.

"Do you know him?"

"Not really."

"Then why is he looking at you like that?"

I shrugged.

"Maybe he likes my umbrella."

Sienna laughed.

I didn't, because Max was still looking at me.

And somehow, I had the feeling that he wasn't looking at the umbrella at all.

He was looking at me.

Like he was trying to remember something.

Like he was trying to solve something.

And for the first time, I wondered if last night had been more than a coincidence.

Maybe Max Holland wasn't just curious.

Maybe he already knew something.

And if he did...

I needed to find out what.

Before he found out about me.