Chapter 3

*Ding-dong* The doorbell rang like a death knell, waking a sleeping Leo.

He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Driven by a strange impulse, I crept to the door and pressed my ear against the cold wood.

I heard the door open.

Then, a sweet, entitled, and utterly familiar female voice that was etched into my very soul, crisp and clear.

"Leo, darling, surprise! I'm back! The freeway from the airport was packed, so I had to leave super early this morning… Oh, why do you look so upset? Don't you want me here?"

My breath hitched instantly.

Serena.

So, *this* Serena.

She really was back.

And she had come straight here.

Outside the door, Leo's voice was tense: "Serena? How… how did you find this place? Why didn't you say you were coming?"

"I wanted to surprise you, silly! What, are you hiding someone in there? Is it not convenient for me to come in?"

"No… you…" Leo was clearly flustered.

"Oh, right," Serena's voice suddenly dropped, laced with cunning and a hint of provocation, "my sister… Maya, she lives here, doesn't she?"

"Sister."

The word was like a rusty key, unlocking the long-sealed, dark corners of my childhood.

In the backyard, the new swing Dad bought. I hadn't even had a chance to sit on it once before Serena, in her pretty princess dress, was already on it, with Dad pushing her from behind, her laughter ringing clear.

I ran over, but Dad just brushed me off, saying, "Maya, be gentle with your sister, she's younger."

But she was only a few days younger than me.

Dad's gaze always followed Serena, praising her as smart, beautiful, a little genius.

And I was always the insignificant side character, the "senseless" child who "couldn't hold a conversation" and "whose grades weren't as good as my sister's."

My crayon drawings were casually tossed aside, while any numbers Serena scribbled were cherished by Dad like precious treasures.

My grievances and tears only earned me the reprimand, "You're the older sister, you should be more sensible."

Serena's voice pulled me back to reality:

"It's really quite funny, Leo, darling."

"You chased my shadow for so long back then, and then… how did you end up with her?"

"Were you using my sister to miss me?"