CLMO 11

Chapter 11

Sian wanted to show her foster parents that she was adapting well at school, that she had even made friends.

Ever since she first mentioned wanting to visit Wharton School to see her brother, her foster parents had been nothing but worried.

“Do we really have to call it a party when it’s just three people gathering?”

Aaron grumbled in disbelief.

“Then should we invite my parents too and make it five?”

At Sian’s remark, Aaron immediately fell quiet.

Janice, who had been darting her eyes between the two, stepped in to mediate.

“Um, just the three of us is fine. Your parents must be busy anyway.”

She looked nervous, as if worried that she’d actually have to hang out with her friend’s parents.

Seeing her so flustered, Sian burst out laughing.

“I was joking. Anyway, you’re coming, right?”

“I’ll see if I have time.”

“I’m in!”

Aaron and Janice answered in turn.

‘Aaron always has to play hard to get.’

Even so, he’d show up in the end.

Sian held back a smile. She was starting to get a feel for what kind of person Aaron was.

“Then how about this Friday?”

They were still deciding when suddenly a shadow fell over them.

Come to think of it, the usual background chatter had gone silent without her noticing.

Sian sensed something odd and looked up—straight into a pair of green eyes.

“Huh?”

“Hi.”

“Uh—huh?”

Beautiful eyes that seemed like they’d glow even in the dark.

There was no mistaking him for anyone else.

“Blay…?”

Beside her, Janice whispered breathlessly.

It was her first time seeing Blay Williams up close.

She had always admired the handsome senior from afar. Now, with his sudden appearance, her cheeks flushed red.

“Looks like you’ve made some new friends.”

Blay leaned a hand casually on their table and greeted them.

By chance, the spot he leaned on was right next to Sian’s side, making it look like he had half-wrapped her in his arms.

Sian tried to ignore him and introduced her new friends instead.

“You know Aaron, right? This is Janice Perry, she just joined the cheerleading team with me.”

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

“M-me too, nice to meet you.”

Janice looked about ready to faint.

Blay, who had completely floored her, smiled lightly at Sian.

He seemed so used to situations like this that there wasn’t even a hint of smugness in him.

“I overheard you talking about a party just now.”

“Blay.”

Sian flinched at another voice from behind her—then almost jumped again when she realized just how close Blay’s face was to hers. Their lips had nearly brushed.

‘Why is he standing so close?’

The distance between them was far too short, almost enough to steal her breath away.

Even his cologne felt like it belonged to her own skin.

‘Even his scent is handsome.’

If someone asked how a scent could be handsome, she’d have no way to explain it.

At that moment, Blay flashed her a sly grin. It felt as if he had read every single one of her thoughts.

“What are you trying to pull here?”

That familiar sharp voice pierced through the air again.

Sian snapped back to her senses as if waking from a dream and turned around.

Ian was glaring daggers at Blay, his face twisted in anger.

‘What’s his problem now? Does he even hate it when Blay just talks to me?’

Sian instinctively shrank back under his terrifying expression.

She didn’t care what others thought of her.

But to be hated by her brother—that was unbearable.

“Don’t get mad, Ian. You’re scaring the kids.”

Blay’s tone was as light as if he were singing.

“Yeah, Ian. Just let Blay be,” another boy nearby said, patting Ian on the shoulder. But Ian didn’t budge.

Blay only grinned back at him, then turned once more to Sian.

“Shall we finish talking about the party?”

“Our party wouldn’t be fun anyway,” Aaron cut in bluntly.

Janice’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She looked ready to grab Aaron by the collar and scream, How dare you refuse Blay?! Are you insane?

Blay, watching the two of them, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Of course your little party would be boring. But the one I’m inviting you to will be fun. How about Friday night?”

“You’re inviting us?”

Janice shrieked, then quickly slapped her hand over her mouth.

But it was too late—everyone nearby had heard.

The atmosphere grew instantly noisy.

Blay’s parties were always the hottest events, and everyone schemed to get invited.

And now Sian was invited—along with her two tagalongs!

Sharp, envious stares rained down on them like needles.

Yet Blay looked completely unbothered.

“It’s actually a welcome party for the new football team members. But the cheerleaders and us—well, we’re inseparable.”

“That’s true. Totally true,” Janice gushed, nodding like a starstruck devotee as Blay flashed her a smile.

Aaron only gave her a look of pity.

Half-swayed by Blay’s charm, Sian quickly sobered up when she noticed Aaron’s cool, skeptical gaze.

“…Other cheerleaders will be coming too, right?”

A football team party would obviously be packed with boys. She wasn’t thrilled about going, even if her brother would be there.

‘If it’s just the three of us being invited, I’ll politely refuse.’

As if reading her mind, Blay answered,

“If you want, I’ll invite all the cheerleaders.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

With a soft chuckle, he straightened his posture, no longer leaning toward her.

“Then you’ll come see me, right?”

His pale green eyes locked on hers.

They felt like a spell—compelling her not to refuse.

Sian’s lips trembled open.

She knew she should be modest, say she’d think about it.

But her body betrayed her.

“Yes! I’ll definitely come!”

But Janice had beaten her to it, answering first.

“Good. I’ll give Aaron the time and address.”

He was a little disappointed not to hear Sian answer directly, but Blay let it go.

“Oh, Sian.”

“Yes?”

“Congratulations on becoming a cheerleader.”

Sian’s cheeks flushed red, making Blay smile with satisfaction.

With that, he turned lightly away. Ian, who had been waiting, immediately followed.

“Blay. What the hell do you think you’re doing? If this is a joke, cut it out right now.”

“It’s not a joke. You know the saying—keep your enemies closer than your friends.”

Blay planned to keep his stalker close, where he could watch her.

Because it amused him.

That was the only reason.

Friday night.

Janice came over to Sian’s house to get ready for Blay’s party.

Unfortunately, Aaron wasn’t with them.

He had no interest in going to a party meant for football players and cheerleaders.

‘It’d be nice if he came along…’

But Sian couldn’t force him. She swallowed her disappointment quietly.

“All done. Do you like it?”

Pushing aside thoughts of Aaron, Sian asked Janice, who was staring into the mirror.

Her light brown-blond hair was straightened sleek, just like Sian’s.

Janice had always envied her friend’s long, smooth hair, so Sian had styled it for her with a straightener.

“Yes! I love it.”

“Glad to hear that.”

Janice kept admiring herself in the mirror, clearly pleased.

Sian chuckled at the sight.

“Move over. I need to do my hair too.”

“You’re pretty even without doing anything,” Janice pouted playfully as she stepped aside.

“You’re pretty too.”

Sian replied while curling her straight hair into waves.

But Janice didn’t believe it.

“Don’t lie. I know I’m not pretty. I only look a little better now because I lost weight.”

Sian studied her friend’s reflection in the mirror, deep in thought.

After a moment, she said,

“There’s something I want to show you. Wait here.”

Curious but patient, Janice stayed put.

When Sian finished her hair, she went to the bookshelf and pulled out a photo album.

“What’s that?”

“Old pictures of me. Look.”

Even now, she hesitated. Should she really show Janice?

Aaron’s warning echoed in her mind—

‘Don’t tell anyone else you used to have leukemia, okay? Not anyone but me.’

His face had been so serious that Sian hadn’t been able to brush it off as a joke.

‘You don’t know how cruel teenagers can be.’

At the time, she thought he was overreacting.

But after becoming friends with Janice, she understood.

Aaron hadn’t exaggerated at all.

Even Janice’s anorexia was treated as a joke at school.

Sian’s past illness would be no different.

Still, she decided to share it with Janice.

Because there was something she wanted to tell her.

“This is you? Really?”

Suspicion colored Janice’s face as she flipped through the album.

‘Aaron reacted the same way,’ Sian thought with a small smile, meeting her eyes.

“It’s really me. I told you I was sick when I was little, right? It was leukemia.”

“What?”

Janice shot up from her seat in shock.

There wasn’t a trace of illness in the healthy girl standing before her now.

“I’m cured. I still need regular check-ups, but that’s nothing.”

Sian shrugged casually.

“Leukemia…”

Janice felt stunned, as if she’d been struck.

Her eyes fixed again on the photos.

A body thin as winter branches.

That sickly figure resembled her own body now.

At last, she realized—the truth she’d avoided until now. Her body wasn’t normal either.

“Why… why are you showing me this?”

Her lips trembled violently.

It felt like Sian was mocking her.

‘You think you look fine just because you’re skinny? Don’t kid yourself. You’re still ugly.’

She half-expected Sian to spit out those cruel words.

But instead, Sian’s response defied all her fears.