The evening sun spilled through the curtains, bathing the room in warm, sleepy light.
Bell stretched on the bed with a cheerful yawn. "Good morning!"
She looked around, searching for White. Catching the scent of something delicious, she hurried to the kitchen, where he was preparing dinner.
Feeling her presence, he glanced over his shoulder and found her drooling.
"I see, so you're awake now… Well, wait a little. Dinner is almost ready."
"My stomach is growling like a lion!" she declared dramatically, rubbing it.
"Hah, just two more minutes," he said with a chuckle.
On the surface, her antics amused him—but in his mind, Aisha's words kept replaying.
'What did she mean? This little girl can grant my wishes? How can someone so normal do something like that? '
'She came out of nowhere, calling me her dad… It's enough to give me a stomach ache.'
Bell sniffed the air, tilting her head. "Can Bell help you with something?"
"Nah… It's almost finished. You can go watch TV."
"TV? What is that?" She jumped with excitement. "Is that TV thing tasty?"
"You don't know what TV is?" he asked, shocked.
"Uhmm…" She turned her head left and right.
"I see. Let me show you." He wiped his hands and led her to the living room. He switched on the TV.
'Maybe a cartoon or fairy tale would be best,'
he thought, changing the channel.
She stared curiously at both him and the screen, as if seeing it for the first time.
"Whaaaa… What is this? Ohhh…" She rushed closer, pointing at the screen. "That person! He's trapped in the square box! We need to help him, quick!"
"Hahaha… Don't worry. It's just a video. You don't have to worry."
"Video…" she repeated, confused.
'It's hard for her to understand what a video really is,'
he sighed, returning to the kitchen.
---
Later, they ate together. Bell laughed, made silly faces at the vegetables she disliked, and asked endless questions. White explained as best he could, though she remained half-confused but satisfied.
'I don't know why, but it feels like she's always been here with me… even though we just met a few hours ago.'
After dinner, he decided to probe further. "Hey, Bell, do you know that lady—the one who told you to wait here? Who is she?"
Bell froze, then shook her head slowly. "No… I don't know her."
His heart sank. "…I see."
So, no answers there. Maybe Aisha made it up. Or maybe she erased Bell's memory.
Still curious, he decided to test Aisha's claim.
"Bell," he said casually, forcing a smile, "could you somehow help me get one million in money?"
Bell tilted her head, blinking innocently. "Bell doesn't know what money means, but Bell will help you get it!"
Her confused reply made him laugh nervously. "N-no! I was just kidding. Forget it."
Relief washed over him.
'So maybe Aisha was lying. Bell really is just a little girl.'
Bell looked up at him with big crimson eyes. "Papa, is something bothering you?"
Her sincerity pierced deeper than Aisha's cruel mockery. His chest ached. "…It's nothing, Bell. Just forget it, okay?"
"Bell, can you call me something else? Maybe big brother? It feels weird when you call me Papa."
Bell pouted, hugging him tightly. "Why? Did Bell do something wrong? Did Bell make Papa mad?"
He sighed, giving up. "Well… you can call me whatever you want."
"But now, Papa has a test tomorrow. I need to study. You can sleep or watch TV if you want."
He returned to his desk, forcing himself to focus on textbooks.
Bell rushed over, grabbing one of his books proudly. "I'll study too and support you!"
"…You're holding it upside down," he teased.
She blushed, hiding her face behind the book. "…S-sorry…"
He laughed softly. "Just sleep, Bell. You're already supporting me just by being here. That's enough."
She nodded reluctantly and ran to the bedroom. Before shutting the door, she peeked out. "Good night, Papa."
He whispered back, "Good night."
---
Hours later, exhaustion overtook him. At 2 a.m., half-asleep over his notes, he muttered carelessly:
'Maybe if I studied harder, I could have been the topper of my class. I wish I could feel how it is to be at the top… and make Miss Elsa proud.'
He drifted into sleep.
---
The next morning, he woke at his desk. Stretching, he checked on Bell—but she was gone. He searched every corner of the apartment. Nothing.
'Was she just my imagination? Like the accident? Maybe Elsa was right. I need more rest.'
He sighed, ate breakfast, and went to school.
---
During the test, nerves gnawed at him. He prayed for at least passing marks.
But when he opened the paper, shock froze him. Every question was exactly what he had revised last night. Not similar. The same.
His pen shook.
'Aisha's words… No way… Could it be true? Was Bell really…? But she's gone. I searched everywhere.'
'No, it has to be coincidence.'
Yet when the teacher announced results, his name echoed across the room.
"…And our highest scorer this time, across all sections—White. A perfect 100."
The class erupted. Whispers, stares, disbelief.
'Perfect marks. Me? I wasn't smart. I wasn't prepared. And yet… here it was. As if my wish was granted.'
His stomach twisted.
'It's real…'
---
After class, Zen slapped his back. "No freaking way, man! The loner beat Shu?! Bro, you're a legend!"
White forced a weak chuckle, drowning in confusion.
As school ended, he tried to escape the stares. But then—
Shu. The untouchable class topper.
She stood before his desk, her sharp eyes narrowing.
"Meet me on the roof."
Cold. Clear. No explanation.
She turned and walked away.
White's hands tightened on his bag as a familiar shiver crawled down his spine.
'What does she want from me…?'