Five Years Earlier — One Day Before the 'Non-Academic Week' Collaborunrea
"School is a second home."
At least, that's what Lacy—the girl from the next class—used to say.
Back in their first year of high school, Cassandra and Lacy had been freshmen in the same class. So was Cassandra's cousin, Anastahia. People called her Ana—until one day Cassandra accidentally called her Tashi. After that, everyone started calling her Tashi. Just like Cassandra did. Just like the whole family did.
A year passed. Cassandra could finally breathe when the academic placement results came out—she ended up in Social Sciences. Meanwhile, Lacy was once again in the same class as Tashi, in Natural Sciences. Well. For only two weeks.
Right before their school, SMA Prestasi Mandiri, held a friendship collaboration event with SMA Sariputta, Lacy's mother managed to convince the principal that Lacy had suddenly developed a deep interest in Social Sciences.
More precisely—she wanted to build a social system within their grade. And rival Tashi from XI-IPA. "I swear you're way better than Tashi, Cas—ugh! Can you believe she chose to team up with Gloria instead of me?!" As usual, Lacy perched herself on top of Cassandra's desk while Cassandra sketched the school uniform designs of SMA Sariputta students. The "she" Lacy referred to was, obviously, Tashi.
Cassandra's hand trembled slightly as she tried to draw a straight line along a skirt. Lacy's insults toward Gloria—mocking her dark skin and curly hair—grew harsher. When Lacy began rambling about how Gloria's name sounded like some wild zoo animal, Cassandra abruptly stood up, cutting off the laughter between Lacy and her two little followers. "I'm… going to the cafeteria," Cassandra whispered, nervously pointing at herself and then the classroom door.
Lacy gave her a sour smile—the kind that said you haven't changed at all since day one. "Grab my usual snack too, yeah, Cas!" Lacy chirped, sliding into Cassandra's chair as Cassandra stepped away from her desk. "Cas." Cassandra turned. Lacy's glossy pink lips curved slightly, but her eyes were cold. "Why are you drawing Sariputta's uniforms?"
She snapped Cassandra's sketchbook shut, even though her two sidekicks were clearly still curious to see the designs. Thinking Lacy—daughter of a fashion stylist—would be excited, Cassandra answered eagerly, "Their school's always been known for creativity, especially how students can personalize their uniforms. I just wanted to try it. I kinda like Gita's style—"
"Oh, right!" Lacy cut in the moment she heard her stepsister's name. The girl with glossy straight black hair and matching pink lace hair clips let out a flat laugh.
"Gita *is* sweet. Humble. And she dresses way cooler." Cassandra felt her body heat up and freeze at the same time. How could she forget? The one topic Lacy always confided in her about—how Gita's presence made her feel invisible in her own mother's eyes.
"Lace, I didn't mean—"
"It's fine, Cas! Chill!" Lacy waved it off. "Oh, and Tami and Rina want juice too—grab theirs while you're at it!" Rina frowned, clearly confused about when she'd ever asked for juice, but Tami elbowed her sharply—a silent *don't say anything*.
Cassandra still stood there, facing Lacy, about to apologize again. Then the words came. Like a blade through her back. "You should stop wearing ribbons in your hair. I don't wanna accidentally call you 'Tashi' like on our first day in X-A."
Cassandra forgot every snack and drink she'd been told to buy. She ran out of the classroom. With every step she took, her fingers struggled harder to pull at the white ribbon tying her hair back. Her thoughts shattered—some replaying Lacy's voice, others replaying her parents gazing at Tashi's paintings with pride.
Even though Cassandra's Doodle Art trophy stood beautifully displayed in front of the family photo frame---Tashi's painting hung in her parents' bedroom. "Casey!" Cassandra stopped. When she turned, Tashi was already in front of her, smiling while catching her breath. "I've been calling you. You didn't hear me."
Tashi reached behind Cassandra's head and, within seconds, untied the ribbon. "Perfect timing! I just bought new ones from Stroberi!" Cassandra's empty stare didn't even flicker at the sight of the red and blue satin ribbons in Tashi's hands—each with a small W logo, symbol of their family's textile business. "Which one do you wa—"
Cassandra interrupted her, "What did I do wrong that your parents got into an accident, Ta?" The smile fell from Tashi's face.
Cassandra—orange-brown eyes blazing, the only difference between them since Tashi inherited her late Irish mother's bright blue eyes—asked again. "What did I do wrong that you don't have parents anymore?!" Her scream echoed through the empty hallway. It was recess. Everyone was at the cafeteria.
Cassandra turned her face away so Tashi wouldn't see her tears, then yanked the blue ribbon from Tashi's hand. She threw it straight into the trash. Tashi stood there, frozen. Watching her cousin's back disappear down the hall. Only then did tears begin sliding down her own cheeks.
By the time she reached Cassandra's classroom and saw Lacy sitting in Cassandra's chair, she remembered what she'd originally meant to do. "I just wanted to leave this," Tashi said softly, placing the red ribbon into Cassandra's desk drawer. Then she walked away. Ignoring Lacy's confused stare.
---
Friday Afternoon — Dunia Kami Community
After a volunteer meeting for their next literacy event, Cassandra paused in the lobby before the main exit. Her grip tightened around her phone. The messages she'd sent since morning were still unread.
to: Ethan
Looks like it'll rain around 2 pm.
Bring an umbrella, okay?
to: Ethan
Have you had lunch?
The kids here are so cute.
They rushed through their rice just to get cup noodles.
I'm kinda lazy to eat rice today.
to: Ethan
For the next literacy event, we're going to a bookstore.
Should I suggest Jenguk Mbah bookstore?
to: Ethan
Are you picking me up?
"Cas, you're not picked up yet, how long are you gonna wait?" A soft bass voice came from behind her—Patra.
Her campus senior. Fellow creative division volunteer. Former upperclassman at Prestasi Mandiri High School. "I'm sure not for too long." Afraid he might glimpse her chat with Ethan, Cassandra quickly shoved her phone into her jeans pocket. Still no vibration. Still unread.
They walked outside together. Cassandra stayed silent, debating whether to just order an online ride and text Ethan again. "You close yet?" She startled at Patra's question—until she realized he wasn't talking to her. He grinned while asking whoever was on the other end of his call to buy spicy crackers and bread from the minimarket. From his phone, Cassandra could faintly hear Artemis's annoyed voice—even without speaker mode. "It's about to rain, Pat! I didn't bring an umbrella! I'll be soaked running back to the car!"
"Then run faster. What are your legs for? Decoration?"
A single animal curse ended the call. "When you guys fight," Cassandra murmured shyly, "you actually sound like real siblings."
Patra smirked. "We are siblings. Step siblings."
She panicked at his straight face—until he burst out laughing. "Relax, Cas! But yeah… sometimes I feel that way too. Different dads. Different moms. Yet Arte's the one who comes looking for me whenever she drops by." Cassandra almost asked why Patra could speak about his feelings so easily—but his tired eyes and dark circles stopped her.
"I get why Arte keeps distance from her workaholic parents… but Polo?" Patra suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh shoot—I'm telling you this without introducing anyone. Apollo and Artemis are full siblings. After the court hearing, Apollo stayed with his mom. Lives at my house."
"Oh—I know," Cassandra quickly said. "Not just from school gossip. My parents mentioned it too."
"Because Tashi's Apollo's girlfriend? Should've been engaged by now?" Patra guessed. Bullseye.
"But Tashi chose to study art in New York," Cassandra added. They both nodded.
"Your parents talk to Tashi a lot, huh?" Silence answered him. If she said yes, she'd sound ungrateful. Patra took her silence as confirmation. "Tashi's sick of your parents trying to copy how her late parents raised her. That's what I see on her face every time she hears 'Your New Papa and Mama' at painting competitions."
Cassandra looked at him, stunned. "She said that?"
"I said it looks that way," Patra corrected. Then he remembered something. "But she did once say, 'Uncle and Aunt's smiles are getting creepier. In the end, they want the same things other relatives want.'" A car stopped in front of the gate. Rain began to fall. Artemis stepped out, grabbing an umbrella from the trunk for Patra.
"I've always wondered why you transferred schools," Cassandra said suddenly.
The question hit deeper than she knew. Patra remembered what he had seen in the library. The thing that felt like karma—punishment for his silence. His father, Charlie, once said, "Silence turns into regret." As Artemis opened the gate, Patra blurted over the rain—
"I saw a girl being assaulted." Cassandra froze.
Her memory rewound to the day Patra bumped into her shoulder, telling her to find Tashi while he ran away from the library. Yet when she reached Tashi, her cousin had never asked for Patra to fetch her.
"I wasn't sick," Patra added quietly. Repeating the lie he'd used to explain his transfer. Artemis handed him the umbrella, then offered Cassandra a ride home. Flustered, Cassandra said someone was picking her up.
"You're taking forever," Artemis complained to Patra. "Blair's already salty in the car because Ethan picked Tashi up from the airport."
"Who?" Cassandra asked too quickly. "I thought Tashi came back alone… she told my dad not to pick her up…"
Luckily, Artemis didn't notice the flash of anger on Cassandra's face. "See you," she said, disappearing back into the rain. Patra followed. Cassandra pulled her phone out again. Still unread.