Inessa had barely gotten the room back together before Lyra showed up. She barely had time to absorb what had just happened with Tae, or the strange satisfaction she’d felt in letting her more biting words out. Now, she had to switch gears, pretending that everything was perfect, just like her neatly slicked-back hair, freshly dyed dark, a decision she made in the span of an impulsive moment.
The new hair felt symbolic, like she was shedding something from before, though she wasn’t quite sure what. She looked at herself in the small mirror, her pony pulled tight, her appearance polished and controlled. She felt like a walking contradiction: her outer self composed, while inside she simmered with confusion, a fire she didn’t know how to put out.
Lyra was already in full rant mode. Inessa listened passively, nodding when needed, all while trying to force her thoughts back into place.
“Like he’s brushing it all under the rug because his team won,” Lyra continued.
Raising an eyebrow, she turned to Lyra, catching up. “I don’t think he even knows who Kiki is, and he’s excited. I’m happy for him, though it should have been my team. We definitely had harder questions and put in more effort.”
Her words came out sharper than she intended. Maybe she was still thinking about Tae, or maybe she was just tired of always hearing about the same complaints. She quickly added, “But hey, that’s just how it goes, right?” forcing a smile to smooth over her sudden defensiveness.
Lyra barely seemed to notice the shift in Inessa’s tone, continuing on about how things had been unfair and how she couldn’t decide what to wear. Meanwhile, Inessa’s mind wandered again, thinking about how easily she could switch roles, from being the dutiful student and sister to the one with dark thoughts, hidden behind that polished exterior.
Inessa perked up when she heard Lyra’s words, her heart skipping a beat. Forget the angel idea, I’m joining the dark side tonight. It felt like a jolt of electricity, a sign that maybe Lyra knew something. Did she? The smile on her face felt stiff, like it was barely holding things together as her thoughts started to spiral.
Tae couldn’t have told anyone, could he? The words from earlier replayed in her mind, and a brief flash of panic washed over her. Was this Lyra’s way of hinting at it? Had she somehow found out? But no, it was impossible. The conversation with Tae had just happened. There wasn’t any way he would’ve had time to say anything. Right?
Before she could get too lost in her worries, Lyra stepped out in her outfit, a sleek black slip dress paired with matching wings and a headband that gave her an effortlessly cool, slightly edgy look.
“Hot,” Inessa managed to say, her voice a little shaky but masked with a grin. She watched as Lyra did a small twirl, clearly satisfied with her transformation. Inessa, trying to push the doubts away, stood up and grabbed her own costume.
Her outfit was the complete opposite: a short, pristine white dress paired with long white gloves. She added a pair of oversized black sunglasses and chunky headphones that rested on her ears like accessories. Adjusting them to sit perfectly, she turned to Lyra with a playful grin.
“If you don’t get who I am, I’m not sure we can be friends anymore,” Inessa teased, trying to sound lighthearted. The small laugh she let out felt like armor, a way to hide any lingering insecurities bubbling under the surface. Inessa knew if there was a theme, she was not going to half *ss it, but go all out!
With one final glance in the mirror, Inessa smoothed her dress and adjusted her sunglasses. Lyra, already at the door, her dark ensemble contrasting sharply with Inessa’s glowing white. Inessa felt the pulse of anticipation ripple through her. Whatever weight she had been carrying from earlier seemed to lighten just a little with the thought of the night ahead.
The two of them stepped out of the dorm and into the cool night air, their shoes clicking against the pavement as they made their way to Umbra. Tonight, the plan was simple: let loose, have fun, and, maybe for a little while, forget everything else. Inessa shot Lyra a quick smile as they walked, feeling a surge of confidence returning.