Chapter 3
My heart gradually sank.
Three things stood out: Flora's wary posture, her skittish reactions, and the fact that she grew up without any friends.
Any one of these could be chalked up to a coincidence.
But when all these traits showed up in the same person, it became a real puzzle.
I looked at my mom. Her gaze was cool and unwavering.
I knew she wasn't kidding.
"So... What am I supposed to do?" My voice was a bit shaky.
"Don't freak out, and don't go confronting Flora yet," Mom said, patting my hand as she pulled herself together. "If you spook her, she'll clam up and you won't get anything.
"We need to feel her out."
She leaned in close and spelled out her plan. "Tomorrow, find a chance to casually bring up someone to her.
"Say you had a high school classmate named Mark, same year as you, who later got into Flora's college. Then ask if she knows him.
"Mark, of course, is totally made up.
"Just watch how she reacts.
"If she's normal, she'll just say 'Never heard of him' or 'Doesn't ring a bell'.
"But if she's guilty, someone who's always covering up and faking it..."
Mom's lips curled into a chilly smirk. "She'll hesitate."
There was a click from the bathroom door, and Flora reappeared in the living room.
She wore the exact same perfectly timed smile as when she went in, as if nothing at all had happened.
In that same instant, all the seriousness and sharpness disappeared from Mom's face.
She changed her expression even faster than Flora, and her change was seamless.
She was back to being the warm, friendly mom.
"Flora, come on over. The fruit's all ready," Mom cheerfully called out, sliding a plate of sliced apples and oranges toward her.
My dad was still stunned from earlier, so his face was a bit stiff.
Under the table, Mom discreetly nudged him with her toe.
Dad snapped out of it and quickly put on a smile. "Come on, have some fruit. These oranges are super sweet."
I watched this strange scene play out right in front of me.
My parents were putting on a flawless act, like seasoned performers, and I was the only one left freaking out inside, like the sole nervous audience member.
Flora slipped right back into her seat, acting like nothing was out of the ordinary.
Her back stayed perfectly straight, graceful as a javelin.
She didn't touch the plate of fruit.
Instead, she picked up her glass of water and took a small sip.
Mom's gaze lingered on that detail for a moment, but she kept quiet.
"Wow, the food smells so good. Looks like I'm really lucky today," Flora said, smiling brightly.
Her tone was relaxed, like she was just any girl coming over to her boyfriend's place for dinner.
But now, I couldn't look at her the same way.
Every smile, every glance, and every well-chosen word of hers felt like layers of carefully rehearsed disguise to me.
The dishes were soon settled on the table, and the four of us gathered around.
Mom had cooked her specialties today.
"Flora, don't be shy. Make yourself at home and help yourself," Mom said, placing the biggest rib in Flora's plate.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lee," Flora said sweetly.
She picked up the rib and took small bites, eating gracefully.
Dad kept encouraging Flora to try more food.
But for me, nothing tasted right.
My mind was a mess, and Mom's words haunted me like a spell I couldn't shake.
Flora's wary posture, her skittish reactions, and the fact that she grew up without any friends.
Those words wove an invisible net, wrapping tightly around Flora.
I tried to act normal, but I couldn't help but keep my eyes glued to her.
I kept watching Flora, noticing every little thing—how she picked up her food, how often she chewed, and even the exact curve of her smile.
I searched for any crack in her mask, just like Mom said, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't spot a single slip-up.
Flora was so perfect, utterly flawless.
With my parents and Flora all playing their parts, the atmosphere felt warm and harmonious.
They chatted about work, housing prices, and the hottest TV shows.
Flora always found the perfect topic and gave responses that were on point.
Every now and then, she'd toss out a joke that had my dad laughing out loud.
If I hadn't known about Mom's suspicions, I would've thought this was the best family dinner of my life.
I stayed silent, keeping an eye out for the perfect chance to try out Mom's plan.