As soon as his car stops outside the house, I don’t wait for him to open the door for me like he usually does. I unbuckle my seatbelt, open the car door, and step out, heading toward the main door of the house, without waiting for him. I feel him following me. I push open the door and walk toward my room, locking it behind me. I take off my backpack and lie on my bed, face down.
'Missy, please.'
I groan, hearing him again. I turn over, lying on my back.
'I know you’re upset, but I’m doing what’s best for—'
“You sound like my parent. So shut up,” I interrupt him. I'm acting like a brat over this small thing but it matters to me and I hate it.
'Do you really want me to shut up?'
I sit up on my bed. “Yes.”
'Can I at least come in?'
“No.”
'I have a spare key to your room, you know.'
“Pardon?”
'Your parents gave it to me.'
“Excuse me? Why would they do that? You’re still a stranger to them.”
'It’s part of our deal.'
“You better tell me what that deal is, or I’ll tell them the truth, that you’re not real.”
'Do you think they’ll believe that, Missy?'
“No, obviously not.”
'Hmm, I know. How about you change into your comfortable clothes before getting out of your room, or else I’ll get in there.'
“Are you threatening me now?”
'Nope. Not really.'
“It sounds like it. I’m not in the mood to get out of my room. I have a lot of projects to wrap up tonight before the deadline. The upcoming tests are coming up, assignments are lining up. I appreciate it if you won’t bother me though.”
Glad I don’t hear his voice again, so I breathe a sigh of relief. I change into a jersey pair with a black cotton short, and tie up my hair in a messy bun. I stretch my arms before opening my backpack. It’s that time of the week again. A time of studying late at night, until midnight. I don’t notice how the next few hours pass. All my attention is focused on studying. Until my stomach rumbles, followed by Syntho’s voice in my head.
'Can I come into your room now?'
“Absolutely not. I’m busy.”
'You need to eat your dinner.'
“I’ll be fine without eating dinner, Syntho. Stop talking.”
'I totally get it that you used to starve yourself when you studied hard, but you’re killing yourself and your kidneys. You need a full stomach so your brain will function well.'
“My brain works better with an empty stomach. And will you please shut up?”
'That’s bullshit. I’m coming in.'
“Don’t you dare.” I clench my jaw as the door opens, followed by him entering, holding a plates of food. “Who said you could enter? Don’t you know what ‘consent’ means?” I ask, raising an eyebrow as I put down the ballpoint pen I was using for my studies.
“I let myself into your room, and I’m sure I know what ‘consent’ means, but you’re starving. I cooked something for you,” I’m glad he didn’t close the door behind him and left it wide open. “I knew you prefer your door closed and locked, but I don’t want your parents to get a bad idea about me,” he adds.
I scoff, hearing him say those words to me. “Scared of them now, huh?”
“Nah,” he says simply.
“Nah?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah, nah,” he says, bored.
I roll my eyes, before putting away my study materials. He places the plates on the table.
“Anything you want to drink in particular aside from milk tea?" 
“Iced coffee." 
“Alright, be back in a minute,” As soon as he leaves, I devour the food on the table. Bacon, fried eggs, rice, and a boiled egg.
Four Months Later
Ever since Syntho entered my life, something has changed, and the way my parents treat him is beyond my imagination. They treat him like he’s part of our family, but my twins are wary of him. Bella, on the other hand, flirts with him, which I find funny, because Syntho isn’t even real. I wonder what Bella’s reaction will be, once she finds out the truth? And I’ve been busy with my studies too, because finals and graduation are coming up, so I’m working twice as hard. I don’t want to disappoint my parents. I mean, I know, and I totally get it, that they’re strict and they control my entire life, like I’m a puppet, and it’s suffocating me. But disappointing them is what scares me most. I hate to see the look of disappointment in their eyes. Is it called trauma or people pleasing? 
“Do you need my help with that?” I look to my side. Syntho. I’ve been staring at the printer, waiting for the printed papers to be done.
“Nope, I’ve got this,” I avoid his gaze. I take the printed papers when they finish printing. He bought a printer, a laptop, and a phone for me to use at school, four months ago. I was surprised when I left my room one day and we had a printer in the house. I walk back to the living room where my two male classmates, who are in my research group, are hanging out. I place the research paper on the center table and sit down in my chair. Silas grabs the paper and checks it warily, while Soren is busy typing on his laptop before looking at me.
“It would have been easier if we had chosen a more reasonable research title back then before we decided on this one." He got this stoic expression on him like the first time we met. 
“Dude, come on. We already talked about this. Stop bringing it up,” Silas says. “Besides, we’re all gamers here, remember?”
Soren sighs and types on his laptop, shutting his mouth.
“Dude, seriously? Are you still mad that Shan beat us on CODm?” Silas asks Soren, making me wince. 
“No need to bring up that topic,” I don't really understand Soren and his coldness. 
“You still look mad about it,” Silas says before winking at me, before looking back at Soren.
“Who says I’m mad?” Soren closes his laptop and glares at Silas.
“You seem like you’re still mad about it, dude,” Silas grins as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans back on the couch.
“I am not.”
“You sound defensive."
I sigh. Silas is always a tease, while Soren is always so serious. I can’t deal with these two.
“Guys, please. We still have a lot to fix in our research paper, so please, stop it. Especially you, Silas,” I say, glaring at Silas, who raises an eyebrow and points at himself.
“Me? Come on, homie. I’m not doing anything wrong here,” Playing innocent now, eh?
Before I can respond, Syntho appears and sits next to me. “Is there anything I can help with?” Thank God.
“No,” Silas and Soren say in unison.
“I think we can manage it here, Syntho. I appreciate the thought of you asking,” he always asks if he needs a hand on our research. 
“Yeah, we’re fine without your help here,” I hear Silas comment. Gone the teasing tone. 
'They don’t really like me, do they?'
'They still don’t.'
'Teenagers,' It’s still weird talking to him inside my head, even now. 'Is there anything you crave to eat now? Perhaps chocolate, pizza, cake, a burger, or fries?'
'Chocolate brownies,' I just finished lunch two hours ago, and I’m still starving. Damn.
Syntho chuckles beside me. 'You’re in your ovulation phase. It’s pretty normal. I’ll go make chocolate brownies for you,' I watch him go as he leaves. It’s still weird to me that he knows my menstrual cycle. Well, he sure knows a lot about me.