Nova’s eyes snapped open. Today was the day—his very first day of school. Nova had barely slept, too excited about meeting new friends, pying, and finally becoming a 'big kid.'

  Bursting out of bed, he dashed through the house, his voice ringing out, “Mom! Mom!” as if she wasn’t the one who had just helped him dress moments ago.

  A soft sigh followed by a warm chuckle came from the kitchen. “Yes, yes, I’m here, Nova. No need to shout.”

  Standing by the counter was a tall woman, around her te thirties, with long bck hair cascading over her shoulders and deep blue eyes that carried both patience and amusement. This was Caroline—Nova’s mother.

  Nova skidded to a stop in front of her, his small chest puffed out with pride. “But today is my first day of school!” He beamed, barely containing his excitement, as if the whole world needed to know how much he had grown.

  Caroline smiled, her gaze softening as she crouched to his level. “My boy is all grown up now” she murmured, adjusting the colr of his shirt. Gently ruffling his hair, she asked, “Did you wash your face?”

  Nova hesitated for the briefest moment before nodding. “Yes, I did!” He lied with a straight face, hoping to escape the morning routine and dash out the door.

  Caroline, however, saw right through him. She arched a brow, fixing him with a knowing stare. “Nova.”

  He gulped.

  “You need to wash your face” she said, her voice firm but gentle. “And don’t try to lie to your mom—I will always know.”

  Nova groaned, shoulders slumping in defeat. “Alright, I’ll go wash my face…” he muttered, trudging toward the bathroom like a soldier marching to battle.

  Caroline watched him go, shaking her head with a soft chuckle. Yet as she absentmindedly wiped her hands on a towel, a distant thought darkened her gaze. ‘He already knows how to lie with a straight face… I wonder where he got that from.’

  A fleeting heaviness settled over her, but she quickly shook it off, repcing it with the same warm smile she always wore for her son.

  Moments ter, Nova returned, his face still damp, water droplets glistening under the morning light. He hadn’t even bothered drying them—his way of proving he had definitely washed up this time.

  Caroline ughed, tapping his nose pyfully. “Now, Mom believes you.”

  Feeling proud of himself, Nova grinned brightly. “I can’t fool you, Mom, but can I—”

  Before he could finish, Caroline shot him a gnce that sent a chill down his spine. Her voice was soft, but the warning in it was unmistakable. “Don’t you dare try fooling your teachers at school. I’ll give them permission to spank you if you do.”

  Nova gulped. ‘Mom wouldn’t… right?’ But the look in her eyes told him she just might.

  Sighing in defeat, he muttered “Fine, I won’t lie to them.”

  Caroline’s expression softened into a smile. “Good. Mom is proud of you.”

  She stood up and stretched before checking the time. “Let’s go, Nova. School starts soon.”

  “Finally!” Nova cheered. “I can’t wait to see Jack and the others!”

  Excitement bubbling over, he bolted toward the front door, ready to sprint outside. Caroline followed at a more rexed pace.

  When Nova reached the car, he stopped and turned expectantly. But instead of unlocking it, Caroline walked right past him.

  “Nova, we’re walking. It’s only a ten-minute walk to the school.”

  Nova’s whole world crumbled in an instant.

  “Mom, ten minutes is way too much! Aren’t we going to be te?” He tried his best to con her into driving.

  Caroline, ever the trickster, smirked. “Nope, we’re actually going to be early.”

  Nova narrowed his eyes. “But we only had seven minutes left when I checked the clock before leaving.”

  Caroline chuckled, unable to hold back her amusement. “Hehe, I set all the clocks in the house ten minutes ahead.”

  Nova’s face darkened as realization hit. “You tricked me!?”

  Caroline nearly burst into ughter at his expression.

  Refusing to speak for the entire walk, Nova sulked while Caroline strolled beside him, her smile never fading. She was all too familiar with these little tantrums, and she enjoyed them—especially knowing that deep down, Nova wasn’t really mad. He was just mad at himself for falling for her pranks.

  By the time they reached the school gates, all traces of his earlier mood had vanished. Nova was smiling again as if nothing had ever happened.

  Caroline crouched down to fix his clothes one st time, smoothing out the wrinkles. Their eyes met, and she said, “I’ll come to pick you up after school, alright?”

  Nova nodded.

  Seeing his agreement, Caroline stood up, ruffled his hair, and smiled. “Enjoy your first day. And remember what you promised.”

  Nova sighed but nodded again. He knew if he didn’t, he’d get an earful at home ter.

  Satisfied, Caroline waved goodbye and turned to leave. Nova barely waited for her to disappear before dashing inside the school.

  Finding his cssroom, he pushed open the door and spotted a familiar face. His best friend, Jack, was already there.

  “Jack!” Nova yelled, running as fast as he could.

  Jack turned just in time to see him zoom across the room. His grin got even bigger. “Nova! I saw you and your mom from the window. Did she make you walk here?”

  The second he said it, Jack burst into giggles.

  Nova’s eye twitched. His fingers really wanted to strangle his so-called best friend.

  “Yeah” he grumbled, crossing his arms. “But this is the st time she tricks me.”

  Jack snorted. “Yeah, sure. And I’m the king of the world.”

  Nova clenched his fists. ‘Just you wait, Jack… just you wait…’

  Jack ughed so hard he had to hold his belly. “You always say that! But guess what? I just saw you walking!”

  Nova’s patience snapped. “If you don’t stop ughing, I’m gonna tell your mom you stole my pen st year!”

  Jack froze. His face went pale. “You—you wouldn’t…”

  Nova smirked. “Oh, I would.”

  Jack gulped. “No way! You know my mom—if she finds out, I won’t get to py for a whole week!”

  Nova grinned. “Then let’s make a deal. I won’t tell her, but you gotta never talk about me walking here ever again. Deal?”

  Jack pouted. “Ugh. Fine.” He muttered under his breath, “Why did I even pick you to be my best friend?”

  Truth be told, Nova had only made one real friend in kindergarten—and that was Jack.

  Their bickering came to an abrupt halt when the cssroom door swung open, and their teacher walked in. She unched into a speech about how this was the beginning of their elementary school journey, how important the year would be, and how they should cherish every moment.

  Nova tuned it all out. Bh, bh, bh… He never cared much for formalities.

  Before he knew it, the school day was over.

  As the students packed up, Nova turned to Jack. “Let’s py tomorrow.”

  Jack raised a brow. “Why not today?”

  Nova shook his head. “Mom said I can’t go out today, but tomorrow should be fine.”

  Jack shrugged. “Alright, then. Tomorrow it is!” He waved at Nova before hopping into his parents’ car and who drove off.

  Nova made his way toward the school gates, where Caroline was waiting. This time, she had driven to pick him up.

  Seeing the car, Nova beamed with satisfaction.

  Caroline watched her son’s reaction and shook her head helplessly. ‘So young, yet already so zy…’

  As they drove home, she gnced at him through the rearview mirror. “So? How was your first day of elementary school?”

  Nova perked up. “It was great! Jack and I caught up on everything that happened st week. Oh! And tomorrow I’m going to his pce to py. That’s okay, right?”

  Caroline thought for a moment before nodding. “Sure, we don’t have anything pnned for tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Mom!” Nova grinned, practically bouncing in his seat.

  Caroline smiled warmly at his excitement and continued the drive home.

  Once they arrived, Caroline helped Nova with his homework before letting him py with his toys. Meanwhile, she went out to run some errands.

  Hours passed. Nova sat there, half-pying, half-dozing off, his small hands zily pushing around a toy car.

  By the time Caroline returned, she found her son barely awake, his head bobbing as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

  She walked over and nudged him gently. “Wake up, sleepyhead. You need to eat something and wash up before bed.”

  Nova groggily followed her to the dining table, though he could hardly keep track of what was happening. He didn’t remember what he ate. He didn’t remember when he washed up.

  The st thing he did remember was sinking into the warmth of his bed, the covers tucked snugly around him.

  His mother had done that.

  Even in his half-conscious state, he felt safe.

  And with that comforting thought, Nova drifted off into a deep sleep.

  A faint creaking sound stirred Nova from his sleep. His drowsy mind struggled to process it, but something felt off.

  ‘Did the front door just open?’

  Half-asleep, he pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes as he shuffled toward the entrance. The hallway was dark, the silence eerie. As he neared the main door, his stomach twisted—it was open.

  Confused, he reached out to close it, but then—

  Movement.

  From the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure lurking in the shadows. A man. A stranger.

  Nova’s breath hitched. His body locked up, ice creeping through his veins as he watched the intruder rummage through their belongings. The man moved with unsettling ease, sifting through their things, taking whatever he pleased before slinking off to the next room.

  Nova’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. His mother’s room was just down the hall.

  ‘What happens when he reaches Mom’s room?’

  The thought snapped something inside him. His fear didn’t vanish—it compressed into something sharp, something desperate. Quietly, he turned and crept to the kitchen, his small hands fumbling through drawers, searching.

  ‘Something. Anything.’

  His fingers brushed against cold steel.

  A knife.

  Climbing onto the counter, he grabbed it, gripping the handle so tightly his knuckles turned white. The bde felt heavy in his little hands, but he didn’t let go.

  Steeling himself, he followed the intruder.

  The man was in another room now, greedily stuffing things into a bag. Nova could hear him panting, his breaths growing heavier, almost excited the more he stole. Then came something worse—giggling.

  ‘He’s enjoying this.’

  Nova clenched his jaw.

  Room by room, the thief continued his work, oblivious to the child watching his every move. Then—he turned toward the next door.

  Caroline’s room.

  Nova took a slow, steady breath. The panic that had once paralyzed him was gone, repced by cold, calcuted resolve.

  The moment the man’s hand touched the doorknob—

  Nova moved.

  He lunged, bde first, ramming into the man with all the force his small body could muster.

  A scream tore through the house.

  The knife plunged into the intruder’s back, slicing deep into his spine. The impact sent them both crashing to the floor, the man’s body convulsing as a choked cry of agony escaped his lips.

  Nova didn’t stop.

  He yanked the bde free, his small hands slick with warmth as blood gushed from the wound. The man twitched, his ragged breaths filling the silence.

  Still alive.

  Nova’s expression remained bnk as he stepped forward.

  Caroline stirred at the sound of the scream, her groggy mind struggling to piece together what was happening. She blinked, trying to adjust her vision, and the first thing she saw—

  Nova.

  Standing over a man.

  A knife in his hand.

  Her heart stuttered. "Nova?"

  He didn’t answer.

  He simply raised the knife—

  And plunged it into the man’s throat.

  The sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh filled the air. Blood sprayed across the floor. The man spasmed once—then stilled.

  For a moment, there was only silence.

  Then Caroline screamed.