The Riddle of Maya Chen

Leo's phone buzzed at 11:47 PM — way past his self-imposed social media cutoff. Again.

maya_baby_liked_a_post

She was online. At nearly midnight. After ghosting him for three weeks.

Okay, maybe 'ghosting' was dramatic. They'd barely spoken since the Incident — which wasn't even an incident, just him accidentally spilling his guts about liking-like liking her during a 'friendly' hangout that had suddenly felt very not friendly. Maya had practically teleportation-disappeared from his life afterward.

Now here he was, basically a social media **spy**, refreshing Instagram like his life depended on it. Pathetic. His little sister had more game than him, and she was twelve.

The next morning, Leo found Maya at their usual lunch table under the oak tree. She sat alone, headphones on, scrolling through what looked like... ancient Egyptian art?

'Sup,' he said, sliding onto the bench across from her like nothing had changed. Casual. Chill. Not internally screaming at all.

Maya looked up, one eyebrow perfectly arched. 'You're talking to me now?'

'I never stopped.'

'You literally said "so I'll see you around maybe" and then ran away.'

'It was a power walk. Very intentional.'

She snorted. 'You're so weird.' But she was smiling. Tiny victory.

'What's with the Egypt stuff?' Leo nodded at her phone.

Maya's expression softened. Something flickered behind her eyes — embarrassment? Vulnerability? 'My grandma showed me this riddle about the Great **Sphinx**. How it asks travelers a question and eats them if they get it wrong.' She paused. 'Sometimes I feel like that's me. Like I've built this whole mythological creature around myself, and if anyone actually figures me out, I'll...' She trailed off.

'Eat them?' Leo offered.

'Metaphorically. Maybe.'

'What's the riddle?'

Maya studied him for what felt like forever. 'What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?'

Leo opened his mouth, then closed it. 'Okay, I feel like this is a trap.'

'Man.' She grinned. 'The answer is man — crawling as a baby, walking upright, then using a cane in old age.' She leaned forward. 'But the real question is: what do you do when you figure out the **sphinx**, but you still don't know if you can trust her?'

Leo's heart did something genuinely concerning in his chest. 'I don't know,' he said quietly. 'Maybe you take the chance and find out.'

Maya's phone buzzed again. She ignored it.

'So,' she said, 'want to tell me about your algebra test? I heard you almost died.'

'I was emotionally compromised! It was Fine.'

'Sure, Leo.' She slid her headphone toward him. 'Listen to this. Grandma says it's good luck.'

Some things don't need riddles. Some things just need you to show up.