On the way home—
Sana walked slower than usual.
Hands in his pockets.
Shoulders slightly lowered.
Not tired—
just… heavy.
[ In my past life… ]
His gaze drifted across the street.
People passing by.
Cars moving.
A normal world.
[ I wasted everything. ]
A pause.
His fingers curled slightly inside his pockets.
[ But this time… ]
His steps steadied.
[ I'll change. ]
The thought was firm.
Almost stubborn.
[ I'll find a job. ]
[ Learn something useful. ]
[ Build something real. ]
A breath.
Then—
quieter.
[ …And stop being alone. ]
Then—
he saw her.
Alice.
A few meters ahead.
Walking.
Slow.
Too slow.
Something felt wrong immediately.
Her steps weren't aligned.
Her posture—
slightly off.
Her eyes—
unfocused.
Like she wasn't here at all.
[ …What is she doing? ]
Sana frowned.
Then—
he heard it.
An engine.
Loud.
Approaching.
Too fast.
His eyes snapped toward the road.
A car—
rushing forward.
No signs of slowing down.
He looked back at her.
She didn't react.
Didn't look.
Didn't move.
[ …Is she serious right now? ]
His jaw tightened.
[ Damn it— ]
He moved.
Not thinking.
Not deciding.
Just—
instinct.
"HEY—!"
His voice tore through the air.
She turned—
too late.
His hand grabbed her shoulder—
and pushed.
Hard.
Her body stumbled backward.
Balance lost.
Eyes wide.
Confused.
And then—
BANG.
The impact didn't feel real.
At first.
Just—
sound.
Then—
pain.
Violent.
Explosive.
Like his body shattered from the inside.
The world twisted.
Sky.
Ground.
Light.
Noise.
Everything broke apart.
His body hit the asphalt.
Hard.
Cold.
Distant.
Sound returned slowly.
Distorted.
Like underwater.
"…HELP—!"
A voice.
Shaking.
Breaking.
"…SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!"
Alice.
His vision blurred.
Edges dissolving.
The sky above him—
fading.
[ …So this is how it ends? ]
A strange calm slipped in.
[ I just started… ]
A faint breath.
[ …Is this a joke? ]
Darkness crept in—
quietly.
Gently.
And took everything.
/ POV: Alice /
Because of her beauty—
her life was never hers.
Confessions.
Expectations.
Attention she never asked for.
Today—
again.
Her childhood friend.
Again.
"I like you."
Again.
And again—
she said no.
Because it meant nothing.
Because he meant nothing.
Because—
[ I can't feel anything. ]
She walked.
Alone.
As always.
[ Why can't I find someone… ]
Her thoughts drifted.
Unfocused.
Disconnected.
[ …someone I can actually rely on? ]
Then—
a voice.
Sharp.
Urgent.
"HEY—!"
She turned.
A boy.
Running toward her.
Fast.
Desperate.
Before she could react—
he pushed her.
Hard.
Her body fell back.
Balance gone.
World spinning—
Then—
that sound.
Alice turned.
Slowly.
Like her body refused to move faster.
And saw—
him.
On the ground.
Not moving.
Blood spreading beneath him.
"…No…"
Her voice barely existed.
Everything after that—
blurred.
People gathering.
Voices shouting.
Sirens.
But none of it felt real.
Because—
he was there.
Lying still.
Because of her.
Later — Hospital
After the police.
After the questions.
After repeating the same sentence again and again—
"I'm sorry."
Alice stood in front of his family.
His mother.
His sister.
Waiting.
For anger.
For blame.
For something—
normal.
She lowered her head.
"I'm… sorry…"
Her voice trembled.
"I'm so sorry…"
Silence.
Then—
Xejo spoke.
"No… there's nothing to worry about."
Her tone was calm.
Too calm.
"…This was his choice."
Alice froze.
Slowly—
she lifted her head.
[ …Choice? ]
Her chest tightened.
[ What does that mean…? ]
They weren't angry.
They weren't crying.
They weren't—
anything.
Just…
accepting.
[ …Why…? ]
A cold feeling crawled up her spine.
[ Why are they like this? ]
[ This is my fault. ]
The thought hit harder than anything else.
[ If he dies— ]
Her hands trembled.
[ I'll never forgive myself. ]
A door opened.
A doctor stepped out.
"He has multiple fractures… but no fatal damage to the head."
Relief—
didn't come.
Not fully.
[ He's still hurt… ]
[ Because of me… ]
She ran.
Hospital Room
The door opened quietly.
Sana lay on the bed.
Wrapped in white.
Still.
Fragile.
Unmoving.
Alice stepped closer.
Slowly.
Like approaching something she might break again.
"…I'm sorry…"
Her voice cracked.
"…I'm so sorry…"
Tears fell.
One after another.
Uncontrolled.
[ Because of me… ]
Her vision blurred.
[ He has to lie here like this… ]
[ His life… his future… ]
Her chest tightened painfully.
[ I ruined everything. ]
She sat beside him.
Not leaving.
Not moving.
Until—
exhaustion took over.
And she fell asleep.
Still there.
Still holding onto that guilt.
/ POV: Sana /
Darkness.
Deep.
Endless.
[ …Am I dead? ]
The thought floated—
detached.
Distant.
Then—
pain.
Everywhere.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Real.
"…Ah…"
A weak sound escaped him.
His body refused to move.
Slowly—
his eyes opened.
Light blurred.
Shapes unclear.
Then—
it focused.
Her.
Alice.
Beside him.
Asleep.
Her head slightly lowered.
Her breathing soft.
Her eyes—
red.
Swollen.
Traces of tears still visible.
Sana stared.
Quietly.
Without moving.
[ …Why… ]
His thoughts moved slowly.
Like pushing through water.
[ When I finally decided… ]
A faint bitterness rose.
[ …to change my life… ]
His fingers twitched slightly under the bandages.
[ something like this happens? ]
A small smile appeared.
Weak.
Crooked.
But—
it didn't last.
Because—
something else replaced it.
Something warmer.
Softer.
More dangerous.
He kept looking at her.
Sleeping there.
Next to him.
Because of him.
[ …She stayed. ]
A pause.
Long.
Heavy.
His chest tightened slightly.
But not from pain.
[ …For me. ]
And for the first time—
since arriving in this world—
Sana felt it.
Not emptiness.
Not boredom.
Something real.
And he didn't realize—
that this feeling—
would change everything.