Midnight.
The hospital had fallen into a fragile silence.
Not peaceful—
just… quiet enough to hear everything that shouldn't be heard.
The faint hum of machines.
The slow rhythm of breathing.
The distant sound of wind brushing against the glass.
Inside the room—
only two people remained.
A girl—
asleep.
And a boy—
who couldn't.
Sana lay still.
Eyes open.
Staring at the ceiling—
but not really seeing it.
His body ached.
Dull.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
But his mind—
was somewhere else.
Slowly—
his gaze shifted.
Toward her.
Alice.
Sitting beside him.
Head tilted slightly forward.
Breathing soft.
Unaware.
Vulnerable.
[ …What should I do with her? ]
The thought appeared—
quietly.
Naturally.
And lingered longer than it should have.
Then—
movement.
Small.
Unconscious.
Her fingers twitched.
Searching.
Until—
they found his hand.
Warm.
Soft.
Gentle.
"…I'm sorry…"
Her voice slipped out in her sleep.
Broken.
Barely there.
Sana didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
Didn't react—
at least not outwardly.
[ …She's just like her. ]
A memory surfaced.
Faint.
Distant.
But warm enough to hurt.
[ In my past life… ]
His fingers shifted slightly—
just enough to feel her grip more clearly.
[ I wanted something like this. ]
A pause.
Long.
Dangerous.
[ Maybe… ]
The thought formed—
half-complete.
Tempting.
Then—
he stopped.
His gaze darkened slightly.
[ …No. ]
His fingers relaxed.
Not pushing her away—
but not holding tighter either.
[ I don't want this to be fake. ]
A quiet breath escaped him.
[ Not like before. ]
Carefully—
almost absentmindedly—
his thumb brushed against the back of her hand.
A slow.
Gentle motion.
"You don't need to apologize…"
His voice was low.
Soft enough to blend into the night.
But inside—
nothing was calm.
[ Why does this feel… real? ]
His chest tightened slightly.
[ Why now? ]
A faint frown appeared.
[ When I finally decided to change… ]
His eyes lingered on her face.
Peaceful.
Defenseless.
[ …why do I meet her? ]
[ Is this luck… ]
A pause.
[ …or something else? ]
Alice stirred.
Slowly.
Her eyelashes trembled.
Then—
opened.
For a moment—
she didn't understand.
Didn't think.
Didn't question.
She just felt—
his hand.
Her grip tightened instantly.
Both hands now.
As if afraid—
he might disappear.
"I'm sorry…"
Her voice broke immediately.
"I'm so sorry…"
Tears followed without resistance.
Falling—
again.
Sana watched her.
Silently.
Then—
he moved.
Slow.
Careful.
His fingers reached up—
and wiped away her tears.
"It's okay."
A small smile appeared.
Gentle.
Convincing.
Almost perfect.
"You don't need to apologize."
A short pause.
Then—
deliberate.
"Saving someone… is something normal people should do."
His eyes softened.
"At least… I could save a life."
[ Yours. ]
The thought stayed unspoken.
"That's enough for me."
Alice froze.
Her breathing uneven.
Her vision blurred.
But not just from tears.
Something in her chest—
shifted.
"You're… really kind."
Her voice trembled.
Unstable.
Honest.
Sana looked away.
Just slightly.
Like he didn't want to accept that.
Or—
like he didn't want her to see something deeper.
"Maybe…"
A quiet breath.
"…because you remind me of someone I miss."
Not a lie.
But not the truth either.
Alice lowered her gaze.
Her fingers still holding his.
Not letting go.
"Then…"
A pause.
Soft.
Fragile.
"I'll take care of you."
Her voice steadied.
Just a little.
"Until you recover."
Sana's eyes flickered.
Just once.
[ That was fast. ]
But his expression didn't change.
He shook his head slightly.
"I don't want to affect your life."
His tone was calm.
Reasonable.
"Your studies. Your family."
A pause.
"You shouldn't stay here."
Alice's grip tightened.
Stronger this time.
Almost desperate.
"No."
Immediate.
Firm.
"I won't."
Her voice shook—
but didn't break.
"I don't want to live with guilt."
A breath.
Uneven.
"…or regret."
Silence filled the space between them.
Sana looked at her.
Longer this time.
Deeper.
Measuring something.
Then—
he spoke.
"…I won't force you."
A pause.
"But promise me."
His voice softened.
"Go home at night."
"Your parents will worry."
Alice hesitated.
Her fingers loosened.
Slowly—
reluctantly—
she let go.
"…I'm sorry…"
A faint bow of her head.
"For holding your hand like that."
"Yes…"
A small nod.
"…I promise."
Sana smiled.
Faint.
Almost invisible.
"And your studies…"
A slight shift in tone.
Lighter.
"I can help."
Alice blinked.
Confused.
"I've already learned all of this."
A beat.
Her face brightened.
Genuinely.
For the first time.
"Really?"
A small step closer.
"Then… from now on—"
Her voice lifted slightly.
"I'll take care of you!"
Sana let out a quiet chuckle.
"…We'll see."
Then—
a pause.
Subtle.
But intentional.
"…What's your name?"
Alice blinked again.
"My name is Alice."
A small smile.
"And you?"
Sana didn't answer immediately.
Just for a second—
his expression changed.
Barely noticeable.
[ …Am I still him? ]
Then—
he spoke.
"My name is…"
A breath.
"…Sana."
And for a moment—
even he wasn't sure—
whether that name still belonged to him.