The road to Alice's house stretched ahead, empty and silent, as if the world itself had paused.
Sana's mind flickered with fragments of forgotten memories. Shadows of fear darkened his face. He remembered nothing, except scattered old words echoing in his mind.
[Do I… need to grab something from my room? But I don't remember… I don't want to meet her…]
Alice's hand found his, warm and soft. Her eyes searched his face with worry. "Why do you look so serious? Are you deep in thought? Is something bothering you?"
[Holding hands… like this… Is this normal for friends? No… it's… different…]
Sana felt her warmth seep into him, and for the first time, he truly noticed it. Not the pain, not the confusion he had felt before, but something real… soft… comforting.
Alice squeezed his hand tighter, a teasing note in her voice. "Oh? Are you scared of holding hands with me?"
Sana felt heat rush to his cheeks, his heart pounding violently. [I never imagined holding someone's hand could feel like this… like Alice. If I keep this up… I… can't imagine life without her…]
He forced out a weak denial, his face flushed. "I… I'm not shy… and I'm definitely not like some anime guy."
Alice leaned closer, a sly, challenging smile on her lips. "Really?"
Sana glanced around nervously. "You… you're shameless, you know that?"
Her voice dropped into a daring whisper. "Yes… and what are you going to do about it?"
[Why does she keep teasing me like this… making my chest ache… How dare she… I… I'll show her…]
Sana leaned close, his lips near her ear. "Do you… want a kiss?"
Alice froze, crimson rising across her cheeks, and she hid behind her hands.
Sana chuckled softly. "You're such a loser now."
She pouted, but the pout only made her look more serious, more daring.
"I… I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice gentle but trembling with anticipation.
"Kiss me. Now," she said firmly, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that stole his breath.
Sana froze, heart hammering. What…? I've never kissed anyone before… Not even in my past life…
Alice cupped his face with both hands, her breath brushing his skin, intoxicating and warm. Her scent filled his senses, making his chest tighten and his face burn hotter.
Her eyes searched his, raw and unyielding, full of longing he couldn't deny.
Sana's inner beast stirred, a fierce instinct threatening to break free, but he restrained it. [I can't hurt her… She's like this because she's lonely… wanting love more than usual…]
[I… can't make her feel bad… She trusts me…]
Closing his eyes, his heart racing out of control, he felt the world narrow to her. Her breathing was steady, warm, intoxicating. Her hands were anchors to reality, and yet, everything else blurred.
Alice whispered, her voice barely audible, "I want somewhere private." Her face flushed, heart beating as fast as his.
Sana's chest rose and fell rapidly. His voice came out teasing, but shaky: "Are you scared?"
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, but beneath it, a shiver of vulnerability lingered. And in that instant, Sana felt it—the pull of something irreversible, something that would change everything between them.
His hand tightened around hers. Her hands framed his face. Their breaths mingled, hearts racing, pulses colliding. And somewhere deep inside, Sana knew… nothing would ever be the same again.