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I opened my eyes in the dark room.
It was quiet. A faint antiseptic scent hung in the air. I was lying on a long hospital bed next to a large window, surrounded by nothing but machines and silence.
No one was there. No Souh. No familiar voice. Just the stillness.
I closed my eyes again, hoping to drift back into sleep… when suddenly, for a brief second, I thought I heard footsteps behind the door.
I held my breath.
But the sound was gone.
"Maybe I imagined it," I whispered to myself, letting my eyes fall shut again, sinking back into the void—only this time, with a question echoing in my head.
"Did I fall on my own? Where's Souh?"
Then I felt it—warm tears streaming down my cheeks.
My mother was there, gently stroking my face.
"Kai, my sweet boy, are you alright? I was so worried… How did you even fall, sweetheart?"
"I just slipped, that's all," I said quietly.
I had to spend a few more days in the hospital. Eventually, the day of my discharge came.
Standing at the exit, I took a deep breath, ready to leave. But all I could think about during those days was Souh. I missed him so much.
Without hesitation, I left the hospital and went home. The scent of cooked rice and tender meat drew me to the kitchen. Mom had really gone all out to celebrate my return.
During lunch, it was just the three of us—Mom, Dad, and me—sitting around the table.
That question that had been bothering me finally slipped out.
"Mom, have you seen Souh lately?"
She paused.
"Honestly? I haven't seen him at all these past few days. Not even a visit. Kids these days…" she added with a tinge of frustration. "Just eat, honey. Don't think about him too much."
But her words only sank deeper into me, stirring something heavy in my chest.
After lunch, I went to my room and laid on my bed. I didn't know why, but I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Why hasn't he come?
The next morning, I woke up with the sunlight on my face. I washed up and got dressed—black T-shirt and gray pants. I didn't want to look like I usually did. I was going to see Souh for the first time in a while.
I grabbed my bag and left the house in a rush, skipping breakfast. My heart was pounding.
A few minutes later, the school building came into view. I went straight to his class—last classroom on the fourth floor.
Brightest floor in the school, but filled with the worst students. Even teachers were rumored to be scared of them. Some said their parents were gangsters.
That's why I rarely ever went up there. I still didn't know why Souh had been placed in that class. But his classmates were surprisingly kind to me—at least, his class was different.
Still, with a bit of hesitation and nervousness, I slid the door open.
Everyone turned to stare at me.
"Is Souh here?" I asked.
"Oh look, Souh's hubby is back, haha!" Yushiki, his friend, joked.
I frowned a little.
"He's on the school rooftop," he added, but his tone changed suddenly. "But maybe… today's not the best day to talk to him."
"Thanks," I replied, ignoring the warning and leaving.
His words stuck with me, though.
I headed up to the rooftop. The wide, empty space stretched out under the sky. Half-height walls let you see the entire schoolyard from up here. This was where Souh often stood, staring silently below.
The wind whispered across my skin.
But he wasn't there.
As I turned to leave, my eyes drifted downward—and there he was, playing basketball.
I rushed downstairs and reached the court. His movements were sharp, fast, powerful. He was playing like he was angry, like something had eaten away at his calm.
No smile. No words. Just silence.
Only when he was mad did he play like that.
I watched him from a distance until the game ended. Then I waved at him.
He didn't even look at me.
Maybe he didn't see me, I told myself, trying to brush it off.
I wanted to follow him, but the school bell rang. I had to get to class.
But my mind wasn't there at all. I kept telling myself I'd go find him after school.
Time dragged painfully slow, but at last, the dismissal bell rang.
I waited at our usual spot near the school gate.
An hour passed.
Finally, he appeared and stood at the bus stop beside me.
"Hey, Sou—"
"I've got plans today. I can't go with you," he said coldly, cutting me off.
My heart dropped.
Something had changed. His eyes were cold—like the first time we met.
He didn't say goodbye.
He just walked away, and I stood there, frozen.
Days passed. He kept ignoring me.
Every time I tried to talk to him, he avoided me like I didn't exist.
Finally, one day, I made up my mind.
I waited near his classroom.
Then I saw him—with a girl.
Their hands were interlocked.
She had dark makeup, orange hair, a black skirt and a white-and-black top.
When Souh saw me, he turned and walked away.
But the girl… she walked right up to me, smiling widely.
"You must be Kai," she said. "I'm Soura. Souh's girlfriend."
My heart froze.
I couldn't say a word. My chest felt like it was caving in.
"He's told me about you. Such a cute boy," she added, and laughed under her breath. "I get it now."
"Bye-bye~" she said sweetly and walked away.
My mind swirled with questions.
But I tried not to pay attention to her.
I decided to follow Souh instead.
He was alone on the rooftop again. I approached him and said,
"Let's talk."
He ignored me.
I grabbed his hand.
"Did I do something wrong? Why are you ignoring me?" I asked.
He laughed coldly.
"Kai… you're really pathetic, you know that? When someone doesn't want to talk to you, they just ignore you. But you? You keep crawling back. Poor little Kai."
My ears didn't want to hear it.
It was the first time I had ever seen Souh talk like that.
Then he left.
And this time, I wasn't just alone—I was completely shattered.
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