And so, as the Christmas period came to an end, the month of December quietly slipped away, ushering in another new year. With it, came fresh beginnings and new challenges for everyone to face. The start of the year felt like a turning point for many, as if the calendar itself had wiped away the mistakes and regrets of the past, giving everyone the chance to reinvent themselves.
For Kana, the year ahead felt like a new chapter in her life. The feeling of being trapped within the sterile walls of the hospital ward for so long had slowly faded, but the scars it left were still there. She now felt the undeniable urge to go outside more often, to breathe in fresh air, and experience the world she had missed out on. And on those rare occasions when the moment felt right, either Jane or Dr. Kennedy would take her out to let her live up the years she had missed, even if it was only a small piece of the life she longed for.
Her emotional state had transformed drastically from where she had been a year ago. She was stronger now, more resilient, and a little more hopeful for the future. It was during one of those outings that Kana discovered something that both surprised and warmed her heart: Dr. Kennedy and Jane had officially started going out as a couple.
When they shared the news with Kana, they told her that it was because of her—unknowingly—that they had finally taken the leap. Apparently, it had been Kana's influence that had pushed them both to recognize their feelings for each other. Kana couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at the thought. She had always believed in the power of connection, and to be the catalyst that brought people together was something she would cherish.
But even as she celebrated their happiness, Kana couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loneliness settle within her. She had realized, somewhere along the way, that her feelings for John had only grown stronger with time. But she had made a decision, a promise to herself before the new year arrived. Those feelings, as genuine and strong as they were, needed to be buried—deep down where they couldn't hurt her, or John.
She couldn't pursue them, she thought, because it would be selfish. It would be cruel to make her own desires the focal point of her friendship with John, especially when her own time was so uncertain.
And speaking of John, their friendship had evolved immensely over the past year. Their interactions became more meaningful, their bond deeper. Rose, ever observant, noticed the growing closeness between Kana and John. Whenever they did group video calls to stay connected, she couldn't help but feel a touch of jealousy, especially when John casually mentioned that he had traveled to see Kana during the holidays.
RecklessSoul06
> No fair!! You could've told me!!
Gamerboy115
> You said you had to hang out with your family, so that's why I didn't tell you. Besides, it was something I decided on the spur of the moment.
Despite John's explanation, Rose was still crossing her arms, pouting like a child who had been left out of the fun.
RecklessSoul06
> You should've still told me!!!
John, completely perplexed, could only respond in confusion.
Gamerboy115
> Didn't you hear anything I just said?!
It was a rather amusing exchange, but it spoke volumes about their bond. Despite everything, it was still easy for them to laugh and poke fun at each other, even in a situation that might've otherwise caused tension.
Meanwhile, John had his own holiday experiences. He received a late birthday gift from Ms. Marie, who had been out of town during his actual birthday. It was a thoughtful gesture, though it came with a touch of awkwardness. His mother, on the other hand, had simply given him a large sum of cash, which John accepted in front of her but quickly turned to ash. It wasn't out of disdain for the gift itself, but out of sheer disgust for how his mother had earned that money. To him, it represented a lifestyle he despised, and he couldn't keep it, even for the sake of avoiding conflict.
In between these moments, John managed to keep in touch with Ivan and Joseph. They continued to play battle royale games during their free time, providing him with a sense of camaraderie and purpose. It was one of the few things that brought light to his otherwise dull home life, where he often found himself avoiding interaction with his mother as much as possible.
But the real challenge for John, as the new year came, was his growing feelings for Kana. It was something that became increasingly clear to him with every passing day. He was in love with her. It seemed like a simple thing to acknowledge, and yet the complexity of the situation made it far from simple.
The thing holding him back wasn't just the uncertainty of her feelings—it was the secret that Kana had shared with him last year.
"The reason I can't go outside is because I'm really sick... and it's only a matter of time before I die."
Those words echoed in his mind every time he thought about telling Kana how he felt. And each time, the weight of her confession made him hesitate. How could he burden her with his feelings when she was already carrying so much? It didn't feel right to project his emotions onto her, not when she might not feel the same way, and not when she was fighting her own battle for survival.
He tried to think of a way around it—maybe there was a time and place, maybe there was a right moment when everything would align. But every thought led him back to the same conclusion. It was best to bury those feelings, to focus on being there for Kana in whatever way she needed, without complicating things further.
And so, both Kana and John subconsciously decided to set those feelings aside, perhaps for good, as they faced the challenges of their lives ahead. And with that, the first day of school arrived. Another term began, filled with the typical mix of excitement and dread that accompanied the start of a new semester. For John and the others, it was time to continue their journey, despite the emotional weight they carried.
The future, uncertain and full of possibilities, was waiting for them to step into it.
******
The third week of January arrived, and the sun began to melt the snow that had blanketed the town and the island. Slowly, things started to return to normal, as they inevitably did with the change of the season. Now, John had to face the reality of waking up early again, heading back to school and his after-school job with Ms. Marie.
But this time, things were different. This would be his second-to-last term in high school, and the weight of the future was pressing on his shoulders. He had to start thinking about his life after graduation, about what he wanted to do with himself.
As John walked to his class after the morning assembly, his mind was consumed with this very thought. He had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. The uncertainty felt heavy, and the closer he got to the end of high school, the more overwhelming it became.
In the midst of a crowded hallway, filled with students heading to their respective classes, John suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes flickered to his wrist, where he still wore the bracelet that Kana had given him on his birthday. He couldn't help but smile, recalling the conversation they'd had back in December.
He had been confiding in Kana about how uncertain he felt about his future, not knowing where to go or what path to take. Her response had been simple, but somehow it stuck with him:
"Take it one step at a time."
A warmth spread across his face as he remembered her smiling at him in that moment. It was hard to shake the image of Kana's face, that reassuring look, as she spoke those words.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Ivan appeared behind him, swinging an arm over his shoulder, followed closely by Joseph.
Ivan: Yo!
Joseph: It's been a while since we last saw each other.
John: Yeah… since you guys bailed out on me to enjoy your holidays.
Joseph: But we played games during the end of December, didn't we?
John: That didn't exactly make up for the time before that, did it?
Ivan and Joseph exchanged a glance, then both shot John a playful look. In unison, they responded.
Ivan & Joseph: We're sorry.
John chuckled, shaking his head.
John: No worries… I was just messing with you anyway.
Ivan: Why, you little!
Ivan started messing with John's hair, and the two of them laughed, a sense of normalcy returning. After a few moments of playfulness, the group continued walking toward their class. Just as they were about to enter the classroom, they bumped into Rachel and Leanne.
Rachel and John's eyes met for a brief, silent moment, and the tension in the air was palpable. John, sensing the awkwardness, decided to break the silence.
John: Hey, girls.
Rachel: Hey...
Leanne gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, but Rachel's gaze lingered on John's wrist. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed the bracelet, and without another word, she turned and walked away, her frustration evident. Leanne glared at John for a moment before following Rachel into the classroom, leaving the boys standing there, stunned and confused.
Ivan: Did you do something to piss them off?
John: It's probably because of the rejection from last year.
Ivan: And they're still hung up on that? And why's Leanne pissed?
Joseph: I mean, she is Rachel's best friend.
Ivan: Makes sense.
John sighed, his frustration mounting. He didn't understand why things had to be so complicated. The simple connections he once had with people now felt distant, strained.
John: Why can't things just go back to the way they were?
It was a question that needed no answer. The boys quietly made their way to their seats at the back of the classroom.
After a while, Joseph, who had been lost in thought, broke the silence.
Joseph: Say… don't you think you should've accepted Rachel's love for you?
Ivan and John froze, both of them caught off guard by the unexpected question.
John: Huh? What brought this on?
Joseph: I mean, you were asking earlier why things couldn't go back to the way they were, and it's kinda clear. If you accepted Rachel's confession and love, things wouldn't have gone south. I mean, she kissed you, didn't she?
John: Yeah? And what does that have to do with anything?
Joseph: I mean, that kiss alone showed how much she really cared for you... Maybe if you'd reconsidered how she'd feel after you rejected her, then—
Ivan: Dude… that's not how these things work.
Hearing Joseph speak this way was starting to irk John, but he decided to keep his cool, even though it was clearly difficult.
John: Then what happens to me? What about how I feel? Doesn't that matter?
Joseph looked like he wanted to respond, but John spoke up again before he could.
John: I already told you that I can't lie to her. She's my friend, and I couldn't break her heart by pretending to feel something I don't. I'm not like that. I don't do that to people.
Joseph fell quiet, his words falling into the space between them, but there was a weight to his silence. After a few moments, Joseph spoke again, but this time his voice was quieter, more subdued.
Joseph: But now, look at how things are between the two of you. Would you say it was all worth it?
John paused, the question hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. He hadn't really thought about it like that. Was it worth it? The rejection, the way things had fallen apart? He didn't know how to answer.
Ivan, sensing the tension, quickly tried to defuse the situation.
Ivan: Hey, why bring this up anyway, Joseph? This isn't like you.
Joseph looked like he was about to say something else, but John quickly cut him off, not wanting to continue this line of conversation.
John: Let's just drop it, okay? I don't want to think about this. Not now.
Joseph let out a soft sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly.
Joseph: Yeah, sure… sorry for bringing it up.
John didn't notice the frustration that had seeped into Joseph's voice, but Ivan did. Ivan chose to remain silent, sitting back in his seat as the teacher walked into the room.
******
Just as the teacher started the lesson and the classroom settled into a low hum of scribbling pens and half-focused eyes, the door creaked open again.
No one really paid attention at first—until the heavy, dragging footsteps echoed across the room like something out of place. John, Ivan, and Joseph instinctively looked up.
It was Liam.
He wasn't new to the class, nor had he ever stood out before. His white hair, always a bit messy but familiar, was the only thing that set him apart. But today, there was something different about him—something that didn't quite fit with the Liam everyone knew.
His hair was unkempt, wild in a way it hadn't been before, as if he hadn't bothered to brush it in days. His eyes, usually clear and sharp, were now dull—sunken even. His usual crisp uniform was wrinkled, and there was an unnatural stillness in his posture, like a weight was pressing down on him. He didn't walk, he dragged himself forward, as though the effort itself was a burden.
The classroom grew unnervingly quiet for a moment as his presence settled in. He didn't look around, didn't meet anyone's eyes—he simply went to his seat in the corner, sat down, and stared ahead, his arms resting on the desk, his gaze vacant.
John's eyes lingered on him for a moment, then flicked back to his desk.
Ivan: (quietly) ..Was Liam always like that?
John: (shaking his head) No. Something's different.
There was a strange aura around Liam now, something heavier, darker, as if a shadow had settled over him. The class went on, but the air felt different, charged. And though no one spoke of it, John couldn't shake the nagging feeling that whatever had changed in Liam, it was only the start of something far bigger.