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I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar place—
a hospital, but not one like I'd ever seen before.
I was lying on a bed placed at the center of a wide, empty room,
with a large window fixed to the eastern wall.
It didn't feel like a normal hospital.
My legs moved on their own toward the window.
I looked outside. A warm breeze brushed my face,
lifting strands of my hair gently into the light.
My hand reached up. My head was bandaged.
And then—
a flash of memory hit me.
Pain throbbed through my skull.
"Right… Souh. I have to see him."
My chest tightened, heavy like a stone.
I turned toward the wooden door ahead,
but before I could touch it, footsteps stopped on the other side.
I thought I was alone. I wasn't.
I opened the door slowly—
and the first thing that hit me was her smile.
A wide, composed smile that immediately unsettled me.
She hadn't changed.
The same yellow hair, the same dark makeup—
the kind that looked like it was never meant to fade.
A black blazer over a white blouse and matching skirt.
Everything about her screamed style and control.
She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation
and fixed her gaze on the window, saying calmly:
"Kai, it's been a while since I last saw you."
Her tone was soft, but my eyes couldn't stop searching her face.
Everything about her belonged to a world I had never stepped into—
A world of perfect smiles and social grace.
She was even more beautiful than before.
And maybe, just maybe, that's why I understood…
why she and Souh were together.
But my tears had long dried.
Even so, I just… wanted to see Souh again.
I kept staring at her, knowing the truth,
but my thoughts were only with Souh—his wounds, his silence.
I didn't say a word. I walked past her.
But then—
"Kai, you're going to see Souh, aren't you?"
Her voice stopped me in my tracks.
She smiled again—wide, eerie.
"Go ahead. Try your best.
But you won't find him."
Her words cracked something inside me.
Still… I had to go. I had to try.
I didn't know what she was caught up in—
but I knew it was time to break the silence.
"Even if I can't help him…
Even if I can't find him…
I have to be by his side."
I said it firmly.
She smiled—bittersweet, almost sad.
"Kai, I'm not a fan of long games,
but playing with your emotions?
That, I enjoy.
I'll make sure he sees only me.
And when that happens… you'll be the one left hurting.
Whether now, or years ago—
truth lies in my words.
Just remember this:
I'm your rival. And I won't let you reach him."
The wind that once warmed the window slipped past me
and curled around her figure.
I left the room and found a restroom.
Unwrapped the bandage from my head.
Then headed down to the front desk on the first floor.
I took the elevator down from the sixth.
When I reached the reception, I asked for the bill.
The lady behind the counter looked up briefly from her computer
and smiled faintly.
"It's already been paid, sir."
"By who?" I asked.
"Not sure. Some boy with white hair.
Wearing a black outfit… shoes were dirty though."
She returned to her screen.
In that moment, all other sounds disappeared—
all footsteps, all voices.
My heart thumped violently.
"That means… Souh was here?"
I whispered to myself.
I left the hospital in a rush.
The street outside was unfamiliar—
just like everything else.
I turned back to look at the hospital building.
It resembled a penthouse, sleek and detached.
A little further ahead, I noticed a bus stop.
As I started walking toward it,
a sleek black car rolled slowly behind me.
It looked expensive—too expensive.
I figured I was imagining things. I sat down at the station.
But the car stopped.
That unsettled me.
So I walked toward it, fast.
It hadn't moved.
Its windows were tinted. I couldn't see inside.
I knocked on the glass.
"Excus—" I began.
But then the window rolled down.
And I froze.
It was Tai.
Souh's cousin.
Brown hair, a cigarette between his fingers,
a black shirt and a watch that matched his outfit.
Shock flooded me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Just passing through.
Hop in—I'll drop you off," he said.
I didn't know this area, so I agreed.
I sat in the front seat,
but honestly, I wanted to ask him something.
Tai was close to Souh—closer than anyone.
He said nothing. Just kept driving.
I could feel it—he wasn't going to answer.
Still, my throat ached with the need to ask.
My heart pounded.
I pressed my head against the window.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
"Souh… Is he okay? Please, just tell me the truth."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Of course he's okay."
My heart lifted.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Thank you." I said softly.
He glanced at me.
"Kai, you're a good kid.
But watch where you step."
I swallowed hard.
"What do you mean?"
He patted my shoulder, firm but not unkind.
"Just kidding."
His tone wasn't fully joking.
"I know. But I can't."
I whispered.
He smiled faintly.
"I figured."
And that just left me with more questions.
An hour passed. We arrived.
He stopped in front of my house.
"Aren't you getting out?
Your parents might be worried, kid."
He half-smiled.
"Not until you take me to Souh," I said,
looking him straight in the eyes.
He sighed.
"I don't know where he is.
I'm just like you."
I got out.
Something told me he wasn't lying.
"Then where is he?"
I murmured.
Night had fallen.
It felt like midnight already.
I knew I had to go home.
They'd be worried.
I went to the door and knocked.
My mom opened it in a rush.
"Kai! It's been two days!
Do you know how worried I was?" she said, upset.
"I was with some classmates… we went camping.
My phone died. I'm sorry," I said.
Somehow, their worry lifted something heavy off my chest.
"Come eat, look how skinny you are," my dad called out.
"Coming," I said quietly.
Mom set the table.
I couldn't eat.
But I forced the rice down,
knowing they'd notice if I didn't.
I looked at the chairs where Mom and Dad were sitting.
They'd fallen asleep right there, across from me.
A smile crossed my lips.
It felt good—
to be someone they waited for.
I brought out blankets and tucked them in.
Turned off the lights.
"Good night, Mom.
Good night, Dad."
I whispered.
Then went upstairs quietly, not wanting to wake them.
In my room, it was cold.
I'd left the window open.
I closed it behind me.
Tears fell—
without permission.
I didn't know what to do anymore.
Anger. Relief. Worry.
They all curled up in my chest.
But somehow, I felt it.
He was okay.
I looked at the sky—
the stars winked back at me.
And with my head resting against the window,
I drifted off to sleep.
And then the morning sun warmed my cheeks.
I opened my eyes.
I was on the balcony.
My body ached a little.
Guess I didn't sleep well.
I had to see him.
Souh.
"Maybe he's at school?
Or home?
Or the park?"
The worry pressed on my chest,
but I couldn't lose hope.
I took a quick shower.
Put on a black top and yellow pants that matched my hair.
I didn't know why,
but something told me—
he was waiting.
I skipped breakfast and left, closing the door behind me.
On the way, I passed by the park.
It was quiet.
Just the sound of kids playing.
I looked toward the tree on the hill—
nothing.
A hollow smile formed.
I turned toward school.
The roads felt longer than ever.
Cars rushed by.
My ears rang with noise.
A sharp pain twisted in my chest.
"What if he's gone again?"
I clenched my fists.
I ran faster—
but the red light stopped me.
The school was right there,
just across the street.
And then—
from between the passing cars,
I saw him.
White hair.
White mask.
Black hoodie.
White cap.
He was smiling at me with his eyes.
The light turned green.
I ran.
But the closer I got,
the slower I moved.
Our eyes met.
"Souh…?"
I wanted to hug him.
To break down and cry on his shoulder.
But Soura's voice echoed in my mind—
and held me back.
Then—he stepped forward
and threw an arm around my neck.
A wide, familiar grin.
"Kai! It's been a while, huh?
I missed you, man!" he said brightly.
he smiled like nothing happened
just for a moment i hated him
not because he left
but because he came back like nothing happened
Neither the words that pierced my chest three years ago, nor the things that happened just two days ago
But the words left my lips and found their way to him, as if, deep down, all I ever wanted was to know.
"Souh, your injur—"
"Man, you talk so much!" he cut me off, laughing.
"I know you missed me,
but let's catch up after school.
We'll go out with the guys, yeah?"
It was like nothing had ever happened.
Like three years ago never existed.
Like the past two days were erased.
And just like that…
we saw each other again.
Unexpected. Strange.
A little off.
with a smile that hides the pain
But he was right in front of me.
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