YURI KOI
I woke up in my own apartment. I didn't know how I'd ended up there—the last thing I remembered was falling asleep in the soft chair in my father's office.
Standing up, I felt a dull ache in my head. Of course… fatigue. Between work and the accident, my body had finally reached its limit.
I checked my phone: 14th March, 2027. 11:00 a.m. My chest tightened. I overslept?! But oddly, no one from work had tried to contact me.
Then I noticed a message from my father.
"Hey sweetheart, I saw yesterday that you fell asleep in my office, so I brought you back home. I also called your work manager—he spoke very highly of you. I told him you weren't feeling well and needed rest, so take the next week off. I know you've been overworking yourself. I took care of your cat, too—food and water are in the bowls. If you want to contact me today, don't. I have a full day of surgeries. Take care of yourself."
Warmth spread through me. My father… he had always been swallowed by his work, rarely at home when I was little. And yet, even now, he treated me like his baby. Maybe… maybe I still was.
A tear slipped down my cheek. I wanted to hug him. But he wasn't here.
For a moment, in the quiet of my room, I imagined Sai. I could almost feel his arms around me, smell the familiar warmth of him, see those deep, ocean-blue eyes looking back at me.
My phone buzzed again. Another message from my father:
"I know you must be sensitive after the accident yesterday, but don't worry—the young man you helped is in good condition now. He hasn't woken up yet, but there's a problem: we couldn't find any family or close friends to contact. No one has come for him."
My chest ached. No one?
Then… I knew what I wanted. If no one else is there, then I'll be the first face he sees when he wakes up—even if he doesn't remember me.
I rushed through my morning routine. After breakfast, I dressed quickly, gave my cat a gentle kiss on the forehead, and whispered goodbye before leaving for the hospital.
Thirty minutes later, I arrived. My father's office was empty. I waited… an hour passed. No sign of him. My patience broke.
I went to one of his assistants instead. Nervous, I asked about the boy. The man nodded, gave me permission, and told me the room number.
Room 30.
The hallway was strangely quiet, with no clear signs. I wandered, my footsteps echoing in the sterile air, until finally, I found the door.
I froze. My hand hovered over the handle. Behind this door was the boy I once knew, the boy who had been such an important part of my past.
Would he still be the same?
My heart hammered. I whispered to myself: No. It has to be him.
I gripped the handle, trembling, and opened the door. A narrow passage led toward the bed. I closed the door softly behind me and stepped forward, each step heavier than the last.
And then… there he was. Sai.
Lying motionless, covered by a blanket, only his face visible.
My breath caught. He looked older. Stronger. More mature than the boy I remembered. The years had changed him, but the trace of who he was still lingered.
Tears burned at my eyes. Inside the ambulance, panic had blinded me—I couldn't really see him then. But now… now I could.
I sank into the chair beside his bed. My fingers itched to reach for his hand, but I hesitated.
I'll wait here. However long it takes. Until he wakes up. Because I need to talk to him. I need him to look at me again… even if he doesn't remember.