The day stretched endlessly, each hour heavier than the last.
Ayu sat at her desk with her laptop open, but she hadn't typed a single word in over an hour. Her assignments, her notes—everything blurred together. Her mind was elsewhere, circling around the same thought over and over: He's coming.
Luv.
She had replayed their conversation a hundred times in her head. His words were simple, calm, but they carried a weight that steadied her. Don't be afraid. You're not alone. She had wanted to believe those words all her life, but coming from him, they felt real.
And tomorrow, she would see him face-to-face for the first time.
Her stomach twisted with nerves at the thought. What if he didn't like her? What if the connection they had online vanished the moment they met? She pressed her hands against her face, groaning softly. "Stop it, Ayu. You're stronger than this."
She pushed back her chair and stood. The mirror across the room caught her reflection—her long black hair spilling loosely down, her pale skin catching the light, her sharp yet gentle eyes staring back at her. Others often said she looked like someone untouchable, flawless, almost perfect. But in her own eyes, she still saw cracks—memories of disappointment, betrayal, and loneliness carved into her heart.
She picked up a small silver hairpin, one she rarely wore. Sliding it into place, she tied her hair neatly. A strange comfort filled her chest. "Tomorrow," she whispered to her reflection, "you can't show weakness. Not to him. Not to anyone."
The day dragged on.
She went through her routine like an automaton—attending classes, answering messages, forcing smiles when people spoke to her. But her mind was elsewhere, counting down hours instead of tasks.
At one point, she opened her old chat history with Luv. Dozens of conversations filled the screen—long nights spent talking about their dreams, their frustrations, the things no one else ever seemed to understand. Reading them again, she couldn't help but smile softly.
We're so alike. Almost like the same soul split into two.
Her chest tightened. That thought scared her as much as it thrilled her.
When evening came, she walked out to the small balcony of her apartment. The city lights glittered below, cars rushing past, people moving as if the world wasn't about to shift beneath her feet. She leaned against the railing, the cool air brushing her skin.
"He's on his way," she murmured, staring at the dark horizon. "Right now, he's getting closer."
Her heart raced. Tomorrow, everything would change.