Ordinary Beginnings
Ruko Jizuko walked through the streets, the morning sun warming his back. The city was alive—horns honked, merchants shouted, and the smell of freshly baked bread drifted from a nearby stall. Yet, amidst the bustling noise, he felt invisible. People passed by, some bumping shoulders without apology, lost in their own worlds.
His family had gone out earlier, leaving him behind. His younger sibling had waved cheerfully from the doorstep, but Ruko barely smiled in return. He had grown used to solitude, to being apart even when surrounded by others.
As he walked, his thoughts wandered to his girlfriend. The memory of her teasing him over breakfast brought a small, bittersweet smile to his face. She had that laugh that could make the dullest day feel lighter, and he cherished it, even though life rarely gave him much light.
"Bomboclot…" he muttered under his breath, a nervous habit whenever anxiety crept in. The word had no target—it was just his way of coping when something felt off.
The city seemed normal, but Ruko could feel the faint pulse of something… unusual. A ripple in the air he couldn't explain. It was subtle, like a whisper at the edge of hearing, but enough to make his heart beat faster.
He passed familiar streets, the corners where he had met friends, the lampposts under which he had shared stolen moments of laughter. Everything seemed ordinary, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that his ordinary life was slowly unravelling.
He reached the park near his apartment, where a few children played, kicking balls and running in circles. Birds chirped overhead, and the wind stirred the leaves in the trees. He stopped for a moment, watching a small girl trip over her shoelaces, then get up laughing. A pang of loneliness hit him. He wondered if anyone would care if he fell and never got up.
His phone buzzed—an incoming message from his girlfriend. He smiled faintly, typing back a reply, fingers hovering over the keys longer than needed. Even this small act felt like a connection to the world, yet it also reminded him how isolated he really was.
Little did he know, the moments that seemed mundane were the final ones before everything would change. The sun shone, the city moved, and the world carried on—unaware of the shadow about to be cast across it.