A boy's eyes slowly begin to open, as if he's waking from a deep, endless sleep.
As his vision adjusts, a figure starts to appear before him — a person shining brighter than the sun itself. The radiance is overwhelming, so pure that it feels like the very definition of everything positive in existence. Yet, this brilliance is so intense it could easily harm anyone's eyes.
Around them lies nothing but darkness.
Still, the light spreads endlessly in every direction, filling the void. You could look as far as you wanted, yet you'd see nothing beyond that light. If it weren't for this radiance, there would be only darkness.
The boy, whose eyes are now fully open, can somehow see this shining being.
Anyone else would've closed their eyes instantly, but he doesn't. His eyes remain wide open — so wide it feels as if blood might spill from them at any moment. Anyone seeing such eyes would faint in fear.
It's as if he wants to say something, yet shock has taken away his voice. He simply stares in silence.
Then, the radiant being calls out his name and says,
"Zuraiz, your mind fears me. That's why you're scared — because I am your heart."
Zuraiz says nothing. He doesn't even move.
The glowing figure — who is, in truth, Zuraiz's own heart — continues,
"Zuraiz, you've followed your mind for years, and everything seemed fine… until that incident changed it all. So now, why not listen to your heart?"
Zuraiz still said nothing — as if he no longer had the right to speak.
Then, another voice echoed through the void.
"Heart, let Zuraiz live his life… and stay out of my way."
The moment that voice spoke, both Zuraiz and the Heart began to fall.
From the surrounding darkness, another figure emerged — the very same darkness that had surrounded them before. Now, it too began to fall with them.
The Heart looked toward it and said,
"Mind, Zuraiz no longer wishes to be selfish. Let him be human."
The Mind replied calmly,
"Life is nothing but survival. Some things can't be stopped. Being selfish isn't wrong. Look at what you've done to Zuraiz."
The Heart's tone trembled.
"If Zuraiz had always listened to me, this wouldn't have happened."
The Mind responded coldly,
"Zuraiz has always listened to me. If he'd continued to do so, this still wouldn't have happened."
As soon as the Mind spoke those words, his darkness began to fade — half of it vanishing, leaving only partial shadow.
At the same time, half of the Heart's light dimmed, replaced by the same darkness — as if the two were now equal.
Both looked toward Zuraiz and said together,
"Zuraiz's body has finally responded... but when will he choose between us?
As long as we both exist, his life will remain a curse.
And when the time comes for him to make a choice — one that could destroy his entire life — will he truly be ready?"
Zuraiz slowly raised both his hands.
One moved upward from below, and the other downward from above.
Both arms straightened, their palms facing each other, closing in slowly.
The Heart and the Mind already knew what was coming — yet neither moved.
Zuraiz's eyes turned cold as he whispered,
"Just die."
At that moment, two thin square lines appeared — one above and one below — right where the Heart and the Mind stood within the nothingness.
Then, Zuraiz brought his palms together.
CLAP!
A heavy sound echoed through the nothingness.
The two lines slammed together, crushing both the Heart and the Mind between them.
As the Heart and Mind were crushed, the nothingness around Zuraiz began to fade away — slowly dissolving into emptiness.
Zuraiz's eyes started to close, his face calm, almost peaceful — as if a long-awaited relief had finally found him.
He felt something... something beyond words.
A sensation so pure, so comforting, it might have been the best feeling in the world.
Then, slowly… his eyes began to open again.
The first thing he saw was a girl — her face close to his, her breath gentle and warm.
As she leaned back and opened her eyes, they met his — an intimate silence passing between them.
Zuraiz was lying on a bed, while the girl was sitting beside him, one hand on his chest as if she'd been trying to wake him up.
Her long hair shimmered softly, carrying the faint fragrance of shampoo.
The girl spoke in a mix of relief and joy.
"Zuraiz… you're awake?"
Zuraiz blinked, still caught between dream and reality.
"Rameen? Yeah… I must've fallen asleep. I don't even remember when."
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
This dream felt different... unlike the others.
Before, they were always strange and twisted, but today — it was clear. Maybe I'm just getting desperate.
But in the end… I crushed them both.
He sat up slowly, leaning against the bed's headboard. Rameen shifted a little to give him space, still sitting close.
Her black eyes softened when she looked at him, and a smile appeared — the kind she showed only to him.
Zuraiz smiled faintly. "If my mom comes in again, she'll probably ask when the wedding is."
Rameen blushed and laughed. "Then tell her to prepare early."
Their eyes met — a gentle silence filled the room.
For a moment, everything else disappeared; only the warmth between them remained.
Just as their hands brushed, someone suddenly slammed the door open.
"Brotherrrr!"