Ren lay flat on his bed, his eyes fixated on the ceiling as the moonlight painted gentle lines across the walls of his room. The violet sky outside was still, the kind of quiet that makes even memories whisper.

His phone buzzed.

He turned his head lazily. A message. From her.

Serin: "Hey, truth or dare? 😆"

A soft smile escaped his lips.

Ren: "Truth."

And just like that, they began — playful exchanges under the dim sky.

Serin: "Okay... what's your biggest fear?"

Ren: "Being forgotten by someone I can't forget."

She went silent for a few seconds.

Then a reply.

Serin: "Damn. That hit hard. Okay my turn — dare me."

Ren: "I dare you to tell me... where do you live?"

Serin: "Haha okay... Kurzawa"

Ren sat upright.

Ren: "Wait. WHAT. Are you serious?"

Serin: "Yeah... why?"

Ren: "No way. I'm from the same place."

Serin: "What?! That's insane! We should totally meet someday."

Ren: "Where do you study?"

Serin: "Kurzawa-High"

Everything stopped.

His heart skipped. Hands trembled.

Ren: "...No. Please. Don't mention me to anyone there."

Serin: "What? Why?"

Ren: "That school knows a version of me I'm not proud of. I wasn't a good person. That Ren — he's the reason I hate myself."

Serin: "Relax, Ren... I'm not judging you."

Ren: "Just... forget we met. It was an accident anyway."

Serin: "...Fine. I'm used to people walking away. Just know I didn't want to."

Ren: "Take care, Serin."

And then silence.

He left the message on seen, tossed his phone, and covered himself in his blanket like a cocoon. His breathing slowed. A pit grew in his chest.

"Why... Why did I do that?"

He wasn't crying. But the ache was louder than tears. He stared into the blackness of his blanket.

"Finally had someone... and now she's gone too."

The night was long. His mind wandered to the past. A blur of fake smiles, parties, weekly flings. The people he pretended to love. The hollow version of himself he despised.

The next morning.

He walked through the school corridor, eyes hollow.

Friend: "Yo Ren! What's with the ghost look?" Ren: "Nothing man. Just... didn't sleep well."

Friend: "Haha what, someone broke your heart again?"

Ren: "Funny. Real funny."

Even laughter felt empty now. In class, his books remained untouched. His pen lay idle.

All he could see...

Was her.

Her laugh. Her texts. Her kindness.

"Maybe if I didn't have that past... she'd still be here."

He hated himself.

Yet deep inside...

A quiet voice whispered:

"But you were happy back then too, weren't you?"

He sighed. "Yeah... I guess I was. But not like this."

The day dragged. After school, he walked home under skies turning golden-pink. Couples passed him — laughing, holding hands, love in the air. Each one felt like a blade.

He opened his door.

Mom (from kitchen): "Ren~ I made your favorite. Meatballs tonight!"

Ren: "Thanks mom... You're the best."

He slammed his door shut and slumped onto his desk. Out of habit, he opened his laptop.

A window popped up.

9+ new messages from Serin

His heart froze.

Eyes wide. He rubbed them.

"What...?"

He fell back off his chair, heart racing.

She messaged him.

She didn't walk away.