Melina, may my heart not become his. Her heart was crying with nervousness, a strange feeling hitting her so hard. She was trying to get out of it, but she couldn’t.

She was so lost that she didn’t even realize when her sister, Elle, came and stood beside her and said, “We are the same, aren’t we? There is no difference between us. You know, if you have any emergency at your wedding, you can leave. I will sit in your place as the bride.”

Suddenly, she realized that her sister, Melina, was deeply contemplating something.

“Hello… where did you disappear? Where are you? Elle asked. I wish I could have sent you in my place, Melina thought.

“Um, mm… nothing,” Melina said

When Melina looked closely at her sister, she couldn’t understand where her sister was looking. Before she could say anything, Elle said, “Today you look very beautiful.”

Who knows, maybe Melina answered and picked up her bag and started moving forward, while her sister kept looking at her.

When she checked the time on her watch, she grew even more tense because she had very little time left. But perhaps fate had written this.

As soon as Melina stepped out of the house, a voice forced her to stop. Now she has become even more nervous. What if my sister had found out? She thought.

“You forgot this,” Elle said

At that moment, it felt as if words had disappeared from her mouth.

“It’s your friend’s birthday today,” Elle asked

Before she could say anything, a middle-aged woman from the neighborhood stepped forward and stood right in front of her.

“Oh… hello, Aunt. How are you? I am getting late,” she said to both her aunt and her sister. If her neighbor’s aunt had not been there today, she would have had to answer tough questions. She thought

Her heart was beating as if today were her last day in this world. She was thinking that a single word could ruin her life. Inside her, a battle between yes and no was going on.

Suddenly, the sound of someone’s footsteps startled her.

“May I sit here?”

He was a handsome young man. What surprised her were his eyes, which seemed not to need words.

“Yes… maybe,” she said.

The young man seemed to be waiting for her approval. Without asking anything, he sat beside her.

But what did it matter to her? Her thoughts consumed her.

I wish I were beautiful enough that I wouldn’t be afraid.

Suddenly, the young man who sat beside her said calmly, “You are very beautiful.”

Why was his voice so affecting, as if he had crossed the line of her thoughts and delivered a message to her?

When her thoughts broke, she could only keep looking at him, as if a single glance was enough to lose herself in him.

But the journey was short, and the time for conversation had stretched so long that the destination had come close.

“Next stop, Harvard Square.”

The announcement felt as if it had stopped her heartbeat. In her nervousness, she stood up from her seat, forgetting completely that someone was sitting beside her.

As she hurried forward to get off, in her rush to leave, the bouquet of roses she was holding in her hand caused a thin, sharp object to injure the young man. But she had no time to look back.

May today be a good day,” she said to herself.

As she stepped off the bus, suddenly her eyes collapsed on her seat. There was no one there.

She ignored it the same way she ignored everything else that day.

She took a deep breath. The destination was right in front of her. Maybe I can’t do this, she thought.

But suddenly, a thought crossed her mind: You are very beautiful.

She didn’t remember who had said it or when, but somehow the sentence felt good to her. She wanted to think only about that, yet fear surrounded her so much that she couldn’t even ponder why the thought had come to her.

She kept moving forward, but the further she went, the stronger her fear and the dread of breaking down became. She was so scared that her head hung low, filled with nervousness.

One hand landed on her shoulder, and she jumped so suddenly that the bouquet of roses in her hands slipped and fell forward.

When she looked up, it felt as if her breath had stopped. Maybe she didn’t even want to see, because her own eyes were already revealing the state of her heart.

“You are late today,” a deep, handsome young man said in front of her. He didn’t belong to anyone’s time. Every girl at the university admired him. Wherever he stood, the hall would fall silent, listening only to him.

But today, there was no answer for him from her. Her eyes remained closed. All she could see was his beautiful face. Slowly, she felt as if her thoughts had disappeared.

“Are you okay? What happened? Open your eyes,” he said.

When her eyes fluttered open, she realized she was somewhere she hadn’t expected, nestled in his arms. She didn’t want to pull away, yet the bustling crowd of the university forced her to. Reluctantly, she let go.

“You fainted,” he said gently.

She wanted to thank him, but with so many eyes watching, the words caught in her throat. Yet, somehow, he understood the silence between them. With a calm voice, he told the onlookers, “Everything’s fine. Carry on.”

Hearing him, she felt a strange certainty, as if she had found the right person, the one who mattered. And yet, a quiet unease lingered; she had no idea what fate had in store for her.

Tears filled her eyes, her heart shattering as if she could never speak to him again. The street lay deserted, mirroring the emptiness inside her. Somewhere among the withered roses, she wondered if one had been hidden there for her.

She stared at a wilted bloom, lost in it completely, so absorbed that she didn’t even notice when a gleaming, expensive car pulled up beside her. Inside that car was the very young man who had caused her tears. He rolled up his car’s window, saw her, and

Without a second thought, ignoring his luxury car, he stepped out and started following her, drawn irresistibly toward him.

Suddenly, her gaze lifted from the rose, and she noticed a reflection behind her. The sight terrified her so deeply that, without thinking, she began to run. The road was deserted, yet in her panic, she neither looked ahead nor behind.

“Stop!” he called out from behind.

The moment she heard his voice; she turned around because she could recognize that voice even among a thousand others.

Why is he coming toward me?

He looked deeply shaken, though she didn’t understand the reason.

“Watch out!” He shouted.

He pulled her into his arms, and they fell a short distance away. Only then did she realize that if he hadn’t been there, she might have died that day.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

She didn’t answer. She only looked at him, perhaps wondering if this was love?

“You’re okay, right? You’re not hurt?” He asked again.

She wanted to respond, but she also wanted to lose herself to him, and she did. She moved closer.

“Nothing happened. Everything’s fine,” he said softly.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

She placed her hand on his chest and rested against him, but soon she realized they were still on the road. As she tried to pull her hand away, he didn’t let her. Holding her by the waist, he drew her closer.

He wanted to kiss her.

“If you allow me,” he said quietly, “may I kiss you?”

She felt as though she were dreaming. Even now, she said nothing, yet her silence felt like a yes.

As he moved closer, her breath began to falter. He leaned in and gently kissed her flushed cheek, lingering there as though he wanted to feel this love completely.

She didn’t want to pull away from that feeling either.

But the sudden sound of a ringtone broke their moment. She took her phone out of her bag and grew anxious; it was already quite late. Lost in that beautiful feeling, she hadn’t noticed how time had passed. She wished time would stop in his arms, but the demands of reality wouldn’t allow it.

Reluctantly, she stepped away from him and began to stand.

“Perhaps you wanted to say something to me?” He asked, stepping forward. He reached into his pocket and took out a small box.

She couldn’t understand what he was doing.

Then he stood up and moved toward her, coming closer until there was no distance left between his lips and her ear.

The young man whispered into her ear, “I love you.” He didn’t even give her a moment to think before he pressed his lips against her. Perhaps this was really happening. In her heart, she thought she had never felt anything so wonderful before. No words could describe the state of her mind; it was the most beautiful day of her life. She wanted to freeze this perfect moment forever.

“I love you too,” she said. It was the first time she had spoken about anything like this; otherwise, she might still have remained silent. To her, it was the most peaceful feeling in the world. Without caring about time, she moved closer to him, feeling as if their souls were merging into one. She stood motionless, as if she had handed the thread of herself into his hands. And they continued kissing until the horn of an approaching car broke the spell.

When the car came closer and stopped near them, they instinctively held each other by the arms, staring at it as if asking why it had come toward them. It was a beautiful black Bugatti, but it was impossible to tell who was sitting inside. The car was gleaming as brightly as the moon itself, yet for them it felt like a threat because they did not know who was inside.

Still gripping each other’s arms, they stood in a defensive posture, as though nothing could happen in the very next moment. It felt as if the car were watching them, as if it wanted to say something. It did not seem happy; rather, it felt as though the person sitting inside was sad. Then, suddenly, without doing anything at all, the car drove away toward its destination.

“What was that?” He spoke. “I don’t know who was inside, or why the car stopped, and why no one came out,” she replied. “Leave it,” he said. “Let’s go home.”

When they turned back, they saw the car disappearing into the distance. Yet it felt to them as though the person sitting inside was still watching them even now.

It was two in the night, yet she still couldn’t fall asleep. She was incredibly happy, and yet, for reasons, she couldn’t explain, restlessly. I can’t believe that someone so beautiful, and the person of my dreams, is about to become my life partner, she thought. She was still lost in these thoughts when suddenly a small stone hit her window, and she startled. What is that? She wondered. She thought about waking up her sister but then remembered that her sister had an exam the next day and her sleep would be disturbed.

“Who is it?” She whispered. Beside her sister’s bed was a balcony; their room was on the first floor. Slowly and fearfully, she moved toward the window. She did not want to open the balcony door, yet she needed to see who had thrown something at it. Closing her eyes, she opened the balcony door. She did not open her eyes. Suddenly, something soft brushed her face and disappeared. She opened her eyes, and what she saw left her completely stunned.

“There’s no one here,” she whispered. The street was deserted,

and the tall buildings stood silent. All the children in the

neighborhood were asleep. She looked around carefully,

scanning every corner as far as her eyes could reach, but she did

not see a single soul.

“Hmm… maybe it’s a child playing a prank,” she thought. Just

as she was thinking this, something brushed against her foot.

When she looked down, she saw a beautiful, rare rose lying

there. It was so exquisite that she had never seen a rose this

stunning before. Its beauty drew her in irresistibly.

Unintentionally, she picked it up and brought it closer, inhaling

its scent. She took a long, deep breath. The fragrance of the rose

was so enchanting that words could hardly describe it. What is

this? She wondered.

Then she noticed something else. Tied to the rose’s stem with a

delicate bow was a small piece of paper.

She looked around once again, hoping she might catch sight of

someone, but there was no one there. Nothing at all. The street

remained empty, silent, as if it were holding its breath.

“What could this be?” she whispered.

Carefully, she opened the paper so that the rose would not be

damaged, and she untied the delicate bow. She did not know

why, but she felt restless, desperate to see what was hidden

beneath it. Her heart was beating faster as she unfolded the small

piece of paper.

It read:

13

My beloved red rose,

This letter is written in your name.

Ask this heart about the state of its restlessness,

a heart that, even after seeing you, still longs to

Meet you. I am dying a little more with each.

passing day. I would rather fade away than see.

You love someone other than me.

Do not ask who I am!

I am the one who is closer to you than anyone else.

Yours,

Lover

Anonymous

After reading the letter, she sank into deep thought. In one hand,

she held the unfolded letter; in the other, the rose. She could not

understand who could have written something so beautiful for

her. Could it be that this letter was not meant for me at all? She

wondered. Someone meant to throw it somewhere else, and it

accidentally fell onto my balcony.

But then another thought crossed her mind. If someone had

thrown it by mistake, wouldn’t they know by now?

14

“I’ll go outside and see who it is,” she whispered to herself.

Then she stopped. She did not want her sister to wake up or

notice anything. Quietly, she picked up the beautiful rose from

the balcony and took out her personal diary, the one she kept

hidden deep inside the cupboard. Without making a sound, she

gently placed the rose inside it and put the diary back where it

belonged.

She was scared while doing all this, but she had fallen in love

with the rose and wanted to keep it safe. If someone is outside

and this rose belongs to them, I will return it, she told herself.

What should I do? After a moment, she decided, I will keep it

for now. They must have more roses, anyway.

Suddenly, a thought struck her mind. She looked again at the

letter on her other hand and reread it slowly.

The light of my eyes…

Her eyes widened.

“How could I forget this?” she whispered. “This must be him. It

is him.”

A small smile curved her lips.

“He’s the only one who could love me this much,” she

murmured.

“Naughty boy.”

She hid the letter in the cupboard and then lay down to sleep, as

if nothing had happened.

She was running late for university again.

“Where are my books? I kept them right here yesterday,” she

said anxiously.

“I didn’t touch any of your things!” her sister shouted from the

kitchen.

15

“Okay, I’m not even saying anything,” she replied, still searching.

She looked for her books as if she herself had placed them

somewhere and then completely forgotten. I put them in the

cupboard, she thought.

When she opened it, her books were lying snugly inside.

“Thank God, I found my books,” she breathed in relief.

As she lifted them, her diary caught her eye.

How could I forget the letter? She thought.

She placed her diary aside on the chair and closed the cupboard.

“I’m heading to the university,” she called out as she walked

toward the stairs.

“Okay,” her sister replied. “But come home early today. We

must go to the airport.”

She paused for a moment. “I am donating my books. Do you

want to give yours too? Her sister asked.

“Yes, I have put them on the table. You can pick them up from

there,” she said.

She checked her bag once again, making sure everything was in

place, and quietly left the house. The morning light filtered

through the windows, and she felt a mix of excitement and

nervousness for the day ahead.

She stepped in through the door.

The classroom was silent as the professor was delivering the

lecture, yet her eyes were searching for someone.

“Hello!” a voice whispered.

She turned slightly.

“Where were you? You are late today,” she said.

16

“There was an event today,” he replied.

“I’m organizing it.”

“Music night?” she asked.

“Right,” he said.

“You look very smart today, my rose,” he murmured, leaning

closer to her face.

“Is there any problem?” the professor asked, looking directly at

the two of them.

“Nothing, sir. Everything is fine,” the boy replied quickly.

He took the seat beside her, sitting close enough that their

shoulders almost touched. He lowered his head toward the desk

so the professor would not notice and looked at her with eyes

full of affection.

“I won’t be able to concentrate if you keep looking at me like

that,” she whispered.

“Today, you’ll have to come with me,” he mumbled.

She felt herself getting distracted. Still keeping her eyes towards

the projector, she asked in a deep voice, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he replied with a smile.

“Um…really,” she hesitated.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

I cannot break his heart, she thought to herself.

She had not forgotten anything. On one side, she had to go to

the airport; on the other, there was him. After a brief pause, she

chose him.

“Perfect,” the boy said softly, a satisfied smile spreading across

his face.

17

The class had ended, and the break had begun. Students were

leaving the classroom one by one, yet he was still looking at her.

“Come on, it’s break time,” she said as she stood up from her

seat.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” he replied.

Before she could react, he caught her hand, pulled her closer,

and gently settled her onto his lap. His arms wrapped around her

waist, holding her firmly.

“Someone might see us,” she whispered, her voice tense.

“No one will,” he said calmly.

He lifted her hair aside with his hand and leaned in, pressing a

soft kiss against her neck.

Her sensations began to intensify, yet she did not want to stop

him. Fear lingered in her heart that someone might walk in and

see them. The boy’s hand moved slowly over her waist as he

lifted her slightly, positioning her legs so that one rested on each

side of his. His hands traveled from her waist upward until they

reached her face.

As the boy’s hands slowly traced every part of her body before

finally reaching her face, her sensations intensified with each

passing second. Fear still lingered, fear that someone might walk

in and see them, but it no longer had the strength to stop her.

This was the first time she had experienced feelings like this,

unfamiliar yet overwhelming. She wanted to lose herself in him,

to melt into his presence. She could not find the words to say;

she could only feel deeply, intensely, letting the moment take

over her completely.

His hands had now reached her face.

“Someone might see us,” she said, placing her hand against his

chest, her voice barely above a whisper.

“At this moment, you belong only to me,” he replied.

18

He lifted one hand and placed it gently against one of her rose

tinted cheeks, then cupped the other with his second hand. He

looked at her with an intensity filled with deep affection.

“I love you. You are only mine,” he said.

As he spoke those words, he held her by the waist and pulled her

so close to himself that there was no distance left between their

bodies at all.

He placed one hand gently on her waist and the other on the

back of her neck. Her senses were heightened so intensely that

he could feel her heartbeat against him.

“Even if someone sees us, I don’t care,” he whispered.

Without hesitation, he pressed his lips to hers, their mouths

meeting in a way that made her feel as if she were melting into

him.

“I love you too,” she murmured, surrendering herself to him

completely.

As she said it, he deepened the kiss, pulling her even closer. His

hands moved to cradle her neck, closing the tiny space between

their bodies. She responded fully, returning the kiss with the

same intensity, her arms wrapping around him, lost in the

moment.

The world outside ceased to exist. The only thing that mattered

was them, the kiss, and the fire of emotions consuming them

both.

A loud bell rang, signaling the end of the break.

Reluctantly, she pulled herself away from him and sat down at

the desk beside him, keeping a small distance. Why does the

break feel so short? He wondered.

He looked at her and smiled, a playful glint at his eyes.

Embarrassed, she blushed and returned the smile.

19

“Today’s our basketball match,” he reminded her softly.

“Oh, shit!” Johnny, one of his friends, shouted as he entered the

classroom. “What happened?” he asked. “Come on, we’re

getting late for the game. They are waiting for you,” Johnny

replied hurriedly. You guys go ahead; I’ll catch up.”

He turned back toward her, smiling warmly.

Today, she was feeling his presence more deeply than ever.

The university stadium was packed with spectators. All that

remained now was the team leader’s grand entrance. When will he

come? She wondered.

The moment he entered the stadium, both boys and girls began

chanting his name. But he seemed completely unaffected by the

crowd. His eyes were searching for only one person.

She immediately lowered her head, hiding behind the person

sitting in front of her so he would not notice her.

“There you are,” he said suddenly.

“Let’s play a game today,” he said with a playful grin.

“Hey, VIP seat, clear it,” he added casually.

“VIP seat? For what?” She lifted her head, and the person who

had been sitting in front of her was suddenly gone.

Where did he go? She thought, confused.

He caught her gaze, winked at her, and started walking up the

stadium stairs toward her.

What will I do sit in the VIP seats? she thought nervously.

Reaching her, he took her hand and gently led her down toward

the VIP section.

“Sit here, my princess,” he said softly.

20

“This isn’t right… " Everyone is watching us,” she whispered.

“Everyone belongs where they deserve to be,” he replied calmly.

And saying that, he kissed her cheek in front of everyone.

She froze.

When she looked around the stadium, she realized the crowd

was staring at her, not in shock, but with eyes full of envy.

Her heart was still racing.

The game had begun.

He was playing exceptionally well, just as he always did. He

played with such strength and focus that his body was soaked in

sweat.

He looks so cool, she thought, watching him.

“Goal!” the commentator shouted.

“Yahoo!” she whispered under her breath.

He and his team celebrated, jumping with joy, while the

opposing team burned with frustration. Everyone had a

weakness, the rival team’s leader thought to himself. His hands

were still trembling.

She could still feel his kiss throughout her entire body. Football

had never really been his passion. If she were here today, it was

only have been because of him.

“One round over,” the commentator announced.

As soon as those words were spoken, both teams formed small

circles, discussing their next move.

“We need to make this round a tie. Understood?” the opposing

team leader said quietly.

“Done,” his teammates replied in unison.

21

“Let’s do whatever is written in our fate,” he said to his own

team.

“Of course, we’re the ones who will win,” the team members

replied confidently.

The game had entered its final stage.

Both teams were trying to score one single goal and would

decide who would win.

The stadium was filled with tension. There was restlessness

everywhere, whispers spreading through the crowd.

“But what is this? The entire stadium is chanting just one name,”

the commentator said in a serious tone. “

The round had begun.

The football rested at his feet.

He looked toward her and smiled just once before kicking the

ball forward.

The goal seemed inevitable.

But suddenly, a rival team member blocked it and delivered a

powerful kick toward the left side. As their leader struck the ball,

chaos erupted in the stadium. The crowd surged, voices colliding

in confusion.

“What’s happening over there?” he said anxiously.

One of his teammates came running toward him, panic written

all over his face.

And what he heard next was something he had never expected.

The crowd did not obstruct them. He gasped, heart racing,

breath quickening as he pushed through the crowd. Never had

he felt his hands tremble like this. Hope and fear battled within

him, hoping that he would not witness anything unbearable.

When he finally reached her, he froze for a moment. Her

forehead was bleeding, and she sat slumped in a chair. Beside

Melina, her friend pressed a cloth against the wound, trying

desperately to stop the flow of blood.

"Ah... you're here," Melina murmured, her voice dazed, as if she

had been waiting only for him.

Seeing her like this, a sharp pang tore through him. Without a

second thought, he knelt before her.

"Open your eyes," he said, his voice trembling with both fear

and urgency.

He removed his shirt, revealing his bare chest, though he did not

care. Sitting carefully beside her, he wrapped the cloth around

her forehead with the utmost care. "We're going to the

hospital," he said firmly.

"I do not want to go... I am fine," she whispered, struggling to

speak as her eyes fluttered, heavy with exhaustion.

"You are okay. Just do not pass out," he urged, his voice gentle

but resolute.

Lifting her effortlessly into his arms, he carried her toward the

car. Johnny followed him closely, making sure they were not

obstructed by the crowd. Every heartbeat, every trembling step

reminded him of how fragile she was and how fiercely he needed

to protect her.

"I'll bring the car," Johnny said urgently.

He brushed a gentle kiss against her forehead, but there was no

response, as if she could not feel it anymore.

"You look beautiful," he whispered, his voice breaking.

"Why did you take off your shirt?" she asked weakly.

"For you," he replied, hiding his tears.

"Come on," Johnny called, pulling the car up beside them. He

was already in the driver's seat.

He opened the passenger door and sat inside, pulling her

carefully onto his lap. He rested her head against his bare chest

so she could feel safe in his arms, protected by his heartbeat.

"I'm in pain," she whispered with difficulty, her voice trembling.

He placed his hand gently on her waist and kissed her forehead

once more.

"If only I could take your pain away," he said softly.

Then he noticed her eyes fluttering, her body growing heavier.

She was losing consciousness.

Panic surged through him.

"Drive faster!" he shouted. "If anything happens to her, I swear

I'll burn the university to the ground!"

"Calm down," his friend said firmly but encouragingly. "Keep

her awake. Talk to her. Keep her active."

And so, he held her tighter, refusing to let her slip away.

He gently lifted her to the side, his hand trembling slightly.

"Open your eyes, please... do not faint. Please," he whispered,

his voice breaking. "I can't live without you." Tears streamed

down his face, splashing onto hers.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. With significant effort, she raised

her hand toward his neck. Seeing this, he immediately leaned

forward, pressing his face against her neck. She kissed him softly

and whispered, "Bye..."

And with that, she lost consciousness.

"No! Open your eyes! I will not let you go!" he cried, his voice

raw with anguish. He had never cried like this before. "How

long... and hurry!" he shouted to his friend, forcing him

forward. Johnny smiled faintly and, from the rearview, followed

his instructions.

The car stopped, and before it had even come to a full halt, he

flung open the door and dashed straight into the hospital. "Bring

a stretcher, quickly!" he yelled, panic in his voice.

A doctor nearby rushed over, seeing her bleeding profusely.

"She's losing a lot of blood," the doctor said, concerned.

He helped place her gently on the stretcher. "Open your eyes,

please," he pleaded, his hands trembling. But she could no

longer hear him. "Relax... everything will be fine," the doctor

soothed, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

He was crying as if grief had completely consumed him. Just

moments ago, she had been smiling, full of life, and now she lay

unconscious.

"She was so happy only a while ago... and now she isn't even

aware," he said in a voice heavy with sorrow.

Suddenly, he stood up in anger and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" his friend asked.

"To the university," he replied coldly.

"And what are you going to do there?" his friend pressed.

"What you're already thinking," he said grimly.

"No, stop. I will not let you go," his friend said firmly.

"If you're truly my best friend," he continued, holding his arm,

"then you will stay here and wait for me. If anything happens,

call me."

Before he could say another word, he turned and disappeared

from his sight, moving too fast to stop.

A car screeched to a halt in front of the university gates. It was

his car.

He stepped out slowly.

"Today, I won't spare anyone," he muttered.

His eyes were burning red with rage. His hands were stained

with her blood, the same blood he had left behind at the

hospital, where she lay in critical condition. He stared at his

blood-soaked hands, then brought them to his lips and kissed

them before moving forward.

There was no shirt on his body.

With every step he took, his anger grew stronger, heavier, more

dangerous.

"I need a bat," he said to a group of boys who were playing

nearby. Seeing the fury in his eyes, they handed it to him without

a word.

Bat in hand, he walked straight toward the stadium court.

The stadium was still crowded.

He let out a cold smile.

"Now," he whispered, "this will be even more interesting."

They were laughing as if some long-awaited wish had finally

been fulfilled.

Suddenly, their leader's eyes fell on him, and the laughter died

instantly. Alertness spread among them like wildfire.

"Look... he's coming," the leader said sharply.

"Who?" one of the members asked casually, turning around.

Zosh, the leader, said in a frightened voice.

"I'll be the one to silence that laughter of yours," he growled.

Bat clenched tightly in his hand, he stepped forward. The entire

stadium fell into an eerie silence, as if a match were about to

begin again, yet no one could have guessed what was truly

coming.

Before anyone could react, he stood right in front of them.

"I knew you'd pull something like this, you lowlife," he said

coldly.

"What are you talking about? What have I done?" the leader

replied, raising an eyebrow at his teammates before looking back

at him with false innocence.

That was it.

The words pushed his rage beyond control, straight to the

seventh sky. His jaw tightened, his grip on the bat hardened, and

the surrounding silence grew heavier than ever.

Something terrible was about to happen.

"I'll show you right now," he said.

With those words, he let the bat slip from his hand and walked

straight into the center of the stadium. The football lay there,

abandoned. He picked it up and hurled it forward, but before it

could go far, he stepped in its path.

He shouted, his voice echoing through the silent arena,

"I forgot to score my goal before leaving. I've come back to

finish that."

The leader's confidence faltered. For the first time, uncertainty

flickered across his face. He had no idea what was about to

happen.

He tossed the ball into the air.

In the very next second, he leapt after it, twisting his body midair

in a powerful flip. The force behind the kick was terrifying, so

intense it felt as though it could tear through iron itself.

The ball struck him straight in the stomach.

The impact sent him flying backward until his body crashed

violently into the stadium border. He collapsed there, wounded,

and breathless, as shock ripped through the crowd.

The stadium, once loud with laughter, now stood frozen in

silence.

After dealing with him, he turned toward the football pitch.

"Goal!" he shouted.

Chaos erupted.

The stadium exploded into screams and panic. People began

running in every direction. Some of the leader's teammates and

spectators rushed toward the fallen man to help him.

The university was plunged into confusion.

"Catch him! Do not let him escape!" one of them yelled.

But it was too late.

"He's gone," a student said breathlessly.

He was driving at full speed along the deserted road, the engine

roaring beneath his control. Rage still burned inside him, but

beneath it lurked a crushing guilt, one that gnawed at his heart

relentlessly.

Just then, his phone rang.

The moment he answered it; his anger melted into sharp panic.

"Hello?" he said tensely.

"Where are you?" his friend asked urgently. "There's a

problem."

"She's okay, right?" he blurted out before the sentence could

even finish.

"No," his friend replied grimly. "She is in critical condition. The

doctors say her body has lost too much blood. She needs blood

urgently."

"Then why are you there?" he snapped in frustration. "Give her

your blood!"

"I've already been evaluated," his friend said quietly. "My blood

group doesn't match hers."

"I'm coming," he said immediately, his voice tight with fear.

He ended the call, and the tension inside him multiplied. His

heartbeat raced uncontrollably, pounding against his chest. He

tried to steady himself, to regain control, but rage and fear had

taken over together, crashing through him like a storm he could

no longer stop.

Her breathing continued, yet her body lay motionless on the

bed. The room was utterly silent; the only sounds were the

steady beeps of the machines surrounding her. Suddenly, a man

entered the room. He was tall and strikingly handsome, a young

man whose beautiful eyes shimmered softly. His glossy, jet-black

curls brushed against his eyes. He wore a white coat and a white

mask, making him look like a doctor who had come to examine

his patient.

He moved closer to her and stopped beside the bed. Pulling a

nearby chair toward himself, he sat down. He watched her with

an intense gaze, as if he knew her deeply, and yet he appeared

completely fearless; the thought of being seen did not concern

him at all. Slowly, he extended his right hand toward hers and

gently held it.

He did not speak. He only looked at her, feeling her presence.

As his hand wrapped around her, her fingers began to stir. It was

as if life flowed back into her through his touch. With great

difficulty, she tried to open her eyes, waking from a heavy,

distant sleep. Her vision was blurred; she could only sense that

someone was there, though she could not see clearly.

"Is... is that you?" she asked, her voice weak and broken.

"What happened to me?" she whispered, but he remained silent.

Leaning closer, he brought his face near hers and kissed her

forehead with deep tenderness. Then he reached into his pocket,

took out a small bottle filled with red liquid, and placed it gently

on the table beside her bed.

He looked at her as if he wished to stay closer to her, yet for

now, she was beyond his reach. It felt as though this brief

glimpse of her had been granted to him with great difficulty, as if

he had waited years for this very moment. Tears shimmered in

his eyes, as though his heart itself was crying. There was so much

he wanted to say, but the time was not right.

He turned to leave, but suddenly the sound of approaching

footsteps echoed toward the room. Without hesitation, he

slipped away and hid inside the washroom, his presence

vanishing into the silence just as quietly as it had arrived.

The nurse entered the room and began checking on her. She was

still examining the equipment when her eyes fell on the bottle.

"What is this?" she murmured. "Oh, my God... this is a bottle

of blood." Her voice carried surprise and concern. "Who placed

this here?" she wondered aloud. Then she sighed in relief.

"Thank God if the staff had seen this, I would have been

scolded. Someone must have donated it for her." She shook her

head slightly. "I should inform the doctor immediately."

Hearing this, he grew uneasy. He knew that before the doctor

arrived, he had to leave this place. Swiftly, he stepped out of the

washroom and went to her side. He gently kissed her hand and

then her forehead, preparing to leave.

Just then, she suddenly caught hold of his hand.

"I know who you are," she said.