Sam said:"Look, Zero, it's the new coffee they just launched!""Hey Sam, Zero — don't touch it! It's for Sara."Alexa snapped the cup from Sam's hand and gave it to Sara. Sara smiled."Alexa... when did you become like this? You're even snatching coffee from your friends just for sara?"Sam leaned closer and whispered in Alexa's ear,"Tell me... is something going on?"Alexa stared at him, shocked and irritated."Sam, you lunatic — shut up.""Ahaannn, got you! I knew it!" Sam smirked. "But it's okay, Alexa, your secret's safe with me...""Shut up, Sam! Sara is my best friend. There's nothing going on between us! If you don't believe me, ask her yourself."She pointed at Sara.Sara said calmly, "Yes, it's true. There's nothing between us. You're misunderstanding things, Sam. And please... stop pairing people up without any reason or knowing anything. It's a bad habit."Sam replied, full of shamelessness, "Okay, Madam Sara, as you wish..." then burst out laughing again."Oi! I just remembered — what are you guys doing this weekend?" Sam asked."Nothing much. What about you?" Alexa replied."Let's go to the lake this weekend."Alexa lit up. "Wow, great idea. I'm in!""We're in too!" Zero added excitedly.Now all three were staring at Sara."What?" Sara asked, confused. "I'm out. I'm not going.""WHY?" they all asked at once."I don't like these kinds of places. You guys go enjoy. I've got some work.""Come on, Sara," Alexa said. "It's always like this with you. I know you don't have any work. You're just avoiding us. But this time, we're not letting you off the hook. You're coming with us — no arguments.""But...""No but," Alexa said, her voice firm. "You're going. That's final."And when Alexa had already declared it, poor Sara had no choice."Fine," she sighed. "I'll come with you guys. But right now, I'm heading to the library. I still have to finish my notes."As she started to walk away, Alexa called after her,"Hey Sara... didn't you just tell me yesterday your notes were already done? What notes now?"Sara suddenly turned around, looking absent-minded."Oh... did I say that?"Alexa walked up to her, concerned."Sara... are you okay? You seem off today. Is something wrong? You can talk to me.""No, nothing like that. I'm just a little tired. Everything's fine.""Okay then. Bye, guys. See you tomorrow."But like always, Sara didn't go home right away. This time, she wandered the streets, bought a beer, and started walking."What's the point of going home? No one's waiting for me there. Just the same empty house... and those silent walls staring at me," she thought.She sat on a nearby bench, opened the can, and began drinking. It was late, the streets were quiet. She was all alone.Eventually, she got up and made her way home. As soon as she reached, she collapsed onto the sofa like her body had given up. Tossing her stuff aside, she mumbled through the haze:"I tried so hard to forget you... I left everything behind and tried to move on. But you... you won't let me live."She started crying."Why, Maera... why? Why did I fall in love with you? And you... you never even cared. If you didn't care, then why the affection? Why the attention? Why the closeness? Why make me feel like I mattered?!"Her voice trembled."I did everything... everything... to have you. But I didn't even get to say goodbye. You didn't even look back at me. And now, when I'm finally trying to forget... you come back in my dreams."Her phone kept ringing, but she didn't care. Her consciousness began to fade, her thoughts spiraling."Is this rage... or grief?" she whispered.She took out a lighter from her pocket... and started burning her own hand. But it brought no peace.She gripped her hair tightly, clenched her eyes shut, and screamed.She began hitting herself — hurting, scratching — completely losing control. She was a storm.When she opened her eyes, they were bloodshot. Tears still poured. She stood up and grabbed a knife from the fruit basket.At that moment — Alexa burst into the room."Sara! What happened?! Why aren't you answering your phone? You didn't even open the—"She stopped."SARAAAA!"Alexa screamed. Her phone slipped from her hand, right as she was on a call with Zero.Zero heard the scream through the phone."Alexa? What happened? Are you okay?! Hello?!"Alexa didn't answer.Zero immediately called Sam, breathless."Sam, something's wrong. Go to Sara's house NOW. I'm coming too."Sam hung up and rushed out.Zero and Sam didn't live far, so they reached quickly.But by the time they arrived...Sara had already lost a lot of blood.
