Maera's name flashed once more through Sara's mind like a spark in a storm. Just looking at Alexa—her face, her worried eyes—it was enough to pull Maera back into her thoughts. She remembered that moment in college, years ago, when she had hurt her foot badly, and Maera had rushed to her side without hesitation.That memory wasn't just a flash. It came like a wave—beautiful, painful, and sharp. A haunting ache that made her chest tighten. She instinctively pressed a trembling hand to her heart and clutched at her shirt, trying to hold herself together.Alexa noticed instantly. "Sara? What's wrong?" she asked, her voice breaking, filled with alarm. There was something in Alexa's gaze—something fearful, something deep—that Sara couldn't understand, but she couldn't ignore either.Sara tried to speak. Her lips moved, but nothing came out. Her throat felt like sandpaper. Hunger gnawed at her insides. Dark bruises shaded the soft skin beneath her eyes. In just a matter of days, she looked like someone who had been worn down by years of pain.Alexa felt her heart crack. It was as if someone had taken a knife to it, carving it into jagged little pieces.She turned to Sam and Zero, her voice pleading. "Please, go get something—anything—for her to eat. Now."She hurried back to Sara, knelt beside her, and offered her a bottle of water. Sara reached out like a desperate child and drank greedily, as if the water was the only thing anchoring her to life. It spilled from the corners of her mouth, streaming down her jaw and onto her pale, beautiful neck.Alexa's breath caught in her throat.She reached out, almost instinctively, and began to gently wipe the water from Sara's neck with her fingertips. But her hand didn't stop there. Her touch slowly traced the bruises on Sara's shoulders—soft, delicate motions, as though she were trying to heal them just by touch.Sara looked up, locking eyes with her. Alexa was close. Too close. Her breath was warm against Sara's skin. In Alexa's eyes, there was a storm. A quiet desperation. And longing."I'm okay now, Alexa," Sara whispered hoarsely, her voice fragile and broken. Still, she tried to smile.Alexa froze.And then it hit her.What was she doing?She pulled back quickly, her face flushed, her heart thundering inside her chest like a guilty drumbeat. A wave of shame crashed through her as she sat stiffly, looking away.How could I...? she thought. What the hell was I thinking?But even in her silent self-reprimand, she knew the truth.She wasn't just worried about Sara's health. It wasn't just about being a friend anymore.Something inside her was breaking. Something raw and real.And she didn't know how much longer she could hide it.Just then, Sam and Zero entered the hospital room, each carrying shopping bags. Sam had picked up Sara's medications, while Zero, ever the food savior, had brought dinner for everyone.Sara's eyes lit up with a flicker of excitement—her first genuine reaction in days. "Wow! Thank you, Zero! You're the best!" she said cheerfully, her hand instinctively reaching for the steaming bowl of ramen.But before she could grab it, Zero smacked her hand away gently. "Absolutely not, Madam Sara," he said in a mischievous tone, grinning. "You're on porridge duty. This ramen's off-limits for you." He handed her the bowl of plain porridge, laughing.Sara made a dramatic face, puffing her cheeks and whining, "Yaarrrr, I don't want this sad porridge. I want ramen too!""In your dreams, poor Sara," Sam chimed in, mimicking her voice in an exaggerated way. He burst into laughter.Sara glared. "You devil! You dare copy me? Wait till I get my hands on you—shameless creature!"Sam laughed harder, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes. "Oh, and look who's talking about shame now? Madam Sara herself!"But before the laughter could settle, Zero, in the middle of his giggles, said something that silenced the room."Yeah... thank God for that gir—"He stopped mid-sentence.Sam and Alexa immediately turned toward him, sharpness in their gaze. They knew what was about to come—and it couldn't. Maera had made them promise. She didn't want Sara to know.But it was too late.Half the sentence had already escaped.Sam muttered under his breath, "Zero, you unbelievable idiot... Big mouth." He clenched his fists, resisting the urge to smack his best friend.Sara had caught it too. She wasn't stupid.Her eyes narrowed. Her tone turned ice-cold."Zero... say it. Tell me everything. Now."There was no softness in her voice—only an edge. A warning.Zero swallowed hard. A nervous gulp escaped his throat.He hesitated, then spoke in a low, halting voice. "You were unconscious. You had lost... a lot of blood. The hospital's blood bank didn't have any O-positive in stock. It was bad. Really bad."His voice trembled slightly. He looked up, almost afraid to continue."But... fortunately, a girl came forward. She had O-positive and... she gave you her blood. She saved your life, Sara."A pause.Sara's heart skipped a beat. "Who was she? What was her name?" she asked, her voice urgent."She... she didn't tell us her name. Just said one word."Zero looked at her, unsure if he should speak it."She called herself... 'Savior.'"Sara froze.The color drained from her face.Her breathing became shallow."What...?" she whispered, almost choking on the word. "No... it can't be..."She stared into the distance, eyes unfocused, like she was watching a memory play out on an invisible screen.That word.Savior.It echoed in her skull like thunder.She didn't want to believe it.But the moment Zero said that word—Savior—Sara's mind was no longer in the hospital room. Her world shifted, spiraled, and she was back in time.Back to that day.It had been the inter-college football tournament. The rain was light but the field was slick. Sara had gone down hard—a sharp twist of her ankle and a deep scrape on her elbow. She couldn't walk. The pain was unbearable. She remembered the chaos, the concerned voices, the crowd fading into a blur...And then—Maera.Maera had rushed to her side, arms steady, heart calm. She had carried Sara to the medical room without a second thought, gently laying her down as though she were something breakable. Precious.Sara had tried to smile through the pain. "I ruined everything, didn't I?" she whispered. "Because of me... your whole plan fell apart. We lost. I'm sorry, Maera."But Maera just smiled softly, her eyes focused on the wound as she gently cleaned the blood away."Ssshhh... Be gentle with yourself," she murmured. "You don't have to apologize. After all... this is my duty."Sara raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smirk despite the pain. "Oh really? And since when did it become your duty to rescue me, madam?" she teased playfully. "Who are you, anyway?"Maera didn't miss a beat."Savior," she whispered, her voice suddenly lower—intimate.She leaned in, brushing a strand of hair behind Sara's ear, her breath warm against her skin."I'm your savior, Sara. I'll always be there for you... whenever you need me. Whenever you're hurting."And just like that, everything stopped.Their eyes met—collided, almost—and in that moment, time ceased to exist.Sara stared into Maera's eyes. They weren't just beautiful. They were infinite—an ocean of gravity, depth, and mystery. The kind of eyes you could fall into and never find your way back out.She couldn't help it.Her hand reached up, trembling slightly, and she cupped Maera's face gently—like it was the most fragile, most sacred thing she'd ever held. She wasn't thinking. She wasn't pretending.She was just... lost.Lost in her. Drowning in her.Is it even possible... she thought dreamily, for someone to be this beautiful?The words slipped from her lips without thought. Her voice was soft. Airy. Enchanted."Can someone... really be this beautiful?""Sara?""Sara??"Someone was calling her name now—but from far away.But she didn't want to come back.Not from that memory.Not from her.Back in the hospital room, Sara's lips parted slightly.Tears began to well up in her eyes.Her hand trembled.She didn't know whether to laugh or scream or cry.Because in that single word, her whole past had come rushing back.Maera hadn't disappeared.She'd never left.She had been there all along... in silence... saving her one more time.Sara's consciousness snapped back to the present with a jolt. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She was sobbing—uncontrollably, painfully—and everyone in the room looked deeply alarmed."Sara, are you okay?" Alexa asked, rushing to her side. Her voice trembled with concern. "Why are you crying like this? Is everything alright?"Zero stepped forward hesitantly. "Sara... you can talk to us. If something's wrong, please share it," he said nervously, clearly shaken by her breakdown.Sara opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Her throat had closed. Her breath caught. Her chest tightened.She couldn't breathe.A wave of panic surged through her body.Her mind scrambled—and then another memory surfaced.It was from their college trip, the one she had taken with her friends. She had always been terrified of snakes, and during that camp, one had appeared out of nowhere. Everyone had screamed. But Sara... she had frozen. Terrified. Paralyzed. Gasping for air.She'd nearly blacked out.And just when it felt like she wouldn't survive that moment, Maera had come.Maera had held her, calmed her—given her breath when she had none.She had tilted Sara's face, gently pressed her lips to hers, and shared the breath she couldn't find on her own.It wasn't just a rescue. It wasn't just CPR.It was something else entirely.It was warmth. Safety. Intimacy. A silent promise wrapped in a kiss.And after pulling away, Maera had smiled. "See?" she had whispered. "Didn't I tell you? I'm your Savior."That memory struck like lightning.Alexa, Sam, and Zero had already moved in, desperate to help. But they didn't know that it wasn't just panic.It was everything.Sara's memories were collapsing over her. Layer upon layer of pain, abandonment, love, confusion—and all of it wrapped around one name.Maera.Her breath turned ragged. Her eyes fluttered. The world began to blur. Darkness started to overtake her again.Everything was spinning. Breaking. Shattering.Her heart was screaming, but no one could hear it.Except for Sam—whose instincts kicked in.He rushed out into the hallway, shouting down the corridor. "Doctor! Please, hurry! She can't breathe! Something's wrong!"As fate would have it, the doctor was already headed toward Sara's room. He ran in behind Sam.Inside, Sara was now struggling against the hands of Zero and Alexa, gasping for air like she was drowning in nothingness. Her lips were pale, her body trembling.The doctor acted fast—injecting her with a sedative.Sara went limp almost immediately. A nurse fitted an oxygen mask back on her face, her chest rising slowly again as artificial breath returned to her.Alexa sank down into the chair beside her, overwhelmed. She gripped Sara's hand as tightly as she could, as though willing her soul to stay anchored.Sam leaned against the wall, chest heaving.Zero stood stiffly in the corner, nervously chewing his fingernail to the edge.The doctor finally turned to them, his expression serious—borderline grim."She's not improving," he said. "In fact... her condition is deteriorating. I strongly suggest you take her to Ms. Rika, our on-site therapist. Book a session as soon as you can."He paused, letting that sink in."Sara is in an extremely fragile state right now—psychologically and emotionally. I'm worried she's on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown. Please, whatever happens... do not pressure her any further. She can't handle it."He gave them one final look, then quietly exited the room.Sara had been unconscious, sleeping for nearly four hours. Beside her, Alexa had dozed off too—sitting on a small chair, still holding Sara's hand gently, as if letting go would mean losing her.Sam, meanwhile, was absorbed in a game on his phone, while Zero sat on the couch nearby, stretching repeatedly. Despite being focused on his game, Sam couldn't ignore the constant sound of Zero's exaggerated yawns and stretches.By the tenth one, Sam snapped. "Dude! What is wrong with you?!"Zero jumped, startled. "What?! Did I hit on your girlfriend or something? Why are you ready to kill me?""Zero, seriously, try acting like a human for once! Stop stretching like a dying walrus, it's making me sleepy," Sam growled."But you're playing a game! How can you be sleepy?" Zero replied, half annoyed, half confused."Yeah, well your noise is so loud even the dead would wake up, scream, and die again! It sounds like someone's being strangled," Sam muttered, fully irritated now.Zero widened his eyes dramatically and glared at him. If I don't do something now, this guy—who probably inherited his grandfather's entire legacy in scolding—won't spare me.He shivered at the thought."Hey Sam," Zero said, switching tones like a pro beggar. "I'm starving, man. Can we go grab something to eat? Please? Your poor brother is dying here.""Of course you are—like always! Living off my money, as usual. You broke freeloader," Sam said, rolling his eyes.Zero blinked sweetly. "But bro, that's what you're for. Why would I need anyone else when I've got you?" he said dramatically, hand on chest.Sam stopped and stared at him. "What did you just say?!"Zero grinned like a fool. "Didn't your grandpa tell you to look after me? Huh? You're basically my honorary grandfather. Keep me in a cage if you must, but don't let me escape."Zero then broke into a ridiculous impression of an old man, complete with a shaky voice and fake hunched shoulders. Sam couldn't help but laugh."You'll never change, you crazy idiot," Sam said, chuckling. "Come on."As they both stood up to leave, Sam's gaze drifted toward Alexa, who was sleeping in an uncomfortable position, her face strained even in rest. She still held Sara's hand tightly."Should we move Alexa to the sofa?" Sam asked."No... let her be," Zero replied gently. "She hasn't slept in three days. Let her rest.""I hope she gets the one she loves," Sam said softly. "Look at her... she's completely falling apart."The room fell silent for a beat before the boys quietly stepped out.Meanwhile, back in their shared bedroom, Maera was lying straight on the bed, her face turned toward the ceiling. Simi lay curled into her arms, her head resting over Maera's chest, fingers absentmindedly tracing invisible shapes against her.Out of nowhere, Simi spoke."Maee... I was thinking of dyeing my hair. What do you think?"Maera didn't respond."Maee?" Simi repeated.Still nothing."Hey, Maera! Earth to Maera!" she teased, finally making Maera jolt in surprise."Huh? Yeah—sure, whatever you want," Maera mumbled, clearly distracted. She hadn't heard a single word."You've been so lost lately," Simi said softly. "Ever since you came back from the hospital... you've been distant, irritated, like your mind is always somewhere else. What's going on?"Maera stayed quiet."No, Maera," Simi said, now sitting up sharply, the hurt evident in her eyes. "You have to tell me what's going on. You can't keep shutting me out."Her voice broke, and the cracks ran deeper than just her words. She was trembling now—not with anger, but with desperation."Should I believe," she continued, "that you're tired of me? That after seven years together, you've had enough? That maybe... you don't even want to look at me anymore? Is that it?!"Her voice cracked.Tears brimmed in her eyes."I can't live without you, Maera," she whispered, choking back sobs. "Even thinking about being without you makes my chest tighten. I... I don't know how to breathe without you."Maera, stunned, sat up slowly. Her heart shattered at the sight of Simi crying like that."Hey... no, no," she whispered, reaching out. "Don't say that. Don't ever think like that."She pulled Simi into her arms."I haven't fallen out of love with you. I'm just... dealing with a lot. Official things. Heavy things. I didn't want to burden you."She wiped the tears from Simi's cheeks."Please, don't ever say those words again," Maera said firmly. "I love you. I'm in love with you. Madly. Deeply."Simi clung to her like she was holding on to the only air left in the world.Maera laid her gently back on the bed. "You rest. I'll bring you some water."She stepped into the kitchen, filled a glass, and discreetly added a light sleeping pill.Forgive me, Sim, she thought. But right now, you need rest more than answers.When she returned, Simi drank the water and laid back down. A few minutes later, the pill took effect, and she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.Maera tucked the blanket around her, brushed a kiss to her forehead, then stepped out onto the balcony.The night was cold, but inside Maera, a volcano raged.Fifteen cigarettes in, and nothing had calmed the storm inside her. She ran her hands roughly through her hair and stared at the sky.What the hell is wrong with me?And then her gaze drifted back inside—back to the sleeping girl with innocence painted across her face.Simi looked fragile. Like a porcelain doll.A delicate thing too precious for the chaos Maera carried.And despite the storm inside her...Maera smiled.Sam and Zero had stepped out to a small café just a few blocks away from the hospital."Hey Sam," Zero said, glancing around, "you know there's this singer who comes here regularly? Dude, her voice—genuinely amazing. She's got real talent.""Oh yeah?" Sam raised an eyebrow with interest. "What's her name?"Zero paused for a second, thinking. "Layall.""But she's not here today... strange," he added, looking around. "Wait, let me go ask the staff."He left Sam waiting at the table and headed off to the counter. A few minutes later, Zero came back looking like he'd seen a ghost.Sam burst into laughter. "Bro! What's with your face? Looks like someone slapped you with bad news."Zero slumped into the chair, disappointed. "The manager said she hasn't shown up in the past three or four days. No notice, no calls. No one knows if she's coming back. Maybe she quit."Sam leaned back, grinning. "Awww... poor fanboy heartbroken?""Shut up," Zero muttered. "You've got no taste in real music anyway."Suddenly, Zero's eyes lit up. "Wait! She has a YouTube channel—'Layall Life'! I totally forgot!""God, man, don't yell!" Sam winced. "I'm not deaf, you lunatic."Zero was already pulling out his phone and frantically typing."There! Found it. Look, check this out," he said, shoving the screen in Sam's face.Sam watched a few seconds of the video, then blinked in surprise. "Whoa. You weren't kidding... her voice is something else. I'm subscribing."His tone turned serious as he looked over at Zero, who now seemed lost in thought, eyes distant and troubled."What's up?" Sam asked. "You suddenly went all quiet."Zero didn't speak for a few seconds."Sam... I think Sara's hiding something from us."Sam stared back, his expression hardening slightly."I don't think it's just depression or trauma. It's deeper. Something... off. Something we don't know about."Sam leaned forward now, nodding slowly. "Yeah. You might be right. She's not okay. Not really. And she's trying way too hard to pretend she is.""We should talk to the hospital," Zero said, his voice steady. "Get her a proper therapist. She's not going to open up otherwise.""Agreed," Sam replied. "Let's do that."Just then, Sam's phone rang. It was Alexa."Hey, Alexa. Everything okay?""Sam! Come back, quickly! Sara's awake... and please, bring something for her to eat too.""Got it. We're coming," Sam said and hung up.He turned to Zero. "Alexa says Sara's conscious now. We need to bring food."Zero was already halfway up. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go!""Chill, man. Let me pay first," Sam said, grabbing him by the collar as he tried to bolt. "You always run like someone's chasing you. Sit your hyper ass down."Zero snickered and dashed ahead anyway. Poor Sam was left at the counter handling the bill as usual."Zero, you freeloader. You always pull this stunt," Sam muttered under his breath, with a sarcastic smile. "Such a blessing you are, honestly."By the time they got back to the hospital, Alexa was helping Sara drink water. Her hands were trembling slightly but her eyes were open—faint, but alive. Sam and Zero's faces lit up the moment they saw her.Without hesitation, Sam handed her the porridge he had brought.Sara took it without protest, a soft smile playing on her lips. She didn't say anything about the taste—she just started eating.She hated porridge. Absolutely despised it.But not today.Today, she wasn't going to make her friends suffer for her pain. Not anymore."Mmm..." she mumbled with a forced grin. "This is... actually good. Hey Sam, where did you even get this from? It's delicious."Sam and Zero chuckled, happy to see her eat.But Alexa just smiled quietly.She knew the truth. She could see it in Sara's eyes.That wasn't a smile of someone enjoying food. It was the smile of someone pretending—just for the sake of others.And that hurt more than anything.
TO BE CONTINEUD.....