Whispers of Fate

> I'm Aria. I just transferred from my old school to a new one because...

(I shut the diary tightly before finishing the sentence.)

“Aria! Aria!” my mom called from the kitchen.

My father died of a heart attack when I was fifteen.

It’s been four years now — I’m nineteen, and today I’m starting at a new school.

But the same scary memory keeps replaying in my mind, like a warning I can’t ignore.

“What, Mom?” I shouted back.

“Come eat breakfast and drink this milk!” she said before hurrying off to work.

I stared at the glass of milk on the table. Everything looked normal — but somehow, I felt like nothing about today was going to be normal.I went back to my room, got dressed for school, drank my milk, and ate breakfast quickly. Then I rushed to the bus stop, silently wishing, I hope the bus is empty today.

Unfortunately, I missed the first one. My heart sank — I was already late.

And then… out of nowhere, an empty bus stopped right in front of me. The door opened with a soft creak.

A man, maybe around twenty-nine, leaned forward and said,

> “You,”

and blinked his eyes once, like he already knew me.

At that exact moment, it began to rain — even though the sun was still burning bright above. I didn’t have an umbrella.

He smiled slightly and said,

> “Come on, I’ll drop you. This is my bus — and it stops at your new school.”

I hesitated, confused, but something in his voice made me step inside.

When I turned back to look out the window — my eyes widened.

The bus wasn’t moving at all…

But somehow, right outside the window, I was already standing in front of my new school.When I turned back to look at him, he was still there — smiling at me, the same gentle smile as before.

But then, in just a blink… he was gone. Completely gone.

I froze. The driver’s seat was empty. The door had opened on its own.

Taking a shaky breath, I stepped out of the bus and looked around — somehow, I was already at my new school.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward me as I walked through the gate.

Whispers. Stares.

I didn’t know why, but my chest tightened. The memories from my old school — the bullying, the fear — they all came rushing back like ghosts following me here.

Wake up, Aria, I whispered to myself. This is a new start.

But deep down… it didn’t feel new at all.My phone rang suddenly. It was Mom. I lifted it and answered.

> “Aria, are you at your new school?” she asked.

“Yes, I just reached. What happened?”

“Nothing, nothing,” she said quickly. “I just wanted to make sure you arrived safely. Love you.”

Before I could reply, the call ended.

I frowned. Strange.

Mom never called me during work hours. Maybe she was nervous too. Maybe the fear from my old school still haunted her — because she was the only one I ever told everything to.

This was my new school — clean, bright, fresh — but every stare around me felt sharp, like invisible needles pricking through my skin. I kept walking, pretending not to notice.

Then I saw it — a beautiful tree near the garden, covered with pink and purplish flowers. It looked peaceful, almost unreal.

I walked closer and touched one of the petals.

“Why, God?” I whispered. “Why me?”

Just then, the wind blew, and the flowers scattered — soft petals fell over my head.

And in that moment… the world froze.

The air stilled.

The sounds disappeared.

Time itself stopped.

And there he was again — the same man from the bus, standing right in front of me, his eyes glimmering like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I couldn’t breathe.

Everything stopped — every second stretched into forever.

Then, suddenly—

> “Excuse me? Who are you?”

A voice cut through the silence. I blinked, and the man was gone.

Behind me stood a girl — pretty, bright eyes, smiling kindly.

> “Who are you?” she asked again.

“I—I’m new here,” I said softly. “Just joined today.”

She smiled even wider.

> “Oh, hi then! Welcome to our school!”

No one had ever greeted me like that before.

For some reason, I laughed — a real laugh — the first one in a long, long time.“Why are you laughing? Is there something on my face?” the girl asked.

I froze. She looked even prettier up close — bright eyes, soft smile.

For a second, I just admired her like I had never admired anyone before… not even my mom.

“What’s your name?” I finally asked.

She smiled faintly.

> “I’m sorry, but I don’t tell my name to strangers.”

My heart stopped for a moment.

She had greeted me so kindly — I wanted to be her friend. But a small voice inside me whispered: Don’t trust too quickly.

The friends I had at my old school were horrible — cruel enough to make my past haunt me even now.

Just then, the school bell rang.

> “Everyone, go to your classes!”

The teacher’s voice echoed down the hall.

I walked into the classroom nervously. The teacher looked at me and said,

> “Oh, you must be the new student! Come here.”

I walked slowly, trying to smile, but my lips trembled.

> “Aria, come on, smile wider!” she said cheerfully.

I forced a weird little smile, and everyone stared at me — but strangely, no one laughed.

That’s when it hit me. This isn’t my old school anymore.

I took a deep breath and smiled — a real, cute one this time.

From somewhere in the class, a boy suddenly shouted,

> “She’s so cute!”

Everyone laughed softly. My cheeks burned as I looked at him — he was smiling at me too.

> “Alright, Aria, introduce yourself,” the teacher said.

I walked to the front, said my name, and heard polite claps around me.

Then the teacher nodded.

> “You can sit at the last bench.”

I turned and walked to my seat. When I looked beside me, I froze.

It was her.

The same girl from under the tree — the one who wouldn’t tell me her name.

But now, she was asleep.

I couldn’t help but giggle quietly.

> “Why are you laughing, Aria?” the teacher asked.

The girl beside me suddenly woke up, blinking. She looked at me and smiled softly.

> “Hello,” she whispered.

I quickly looked at the teacher and said,

> “Nothing, ma’am. Just… nothing.”

But inside, I was smiling again.

Maybe this school wasn’t going to be so bad after all.The bell rang, and the teacher left the class.

The room instantly filled with noise — laughter, gossip, and chatter echoing off the walls.

I was still at my seat, quietly watching everyone, when he walked up to me — the same boy who had called me cute earlier.

> “Hi,” he said, smiling. “What’s your name?”

I looked up at him. He had big eyes, small lips, a cute nose, and a jawline sharper than mine. For a second, I just stared — completely lost.

He tilted his head slightly, grinning.

> “What are you looking at? Am I that handsome?”

Before I could answer, the girl behind me — the pretty one from under the tree — burst out laughing.

> “Handsome? You?” she teased him. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

I laughed too, unable to hold it in.

He looked between us, pretending to be offended, then smiled again.

> “Your laugh,” he said softly, “it’s… really cute.”

I froze for a second, not knowing what to say.

My heart skipped a beat — and for the first time since morning, I actually felt like I belonged here.Just as I was about to say something back to the boy, someone called out from the doorway.

> “Hey, Aria, right? Someone came to meet you.”

I blinked, confused.

Someone came to meet me?

No one here even knew me yet.

Maybe it was the principal… or a teacher who wanted to check on the new student.

I nodded and walked toward the staff room, my heart beating strangely fast.

But when I stepped inside, I froze.

It was my mom.

I couldn’t speak for a few seconds — I was completely shocked.

She didn’t even know where my old school was, yet here she was, standing inside my new one.

Her face looked tired, almost pale.

Memories rushed back — how she cried when I told her I was bullied, how helpless she felt because she couldn’t protect me.

And now… she was here.

But something about her expression felt different.

She smiled — but her eyes looked distant, as if she wasn’t really here at all.“Mom…” I called her softly.

She looked up at me and gave a small, fake smile.

I ran to her and knelt down beside her.

> “What happened? Are you okay? Why did you come here?”

Before she could answer, my teacher interrupted, smiling gently.

> “Relax, Aria. Nothing happened. I just called her here.”

I blinked, confused, but stayed quiet.

We sat down together in the teacher’s room. My mom and the teacher talked about school rules, safety, and the environment. Everything seemed normal… almost too normal.

When it was time to leave, my mom stood up and smiled — this time, a real smile.

> “You’ll be all right,” she said softly. “I’ll protect you… no matter what.”

Those words hit deep. She had never said something like that before.

I nodded silently as she waved goodbye and walked away with that big, confident smile.

I stood there for a moment, whispering to myself,

> “I’ll make you proud, Mom.”

Just then, the sky darkened — and heavy rain began to pour.

Students screamed and ran toward their classrooms. I grabbed my bag and started running too when—

He appeared again.

The same cute boy from class, running toward me through the rain.

Everything felt like slow motion — the rain falling, his hair wet, his laugh echoing softly.

He held a blue umbrella above me and smiled.

> “You’ll catch a cold if you keep running like that,” he said, breathless.

I looked at him — his smile, his eyes — and felt my heart skip again.

He handed me the blue umbrella and opened another one for himself.

We ran together toward the class, laughing as the rain splashed around us.

When we reached, the teacher looked up.

> “Late again, huh?”

We both smiled shyly, asked for permission, and walked in.

As I sat down, the girl beside me — the same pretty one from before — started giggling while looking at him.

I didn’t know why… but something about her laugh felt strange this time.I looked at both of them and suddenly asked,

> “Are you two… lovers?”

The girl stopped laughing and turned toward me with a playful smile.

> “You’re totally wrong,” she said softly.

“We’re just… not friends, not lovers, not even best friends.”

She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a whisper.

> “Not even humans.”

I froze.

> “Huh? What?” I shouted without thinking.

Everyone in class turned to look at me. The teacher frowned.

> “Aria, I don’t punish new students, but please behave yourself,” she said firmly before turning back to the board.

Embarrassed, I quickly stood up.

> “Sorry, ma’am. Sorry, everyone,” I mumbled and sat down again.

The class went quiet for a moment, but when I glanced at the girl beside me, she was laughing — that same sweet, innocent laugh — and smiling at me as if nothing strange had happened.

I wanted to ask her what she meant, but… I couldn’t.

She was so pretty, so kind, and something about her eyes made it hard to speak — like they were hiding a secret I wasn’t ready to hear yet.

---And then, again, the bell rang. The whole day went smoothly.

The weather outside was calm — soft clouds floating, a gentle breeze touching the leaves. I was just wondering what to do next when I saw the cute boy and the pretty girl together.

Something inside me made me follow them. I didn’t even know why — maybe curiosity, maybe something else. I walked slowly behind them, trying not to make a sound.

They seemed normal — laughing, talking, teasing each other just like any other friends.

But that one line from her voice echoed in my head.

> “Not even humans.”

Why did she say that?

Before I could think too much, my bus arrived. I sighed and stopped following them. I got in and watched the road blur past until the bus finally dropped me at my stop.

As I got down, I thought of that man — the one who disappeared this morning. I still couldn’t understand who he was or why I felt something strange around him.

Then, as I was walking home, it started raining again. The sky darkened suddenly, and I whispered to myself,

> “I wish I had an umbrella.”

The blue umbrella — the one the boy gave me — I had returned it before leaving school.

Just as I thought that, I saw someone in the rain ahead. My eyes widened.

It was him — the same man, the 29-year-old who had disappeared before.

He walked slowly toward me, holding a blue umbrella.

The world seemed to stop again — raindrops falling slower, air turning still — like the morning when I first saw him.

He came close, gently held my hand, and placed the umbrella in it.

Then he smiled… and blinked.

In that blink, he vanished.

I looked around, confused. The umbrella was still in my hand — cold, wet, real.

> “What… just happened?” I whispered.

I slapped my cheek, pinched my arm — but it wasn’t a dream. Everyone around me was staring, probably thinking I’d lost my mind.

I didn’t care. I just clutched the umbrella and ran home through the rain, heart racing faster than the storm.That day, when I reached home, I saw my mom waiting for me.

She came faster than usual, and I didn’t know why.

When I looked at her, she seemed... happy — brighter than usual, like something had lifted her heart.

I tilted my head and asked softly, “What happened, Mom?”

She smiled and handed me a towel.

“Here, wipe your face first,” she said gently.

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were full of warmth.

Then she said, “Nothing special… I just came home early so we could celebrate your first day of school. You know, make some memories.”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little — a small, shy laugh.

And she laughed too, shaking her head. “Come on, my girl,” she said lovingly.

Then she brought out something from the bag she was holding — a new dress, neatly folded, still with a faint scent of lavender soap.

“Go, wear this,” she said, smiling.

I looked at her, confused and a little amused, a smirk forming on my lips.

She seemed... different today. Happier, lighter — like she was trying to fill the emptiness we both had carried since Dad was gone.When I was slowly walking to the door, Mom suddenly said, “Wait.”

I turned around.

She looked at me for a moment, her smile fading into something softer — something I couldn’t quite understand.

Then she said quietly, “No… don’t wear this dress today. I wish you’d wear it when you learn about life — when you have someone in your life… someone special, even more special than me.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, but there was a strange meaning behind her words.

I blinked and whispered, “What?”

Mom laughed. “No, Mom, no one is special than you,” I said, pouting.

She smiled again. “No, don’t wear this dress now. This dress is something special.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Okay, okay, as you say, I won’t wear it,” I said softly.

She laughed, and we both laughed together — the kind of laugh that makes everything feel normal again.

Then I went to my room.

I placed the dress on my bed and looked at it carefully.

It was blue — the same shade of blue as the umbrella the boy gave me.

My chest tightened.

The color reminded me of him — the man who disappeared that morning, the boy who smiled at me in class.

The same blue.

I sat by the window, opened my diary, and started writing.I wrote about the mysterious boy, and the umbrella, and the pretty girl, and the bus, and the man that disappeared.

I wrote about the cute boy in my class, and I just wrote about Mom — how Mom was.

In my new diary, I wrote all these things, because the old one, I had thrown it away that morning, when I drank my milk. I threw it into the dustbin.

So, I started a new diary and wrote all these strange, friendly, and soft things that happened to me.

That day, I slept calm. Peaceful.

And then, the next morning… my phone was dead.

I was shocked — I was late to school!

I plugged in my phone to charge and quickly went to take a bath.

When I came out, I had my breakfast, drank milk, and rushed out saying bye to Mom.

But this time, I caught the bus early.

No empty bus.

No disappearing bus man.

No mysterious stares.

Whoever that man was, I just forgot.

I just… forgot.

But then I realized — I had left my phone in my room, still charging.

I slapped my face softly in frustration.

And then, someone laughed.

I turned around quickly, eyes searching for the one who laughed.

And there he was — the cute boy from class, sitting by the window, earphones in, music playing, his eyes fixed on me.

He smiled.

And I was staring at him…

My eyes felt like they were caught in something special.

Something strange.

Something I couldn’t name.I waved at him, like, “Hi.”

He looked at me, smiled, and said, “Hello.”

I don’t know why, but I smiled that time. Something inside me felt light — calm, but strange.

Then, at the next stop, she came.

The pretty girl I had written about in my diary.

I always wanted to be her best friend.

But I couldn’t.

I don’t know why — she never told me her name.

It was strange… no one in school ever called her by any name either.

No one talked to her.

No one even seemed to notice her.

Only the boy — the cute boy — talked with her.

And with me.

And sometimes I felt like… I was the only one who could see both of them.

Like we were living in a small invisible world inside the school.

She climbed into the bus and stood beside me.

But she didn’t notice me.

When she finally turned, I said quickly, “Hi.”

She looked at me and said softly, “Hello,”

Her eyes scanning my face like something was wrong with me.

I couldn’t stop staring at her — her lips, her soft face.

She was so pretty that I forgot to blink.

But when I finally blinked —

She disappeared.

I froze.

My heart raced.

I turned around, searching, and my eyes caught her — sitting beside him, the boy.

“What’s this?” I whispered.

I couldn’t understand what was happening.

Was it real?

Was it them?

Or was it me?

Maybe… it was my illness.As I kept looking at them — the boy and the girl — my heart started beating faster.

Something about them didn’t feel real anymore.

And then — suddenly —

From behind me, someone leaned close to my ear.

So close that I could feel their breath brush against my neck.

A voice whispered, low and calm,

> “No… it’s not. It’s not your illness. It’s not your fault.”

I froze. My whole body went cold.

The voice continued — softer now —

> “It’s just their fate.

And your fate too, maybe.

Maybe you could help her.

That’s why the boy talks to you.

That’s why the girl shares her feelings with you.”

Before I could even turn to see who it was, the voice was gone.

No one was there.

The bus kept moving.

Everyone looked normal.

But my heartbeat wouldn’t slow down.

The words echoed in my mind —

“It’s just their fate.”I was shocked.

The bus slowed, and then it stopped — right in front of my school.

The boy and the girl looked completely normal again.

They stood up, taking their bags, laughing like nothing had happened.

And I was just sitting there, stuck.

My mind still echoing with that whisper — “It’s just their fate.”

He looked at me, gave me a side glance, and said,

> “Come on, we’ve reached our school. Come, come, come!”

He smiled and stepped out of the bus.

The girl behind him turned, looked straight at me, and said,

> “Come, Aria. What are you looking at? You always look like that.”

She laughed softly, tilting her head.

> “Am I pretty? I know I’m pretty. Just come!”

Before I could even say anything, she grabbed my hand, her touch cold but soft,

and pulled me off the bus, forcing me to step down with her.

The air outside felt heavier than before.

The sky was still cloudy.

And the words “It’s just their fate” wouldn’t leave my mind.I walked into the school.

And I froze.

Because I couldn’t understand.

I couldn’t understand what was happening around me —

the girls,

the boy,

the pretty girl,

the disappearing man.

I just couldn’t forget.

And I started thinking again.

As I walked, the air changed.

Time began to move slowly — painfully slow —

like the whole world was holding its breath.

The clouds turned dark.

The wind whispered something I couldn’t hear.

And then…

he appeared.

The man.

Right in front of me.

His eyes were sharp, calm, and cold.

He said,

> “Don’t think too much. It’s making me irritated. Can you stop thinking?”

And before I could answer,

he blinked —

and disappeared.

“What was that?” I whispered to myself.

Then, behind me, a voice repeated,

> “What was that?”

I turned — it was the pretty girl,

standing there, eyebrows raised.

“What?” I asked, confused.

She smiled strangely. “We were just walking.”

Then the boy came running, his bag swinging behind him.

> “Come on! Our teacher already went to the class! She’s too fast now!”

We all three ran together,

holding hands,

laughing breathlessly,

like everything was normal again.

When we reached the classroom,

the teacher was still talking, helping some students with their doubts.

The first two classes went smoothly.

Everything felt… okay again.

Then it was break time.

I sat under the beautiful tree —

the one with the pink and purplish flowers.

I picked one flower,

the same way I did that first morning.

And I started thinking again —

about the bus,

the man,

the whisper,

the girl,

the boy.

Whose voice was that?

And then it echoed again in my mind,

softly, endlessly —

> “It’s their fate.

It’s their fate.

It’s their fate.

It’s their fate.

It’s their fate.

It’s their fate.”I was deeply thinking about that man… and the voice.

Everything around me felt so quiet that even the sound of the wind brushing the tree leaves felt loud.

Then suddenly —

some loud voices started coming from my class.

I looked up, startled.

At first, I thought it was laughter. But no — it was shouting.

Screams.

Something wasn’t right.

I stood up quickly and started walking fast,

my heartbeat rising with every step.

The voices grew clearer — angry, confused, and scared all at once.

I began to run, my shoes hitting the hallway floor hard.

> “What’s happening?”

“Who did this?”

“Call the teacher!”

I could hear the chaos from outside the door.

My hand froze on the classroom door handle.

And for a second, I couldn’t breathe.

Something deep inside whispered —

“Don’t open it.”

But I did.I was shocked.

They were fighting —

the pretty girl and the cute boy.

Their voices echoed inside the class, sharp and angry,

but everyone else…

everyone else was just doing their work.

No one was watching them.

No one even looked up.

My eyes went blank, frozen on the scene in front of me.

Then one girl near the door said quietly,

> “Come in… why are you standing there? The teacher will come.”

I stepped inside slowly and whispered,

> “Are you not worried about them? They’re fighting.”

I pointed toward them,

but when she turned slowly to look —

> “Who?” she asked, blinking. “All are studying and gossiping. Are you… dreaming?”

My mouth went dry.

I turned my eyes back to where they had been fighting —

but the space was empty.

Everyone looked normal.

Everything was normal.

I whispered softly,

> “No… never mind.”

And walked to my seat, my heart pounding.I went to my seat quietly.

My mind was spinning, my heart still pounding from what I saw.

Slowly, I turned to the pretty girl —

and I froze.

She was sleeping.

Her head rested gently on her folded arms,

her hair falling like soft waves across the desk.

Not a single sign of a fight.

Not a single bruise, not even a frown.

I just stared at her,

unable to understand what was happening.

A few minutes ago she was shouting,

her eyes full of anger—

and now she was asleep,

like nothing had ever happened.

Was I… dreaming?

Or was she?I blinked, unable to move or speak.

A thousand years… cursed by God… my mind spun, trying to understand.

The girl squeezed my hand gently and whispered, “Aria… you are part of our fate. Without you, we can’t change what was meant to happen.”

The boy leaned closer, his glowing eyes serious now. “We were once humans like everyone else. But we defied the natural order. We lived, loved, and lost in ways we shouldn’t have. That’s why we are cursed… trapped to wander through centuries.”

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering. “But… why me? Why am I the one who can see you, hear you, and… help you?”

The girl smiled softly, almost sadly. “Because you were chosen. God… or whatever force governs this world, decided that only someone pure, someone who hasn’t been broken by hate or pain, could hold the key to our fate. That’s you, Aria.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it. “I don’t understand… I’m just a normal girl! I’m not… special. I can’t do anything.”

The boy’s voice softened, almost gentle, but still firm. “You already have, simply by being here, by noticing us. Your heart, your courage, your choices… will shape our path. You can either help us… or watch everything collapse.”

I felt my chest tighten. The weight of their words pressed on me like a thousand years of history, pain, and mystery all at once.

The girl’s eyes glimmered as she whispered, “Aria… our past, our curse… your future. It all begins now.”

Time seemed to slow even more. The fan above us spun lazily, each tick of the clock stretching into eternity.

And I realized… there was no turning back.And they said thank you to me. Then they blinked their eyes—twice.

Suddenly, I was standing in front of my house. My mom called from behind, “Aria, what are you doing here? Are you okay?”

I slowly turned and smiled. “Yeah, I’m perfect.”

We had lunch—well, technically dinner—and then went to our rooms.

Finally, lying on my bed, I thought about the man, the kiss, the day… and I began writing it all in my diary.And I was thinking about it on purpose — because I knew if I thought long enough, the man would appear again. Then I could finally ask him my questions.

So I kept thinking, over and over, and suddenly, he came.

He looked at me with that teasing smile and said, “Are we going to kiss again?”

I laughed. “No. Shut up.”

He just lay down on the bed while I sat beside him.

Then he asked softly, “Are you okay?”

I nodded and said, “I met her — the pretty girl and the cute boy.”

He turned his head toward me, his expression changing. “Oh, so the right time has come. You’ve achieved it.”

I looked at him, surprised, and whispered, “Yes. Now… it’s time for you to tell your story.”He sighed softly and said, “I don’t have any story. And I’m not cursed… like them. I was just waiting for someone.”

I blinked. “Someone?”

He looked at me, a faint smile touching his lips.

“Maybe,” he said, “I finally found that someone.”

I stared at him, confused. “What? Who?”

He didn’t answer. He just looked at me — and I could see it clearly, in the quiet of the room, in the depth of his gaze.

There was love in his eyes.

And I knew… eyes don’t lie. Never.He smiled faintly and said, “Yes… my eyes don’t lie,” his voice quiet and romantic.

Butterflies fluttered through every corner of my body. My heart was beating faster than ever.

And before I could stop myself, I whispered, “Is it… me?”

He looked at me again, that same soft gaze, that same smile curving on his lips.

“Is it me?” I repeated, breathless.

He chuckled softly, eyes warm, and said, “Maybe.”

He blinked once — smoothly, almost dreamlike — but this time, he didn’t disappear.

He just stayed.

He sat beside me, then suddenly stood up and asked, “Can I sleep here?”

“Wait—what?” I blurted, eyes wide.

He tilted his head, pretending to think. “Can I live in your room… just for tonight?”

I frowned. “Do you even sleep? Don’t you have some important work at night?”

He smiled gently. “No. I just want to sleep because… I want to sleep next to you.”

The butterflies in my stomach turned wild — it felt like they were multiplying, laying tiny, fluttering eggs inside me. I couldn’t breathe.

I took a deep breath and said softly, “Okay… you can. But stay in your limits.”

He smirked — that same teasing smirk — and my heart skipped a beat again.

“Okay,” he said, raising his hands playfully. “Give me some space. I want to rest on your bed.”

“Where? My bed?” I asked in disbelief. “Then where should I sleep?”

“Beside me,” he replied, without hesitation.

I froze. “What?”

He rolled his eyes and said, “Relax. I won’t touch you. Promise.”

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “Okay… me too. But don’t you dare cross your limits.”

He smiled softly, almost fondly. “Okay, okay… I understand.”Then, all went silent.

We were lying on the same bed, the room filled only with the soft rhythm of our breaths.

After a few minutes, he finally broke the silence.

“Who… is he?” he asked quietly. “The one who bullied you in your old school?”

I turned toward him, raising an eyebrow.

He noticed and smiled faintly, teasing yet gentle. “Don’t flutter my heart like that… turn back to that side.”I turned back, feeling my cheeks heat up uncontrollably. I was blushing… too hard.He asked again, quietly, “Tell me… what happened?”

I took a deep breath and told him everything — how he bullied me, how cruel my friends had been, every sharp word, every hurtful act. I even showed him the photo.

The moment he saw it, his eyes flared, burning like fire.

“See… what happens?” he said, his voice low and intense, a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite name.The next morning, when I woke up, my heart immediately started fluttering.

He was there, playing gently with my hair, leaning close enough that I could hear his soft breaths.

“Good morning, Aria,” he said in a deep, cute, and soothing voice.

I instantly closed my eyes, feeling my cheeks burn.

He laughed softly. “It’s getting late,” he teased.

I realized he was right and slowly opened my eyes. He just laughed again, that warm, teasing laugh that made my heart skip a beat.“What is getting late?” I asked calmly.

“For your school,” he replied with a teasing grin. “It’s getting late for your school. The bus has already started.”

I frowned. “How do you even know that the bus has started?”

He just laughed — that damned, mischievous laugh — and I almost forgot it really was my school time.

I jumped out of bed, rushed through breakfast, and dressed up quickly. He sat there the whole time, watching me with that smirk.

“Can you please turn around?” I said, trying to sound firm. “I have to change my dress.”

He laughed again, and in a blink, disappeared.

I changed fast, drank my milk, and hurried to the bus stop.

There they were — the pretty girl and the cute boy — waiting for me.

“Are you waiting for me?” I asked, breathless.

“Yeah,” the girl said with a smile. “A hundred percent correct.”

I smiled back.

“You’re so smart,” the boy said playfully.

“Of course,” I said proudly.

“Then let’s go,” he said.

The bus came. We ran, we chased, and we finally reached school.

Today, I felt strangely distant from everyone — like I was walking alone in a world full of noise.

But I didn’t regret it.

Because I had found friends — not human, but something else.

Something I couldn’t define.

Something… better than humans.The school day was over, and they dropped me at the bus stop. The bus didn’t come, so I wandered with them, unsure of where to go.

I finally asked, “Where is your house? Where do you live?”

The boy looked at me, amused. “House? We’re a hundred thousand years old. Our house collapsed long ago in some earthquake. We don’t have a house anymore. Maybe our great-great-great-great-grandparents’ house, if they’re still around… or maybe we’re ancestors to some great-great-great-great-grandsons and granddaughters.”

I laughed at that. The girl laughed too.

The pretty girl looked at me and said, softly, “Your laugh… it’s so adorable.”

I blinked, confused. “Thank you. You too.”

I asked again, “Then… where do you live after school?”

She smiled faintly. “We don’t live. We just exist.”And I felt something deep inside my heart—something warm, strange, and certain. I decided, right then, that I would help them, no matter what.

I took a breath and asked, “What should I do? What can I do to make you free from this world?”

They both laughed softly and looked at each other. The boy said, “We’ll tell you when the time comes. It’s close… just a few days.”

I turned toward the pretty girl; she was smiling at me, her eyes glowing faintly.

Then the bus arrived.

They waved their hands, giving me a soft send-off. I was stepping inside when I called, “Wait! Wait! Tell me what—”

But before I could finish, the bus door closed, and they were gone.And the people on the bus were staring at me like I was some kind of mad person. I just looked at them, smiled weirdly, and said, “Hi… hello,” for no reason.

When my stop came, I jumped out of the bus like a cute little girl. And then—there they were—black shoes right in front of me. I lifted my head, and it was him.

I don’t know why, but I started to blush. He came closer and said, “Hi. And why are you blushing? Did you apply blush on your cheeks?”

I avoided his eyes and looked down. “No, I just… no, it was just something… something,” I said nervously.

He frowned, jealousy flashing in his eyes. “Something? Something happened in the bus? Did anyone make your heart flutter, or give you butterflies?”

Just then, the class topper came running toward me with a book in his hand. “Ah! Aria!” he called. I turned and said, “What?”

He smiled and said, “Thanks for this,” handing me the book. He shook my hand—but then something strange happened. His hand froze.

I turned back—it was him. He was the one doing it.

“Stop it!” I shouted softly.

The topper looked confused. “What? I… I can’t move my hand! What happened? Who are you talking to?”

I forced a smile. “Nothing… you should leave now. And thank you for the book.”

He hesitated, then said, “Okay… bye,” and walked away.

I turned back to him and glared. “Are you feeling jealous?”

He smirked. “Jealous? Humans have feelings, Aria. But I don’t. I was just waiting for someone… and that someone is you.”

My breath caught. “Me?”

He nodded slowly, his voice softening. “Yes, you. I knew it was you—the moment you slapped me that day. I knew. It was you. It was always you. I’ve been waiting for you for a hundred years.”

He took a step closer, his eyes full of sorrow. “They were cursed because of their sins… and I begged God to keep me alive until you returned.”

And then—he hugged me.

And disappeared.And I felt it—his warmth still wrapped around me. The hug lingered even after he vanished.

I ran back home, breathless, and opened my diary. My hands trembled as I started to write. I didn’t know what this will mean, but I had to put it into words.

That day… he granted me two wishes. But I never used them. Because I didn’t know what to wish for.

And now… I do.

I want to make a wish—something that can truly change my life.

My first wish is to set the pretty girl and the cute boy free.

And my second wish…

I paused for a moment, my heart pounding.

No. Not for him to love me.

I wish… that I could love him.I closed my diary and leaned back, thinking deeply.

Maybe he would come again tonight… so I could tell him my wish.

I waited, thinking harder, staring at the door.

But everything stayed silent.

He didn’t come.

The clock struck midnight, and still—nothing.

The room felt colder, emptier.

I felt so lonely that I finally closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.

And then, that morning—he came.

Just like that, without warning.

He stood there, quiet, his expression soft yet distant.

“I can’t grant your second wish,” he said.

“Because I just… exist. I can’t live with you.”

My heart stopped.

The smile that once stayed on my face melted into tears.

“Why?” I asked. “Why can’t you grant my second wish?”

He said nothing for a moment. Then softly,

“Go and touch them. Your first wish will come true.”

“But why not the second?” I begged.

“I want my second wish to be the first.”

He looked at me, sadness written in his eyes.

“I am not human, Aria. Not like you. I started feeling something for you… but then I remembered—I’m not meant to feel.”

“I waited for you,” he whispered.

I interrupted, crying, “Then continue that line! You waited for me, and now I’m here! Why can’t you just become human and love me like before—like you did a hundred years ago?”

He smiled faintly. “It’s not as simple as you think. I made a promise to God—that I would never cross my limits. Even when you stood before me, I said no.”

I was stunned.

“What? You said yesterday that you waited for me! And now you talk about promises and limits? What are you even saying?”

He looked at me gently. “I must die first, Aria. Only then can I be reborn as a human. And when that happens… I’ll find you.”

My heart froze. His eyes shimmered with tears.

“Fine,” I whispered, trembling. “Then die first. I’ll die next. We’ll meet again as a couple in our next life.”

But he shook his head. “No. God said… you’ll only be reborn once. Not again and again.”

“Then why?” I cried out. “Why did you wait all these years? Why, if you knew this?”

He turned away, his voice breaking.

“There are things I can’t explain. Please don’t ask me.”

And before I could say another word—he disappeared.

The air felt heavy. My heart ached so deeply I couldn’t breathe.

And then… my phone rang.

It was him—the boy who bullied me.

“Aria,” his voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m really, really sorry.”I stared at the phone, my hands trembling.

The voice on the other end—the boy who had tormented me for so long—sounded different. Vulnerable. Human. Real.

“I… I didn’t mean to hurt you, Aria,” he repeated, sobbing quietly.

“Please… I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what to say. My chest felt tight, my heart fluttering like a trapped bird.

All the memories of the past—his cruelty, my fear, my tears—clashed with the warmth that was growing inside me now, a strange, confusing warmth.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” I whispered, almost to myself.

“I… I forgive you,” I finally said, my voice barely audible.

There was silence for a moment, just the soft sound of my own breath.

And then, unexpectedly, he laughed—soft, choked, full of relief.

“Thank you, Aria,” he said, his voice breaking again.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness… but I’ll do anything to make it right. Anything.”

I didn’t know why, but I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of everything—the magical, the mysterious, the pain, and the love that had been building inside me.

Somewhere, deep inside, I knew this was connected. The pretty girl, the cursed boy, the man who existed beyond human rules… everything.

And then, as if answering my unspoken thoughts, a faint shimmer appeared in the corner of my room.

A soft, cold light, and there he was—the one who wasn’t human. The one who had always waited.

“You’ve forgiven him,” he said softly, almost amused, almost proud.

I nodded. My heart pounded. “I think… I’m ready now. Ready to do something… to help them, to help you, to… understand all of this.”

He smiled faintly, the sadness in his eyes mingling with warmth.

“Then we begin,” he whispered.

And the air shimmered around us, the world slowing, bending, waiting for what was to come.

And in that moment, I knew—my fate, their fate, all of it—was about to change.I ran to my school, my heart racing faster than my steps. And there they were, sitting under that same old tree — the pretty girl and the cute boy — looking just as calm as always. I ran to them breathlessly, and they looked up at me, startled.

“What happened? Are you okay?” they asked in unison, concern filling their faces.

I told them everything — every single thing that had happened. Their faces changed as they listened, their eyes glistening with both sadness and joy. Tears rolled down their cheeks, but they were smiling too, because they knew what it meant. They were finally free.

When I finished speaking, I said goodbye — a huge, trembling goodbye that felt heavier than any word I’d ever spoken. The girl smiled softly through her tears and said, “I’ll never forget you. And this is my promise… my name is Rachel. I think we’re not strangers anymore.”

We both laughed through our tears.

Then the cute boy looked at me and said, “We’ll always promise to be with you, Aria. And—oh! I almost forgot—my name. Sorry for not telling you.”

We all laughed together, the sound echoing under the tree, gentle and pure.

“I’ve never met anyone like you two,” I said quietly. “Such adorable, beautiful souls. May your sins be free now.”

And then, I reached out and touched them both at once.

The moment my fingers brushed against theirs, a soft wind blew past us. Their bodies began to shimmer, breaking into golden dust, scattering into the air like stars.

I stood there, my hands trembling, watching them vanish — a piece of dust, a memory, a promise — carried away by the wind.I sat there under the tree.

But this time, the petals were no longer pink or purplish — they had turned pure white. I looked up in wonder, realizing what it meant. They were gone. The pretty girl and the cute boy had finally left this world, and even the tree changed to bid them farewell.

I sat there quietly, the breeze brushing against my hair, the soft petals falling around me like snow. For the first time in school, I was truly alone. No laughter beside me, no mysterious voices calling my name — just me and the whispering wind.

Time flowed slowly, gently — and then suddenly, he appeared again, right in front of my eyes.

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. He stood there, looking at me with those deep, familiar eyes.

“Shall we go on a date?” he asked, his voice low, teasing, but filled with something softer this time — warmth.

I looked at him, half in disbelief, half smiling, my heart fluttering again. “A date?” I whispered.

And without thinking, I reached out and touched him — just to make sure he was real.

He smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in his voice, and said,

“No. I will never disappear like them. They were cursed. But I…”

He paused. His voice trembled slightly, almost breaking.

“I begged,” he said, quietly — “I begged to stay.”I had imagined again… I saw someone else and thought it was him. But then, suddenly, everything went dark. I felt dizzy—and then I started to bleed.

My mom came running, shouting my name, crying. I was rushed to the hospital, and the doctor said softly, “Only two days… she’ll live only two days.”

I didn’t know what to feel—happy, or sad.

Happy, because I was finally going to him.

Sad, because I was leaving my mom.

That night, I trimmed my hair short. My mom watched me with trembling hands, eyes heavy with sorrow. She looked at me like she never had before—like she was memorizing every part of me.

I smiled at her and said quietly, “Mom, don’t worry about me. I’ll be happy.”

She bit her lip, trying to stop her tears, and I did the same. We didn’t need words. We just looked at each other one last time.

That night, when I lay in bed, I closed my eyes, whispered a thank you to God, and slowly… I left my body.

My soul drifted upward, light as air.

When I turned back, I saw myself—my own body—lying there peacefully.

And then I saw him.

He was standing right in front of me, waiting, his eyes full of warmth and love.

He smiled, stepped closer, and said softly,

“You came to me. Finally, you came to me.”

I smiled through my tears, and this time, there was no pain. No curse. No time.

Only peace.

He reached for my hand, and I held his tightly.

And as we walked together toward the light, I knew—

death wasn’t the end.

It was our beginning.And then I

“Death is something beautiful to me… and scary to others"......