The soft glow of morning sunlight slipped through the narrow gaps in the curtains, casting golden lines across the room. The stillness was broken by the sharp beeping of the alarm clock on the bedside table.
With a quiet groan, Yuni reached out and silenced it, letting the sudden quiet settle over him again.
He sat up slowly, the blanket slipping off his shoulders as he rubbed his eyes, still caught between the haze of sleep and the weight of waking reality.
Another day… and yet, somehow, everything was different now.
Yuni is now fourteen. It's been eight years since that day—since the incident. Time hadn't stopped for him; it moved forward quietly, reshaping him along the way.
Now a middle schooler, his world looked different, but the weight of the past still echoed softly in the background.
He slipped out of bed and stretched, his limbs leaner and taller than before. With a yawn, he walked into the bathroom, the cold tiles jolting him fully awake. He brushed his teeth in silence, staring at his reflection—older, but still carrying traces of the boy who once fell from a rooftop.
A short while later, he was dressed and ready, adjusting the strap of his schoolbag over his shoulder. He stood by the door, lacing up his shoes.
Just as Yuni reached for the door, his mother's voice called out from the kitchen:
"Yuni! At least have some breakfast before you go!"
His hand on the doorknob.
"I'm good, Mom! I'll grab something on the way," he called back, not turning around.
And with that, he stepped outside, closing the door gently behind him.
It's been eight years since that day. Since I came back.
Everything has unfolded just as I remembered it—the same seasons, the same streets, the same faces. Nothing's really changed.
Except one thing.
Jen.
All the memories we used to share—the laughter, the after-school hangouts, the bond that once felt unbreakable… they're gone now. Erased by my silence. By choice.
I guess I really did it. I rewrote our future.
But I can't celebrate just yet.
He's still here. Still in the same school as me.
And fate... fate has a strange way of circling back.
But I guess I should enjoy it a little—
Technically, it's my first day of middle school.
Well… second, if we're being accurate.
But who really keeps track of these things?
As Yuni walked along the quiet sidewalk of his neighborhood, heading toward school, something caught his eye up ahead.
A group of boys—four of them—were cornering someone near the alley by the convenience store. Squinting, Yuni slowed his pace.
"Hm? What's going on there?" he muttered to himself.
As he stepped a little closer, he noticed the girl—clearly distressed, standing her ground the best she could. The boys surrounding her were all wearing the same school uniform as him.
So they're from my school... Great.
It was obvious they were messing with her—teasing, maybe worse.
Yuni stood still for a moment, watching quietly. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Now the question is…
Should I step in and help her?
Or just keep walking and mind my own business?
He glanced away for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.
"Guess I have to step in… otherwise, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Yuni raised his voice. "Hey!"
All four boys turned their heads sharply toward him, expressions shifting from amusement to irritation.
One of them stepped forward. "What do you want?"
Yuni stood his ground, calm but firm. "I want her."
The boy let out a dry, mocking laugh. "Oh yeah? And what makes you think we're just gonna hand her over?"
Yuni pulled out his phone and held it up. "I bet this will."
He hit play.
The clear sound of the bullying—taunts, threats, and the girl's fearful voice—filled the space between them. The boys stiffened.
Yuni's voice was sharp now. "Let her go… or you can explain this to the police."
There was a pause. The boy who'd mocked him earlier clenched his jaw, then scoffed and turned away.
"Tch. Whatever. She's not worth the trouble."
One by one, they walked off, muttering under their breath.
And one of them before leaving said "You'll regret this" and left
Yuni ignore it and slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked at the girl. "You okay?"