The moonlight poured in through half-closed curtains, tracing silver lines across Ren's room like memories that refused to fade.
He lay still, phone on his chest, heart oddly quiet.
Buzz.
Her name lit up again.
Serin.
"Hey... truth or dare?
I'm bored and you feel safe."
His lips curved into the softest smile. That kind of smile that only comes when someone makes the silence feel less... alone.
Ren:
"Always truth."
"Okay, Mr. Mystery...
What's your biggest fear?"
He didn't reply for a moment.
Then slowly typed...
Ren:
"Being forgotten by someone I can't forget."
Read.
No typing.
A pause — like the sky holding its breath.
"...Damn.
That actually hurt.
Okay fine, my turn — dare me."
Ren:
"I dare you to tell me where you live."
"Haha stalker alert. But okay — Kurzawa."
He sat up.
His spine froze.
Ren:
"Wait. You're serious?"
"Yeah? Why?"
Ren:
"I LIVE in Kurzawa."
"What school...?"
"Kurzawa High."
Everything...
Stopped.
His fingers trembled. His heartbeat wasn't beating — it was screaming.
Ren:
"Don't... don't tell anyone about me.
Please."
"Why not...? You okay?"
Ren:
"That school knows a version of me I hate.
A version that used people. That lied.
I don't want you to know that version."
"Ren... I don't care about your past.
I care about who I'm texting right now."
Ren:
"Just pretend we never met.
This was all... just an accident."
"Wow...
I'm used to people leaving.
But I really thought you were different."
"Take care, Serin."
He stared at the screen.
Her words cut deaper than any blade.
He didn't even reply.
He placed the phone on the nightstand, rolled into his blanket, and pulled it over his head like a shield against the world.
No tears.
Just ache.
The kind that stabs quietly.
"You had someone… and you let them go."
Morning.
His reflection in the mirror looked like a ghost dressed in school uniform.
"Ren! Hurry up or you'll miss the bus!"
His mom's voice came from the kitchen.
He didn't answer.
At school, the world moved in colors. But he only saw grey.
Friend:
"Yo, you look like you just got dumped."
Ren (half-smile):
"You're not wrong."
They laughed.
But even laughter felt borrowed now.
In class, his pen didn't move.
His eyes didn't blink.
Because all he could think of… was her.
Her name.
Her smile.
That little typo that started it all.
"Maybe if I wasn't broken...
Maybe if I was just a little better In My Past...
She would've stayed."
After school.
The sky burned with sunset — a canvas of orange, pink, and loneliness.
Couples laughed past him. Holding hands. Whispering dreams.
He felt invisible.
He entered home.
Mom (from kitchen):
"Ren~ I made your favorite! Meatballs tonight!"
Ren:
"Thanks, Mom... You're the best."
He said it like a ghost.
Then slammed his door gently and collapsed into his chair.
Opened his laptop.
Clicked open Snapchat on instinct.
9 unread messages.
From her.
From Serin.
His heart dropped into his stomach.
He blinked, rubbed his eyes. It was real.
He clicked.
"I don't want to forget you, Ren."
"I don't care about your past."
"I liked the person I met through a mistake."
"I know people leave. But maybe I'll stay..."
"Unless you still want me to disappear."
"I'll respect that."
"Just wanted to say… you made me smile when I forgot how to."
"Goodnight, idiot."
"Text me if your heart ever feels brave again."
"Hey…"
"I'm sorry. I should've held my horses."
"I kinda asked about you today."
"Don't freak out. I'm cool with it."
"I heard about your past. I'm not here to judge, bruh."
"We good?"
"Helloooo?"
"Ren?"
"I'm sorry, really."
"Hope you won't hate me."
He stared.
He wasn't breathing.
And for the first time in days,
he whispered her name…
"Serin."