Hearing Alexa's scream, Maera and Sim—who weren't far—froze in their tracks.
"Sim, stay here. I'll be back," Maera said urgently.
"Where are you going?!" Sim asked, concern rising in her voice.
"I'll be right back," Maera replied, already running.
When Maera reached Layall's house, she came to an abrupt stop—her eyes widened in disbelief. The girl she had thought was Layall… was Sara.
In that moment, a film from the past unspooled before Maera's eyes. Memories, emotions, fragments of everything she had buried came rushing back. She had so many questions… but not a single answer.
Sara had Alexa pinned against the wall, hands tight around her throat. She looked nothing short of a monster, as if she was moments away from ending her life.
Without a second's hesitation, Maera lunged forward.
"SARA!!" she screamed, grabbing her from behind.
Sara released Alexa, who collapsed to the ground, gasping and coughing violently. But Sara fought back—her body writhed in Maera's grip. She was still resisting.
"Let me go!" Sara cried, her voice a storm of desperation. "I need to get to her! I want her! Let me go—she's leaving! She's not coming back!!"
Her screams shattered something inside Maera. With force, Maera turned Sara around—then, all at once, the chaos stopped. Silence, sharp and sudden, fell over the room.
Alexa stood there, wide-eyed, speechless. She too had questions, countless ones: Layall is… Sara? Since when? How? But her mind couldn't keep up.
Maera cupped Sara's tear-streaked face gently in her hands—and with her lips, silenced her pain.
And in that kiss, Sara found something she hadn't felt in a long time—life. Peace. Stillness. She fell silent, eyes closed. Maera's arms wrapped protectively around her neck, and Sara, trembling, gripped Maera's hair—like an anchor in a collapsing world.
Just then, Sim arrived. And what she saw made her freeze on the spot.
Maera and Sara, eyes closed, lost in each other's breath, their hearts bleeding into one another. Sara, still pinned against the wall, slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor. Maera followed her down.
That kiss—was a storm and a sanctuary. A wound and a cure. A death—and a resurrection.
When Maera finally broke away, Sara had regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, vision blurred, and in a whisper, she said:
"Maera... you... again... you're here..."
Then she passed out.
That night, as Sara clung to the edge of a new life, many others unraveled. And once again—it was Maera who saved her.Maera, her savior.
Sara now lay unconscious on a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages. Outside her room, Maera, Sim, Alexa, Zero, and Sam sat in tense silence.
Suddenly, Maera stood and walked toward the restroom. Seizing the opportunity, Sim followed closely behind.
Inside, Maera splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection, lost in thought.
Without warning, Sim stormed in and exploded.
"So that's why Layall was just a YouTuber to you, huh? That's why you made those disgusting jokes whenever I said I admired her?! That's why you always tried to keep me away from her?!"
Sim was trembling with rage. "Say something, Maera! Why are you quiet now?!"
Tears began to stream down Sim's face. Maera, alarmed, moved closer.
"Sim, this is a hospital. And you're crying, listen—"
"Don't touch me!" Sim snapped, brushing Maera's hand away. "What kind of sick joke have you played on me for seven years?!"
Maera ran her hands through her hair, emotions swelling inside her.
"Looks like it's time... to tell everyone everything," she whispered. "I thought some truths would stay buried forever. But truth... always finds a way to surface."
She took Sim's hand. "Come with me."
When they stepped out, before Maera could speak, Alexa grabbed her arm—furious.
"Tell me, Maera—what the hell did you do to Sara?! Why is she like this today?! Why is it always your name on her lips—whether she's hurting, working, unconscious or awake?! Why is it always you?!"
Alexa was shaking with grief and rage. Sam and Zero barely managed to pull her away.
"I came here to tell you exactly that," Maera said in a steady tone.
"Well then," Sam added, his voice sharp, "if this is about Sara, Dr. Rika—her therapist—needs to hear this too."
"Sara… is in therapy?" Sim asked, stunned.
All five now sat quietly in Dr. Rika's office. Maera stepped forward, her voice grave as she began.
THE PAST:
"Sara and I met during the final year of college. I didn't even realize when she became my closest friend. Slowly, feelings started to grow… but before I could understand them, my family arranged my engagement to Sim. She was the daughter of my father's closest friend.
I thought I could manage it. But when you love someone—truly love someone—and you know you can't have them… the love only gets deeper.
I tried to treat the engagement as something temporary. Meanwhile, my bond with Sara kept growing stronger. And then, one day, she confessed her feelings to me.
It was the first time… I kissed her back.
Everything changed after that. I can never forget that day."
THE PRESENT:
Maera paused. She looked around the room—everyone's eyes were on her, listening, some frowning in confusion. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Sim placed her hand gently on Maera's shoulder for comfort, but Maera pulled away.
Dr. Rika noticed, and softly encouraged her to continue. "That day…?"
"That day was five months after I married Sim," Maera continued, her voice fragile. "Things were bad between us. Sim wanted attention, and I was fighting a war inside myself.
I'd promised Sim I'd spend that evening with her, but then Sara asked me to come over… and I said yes.
That night, Sara's house was empty. We studied together, watched a movie, played some games—but something felt off. I asked her what was wrong, but she kept deflecting.
Eventually, we lay down in the same room to sleep. When Sara was near, I could forget all my pain. I fell asleep talking to her.
Some time during the night, I woke up—and she wasn't there.
I found her outside, in the yard, talking to herself. She didn't see me. She was venting... about me. Asking why I hurt her, why I played with her feelings. That's when I realized—she had found out about Sim.
Before I could step in, she said, 'If I can't have you, Maera, then I don't want to belong to anyone. I'm sorry... I'm leaving.'
I rushed forward and grabbed her hand—just as she was about to cut her wrist.
Sara jerked away, panicked. 'Why are you even here?! You hurt me, Maera! You played with my heart! I can't love or hate you anymore!'
She screamed, clutching her hair. Then, dizzy, she stumbled.
I caught her. Like she was a fragile doll. That innocent face, those teary eyes… full of pain. And all for me.
But what could I have said? I had a storm inside me too.
I whispered, 'Sara, whatever you need to say… say it. I'm here.'
She stared at me. Then she collapsed into my arms—and wept.
She cried for a long time, until eventually, she rested her head on my knees and fell asleep.
I held her.
Maybe… maybe that was the last time I truly felt her so close.
I couldn't live without her. But I had to.
Because of my family.
And that night… for the first time, I wanted to disappear with her… and never come back."
"…or if I never see her again, even then—I want to fall asleep just like that… with my head resting on hers, holding her tightly," Maera said, her voice cracking as she finally paused. She wiped her tears and continued, "I used to think she'd forget me. But when I myself couldn't forget her… how could she? I had no idea that I'd be the one to move on, while she'd be the one destroyed. Even on the last day… I avoided talking to her not out of cruelty, but because I thought keeping my distance would help her forget me. But I was wrong."
Maera broke into sobs.
Alexa stepped forward and wrapped her in a comforting embrace, trying to steady her. Sam and Zero sat in stunned silence, shaken by the truth they had just heard. Sim quietly wiped her tears, stood up, and left the room without a word.
Dr. Rika, who had been silently observing the emotional storm, finally spoke.
"We found something in Sara's medical reports," she began gravely. "She has Dissociative Identity Disorder… and yes, she knows. But what she doesn't realize is just how dangerous her 'Layall' state has become.
She's aware that she becomes someone else—but she has no real control over that other identity.
This isn't just trauma anymore. Sara's been engaging in self-harm for years. She hits herself. Scratches herself. And inside… she's evolved into someone frightening. A fractured mind. A deeply broken person—possibly even a full-blown psychopath underneath.
She's been attending therapy for about a week now. On the outside, she can seem calm, even composed. But sometimes… it's like I'm talking to a completely different person.
And she's told me herself—you, Maera, are the only one who can truly save her.
If you don't… she's going to lose herself completely.
She's teetering on the edge, Maera. If things continue like this, we fear the worst. That she may either permanently lose her identity… or become a psychotic threat to herself or others.
And if that happens… there won't be anything I or even you can do.
She's already at her limit."
The group had finally stepped out of the room when Sam, speaking for the first time, said:
"To really help Sara… we first need to convince her other identity that she's not Layall—she's Sara."
Zero nodded in agreement, then added, "And we also have to make sure she knows that Maera has moved on. Though… that part might be harder."
Maera looked down, then quietly said, "Right now, Sara's unconscious. We're the only ones who can take care of her."
Alexa spoke next, "Then let's do this—let's each take turns, one day at a time, staying by Sara's side. That way… she'll never be alone."
Everyone agreed to the plan.
Grrrrowl...A loud noise came from Zero's stomach.
Sam looked at him and grinned, "Maybe we should feed this one first."
The group broke into soft laughter. Sam patted Zero's shoulder, and together, they all left to get some dinner.
Later that night, after dinner, it was Sam and Zero's turn for the first night shift.
Zero had stepped outside to call his mom, while Sam sat quietly in Sara's hospital ward, watching over her. His mind was spiraling with thoughts—most of them about Zero.
Zero's recent behavior had been strange. Every time Sam thought about it, he felt more confused.
"Why is he acting like this? The way he looks at me… how he keeps blushing at random moments, getting jealous, zoning out all the time, and staying close to me like some clingy puppy. This isn't normal," Sam thought.
He suddenly remembered, "Where did that idiot go? Wasn't he just going to grab some coffee?"
Sam began to feel drowsy as he waited. He lay down on the couch and closed his eyes.
Just then, Zero entered the room, holding two coffee cups.
"Dude, you're already asleep?" he whispered, smiling at the sight of Sam.
Sam stirred slightly in his half-sleep. Zero stepped closer, picked up a blanket, and gently draped it over him. Then he sat beside him.
For a moment, he just stared.
Sam began to feel the warmth of Zero's breath on his face—soft and close. He could feel the heat of Zero's gaze.
And then—without thinking—Zero reached out and gently caressed Sam's cheek. His voice came out low, as if lost in a trance:
"…I never realized… you're actually really beautiful, Sam."
Sam's heart started racing.
But he couldn't move.
Zero leaned in even closer—and gently pressed a soft kiss to Sam's forehead.
Then their eyes met.
And in an instant, reality hit Zero.
"What the hell am I doing?" he thought, suddenly panicking.
He shot to his feet and rushed out of the room.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Sam slowly opened his eyes, still lying frozen on the couch.
His eyes were full of questions—ones he didn't know how to answer.