It was a bright, quiet day.
Sunlight filtered gently through the trees, casting soft patterns along a worn, broken concrete pathway. The wind moved calmly through the air, carrying with it the rustling whispers of leaves as they drifted down one by one.
A girl walked slowly along the path.
Her steps were light, almost absent, as if she were moving without a destination—guided only by something unseen.
Leaves brushed against her feet as she passed, the world around her calm… almost too calm.
A small flock of birds suddenly flew past her, their wings cutting softly through the air.
She lifted her gaze, watching them as they disappeared into the open sky.
The wind followed.
It brushed against her gently, lifting strands of her hair and revealing her face—soft, untouched, and quietly beautiful.
And then, she reached her destination.
The college stood just ahead, its gates open, students moving in and out in small groups, their voices blending into a soft, lively hum.
"Hey! Shae!"
Shae turned at the familiar voice.
"Hey! Marika!"
The two quickly closed the distance between them and hugged, laughing lightly as they pulled away.
"You're early today," Marika said, raising a brow. "That's rare."
Shae smiled faintly. "Couldn't sleep much. So I thought… why not come early?"
"Hmm," Marika tilted her head, studying her. "You sure? You look a bit off."
"I'm fine," Shae replied quickly, brushing it off. "Just tired, I guess."
Marika didn't press further, instead looping her arm around Shae's as they walked inside.
"Well, you better wake up fast," she said with a playful grin. "We have that body structure class today. Sir Alonzo is definitely going to call someone to recite."
Shae let out a small groan. "Don't remind me… I barely memorized the skeletal parts."
Marika laughed. "Barely? I crammed everything last night. If he asks me about the bones of the hand, I'm done."
"Metacarpals, phalanges…" Shae muttered, trying to recall.
"Okay, show-off," Marika teased, nudging her lightly. "Save that energy for class."
They passed by other students chatting, some rushing, others lazily making their way to their rooms. The familiar noise of college life surrounded them—footsteps, laughter, distant voices calling out names.
"By the way," Marika added, "did you finish the assignment on body systems?"
Shae blinked. "Wait… that was due today?"
Marika stopped walking. "Shae."
"…No?"
Marika sighed dramatically, then laughed. "Good. Because I didn't finish mine either."
Shae laughed with her, the tension easing. "We're both doomed."
"As long as we fail together," Marika said, placing a hand over her chest, "I accept my fate."
"Same," Shae replied, smiling more naturally now.
The bell suddenly rang, echoing through the hallways.
"That's our cue," Marika said. "Come on!"
They hurried to their classroom, slipping into their seats just as their instructor entered.
"Good morning, class," he began, placing his materials on the desk. "Today, we'll be discussing the human body structure—starting with the skeletal system."
Marika leaned slightly toward Shae and whispered, "Pray he doesn't call us."
Shae let out a quiet breath, eyes forward.
"Open your books to page 32," the instructor continued. "We'll begin with the basic framework of the human body."
Shae flipped her book open, her fingers tracing lightly over the page as diagrams of bones filled her view.
She listened.
She took notes.
She nodded along with the lecture.
As the lecture continued, Shae kept her eyes on the front.
The instructor's voice echoed steadily across the room, explaining the structure of the human body—bones, joints, functions.
But slowly…
Her thoughts began to drift.
The words around her faded into something distant, like a sound heard underwater.
Her gaze softened, unfocused.
She wasn't seeing the board anymore.
She wasn't even hearing the lecture.
It was as if something deep within her had pulled her away—into a place she couldn't quite reach… yet couldn't escape.
"Shae."
The voice came.
Soft.
Almost like a whisper brushing past her ear.
She didn't respond.
"Shae."
Again.
Still nothing.
"Shae!"
A light tap hit her head.
"Hey! Shae, what's wrong?" Marika whispered, trying not to laugh. "What are you thinking about? You're really gone today. Sir's been calling you."
Shae blinked rapidly, snapping back to reality.
"Huh?"
"It's your turn," Marika added, covering her mouth as she giggled.
Shae straightened immediately.
"Miss Shae," the instructor said, looking at her expectantly. "Can you explain the basic function of the skeletal system?"
Shae swallowed lightly, her mind scrambling.
"Y-Yes, sir…"
She paused for a brief second, gathering her thoughts.
"The skeletal system… provides structure to the body," she began, her voice steadying. "It supports movement, protects internal organs, and produces blood cells… through the bone marrow."
The instructor nodded.
"Good. Sit down."
Shae exhaled quietly as she lowered herself back into her seat.
Marika leaned closer. "Not bad," she whispered. "For someone who just came back from another world."
Shae gave a small, awkward smile.
The rest of the class passed without incident.
When the bell rang, the tension lifted instantly.
"Finally," Marika stretched. "I'm starving."
"Same," Shae replied.
They walked out together, blending into the stream of students heading outside.
"Let's eat at that place near the gate," Marika suggested. "I've been craving something fried."
Shae nodded. "As long as it's food."
They made their way to a small restaurant just outside the school.
Over lunch, they talked casually—about assignments, upcoming exams, classmates, and random stories that made them laugh in between bites.
"If we survive this semester," Marika said dramatically, "we deserve a vacation."
"We deserve sleep first," Shae replied, smiling.
After eating, they decided to walk to a nearby mall.
"Just a quick stop," Marika said. "I need to buy some things."
"You always say that," Shae teased.
Inside the mall, they wandered from store to store—looking at clothes, trying out random items, laughing at things they didn't need but wanted anyway.
"Does this look good on me?" Marika asked, holding up a top.
Shae tilted her head. "It's… loud."
"So you're saying I shouldn't buy it?"
"I'm saying you will buy it."
They both laughed.
Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, the sun had begun to lower, casting a warm glow through the glass windows of the mall.
"We should head back," Shae said.
"Yeah," Marika agreed.
They returned to the school to retrieve their things.
Just outside the entrance, a few of their classmates were gathered, chatting casually.
"Hey!" one of them called.
They joined the group, exchanging small talk, laughter, and light conversations.
Then—
Shae's eyes shifted.
Something—
No… someone—
Caught her attention from the corner of her vision.
Two guys were walking down the hallway, heading toward the exit.
One of them—
Her breath caught.
Time seemed to slow.
The noise around her faded.
Her eyes locked onto him.
Zi.
As if sensing her gaze, he lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
In that instant—
Something unexplainable passed between them.
A pull.
A recognition.
His steps faltered.
His vision blurred.
The world around him distorted, like reality itself was slipping.
A sharp pain struck his head.
"—"
He tried to steady himself, but his body refused to respond.
The light around him dimmed—
Then—
Darkness.
His body collapsed.
"Hey—!" his companion shouted.
"Zi!"
Shae's eyes widened.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest.
Without thinking—
"Hey!!" she shouted, stepping forward.
Her voice cut through the noise.
"Someone—he just collapsed!"
The world rushed back all at once.
Students turned.
Voices rose.
And Shae—