A faint thread of sunlight slipped through my window.
I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw was Moka, sleeping beneath my hand.
A small smile formed on my lips.
I gently moved the books from the sofa onto the table, then stood up, stretching with a long yawn before walking toward the kitchen.
I opened the refrigerator.
There was only a bottle of milk.
"…Seems like I don't have much left."
I leaned against the counter, exhaling softly.
"Maybe I should go buy something… though I don't have money. Maybe I should get a job."
I sat down at the table, resting my head against it.
Then I heard a soft meow.
I lifted my gaze slightly.
"I wonder how you ended up next to me during the night…"
I poured some milk into a small bowl and placed it in front of Moka. She began to drink quietly.
I watched her in silence.
Then I searched for the food Alya had left and gave her a bit.
After that, I rested my head on the table again.
"…What am I going to do now?"
A sigh escaped me.
Moka jumped onto the table and gently rubbed her cheek against my hand.
I smiled again—faint, but real—and began to pet her softly.
Then I stood up, picked her up, and walked back to the living room.
I lay down on the sofa, placing her on my chest.
"Let's sleep a little longer…"
She curled up immediately.
I rested one hand over her and closed my eyes.
Thanks to Alya…
I wasn't completely alone anymore.
The sound of my phone woke me up.
I grabbed it lazily and read a message from Alya.
I'm on my way.
Before I could reply, I heard the door open.
—"Good morning, darling."
Her voice.
I blinked slowly.
—"Good morning…"
Then it hit me.
I looked at her, confused.
—"Wait… how did you get in?"
She smiled.
—"I borrowed your key… and made a copy."
"…Right."
I dropped back onto the sofa.
Alya sighed and walked closer. She gently picked up Moka and placed her on the table—
—and then suddenly jumped on top of me.
She smiled and kissed me.
—"Come on, sleepyhead. Don't be like this—you can do it."
I looked at her.
A soft smile formed again.
—"You have no idea how happy I am when I'm with you."
—"You're not the only one."
She smiled warmly and got off me, heading toward the kitchen.
She paused.
—"Why didn't you tell me you had nothing to eat?"
—"Don't worry about it. I'll get a job. Besides… I'm not really hungry. I just want to sleep."
She came back immediately and grabbed my cheeks, slightly annoyed.
—"Your physical and mental condition does not allow you to work. You don't need to. Just tell me what you need and I'll get it for you."
Her voice softened—but remained firm.
—"I'm your girlfriend. I'll support you no matter what. Just trust me. I'll always be your light at the end of the tunnel."
She kissed my forehead.
I smiled.
—"Go get dressed. We're going shopping."
I sighed softly and went upstairs.
When I came back down, I saw her playing with Moka.
I smiled.
Then I walked behind her and hugged her gently.
She tensed in surprise.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
I kissed her softly on the cheek.
—"H-hey! Don't do that without warning!"
She stuttered.
I chuckled.
—"Relax. I just wanted to be nice. Ready to go?"
She nodded.
We left Moka on the sofa.
She let out a small meow.
I smiled.
—"I'll be back in a few hours."
We got into Alya's car.
—"Alright. First, the market. You need proper food for the week."
—"You don't have to…"
She lightly hit me.
—"Yes, I do. Idiot."
She started the engine.
The market was crowded—colors, voices, movement everywhere.
Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish… life.
—"First, fruits and vegetables. You look pale."
—"That's just my natural appearance."
She paused.
—"…Right. I forgot."
We continued shopping.
Back home, we organized everything.
When we finished, she hugged me.
—"I wish I could stay longer, but I have to work. Kim said she wanted to talk to you—she'll probably come soon."
—"Alright… take care."
She kissed me.
Longer this time.
Then she smiled, waved, and left.
I dropped onto the sofa, smiling faintly.
I really wish I could stay with her forever…
She's the person who supports me the most.
I love her with everything I have.
I closed my eyes.
—"She makes me happy…"
A pause.
—"…When I fall apart… she's the one who lifts me back up."
A knock at the door.
Kim.
I stood up and opened it.
—"Good morning, Dark."
—"Morning, Kim."
She smiled softly.
—"Come with me."
—"Where?"
—"Just trust me."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.
We walked through the city.
After about thirty minutes, she stopped.
Then she smiled.
—"Ready?"
—"For what?"
—"Just jump with me."
Before I could react, she ran up a small set of steps—
—and leaped.
I followed instinctively.
For a moment…
Time slowed.
We fell—about six meters.
Then landed.
She turned to me, smiling.
—"This is it, Dark."
Her voice softened.
—"The place where we met… six years ago."
I looked around.
And I remembered.
The swings.
The stone paths.
The playground…
Rusty now. Faded.
Like a memory that had been left behind.
We sat on a bench.
—"I remember that day perfectly."
Her smile was gentle.
And then—
The past resurfaced.
I was sitting alone.
Reading a children's horror book.
—"This isn't even scary… how do kids get frightened by this?"
Then I heard crying.
I stood up and followed the sound.
A girl.
My age.
Orange hair, with red-tinted ends.
—"Are you okay?"
She looked at me, teary-eyed.
—"I fell… my knee hurts…"
I knelt beside her.
—"What are you doing…?"
—"Helping you."
I cleaned her wound carefully.
Wrapped it.
—"Does it hurt less now?"
—"Yeah… thank you. What's your name?"
—"Nighthos Dark."
—"That's such a pretty and strange name! I'm Kimberly. Kimberly Aiory."
I looked away.
And I'm the one with the strange name…?
—"Where do you live?"
—"A few streets from here."
I took her hand.
—"Let's go. I'll walk you home."
Back in the present—
I smiled faintly.
—"Yeah… I remember."
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
—"Those were good times."
—"Yeah…"
A pause.
—"Dark… there's something I don't like."
I looked at her.
—"What is it?"
She pulled away slightly.
Her voice trembled.
—"Professor Eclipse… she's not human."
Silence.
—"…She smells like death."
I sighed.
—"Kim… stop. She's just… mysterious."
She looked away.
—"Let's not talk about it."
Then—
Something moved.
The swings.
They began to sway… on their own.
Slowly.
With each movement—
Symbols formed in the sand.
"𖦃, 𖥹, 𖦃, 𖥹"
I stood up.
Walked closer.
The first symbol began to glow—
violet.
I knelt and started digging.
Ten centimeters deep—
A necklace.
Black chain.
A fallen angel symbol.
The moment I touched it—
A vision.
A woman.
Black hair.
Running.
Shadows chasing her.
Then—
Nothing.
I snapped back.
Kim stood beside me.
—"We should leave."
I nodded.
We walked toward the exit.
Then we saw her.
Between the trees.
Watching us.
Professor Eclipse.
A black dress blending with the shadows.
She smiled.
And vanished.
"…This feels wrong."
We said it at the same time.
The wind rose.
As if warning us.
Something was coming.
Something bad.