"You're going to miss me, you know?"
A young woman said as she sipped her coffee, her black hair falling loosely, her green eyes fixed straight ahead.
"I know, but you know I don't really have a choice,"
Replied a young man with black hair and red eyes, sitting across from her.
The young woman's spoon clinked against the still-warm cup.
"Vicxen, are you really ready for this trip?" the young woman asked.
The young man stared silently at his cup of coffee.
Will this trip really change anything? he thought.
"Vicxen…?"
He quickly lifted his head and smiled at her.
"Of course. You want to come with me."
Why did I think that…? That won't fix everything. But maybe, just once, my mind would shut up.
"Stop it, you know I can't. If I could, I'd already be there waiting for you,"
She said.
Vicxen sighed.
"Hehe, no need to dramatize. I was teasing you."
"It's too late, I'm mad now."
"Oh nooo, what should I do to be forgiven?"
"I'm not easy to convince, you know?" she said cheerfully.
Oh, let's see about that.
"Ow, my head," Vicxen said, holding it.
The young woman stood up and walked over to Vicxen.
"Hey Vicxen, are you okay?"
She lowered her head to check on him.
Quickly, Vicxen lifted his head and kissed her.
"Are you still mad, my queen?"
"Damn…" she said, blushing. "People are watching us."
She glanced around shyly.
"Luna."
She straightened up, her eyes meeting Vicxen's directly.
"What?" she said, pouting.
"Thank you for always being there for me, despite my weaknesses. Honestly, still loving me even though I'm rank F, and despite everything wrong in my head."
He clenched his fists. "I promise I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."
Luna remained silent, her face completely red.
Then pip piiiiip… a car honked outside the café.
"Oh! It's your sister, you have to go."
"Oh! She's already here. Well, the time has come. I have to leave," he said as he stood up and headed for the exit.
"Vicxen, know that I love you."
Vicxen looked at her one last time and smiled.
"Me too."
Vicxen walked over to the car waiting for him and got inside.
"You okay, sis?"
His sister looked at him in a strange, amused way.
"Oh, love. Look at your face. I bet you kissed."
Vicxen rolled his eyes.
Here she goes again.
"And stop calling me 'sis' when I'm your big sister."
Vicxen ignored her and turned his head toward the windshield, watching the pedestrians and cars outside.
"So, how have you been feeling lately?"
Vicxen didn't turn his gaze away.
"I'm better… I think."
His sister looked at him sadly.
"I see. Then you should really enjoy this trip. And above all, don't go there just to isolate yourself."
"What? Who do you take me for?"
She thinks I'm some kind of misanthrope.
His sister smiled.
While Vicxen was watching the outside, something happened. A bluish window appeared in front of him.
[Your system is locked]
Ah, that damn hologram again.
At first, he thought the bluish window was an illusion caused by his illness, but for no apparent reason, he felt that this window was real.
He raised his right hand to touch it.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Vicxen jumped and looked at his sister.
"Nothing."
His sister stared at him intensely.
"You've arrived. Why aren't you getting out? Don't tell me you're scared?"
Ah, I didn't notice the car had stopped. Damn, is it getting worse?
"Thanks, sis. Goodbye."
"Don't call me that, you insolent brat!"
his sister shouted, red with anger.
Vicxen grabbed his luggage and headed toward the airport.
He entered the terminal, and suddenly a light breeze swept over him, chasing away the heat from outside.
Wow, there are so many people.
People were walking ahead, some dragging suitcases across the floor, others carrying handbags.
He made his way to the queue, moving forward slowly until it was his turn. He handed over his passport without a word. The woman behind the counter tapped away at her keyboard, indifferent, as his bag disappeared onto the conveyor belt.
After checking in, he went through security and then headed toward the boarding area, waiting for his flight.
"Hi, are you going to Orianie too?"
Hmm, who's this?
A young woman sat down next to him.
"Yes, you too?"
"Yeah, I'm Melcy. I was getting bored not seeing any young people like me. Luckily, I saw you."
This is what they call a sociable person… I already feel like we're friends.
Vicxen sighed, then smiled and replied.
"I'm Vicxen. You're right—it seems like we're the only young adults in this airport, haha."
Melcy burst out laughing.
"What? What's so funny?"
Melcy leaned in slightly and whispered in his ear.
"The people in their twenties nearby were upset by what you said. See, they're young adults too."
"What?"
Oh crap…
Vicxen looked around and saw some people staring at him.
Damn, what have I gotten myself into.
He stayed seated silently, sweating, waiting for his flight.
When his flight was called, he stood up without thinking. The sharp beep of his boarding pass sounded like an irreversible decision.
He and Melcy boarded the plane. Melcy quickly found her seat, while Vicxen found his a little further down.
He sat down by the window.
A calm voice rose above the hum of the cabin, going over the safety instructions. He only half-listened, his eyes fixed on the window.
The jolts of takeoff rattled through the plane.
Finally… by tonight, I'll be in Orianie.
And without warning, his body grew heavy; he couldn't move. He was paralyzed.
Damn, not now… why is this happening here?
He couldn't speak or move.
I feel like my soul is leaving my body… help…
Then he passed out. Several hours went by, and suddenly he woke up.
What just happened?
His eyes fell on the window. Outside, it was already twilight.
"What? Since when?"
But something else caught his attention. Outside, on the wing of the plane, a figure was standing.
Am I hallucinating again…?
But his expression changed when he heard a child in the seat in front of him telling their mother that there was someone on the plane's wing.
What? So it's real?
When he looked again, there was no one.
Huh? Where did they go?
Boom—an explosion erupted in front of the plane.
"What the hell is going on?"
The plane was about to plunge into a free fall.