Sunlight filtered through the curtains of a minimalist apartment, illuminating the face of a girl still asleep under the covers. A few minutes later, the alarm went off.
Kringg....kringg....kringgg
The voice was immediately greeted with a random throw from the girl. A sound of something being thrown was heard.
Brakk
"Tsk." Kenza muttered shortly, then narrowed his eyes. Then he turned lazily towards his alarm.
And when he looked it turned out to be 05.45 in the morning
"Hahhh, let's take a shower first, then we'll cook," she said softly. Her voice sounded lazy, typical of Queennara Kenza. She lazily got up from her favorite soft bed, Then walked to the bathroom and entered.
Cklekkk
"Ahh, that's refreshing," Ken said as he closed the bathroom door, then walked to his wardrobe and picked out some casual clothes.
After that, Ken headed to his tiny kitchen. He turned on the stove the clicking sound broke the silence of his apartment. He took a pan from the lower rack, poured in a little oil, and let it heat up. His movements were quick and practiced, as if cooking were a habit deeply ingrained in him. In that small kitchen, the aroma of sautéed onions slowly spread, filling the space that had previously felt empty.
Every so often, Ken paused, gazing at the steam rising from the pan. His thoughts drifted somewhere far away. Cooking always gave him a moment to be still and breathe. When the dish was almost done, he stirred it gently, then turned off the stove. The kitchen fell silent again, leaving behind only a warm, comforting scent.
Finished eating.
After eating, Ken cleaned his plate and placed it on the drying rack. Then he walked to his room and took the jacket hanging behind the bedroom door.
He put it on, then walked out of his room and grabbed his motorcycle keys from the table in the living room. Tonight felt stifling not because of the air, but because of his own thoughts. He felt the need to breathe in some fresh air to calm a mind that felt on the verge of bursting, and a chest that had been tight for some time.
"I don't know why I've been feeling uneasy all this time," Ken murmured as he stepped out of the apartment and hurried down the stairs.
Upon reaching the lower garage, he immediately mounted his motorcycle and started the engine, the sound shattering the silence of the underground garage.
Broom, broom.
He rode off with no clear destination, letting the night wind hit his face, hoping the heaviness in his head and heart would fade away.
But that hope only lasted for a moment.
At an intersection, the headlights of an oncoming vehicle came too fast.
Tiiinnn, tiiinnn, tiiinnn.
Horns blared, and Ken reflexively slammed on the brakes, but it was already too late.
CRASH!
His body was violently thrown onto the asphalt.
"Ahh… damn it," he cursed through clenched teeth, his voice nearly lost amid the pain that surged through his entire body. His vision instantly swam. His body felt shattered, difficult to move, while blood spilled everywhere, soaking the road.
His breathing came in ragged gasps, and the sounds around him slowly faded, as if the people nearby were drifting farther away. Darkness gradually stole his consciousness without him realizing it.
On the other side…
News of Kenza's accident spread quickly, it didn't take long for it to reach the ears of Leonardo Keyga Abraham. Kenza's trusted secretary and also his adoptive older brother.
Leo froze in place as the phone call ended, his hands trembling, his face instantly turning pale.
"What's wrong?" his wife asked, worried by the sudden change in her husband's expression.
"Kenza," he replied in a choked voice. "He's been in an accident."
The words fell heavily, painful in their weight. His wife covered her mouth, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment.
"That's impossible…" she whispered, unable to believe it.
They both fell silent, sinking into the same shock. All this time, Kenza had always seemed careful, strong, and stubborn as if danger could never touch him. Now he lay in a hospital, facing whatever fate had befallen him.
Panic, fear, and worry mixed together, crushing both of their chests.
Without another word, Leon quickly grabbed the car keys and left with his wife, Tiara Abraham.
For the first time and on that very night he truly felt afraid of losing someone he had always considered his own younger brother.
Upon arriving at the hospital parking lot, Leon gripped the steering wheel tightly with trembling hands before finally turning off the engine.
His breath caught for a moment, his chest feeling tight, as if a heavy weight were pressing from within. He glanced briefly at Tiara, his wife, who sat stiffly beside him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Let's get out, dear," Leon said softly as he gently held his wife's hand, as if to strengthen each other's resolve.
The moment their feet touched the hospital floor, the smell of antiseptic immediately assaulted their senses. Leon walked quickly, holding his wife's hand as they moved through the hospital corridors. Their steps were hurried and impatient; every second felt torturous. Each of their minds was filled with dreadful images they couldn't push away.
At the information desk, Leon and his wife said the name Quennara Kenza in trembling voices.
"Excuse me, where is the accident victim named Quennara Kenza?" Leon asked.
The nurse quickly checked the data, then looked up with a serious expression.
"The patient is still in the emergency room," she said. "Please wait."
The word wait felt like a hammer striking the chests of Leon and his wife.
Leon dropped himself onto a waiting chair, both of his hands clenched. For the first time in a long while, he truly felt afraid of losing the younger brother he had always protected.
Not long after, the doors of the emergency room opened. A nurse stepped out slowly, her gaze immediately falling on Leon and his wife. Her expression alone was enough to make his heart sink.
"Family of the patient, Quennara Kenza?" she asked gently.
Leon stood up. "That's me."
The nurse gave a small nod. "The patient regained consciousness for a few minutes. The doctor has allowed the family to go in because the patient wishes to speak for the last time."
Tiara covered her mouth as tears immediately fell. Leon froze for a few seconds, then finally nodded stiffly, as if their world were about to collapse at that very moment.
They stepped into the emergency room.