Mom yelled from the kitchen, "Mikasa! Your friend's on the phone!"
Friend? I literally froze. I've never had that kind of moment before—someone calling me a friend, someone actually calling me. I was still half-asleep and very much confused. Rubbing my eyes, I stumbled out of bed and grabbed the phone, heart racing.
"Hello?" I said.
Silence.
"Hello?" I repeated, a little more awake now. "Who's this?"
I heard something then—soft, shaky breathing. Was that… sobbing? I wasn't sure, but it sounded like someone crying.
Honestly, I was still half in dreamland, so I didn't give it much thought. Before I could ask again, Mom's voice cut through the moment like a slap to the face: "It's raining! Bring the clothes in from outside!"
Ugh .Just like that, the weird little mystery moment ended, and I snapped back into my usual routine. I was getting ready for college anyway.
And just like every other morning, there was no goodbye, no hug, no warmth between me and Mom. I'd say, "I'm going," and she'd just... say nothing. Or maybe she didn't hear me. Or maybe she didn't care. At this point, I couldn't tell.
I walked down the stairs. The rain was coming down like crazy. I've always loved the rain—something about it feels like the world is crying on your behalf. But I couldn't exactly show up to college soaked like a drama queen in a romantic K-drama, so I grabbed the umbrella.
College wasn't far—unfortunately. Everyone else seemed to live far enough that they got to hang out, explore cafés, chill after class, live a life. Me? I had to rush back home like Cinderella before midnight.
I envied them, honestly. Not that I'd ever admit it out loud. They weren't exactly "friends," more like classmates—but they had their little groups, their little adventures.
Sometimes, I'd watch them laugh at something stupid, heading off somewhere together after class, and think, If only my house was far from college too... maybe then I'd be invited.
Maybe then I'd get to feel what it's like to be missed, or even just... wanted.
It was lunch break, and—like always—he came up to me.Not for me, obviously. Just for the half-bitten burger in my hand. Classic.
He didn't say hi. Didn't ask if I was okay.He just said, "Who was it on the phone this morning?"
And I was like, Bro, what?How did he even know about that? My heart skipped a beat, but before I could ask anything else, he turned and walked away. No explanation. Just... left.
I stood there, my brain buffering like a cheap internet connection.
Then suddenly, Hana—one of the new girls—came running up and grabbed my hand."Come! Fast!" she said, breathless.
I blinked. "Where are we going?""Just come with me!"
I was still frozen, mind spinning from Keiko's random comment. Keiko—my boyfriend, sort of. It's complicated.You know that moment when life glitches, and you're like WTF is even going on? Yeah. I was deep in that moment.
Hana dragged me all the way to the basketball court.And there he was. Keiko. Laughing. Eating.Sharing the burger he stole from me with his some random new? FEMALE friend like it was no big deal.
I turned to Hana, deadpan."Is this what you dragged me here for?"
She nodded, grinning like a total idiot. "Yes."
I sighed. "Bro, this is literally normal for me."She looked a little deflated—like she expected me to be shocked or hurt.
She was new.She didn't know this was just another Tuesday for me.
But deep down... I felt something.Not about Keiko—he was just being Keiko. But Hana?She noticed. She cared.
No one ever really noticed stuff like that for me before.I was sad watching Keiko, yeah. But at the same time... I looked at Hana and felt something weird.
Did I just... blush?Wait—am I gay?LOL.
Nah. Maybe not. Maybe yes? Maybe it was just... connection.Like, real friendship. That sudden warmth when someone actually gives a damn about you.
I smiled—genuinely. Then I remembered there was a new food item in the canteen today. I lit up.Turned to Hana and pulled her the way she had pulled me earlier."We gotta run!"
We ran like maniacs, laughing. I was going so fast, I didn't even notice the metal pole right in front of me—BAM.
Yep. Crashed straight into it.My right hand took the hit.
I winced, clutching it, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal.Hana immediately knelt beside me, worry written all over her face."You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying not to sound like I was dying inside.She took my wrist gently and started rubbing it, as if trying to make the pain disappear.
"It's okay," I insisted. "I'm fine, really—"
"No, your hand's turning red," she said, frowning.
Then—guys, listen to this carefully. You know how doctors sometimes check your other hand too, like comparing both sides to make sure nerves are working fine?Yeah.
She did that. She started rubbing my left hand too, checking the difference. Like she actually knew what she was doing.
And suddenly... I heard a voice.
"Thank god she's okay..."
I looked around. No one was there except us.Then—again—another voice:
"Aww, her hands..."
But Hana's mouth wasn't moving.Like, not at all.
Yet I heard her.In my head.
Her voice. Her thoughts.
And that's when it hit me.What. The actual. Hell.I could hear what she was thinking.
That day, I went home with a storm swirling in my head.
So many questions.
How did Keiko know about the call this morning?And Hana—what the hell was that voice in my head?
I tried to act normal. Washed my face. Ate dinner. Sat down with my books, pretending to study. But let's be honest—I wasn't opening those books to revise equations. I just needed to sit still and make sure today actually happened.
My thoughts kept circling back.Was I dreaming? Was that really Hana's voice? In my mind?
I replayed every second of the day—Keiko's weird comment, Hana rubbing my wrists, that warm feeling... that voice.Then it hit me.
The hands.She touched my hands. Both wrists. That moment, something clicked.
I've always had this weird sixth sense. Nothing major—just random moments where I know something's going to happen before it does.And it's scarily accurate. Like, 90% right. Always brushed it off as coincidence. But now... I don't know.
Is this a power?LOL. Nah. What am I, in a Marvel movie?
Still, I couldn't resist. I started rubbing my own wrists like a maniac. Nothing. Nada.Everything felt normal.
"See?" I told myself. "I'm smart. It's nothing."hihi
I went downstairs.Mom was on the phone watching one of her random reels. I didn't say a word, just started looking around the living room like I was searching for something. Honestly, I just wanted to test something.
She looked up and asked, "What's wrong? What are you searching for?"
And I—I don't even know why—I snapped: "Nothing. Why do you even care?"
Like—WTF was that?That wasn't me.It was like... someone else spoke through me. Someone digging for answers, curious about what she might find in her own damn wrist.
I sneaked a glance at Mom.She narrowed her eyes. "What's with your tone?" she said.
But then, I heard her again—this time, in her head.
"Idiot."
She didn't say it out loud. But I heard it. Crystal clear.And I froze.My stomach flipped.
Holy. Shit.I could actually hear her thoughts.
Still not fully believing it, I ran to my little sister, Mizuki. The Gen Z queen herself. On her phone, of course. What did I even expect? A textbook on her lap?
I watched her for a second. Then, impulsively, I blurted out,"Are you into girls?"
She gave me this stunned look, like I just told her aliens landed in the backyard."Uhhh no?? Why would I be?"
But then—her voice again.
"Or maybe I am...? Idk. Nvm."
IN. HER. FREAKING. MIND.I HEARD IT.
My whole brain was doing cartwheels.I ran to my room, legit jumping like I was on drugs.
What the hell was this?Who do I even tell?Should I tell anyone?
Probably not.Still, every cell in my body was screaming to spill this secret.It was too big to carry alone.
Then it hit me.
Him.Keiko.
Should I read his mind too?Should I find out if he ever actually loved me—or if he was just playing the "tough boyfriend" card?
Memories came rushing in—how he kissed me, how he tapped my head gently when I was low, the way he used to hold my hand like it was made of glass.
Did he still care?Or was I just holding onto a ghost?
I wasn't sure if I was ready to hear the truth, but… I had to.No matter what he did. No matter how much I overthink. I was still here—loving him, pampering him, caring for him like an idiot.
And maybe, just maybe, the answer I'd get would finally set me free.Or wreck me completely....