WHISPER

Chapter 1

Make it simple

"Feelings are just visitors, let them come and go."

(Lumi's POV)

The rain was relentless that night, pounding against the window like a warning I was too tired to heed. My fatigued body lay on the bed, a few sleeping pills scattered beside me, and the knife in my hand waiting for its moment. I stared up at the ceiling, wishing sleep would come before my hand moved—before I ended
it all.

Morning came again, cold and grey. Everything was wet, and the knife had fallen to the floor. I stood up; it was still 6 a.m., but who cared? Time had lost its importance long ago. I took a cold shower, as always, and put on my clothes. My roommate was still asleep when I checked on her. Our classes wouldn't start until 10 a.m., so I slipped on my sneakers and left the house quietly. Running had become my only escape from the thoughts of ending it all. Running while staring at the beach, the cold air biting at my skin, numbing me to everything else.

But I wasn't paying attention.

Suddenly—

"I'm sorry, my bad."

A voice. Someone apologizing to me, even though it was clearly my fault. I didn't even look at him. I mumbled, "It's fine," and started walking away. But he grabbed my hand.

"It's not polite not to look at someone's face," he said. "And also, my name is Na—"

Polite? What did that even mean? I didn't care about politeness, names, or anything. I just wanted to be left alone. "I don't care what your name is or who you are. Just leave me alone, please." I pushed his hand away and continued on my way, ignoring him.

(Nathan's POV)

It was 6 a.m., my usual time to run. The cold weather was perfect for clearing my head, and I wished my friends weren't so lazy. It would've been nice to run together.

I finished my morning routine and headed outside. The beach looked beautiful, and I felt comfortable running along the shore. But comfort never lasts long, does it? A beautiful girl with long black hair and pale skin, carrying the scent of something sweet, bumped into me. Was it my fault or hers? I wasn't sure, but I apologized anyway.

"I'm sorry, my bad," I said, offering her my hand to help her up. But she didn't even look at me. "It's fine," she muttered and walked away like nothing had happened.

I couldn't let her go so easily. I grabbed her hand. "It's not polite not to look at someone's face. And also, my name is Na—"

She didn't let me finish. She pushed my hand away and said, "I don't care what your name is or who you are. Just leave me alone, please." Her voice was soft, but something was off. She seemed... broken. I don't know why, but my heart started racing. Was that normal? Or had I fallen for her in that brief moment? Either way, I would find her again. That wouldn't be hard.

(Lumi's POV)

10 a.m. Class had just started. I was sitting alone as usual. No one cared about me, and that was fine. My roommate was sitting in the back of the classroom with her boyfriend. I guess she only enrolled in med school for him, but it wasn't my concern.

Class after class passed, and finally, it was noon. Everyone was leaving campus, and I waited to see if my roommate would come home with me or with her boyfriend. After five minutes, I decided to head home alone—she had chosen him again.

As I left the college, five guys stared at me. One of them approached and said, "Hey, angel." I gave him a disgusted look and sighed. He grabbed my hand, and I immediately recognized his voice and touch. He was the guy I'd bumped into earlier.