Squeal

The high-pitched sound of brake pads pressing against the wheel rims echoed as a bike stopped in the parking area of the building.

A man quickly dismounted from the bike, carrying a bag filled with various products.

[11:35]

"Hope I'm not too late."

Saying so, with quick steps, Inder moved towards the lift.

The silence felt heavy in the empty garage as he arrived in front of the lift, pressing the button.

Ding.

The lift opened up as the man walked inside, only to find a middle-aged woman already present.

"Good evening, Miss Della," Inder greeted her as he stepped in, pressing the button for the 38th floor.

"Good evening, Inder," she greeted him back with a smile, her eyes drifting towards the bag he was holding, "Looks like you did some shopping for your mistress."

"Well yeah, tomorrow is our twenty-fifth birthday, so just for some celebration," Inder replied as he showed her the bag.

"Ohh! Happy birthday to both of you then. I hope you both live a happy life," Della replied, her voice filled with surprise as she heard him.

"Thank you, and I will surely convey your message to her," Inder replied, smiling with a light chuckle.

"Though finding someone with the same birthday as you, you guys must be fated to be lovers," Della complimented with a tinge of envy in her voice.

"Hahaha... I hear that a lot," Inder replied, scratching his left cheek in embarrassment.

Ding.

The door of the lift opened as Inder moved out.

Soon he walked through the corridor until he arrived in front of room number 13.

Taking out the room card, he opened the door and walked in.

"I am home," Inder said in a soft voice, but loud enough for someone to hear.

"Welcome home~" A melodic voice came from inside as Inder moved towards the sound.

Walking, he soon arrived in front of the kitchen where a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties stood preparing dinner.

She had long flowing hair cascading down her back. She possessed a slender yet graceful figure, standing at an average height with an elegant posture that exuded confidence.

"You look tired, dear," she glanced back at Inder with her ruby-red eyes as she put her work aside and moved closer to him.

"I just need some recharge from my Delilah," saying so, he gently hugged her as she melted into his embrace.

They both embraced each other before Delilah broke it, complaining, "My dinner will get burnt because of you."

"Sorry," Inder replied as he moved closer towards the kitchen counter, placing the bag on it.

"How was your day?" She asked as she continued to cook.

"Normal," Inder replied as he took out the contents of the bag. "By the way, I brought all your favorites."

"Ohh, and what did you bring, mister?" Delilah asked curiously, still focusing on her work.

"Hmm, I brought your favorite Raspberry-flavored candies," Inder said proudly as he showed her a pack of candies.

"Hmm, that's good," Delilah replied, glancing at the pack before focusing back on cooking.

"Then I have your favorite choco chips flavored ice cream," again with a proud smile, he showed her the packs of ice cream.

"Hope you brought enough this time," she replied with a mischievous tone.

"Yeah, I don't want you to eat my part of the ice cream as well," Inder grumbled as he took the last item from the bag.

"And I also brought you Tangerine shake, seriously why do you even like this?" His proud face turned weird as he took out the last item.

"You just don't have good taste, mister," Delilah rebuked playfully, punching his sides. "Anyway, place them into the fridge; we can have them after dinner."

"As you say, my lady," whispering, he took all the items as he walked towards the fridge.

"Change your clothes, Inder; they will get dirty," Delilah said as she watched him still in his office uniform.

"Yeah," Inder replied as he moved back to change into more comfortable clothes.

[11:48]

Wearing a plain white shirt and loose black pants, Inder moved towards the hallway and sat down on the sofa.

He opened the TV and the PlayStation as he took the controller in his hand.

The last game he played started, and a girl with pure white hair soon emerged on the screen, with the title of the game written at the bottom.

MY DEAR LOVER

The gameplay screen immediately changed again, and the main menu appeared in front of him.

"....."

Inder stared deeply at the boy who was beside the main logo.

With purple hair and eyes, and a charming yet sickly appearance, he stood there with a defeated look.

Immediately, a sense of uneasiness crawled over Inder's body as a feeling of similarity emerged within him as he looked at the boy.

Huff

...

Huff

..."

Unnoticed by Inder, beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his breath became shallow.

Was it perhaps fear of the unknown, or was it something from the depths of his being that was awakened, shaking him as he himself didn't know.

"Inder?" Delilah arrived in the hallway, looking at him with concern.

"Huh?" Inder came out of his daze as Delilah's soft hands wiped the sweat from his face.

"Are you okay?" Delilah asked with concern, sitting beside him and gently patting his back.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Inder replied with a deep sigh.

"You had another nightmare, didn't you?" Delilah asked, knowing him well enough to discern his condition just by noticing his demeanor.

"Yeah, this evening," Inder replied honestly, his gaze returning to the purple-haired boy on the screen.

"What did the psychiatrist say when you last saw him?" Delilah asked, continuing to rub his back.

"The same thing, that because of my past trauma, I'm creating scenarios in my head that manifest as nightmares," Inder replied with a tired gaze, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Hmm..." She didn't say anything but simply held his hand tightly, reassuring him.

"Am I mentally unstable?" Inder mumbled to himself.

"When I first met you? Yes, you were. But right now? No," Delilah replied, planting a light kiss on his head, earning a chuckle from Inder.

"Yeah, I wasn't right in the head when I met you," Inder admitted, acknowledging how messed up his mind was at that time.

"Shall we go to the terrace for some fresh air?" Delilah suggested, standing up.

"Yeah, we should," Inder agreed as they both made their way to the terrace.

Delilah stared intently at the screen where the purple-haired boy was, and after a few moments, she removed her gaze.

Click.

Inder opened the door to the terrace as the cold night wind tickled their skin, making them shiver slightly.

"It's cold." As they stood leaning against the terrace wall, Delilah mumbled, rubbing her palms.

"Come here." Sitting at the edge of the terrace, Inder opened his arms and called her.

She quickly nestled into his arms, and they both felt the warmth from each other's bodies.

"This is heaven," Delilah mumbled as she wrapped her hand around his waist, resting her face sideways on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

[11:56]

Inder looked back as he sat at the edge of the building, he could clearly see the empty streets.

"Inder."

"Hmm."

"What was the last nightmare you saw?" Delilah asked as she looked into his eyes.

"Hm... All I remember was that I was talking with a girl," Inder replied, thinking deeply.

"It's close to the end," Delilah mumbled as she closed her eyes, placing her head back on his chest.

"You said something?" Inder asked, not hearing her words clearly.

"Inder." Looking up, she called his name. "Tell me, what do you dislike the most about me?"

"Why this out of the blue?" Inder asked, not understanding her question.

"Just tell me."

"Hm... Your eyes," he replied, looking deeply into her red eyes. "I don't like them."

"Why?"

"Well, no matter how much I want to see past them, I can't see anything," he replied honestly, bringing a light smile to her face.

"Then what do you like the most about me?"

"Hm... Your eyes," his reply didn't change, nor did he shift his gaze. Still looking at her red eyes, he continued, "I like them the most because no matter how much I see them, I can't see anything."

[11:58]

"Inder," placing her head back on his chest, she mumbled, "I just want you to know, things are going to be hard from now on."

"Hm... What do you mean?" Inder asked, confused.

"Our time is up now," she mumbled again, hugging him tightly.

"Delilah?" Inder asked, sensing something was wrong with her.

[11:59]

"Even if your body changes, even if your personality changes, I will still love you," she continued to mumble, hugging him tightly.

"Are you okay?" Inder asked as he cupped her face, making her look at him.

"I love you, Inder," she replied, closing her eyes and bringing her face close to his, while her hands remained on his chest.

Inder let his guard down as he closed his eyes as well.

Their lips gently touched, and before long, Delilah took the initiative to kiss him deeply.

[00:00]

"S-see you....later."

Parting her trembling lips away from him, she mumbled.

Thud.

"Huh?" Inder let out a startled voice as he saw Delilah moving away from him.

But soon he realized that she wasn't moving away from him; he was the one who was falling down...

The world slowed down for him as the last thing he saw was the crying figure of Delilah looking at him.

Before darkness embraced him for eternity....

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