The street was quiet, unnaturally so, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
The faint glow of the streetlights flickered above, casting long shadows on the pavement.
I tightened my grip on the small box in my hands, the weight of it heavier than it should have been. Inside was a cake—a simple one, but it meant everything.
It wasn't just a dessert; it was an answer. An answer to a question I never thought I'd have to face, let alone from three different people.
Three girls. Three confessions. Three lives that had somehow tangled with mine in ways I couldn't have imagined.
I was the one who sat by the window, watching the world go by, a nameless face in the background. Just another extra in someone else's story.
Love? Romance? Those were things that happened to other people. I was fine watching from the sidelines, untouched by the chaos of fleeting emotions and heartbreak.
But deep down, there was a small, unspoken wish. A wish for something real. Not just any relationship, but one that was worth it.
One where the other person's presence was more valuable than my peace, someone who truly appreciated and respected me.
I wouldn't settle for less. My self-worth meant too much.
And then, against all odds, it happened. Three girls—three perfect, spotlight-stealing girls—confessed to me.
Each one brilliant in her own way, each one someone I had admired from afar, never daring to dream they might see me as anything more than an extra.
But they did. And now, I had to choose. I had to answer.
I had been happy—happier than I'd ever thought possible. For the first time, I allowed myself to imagine a future where I wasn't alone.
A future where I could be with someone who truly saw me, who valued me. My family's struggles had always held me back, but now, I felt like I could finally take a step forward.
I had already made my choice.
Tonight, I would give my answer.
So why…
Why am I here, bleeding on the cold pavement?
The cake I had carefully chosen lay smashed on the ground, its delicate layers ruined by the dirt. My vision blurred as I looked down, confused, watching the dark stain spread across my stomach. Blood. My blood.
I looked up, and saw a figure standing in front of me, cloaked in shadows.
Their face was obscured by the dim light, but as my eyes adjusted, my breath hitched. I knew that face—it was familiar, too familiar. But why? Why did I know this person?
The attacker stepped closer, their features coming into focus. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat sending a fresh wave of pain through my body.
My lips parted, but the words felt stuck. Why? Why them?
It was someone I had seen before, someone I had never expected to hurt me. The realization hit me like a second blow, more painful than the wound itself.
Their expression… Was that regret? Anger? Pain?
"You…" I choked out, my voice barely a whisper. "Why…?"
But they didn't answer. They just stood there, their expression unreadable, before turning and disappearing into the night.
I collapsed to my knees, the world spinning around me. The street was still quiet, the cherry blossoms still blooming, but everything felt distant, unreal.
I clutched my wound, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The pain was overwhelming, but my mind refused to focus on it.
Instead, I thought of them. The three girls who had changed everything. The three confessions that had shattered my carefully constructed world of solitude.
I thought of their faces, their voices, the way they had looked at me—like I mattered, like I was more than just an extra.
…Was this truly my ending, or just the beginning of something far worse? Ahh-
The pain was overwhelming, yet my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Back to that day in spring. Back to the cherry blossoms, blooming in the gentle breeze. Back to the moment everything started…