"Ah... Sister~ Don't~"
Ryan shouted from the narrow wooden bed, suddenly sitting up. He was caught off guard and struck his head against the bed's wooden frame with a loud bang.
"Hiss..." He winced, clutching his aching head, and blinked in confusion. "Where... is this?"
He glanced around, finding the surroundings oddly familiar.
A cramped, narrow room. A small wooden bed. A stool and a desk with a few scattered books, along with clothes tossed haphazardly on the bed beside him. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed unusually bright, casting a golden glow on the floor.
Ryan shook his head, trying to clear his mind as the throbbing pain subsided. The blur in his vision faded, leaving only the strange, dazzling light on the floor.
"This is... home? No, that can't be..." He widened his eyes, his back still damp with sweat. Fragmented memories flashed in his mind. The last thing he remembered was his sister lying on the ground.
How could he suddenly be home? Was it a dream?
Stumbling to the bathroom, he splashed cold water on his face. The icy sensation jolted him fully awake.
"No," he murmured, gripping the sink tightly. "That wasn't a dream. It couldn't be."
He grabbed his phone from the desk. The screen read 9:23 AM, July 3, 2021.
Ryan froze. This was the day his sister, Lily, returned home by plane. He vividly remembered waking up late, failing to pick her up on time, and leaving her waiting at the airport for an hour.
When he finally arrived, there she was, waving at him with no trace of annoyance. She simply took his hand gently, chatting about everyday things as they walked.
He barely listened, letting her hold his hand as they crossed the street.
But then—
A shaky, out-of-control truck.
Lily's hand suddenly shoved him back, sending him flying several meters.
He landed hard, dazed and confused, only to hear screeching brakes, horrified gasps, and the sickening impact of metal against flesh.
"No... no, no, no!"
He ran to her crumpled figure, scooping his sister into his arms. His heart clenched at the sight of her fragile body, her blood soaking through his hands.
"Please... Lily, stay with me," he pleaded, voice breaking.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, her trembling hand brushing his cheek. But no words came. Her hand went limp, her chest stilled, and her eyes closed.
"No!"
Ryan's anguished scream tore through the air. Grief turned to blind fury as he spotted the drunk driver stumbling out of the truck.
In a heartbeat, he was on him.
One punch.
Then another.
And another.
The driver cried out, trying to escape, but Ryan pinned him down, pummeling him with everything he had.
By the time the police arrived, armed and surrounding him, Ryan was kneeling beside his sister's lifeless body, her hand clasped tightly in his.
Tears streamed silently down his face as he whispered, "Sister... please don't leave me. Please, wake up. Look at me... just one more time..."
He knelt helplessly on the ground, staring at his sister's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood. The overwhelming pain and sorrow, combined with the rollercoaster of emotions, blurred his vision. Slowly, the darkness swallowed him, and he fainted.
The last thing he saw was Lily's fragile figure beside him.
Ryan remembered it vividly, not because it was a dream, but because it had happened before—just the day prior. Or, more precisely, in another parallel world.
The cold water splashed on his face brought him back to reality, fully awake. It wasn't a dream. Everything he experienced was real: the accident, the grief, and the unbearable loss. But something was off—the time.
Yesterday, he distinctly recalled leaving home at 10:47 AM. Now, the clock read over an hour later.
"Have I... traveled back in time? To a parallel world?" Ryan whispered, staring at his phone screen in disbelief. His shock quickly turned to exhilaration as the realization set in.
He took a shaky breath, unlocked his phone with trembling fingers, and opened his contacts. The first name on the list was his sister's: Lily.
Without hesitation, he tapped the number and waited as the phone began to ring.
"Please... answer. You have to answer," Ryan muttered, his heart pounding as the seconds stretched endlessly.
Finally, the call connected.
"Hello?" came Lily's familiar, clear voice.
Ryan froze, overwhelmed by emotion. His shoulders shook, and tears welled up in his eyes. The line went silent for a moment.
On the other end, Lily sensed something was wrong. "Ryan? Is everything okay? I just landed. Should I come straight home?"
"No! No—" Ryan shouted, his voice rising in panic. He couldn't let her take any risks. He had already lost her once and couldn't bear the thought of losing her again.
Startled by his urgency, Lily hesitated. Before she could respond, Ryan cut in, "Sister, stay in the airport hall! Don't go anywhere. I'll come to pick you up. Just wait for me, okay? Don't leave—promise me!"
Confused but moved by the anxious tone in his voice, Lily agreed reluctantly. "Alright, I'll wait here."
After hanging up, Ryan exhaled deeply, his chest heaving. Relief washed over him, followed by determination. This was his second chance—a gift from fate. He vowed not to repeat the mistakes of his previous life. This time, he wouldn't lose her again.
Quickly gathering his things, Ryan rushed out of the old-style tube building where he lived. He headed toward the community gate, his steps brisk and purposeful.
Meanwhile, at the airport in City A, Lily ended the call and stared at her phone for a moment, lips pursed in thought. She wasn't sure what was going on with her brother, but his voice sounded... different.
Shaking her head gently, a soft smile tugged at her lips. On her usually cold and elegant face, the warmth was fleeting but unmistakable. She glanced at the crowd around her and began walking toward the airport hall.
Lily's striking appearance immediately caught everyone's attention. She wore a fiery red dress that clung to her figure, accentuating her radiant beauty. Her long, smooth hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her delicate features—rosy lips and flawless skin—drew admiring gazes.
Yet, no one dared approach her. There was an air of aloofness and unyielding confidence in her demeanor. Her icy expression and commanding presence created a barrier, keeping people at a respectful distance.
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