"Hey, give me a black pen," Ed said, nudging the boy sitting next to him in class.
His voice was casual, but the reaction was anything but.
A ripple of laughter spread through the small group of students around him as they turned to stare at Ed, smiling as if he'd just made the funniest joke in the world.
"You lame people," Ed snapped, narrowing his eyes at their amusement.
"You're in your final year of college, Grow up already." Ed said.
He pointed his finger toward a girl seated nearby.
"And you," he said, smirking.
"You're a girl—why are you looking at me like that? Do you have black pen?" Ed asked.
The girl shrugged nonchalantly, her grin unbothered.
"Who knows?" She said.
"I am seriously asking," Ed said.
"When were we joking," girl asked.
"You bitc— sorry I don't bad mouth gi—" Ed said.
"Who are you saying bitch, I'm your daddy!" the girl interrupted, her voice cutting through the laughter like a sharp knife.
"But you're a girl," Ed retorted, rolling his eyes at her antics.
"Who knows?" she repeated with a teasing smirk, drawing another round of laughter.
"Let's check then" Ed said while standing from his bench.
Suddenly —
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class.
Conversations shifted, books slammed shut, and students began gathering their belongings.
Ed leaned back in his chair, watching the chaos with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"What should I do today?" he muttered to himself as he stood and stretched.
"Let's play Black Sword of Desire," a voice called out from across the room.
"The game was played by her with me," another boy added.
Ed frowned.
"This ex-f—," he began, but stopped short, turning to the first boy.
"What game? Black Sword of Desire? What's so good about it?" he asked.
"It's great!" the boy replied enthusiastically.
"In the game, you conquer heroines with the black sword."
"Conquer?" ex fucker boy said.
"So, she did conquer my heart," he said.
Ed groaned, shaking his head.
"Beat this idiot," he muttered, shoving his bag over his shoulder.
The laughter faded behind him as Ed walked alone toward his home.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and red.
His footsteps echoed against the quiet streets, his thoughts louder than the world around him.
Ed's mind wandered, tracing the familiar path of self-doubt and regret.
Every choice he had made in his life felt like a mistake—the wrong college, the wrong course of study, the heartbreak of his first love.
I prioritize short-term gains over long term consequences.
The only thing he'd ever truly valued was the bond with his friends.
They weren't perfect, but they had always been there for him, in their own chaotic way.
As Ed rounded a corner, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden laugh.
His eyes snapped forward to see a little girl, no older than five, running across the road.
She was laughing, unaware of the large truck barreling toward her from the other side.
Time seemed to slow as panic surged through him. Without thinking, Ed dropped his bag and sprinted toward her.
Adrenaline drowned out every rational thought as he reached her just in time.
Scooping the child into his arms, he turned toward the sidewalk—but it was too late to dodge.
The truck roared closer, and Ed made a split-second decision. With all his strength, he flung the girl to safety.
The last thing he saw was her landing on the grass, unharmed.
The truck hit him with a force that sent him rolling across the asphalt.
Pain exploded through his body as he skidded to a stop, blood pooling beneath him. His vision blurred, and his breath came in shallow gasps.
As he lay there, broken and bleeding, Ed's gaze found the little girl.
She was safe, staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. A small, fragile smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
This… this might be the first choice I made right, he thought as darkness closed in.
________
Author note
Hello guys support me with power stones and don't forget to add this book to your library.
Have a nice day.