Sakura rushed through the halls, her heels clicking loudly against the floor as she struggled to keep pace. She lifted the hem of her long pastel blue dress, revealing her bare feet beneath, as she pushed herself forward through the crowd. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, stopping long enough to kick off her shoes. The echo of the guests' murmurs faded as she dashed down the corridor, her heart pounding against her chest.
By the time she reached the venue doors, Haru was nowhere in sight.
Panic surged through her chest, and a wave of confusion settled over her mind. Where did he go?' The overwhelming question pressed on her, but Sakura pushed it aside. She had to find him—she had to understand what just happened. Haru's words, his kiss, everything—none of it made sense.
It was pitch dark, almost pitch black. The rain was coming down in torrents outside. As Sakura stepped out into the storm, the cool drops instantly drenched her, making her feel exposed and raw. Her dress clung to her skin like a second layer, the fabric heavy and clingy from the moisture. She didn't care. Her long brown hair, usually neat and styled, stuck to her face and neck, damp tendrils framing her flushed cheeks. Her bra became visible through the thin, soaked fabric of her dress, but she was too distracted to even notice.
Her thoughts whirled in a chaotic mess, but one thing remained clear: she had to find him. Now. Why did he kiss me? Why did he leave Mia at the altar?
Sakura's feet splashed against the wet pavement as she sprinted toward the street, ignoring the blaring horns of the speeding cars. The storm's intensity blurred everything around her—visibility was almost nothing, but her only focus was Haru. She hadn't seen him, hadn't even caught a glimpse of him since he ran out of the venue.
Without thinking, she dashed into the crosswalk. The no walk sign blinked, but it didn't stop her. She felt a compulsion, as if her body was moving on its own, the need to reach him overpowering all other thoughts. A screech of tires sliced through the air as a car sped toward her. The driver honked furiously, but Sakura didn't react. She didn't even scream.
In that instant, as the headlights neared, everything went quiet in her mind. The roar of the engine, the voices in her head, even the rain—it all disappeared. She closed her eyes, resigning herself to the inevitable. Is this it?She thought. Is this how I'm going to die?