Ana stood there, still processing everything, her eyes fixed on Kel.
“I never sent any message to you.” Her voice wasn’t loud—but it was firm.
(Even though this isn’t her body… even though she doesn’t have all the memories… She believes in Ana.
She knows—no, she is certain—that the real Ana would never do something like this.) Kel froze.
The way she said it… without hesitation… without doubt… “…B-But you did,” Kel said, his voice breaking, barely holding himself together.
“You sent me a message… and after that you never picked my calls…” Everyone around them went silent.
This was not the Kel they knew.
He is someone who is….
Cold.
Distant.
Untouchable.
And now— he feels like..
standing there like he was about to fall apart.
Even Jeon Park looked at him with narrowed eyes, observing quietly.
Even Ed, who had been acting strange since morning, stopped joking completely.
Ana stepped forward.
“…Then show me,” she said calmly.
“The message.” Kel didn’t hesitate.
He had never deleted it.
His hands were slightly trembling as he took out his phone and showed her.
Ana took it.
Her eyes scanned the screen— Then stopped.
“…This number,” she said slowly.
A pause.
“I lost this number a long time ago.” Everyone stiffened.
“My phone was lost too… I never found it again.” (She remembers this from her brother.
He once told her he still kept the number… just in case.) Ana looked back at Kel.
Directly.
“I am sure,” she said quietly, “I never sent this to you.” There was no panic now.
No confusion.
Only certainty.
Kel’s expression changed.
Something inside him—something that had been locked for so long— broke.
Relief hit him all at once.
“She didn’t abandon me…” “She didn’t leave me…” “She didn’t hate me…” Before anyone could react— He stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug.
“You didn’t leave me…” his voice trembled against her shoulder.
“You didn’t abandon me…” Ana froze for a second.
Then slowly… she understood.
(For the first time, she understood—this wasn’t just Ana pain.
He had been suffering too.
Alone.
Misunderstanding growing… silence building between them… until both of them believed the worst.) “Yes,” she said softly.
“I never left you.” Kel tightened his hold, like he was afraid she would disappear again.
From the side— Ed was watching.
Silent.
Something heavy settled in his chest.
He stepped forward and pulled them apart.
“…Okay,” he said, forcing a light tone.
“Nice emotional reunion.
But class is about to start.” No one argued.
But the air had changed.
In class, Ana sat quietly, staring at nothing.
Phone… message… lost number… This is not a coincidence.
Someone planned this.
Her thoughts were sharp now.
Focused.
She didn’t notice when Ed sat beside her— until he suddenly held her hand.
Ana blinked and looked at him.
“What happened?” she asked.
Ed didn’t answer.
He just looked at her.
(He was thinking about Kel… about that hug… about how easily she held him…) “…Can I hug you?” he asked suddenly.
“No.” Ana Immediate answer.
Flat.
Ed’s face dropped.
“Whyyy…” Ana ignored him and turned back to the front.
(But inside—she already knew.) This is getting complicated.
Sports Day The ground was loud, full of energy, students gathering in groups, excitement everywhere.
Every student had to choose at least one or two events.
Ana chose 100-meter paired race—and volleyball.
But both the games required partners.
She asked Yeon.
But Yeon shook her head.
“I already agreed with Jeon,” she said softly.
(A surprise to everyone—Jeon Park, who barely attended school, was now coming daily… and silently following Yeon everywhere.) Ana didn’t push her but Instead, she sat under a tree, thinking.
That’s when both Kel and Ed arrived.
At the same time.
“What are you doing here?” Ana asked.
“Looking for you,” Ed said casually.
Kel didn’t speak—just sat down beside her.
“I need a partner,” Ana said.
Silence.
Then suddenly.
“I’ll do it.” “I’ll do it.” Both spoke together.
They looked at each other.
Tension.
“You said you weren’t interested,” Kel said coldly.
“I changed my mind,” Ed replied.
“I’ll be her partner.” “No.
I will.” “Guys,” Ana sighed.
“Don’t start.
again” Both turned to her and said.
“You choose.” She looked at them.
Their hopeful eyes.
Their intense.
Set on her.
“…I’m not choosing,” she said.
“Decide it yourselves.” They immediately turned and played rock-paper-scissors.
And…