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This Time, We Won't Miss Again
墨書 Inktalez
The street outside the alley was bustling with people, but in this particular alley, only a few individuals wore anxious expressions, glancing at each other with the intention of fleeing. Scattered nearby were several rusty steel bars. "Uh—Lin Menghan... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." A boy lay on the ground, staring at the vibrant street, groaning in pain as agony coursed through his body, blood staining many parts of him. Blood continuously oozed from his forehead, and his hands were also covered in it. His fingers spread wide as he desperately reached forward, as if trying to grasp something. A girl's face kept surfacing in his mind. She wore a flowing white dress, her delicate features framed by long hair that danced in the wind like a celestial being descended to earth. At that moment, she was smiling joyfully, radiating an irresistible charm. A sharp pain pierced his heart. His eyes moistened, but he couldn't tell whether it was blood or tears. Gradually, his vision began to blur, and his strength waned. His blood-soaked hand fell heavily to the ground as he collapsed into a pool of blood, losing consciousness, yet his eyes remained fixed ahead, as if anticipating something or perhaps filled with reluctance toward everything before him.
"Ah—" A boy suddenly sat up in bed with a startled cry, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes as he looked around in confusion. Beside his bed stood a solid wooden desk cluttered with homework completed before sleep, the handwriting neat and orderly. On a nearby shelf were trophies and medals he had earned through his own efforts. Outside the window, car headlights flickered like ghosts—sometimes bright as day and other times dim to the point of nearly vanishing; the sounds of passing cars ebbed and flowed like a game of hide-and-seek, sometimes clear in his ears and at other times seemingly swallowed by some mysterious force.
"Was that... really just a dream?" he murmured to himself, filled with doubt and unease. If it were merely an illusory dream, why did his body feel such genuine pain? The deep-seated despair washed over him like a tide, making it almost impossible to breathe. Yet if it were not a dream, then why was he now safely situated in this room? Everything around him seemed so calm and peaceful, without any sign of abnormality. He questioned himself; after all, he was a boy who had been single for seventeen or eighteen years without ever liking anyone—why would such emotions suddenly erupt? Who was that girl? He didn’t know.
He threw off the thin blanket, got out of bed, drank a glass of water, and lay back down while reflecting on the dream he had just experienced. Unbeknownst to him, dawn had already broken. He rolled out of bed and went through his morning routine.
"Xu Nancheng, are you up? Breakfast is ready!" A gentle female voice called out.
"Got it," Xu Nancheng replied softly.
"Great! We're having fried egg noodles this morning!" The voice floated from the kitchen with light footsteps.
A woman appeared before Xu Nancheng wearing a floral dress and black casual pants. She looked to be in her forties; wrinkles had begun to form on her face due to age but couldn’t conceal her warm smile at that moment. This was his mother—Lin Zhen.
"Eat while it's hot; it won't taste good if it clumps together," Lin Zhen said gently as she placed the noodles in front of Xu Nancheng.
Without saying much more, Xu Nancheng picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
"You know," Lin Zhen teased lightly, "you have such a sharp mind but hardly say anything! You're nothing like either of us."
"Come on, Mom; that's just my personality; it has nothing to do with you two!" Xu Nancheng replied.
"Well then," Lin Zhen continued playfully, "if you keep this up, your dad and I won’t worry about your future; but how will you ever find a girlfriend? I’m still waiting for grandchildren!"
Xu Nancheng paused mid-bite, revealing a hint of impatience in his eyes.
"Alright, alright! Just eat," Lin Zhen noticed his mood shift and quickly changed the subject. She sighed softly while looking at him—a mix of helplessness and concern washed over her. Whenever the topic of relationships came up, Xu Nancheng always displayed signs of annoyance. In truth, he simply wasn’t interested; all he thought about were math and physics. He felt incapable of finding someone anyway; after all, he was shy and timid. Xu Nancheng didn’t say anything further to his mother; he just focused on finishing his meal.
Before long, Xu Nancheng finished eating.
"Okay Mom, I’m heading to the library," he said as he grabbed his backpack.
"Hey! At least take a moment to rest! You just ate!" Lin Zhen protested.
"I promised Chen Yi I’d meet them; I can’t be late," he replied hurriedly before rushing out the door.
Lin Zhen watched him leave with a sense of helplessness. "Is it really necessary to rush like that? It’s not like you’re going off to another life..."
Xu Nancheng lived in an old neighborhood on the outskirts of Ying Cheng City where there weren’t many people around. His friends Lin Yi and Xu Dong also lived nearby; although they got along well with Xu Nancheng, their personalities differed significantly from his own—they treated him like a brother. However, Xu Nancheng believed they only hung out with him out of pity rather than genuine connection—a thought that lingered deep within him as if no one knew how he felt.
He hurried down the stairs where Lin Yi and Xu Dong were already waiting for him.
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