The silence in the car is suffocating, and it’s all because of her. Kaori sits across from me, her eyes cold, staring ahead. We’ve just left my parents’ house, and I’m doing everything I can not to slam my hands on the steering wheel and scream. She doesn’t understand, she never does.
“Why can’t you just... try to get along?” I mutter through gritted teeth, tightening my grip on the wheel. “Is it so hard to just show some respect for my family?”
The tension between us is palpable, like a live wire, but Kaori doesn’t react. Her lips remain pursed, her gaze as cold as ever.
“I’m just trying to survive this marriage, Pilwon,” she says flatly, devoid of emotion. “And if that means keeping my mouth shut and tolerating your family’s pathetic attempts to force affection, then so be it.”
Her words cut through the air, and I slam my fist onto the steering wheel. She’s always like this—dismissive, unyielding. I don’t care that we’re in this marriage by arrangement. But this constant disdain for everything I try? It’s infuriating.
“God, Kaori, you really don’t care about anything, do you? You act like I’m asking you for the moon just to fit into my world, and I don’t even ask that much!” I glare at her, but she doesn’t flinch.
“I’m not going to change for you, Pilwon,” she says, venom in her voice. “I didn’t ask for this either, remember?”
I snap, too quick, too harsh.
“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you agreed to this shitty arrangement,” I growl, eyes still locked on the road. My chest tightens with rage and helplessness. “You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to be stuck in a marriage I didn’t want either? But unlike you, I’m trying to make it work. I’m trying to build something, and all you do is tear it down!”
There’s no response. Of course, there isn’t. She never listens, never tries to understand.
But suddenly, the moment feels... wrong. My pulse races as adrenaline spikes, and the argument spirals further. I’m so focused on her and my anger that I barely notice the car coming up beside us.
By the time I glance over, it’s too late.
I swerve to avoid it, jerking the wheel to the left. The car lurches, and everything happens so fast. Tires screech, the car spins out of control, and my vision blurs.
We’re off the road in a split second, skidding across grass. I try to correct, but it’s too late. The car slams sideways into a tree, metal crunching loudly in my ears.
The impact feels like an eternity.
For a long, agonizing moment, I can’t move. My breath is sharp, pain settling into my chest. The car is still, the engine sputtering in the background.
Shaking my head, I try to clear the dizziness. My hands tremble as I reach for the door, but the seatbelt is tight. I force myself to unbuckle it, jerking the movement.
I look over at Kaori. My heart skips. She’s limp, blood—bright and fresh—staining her skin. Panic spikes as I realize she isn’t moving.
“Kaori!” I shout, desperate. I reach for her, shaking her shoulder, my hands trembling.
Her head lolls to the side, body lifeless.
Guilt overwhelms me. This is my fault. I’ve been reckless—distracted, angry. The argument, my carelessness, it all led to this.
I shake her again, harder.
“Kaori, wake up!” I demand, voice shaking with panic.,“Please, Kaori!”
My heart pounds as I try to rouse her, the reality of what I’ve done hitting me full force. I’ve put both of us in danger, and now I don’t know if I’ve hurt her more than I can fix.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?