"All done," C said softly as he finished wrapping Luna's wound. He stood up and held out his hand to her.
"Can you stand? Or... should I carry you?" he asked with a slight teasing tone.
"No need. I can stand on my own," Luna replied, but she still reached out to grab his hand.
She tried to walk, step by step, but her legs were weak. Just a few steps in, her body gave out and she fell hard onto the asphalt.
C sighed as he looked at her. Without saying another word, he bent down and lifted her up into a princess carry.
"W-What do you think you're doing, you idiot?! Put me down this instant!" Luna shouted, her fists pounding against C's chest in frustration and embarrassment.
"Oh, stop struggling, Miss," Sherra said with a teasing grin, clearly entertained by the scene. "You can't walk right now anyway. Let him carry you."
Hearing Sherra's words only made Luna more irritated. She grew louder and more frantic, insisting that C put her down. But C didn't listen and carried her to Sherra's car. Once they got inside, Sherra quickly drove them towards Luna's house.
There was silence at first, but then C broke it.
"Hey, Luna," he said gently, turning his head to look at her.
"What?" she replied sharply, still looking away, her gaze fixed on the car window.
"Do you know anything about Neil Arkes?" C asked. His tone was calm, like someone genuinely asking for information—not someone who had already seen a thousand versions of this moment before.
Luna's body stiffened at the mention of that name. Her hands clenched into fists, trembling slightly.
"Yes… he's my fiancé," she answered, her voice cold and sharp. "Is he… the one who planned my kidnapping, C?" she turned her eyes toward him. Her expression was hard, her eyes glaring—but C could see it. The small flicker of fear, the crack in her armor, the tiny tremble in her eyes.
"Fiancé?" C echoed, feigning surprise with practiced ease. "One of the gangsters we caught earlier mentioned Neil Arkes. They said… he was the one who gave the order."
"That bastard!" Sherra spat, her foot pressing down harder on the gas as her knuckles whitened around the wheel.
Luna lowered her head. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip, her expression hidden beneath her long hair.
"You deserve better than a creep like him, Miss," Sherra muttered, bitterness leaking into every word.
"As if I have a choice, Sherra. My father arranged the engagement. You know how obsessed he is with power and influence."
Luna finally looked up and met C's eyes. Her expression was full of disgust—not at C, but at the memory of Neil.
"When I met him for the first time… something felt off," she whispered. "The way he smiled at me… It made my skin crawl. His eyes… that smile… it was like a predator sizing up its next meal. I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe."
C's lips tightened into a thin line. He understood exactly what she meant. He'd faced that same smile. That same suffocating presence. It had taken him hundreds—no, thousands—of loops just to be able to stand in front of Neil Arkes without collapsing.
"A-After that meeting, I begged my father to call off the engagement… but he refused. He wouldn't even consider it. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to cancel it on my own," Luna continued, her voice trembling as if she were holding back tears.
"I remember something odd," Sherra added. "That time I saw your father talking with Neil… That guy was smooth. Too smooth. It was like he was controlling the conversation, leading it exactly where he wanted. He practically talked your father into handing you over." She paused, frowning. "I think he has a special power."
Wait… what?
Powers? That's not in the script.
I don't remember any scene in the original story where Neil talked with Luna's father. According to the original script, Neil was just a major villain who gets beaten easily by Theo in some warehouse.
There was never any deep background behind his engagement with Luna. It was just part of the setting. A stepping stone to push Luna closer to Theo.
But now... everything's starting to change.
"What do you mean… 'special power'?" C asked, his voice low, cautious.
"I'm not sure exactly," she replied. "But my guess is… he can somehow manipulate people into following his will."
Luna frowned, looking confused.
"What are you two even talking about? What is this, some fantasy story? There's no such thing as supernatural powers in the real world."
Oh Luna… If only that were true.
I've already experienced thousands of time loops. I've seen the world reset again and again. If that's not supernatural, then what is?
I rubbed my chin, deep in thought.
"But Luna… you said just now that when he smiled at you, your body froze. Doesn't that strike you as odd? Maybe there really is something… not human about him."
Luna looked troubled. Her brows furrowed deeper as she thought.
"Yeah… maybe you're right, C…" she said quietly. "I need to end this engagement. As soon as possible."
C nodded slowly, then leaned his head back against the seat. He let out a deep breath, finally starting to feel the exhaustion creep into his body.
Damn… Today's been rough. My arms hurt, my head's pounding, my legs feel like jelly. I just want to go home already...
But if Neil Arkes really does have some kind of strange ability, then…
How the hell am I supposed to beat him?
In the distance, a large house came into view. The gate was decorated with horse and flower patterns. Sherra slowed down and prepared to stop the car.
"Hey, we're here," Sherra whispered.
C opened his eyes and reached out to open the door.
"HEY! Are you out of your mind?!" Sherra shouted, slamming on the brakes.
"Huh?"
C looked outside.
They weren't there yet.
There was no house. No gate.
Luna stared at him with a confused look.
"Are you trying to kill yourself, C?" she asked, frowning.
"Wait, what?! Didn't you say we were there already Sherra?"
"WHEN DID I SAY THAT?! Are you crazy?!" Sherra snapped.
What the hell? I swear I heard her say it...
And why does my head hurt so much all of a sudden?
"Maybe I was just daydreaming… Sorry, Sherra. Keep driving," C said, massaging his temple.
"C… you've been acting weird all day. First this morning, now this? You're being really unpredictable," Luna muttered, crossing her arms.
"No seriously, Luna. I'm not joking—I really heard Sherra say we arrived."
"I didn't say anything like that, okay?! You're just hearing things!" Sherra grumbled.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, C," Luna replied, clearly not believing me at all.
But seriously… when I closed my eyes earlier…
I saw Luna's house.
Even though my eyes were shut.
Even though we weren't there yet.
That… doesn't make any sense.
Wait…
Could I have seen… the future?
Just the thought of it made my pulse quicken—
If I really did see the future…
What else am I capable of?