A helpless smile appeared on her lips as she muttered,
"If you keep acting like this... I'll start receiving a completely different message from all of this."
She covered her face with one hand.
'No... Don't overthink it. He's just being kind. Nothing more.'
.......................................
Meanwhile, Patrick headed toward the military base as he did every single day.
The morning air carried a faint chill, while soldiers bustled around, preparing for another busy day.
Boots struck the pavement rhythmically, and distant commands echoed throughout the training grounds.
Suddenly, Patrick froze. Not too far away, he spotted a woman with striking pink hair. His pupils contracted.
For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered whether his aging eyes were playing tricks on him.
However, the more he looked, the more familiar she became. At that very moment, the countless nightmares that had haunted him returned all at once.
