Chapter One – "The First Day" (Light Novel Version, Revised)
Opening Scene – Morning in the Dorm
Evan yawned and stretched, the early sunlight cutting through the thin curtains of his cluttered dorm room. Textbooks were stacked haphazardly on his desk, a small laptop sat in the corner, and his delivery bag leaned against his motorcycle helmet. The faint strains of a Brotherkupa song played from the radio, muffled at first, then gradually louder.
He rolled over and picked up his phone. Notifications: class reminders, delivery orders, group messages… and a missed call from Elizabeth. His stomach sank slightly.
"Great," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "She's probably mad again."
Evan swung his legs over the bed, feet hitting the cool floor. "I'll call her back after I get ready," he promised himself, already thinking about the busy day ahead. Between first-year university life at the University of Pretoria and part-time delivery work, he barely had time to breathe.
The Call
The phone rang again. This time, he answered.
"Evan! You never pick up! And you didn't even take me out last weekend! Do you even care?"
Evan exhaled slowly, listening. He knew better than to interrupt. Let her vent.
"Yeah… yeah, I know. I'll change. I promise," he said quietly.
"You better… I'm tired of waiting," Elizabeth replied, her voice sharp.
He hung up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I really should… I can't keep messing this up," he thought.
Morning Routine
The bathroom mirror steamed as Evan splashed cold water on his face. The reflection of his messy hair stared back at him. He brushed his teeth mechanically, dressed, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and glanced at the dorm hallway bustling with students.
Outside, Pretoria's streets were alive with morning activity. He spotted his friends Alex and Sam waiting on the sidewalk.
"Morning, guys!" Evan greeted.
"Yo! Late for class?" Alex teased.
"You actually made it on time for once!" Sam added, nudging him playfully.
Evan laughed, falling into step with them. "Yeah… gotta cover tuition and food."
"Try not to overwork yourself, okay?" Sam said, smirking.
Walking to Class
The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked. Sam gestured animatedly, telling a story about the weekend, while Alex teased her back. Evan checked his phone briefly—new delivery notifications popped up near the campus gate. He made a mental note to handle them later.
And then… a slip of inattention. Sam stepped slightly into the street without noticing.
"No—Sam!" Evan shouted.
Without thinking, he lunged forward, shoving her safely onto the sidewalk. Alex's eyes widened. "Evan—watch out!"
But fate had other plans. Evan never saw the taxi coming. The screech of tires, the blur of metal… and then nothing.
Waking Up
Sunlight cut through the curtains once more. Evan gasped awake, drenched in sweat, sitting upright in his bed. The same Brotherkupa song played on the radio. His dorm room looked the same, even the notifications on his phone matched exactly.
"…Huh? What…?!"
Something felt off.