–How is that man?
_Boss, he hasn't reacted since you left him. I think he's dying.
XL, annoyed: He can't die. We have to do everything possible to save him. And the doctor he had met days before comes to his mind.
XY is leaving the hospital, dressed in light green pants and blouse. In the distance, she sees a black motorcycle approaching, ridden by a man wearing a helmet. The motorcycle stops in front of her. The man removes his helmet and XY is shocked to recognize him as the same man she had seen a few days earlier.
–What do you want?
XL: Come with me.
XY, startled: What?… What do you want? I won't do it.
XL: Either you get on, or I'll take you by force.
XY hesitates, meets XL's piercing gaze, becomes frightened, and obeys. XL hands her the helmet; she puts it on and they ride off.
They stop in front of an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city.
XL orders: Get off.
XY obeys, removes the helmet, and hands it to him. He also gets off the motorcycle.
XL: Let's go!
XY: Where? What do you want to do with me?
XL: Follow me, he says firmly.
XY refuses to go, but the man grabs her forcefully by the arm and almost drags her into the house as she struggles. They stop at the entrance of a room. Inside, a wounded man lies on a bed.
XL: Save him!
XY looks at him in astonishment.
XY: What happened to him?
XL: Don't ask questions. Just save him. Whatever you need, ask him, he says, pointing to one of his men.
XY, confused: But… I…
XL: Don't speak. Don't ask. I just want you to save him.
XY takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and says:
XY: After I save him, you must promise to let me go.
The man looks at her with his usual enigmatic stare and nods.
XY: Fine.
(She gives instructions to one of the men, who rushes off to get everything she needs.)
XY examines the wounded man, checks his pulse, leans close to his chest, and listens to his heartbeat. XL, standing in a corner of the room with his arms crossed, leaning back with one leg against the wall, watches her closely.
Half an hour later, the man returns with all the requested supplies. XY begins treating the wounds, administering IV fluids, and resuscitating the man.
The wounded man awakens and murmurs words that XY does not understand. XL slowly approaches him. The wounded man is horrified when he sees him. XL lowers his head.
XL: Who sent you?
XY, confused, steps aside. The man whispers a name into XL's ear.
XL: I see…
(turning to one of his men) Get rid of him.
XY, horrified by what she has just heard: You can't do that! He's a human being. You can't take his life.
XL (smiling ironically): Human… You have no idea who this man is or how many deaths he carries on his back. I'll be doing society a favor.
XY: I don't know what he's done, but it's not up to you to deliver justice.
XL turns his back on XY, laughing mockingly.
XL: Justice?!
XY grabs XL by the arm and begs:
XY: Please, don't kill him.
XL turns around when he hears her pleas.
XL: Fine…
(to one of his men) Dump him in front of a police station. They'll be happy to see him.
_Yes, boss.
(They take the wounded man and carry him away.)
XY, looking down, says softly:
XY: Thank you.
XL, sighing unwillingly: Let's go!
XY: Where?
XL, ironically: Do you want to stay?
XY follows XL. They stop in front of a building. XY gets off the motorcycle.
XY, surprised: How do you know I live here?
XL, smiling: I know everything about you.
(Since the day he dreamed of her, he had her investigated.)
XY opens her eyes in fear.
XL: I hope you don't tell anyone what happened today.
XY: I won't.
(She quickly walks toward the building entrance.)
XL (shouting): Wait!
XY sighs, turns around, and hesitantly walks back toward him.
XY: What else do you want?
XL opens his jacket, takes out an envelope, and hands it to her. She opens it slightly and sees a large amount of money.
XY, shocked: What is this?
XL: Payment for your work.
XY, serious and offended: I don't charge for saving a life.
(She returns the envelope, turns around, and leaves.)
XL watches her go with curiosity, then smiles and puts the envelope away.
XL (murmuring): Xiaoyao… Xiaoyao…
The next day, XY sits pensively in one of the hospital offices, remembering what happened the day before. A nurse beside her says:
–You're very quiet today. Are you okay?
–Yes, everything's fine. I'm just a little tired.
(She remembers XL's words about not saying anything.)
–Haven't you seen the patient in room 17 today?
–That's right, I'll go right away.
With a smile, she heads to the room, approaches the bed, and murmurs:
–How are you today, 17?
The man lying there suddenly opens his eyes.
XY (excited): You woke up!
She makes a phone call to report what just happened. A doctor examines him.
DOCTOR: Incredible. I thought he would never wake up.
XY, to the patient: Well done, 17.
PATIENT (confused): Seventeen?!
XY: Relax, we'll talk about that later. Tell me—what's your name?
PATIENT (murmuring): My name… my name…
(holding his head)
XY (smiling): Don't worry. It's okay if you can't remember yet. You will with time.
(The patient nods and smiles back.)
17 was pretending to have lost his memory, his mind clouded and his heart heavy with the truth… a very dark truth: his older brother, consumed by jealousy and hatred, had kidnapped and tortured him for months. In the end, 17 managed to escape, but the trauma led him to believe it was safer to pretend he remembered nothing.
XY visited him every day and spoke with him warmly. 17 remained firm in his act, showing confusion and vague anguish whenever his past was mentioned. She observed him closely: he was an attractive man, tall and slender, with a kind and gentle expression, though his eyes seemed to have seen too much. XY could not find any family or friends looking for him, and she felt a growing empathy toward him—especially when the hospital decided that 17 could no longer stay and would be sent to a shelter or somewhere similar.
After a few days, XY made a bold decision: she decided to take 17 home with her until he recovered his memory. She lived alone in a cozy apartment and thought the calm environment might help him heal. At first, 17 felt embarrassed, but XY's warmth convinced him.
In XY's apartment, 17 began to rebuild his life step by step. She treated him with patience and care, giving him books to read, games to distract him, and kind conversations to fill the silence. Every night, she prepared a simple but delicious dinner, and they sat together at the table, talking about trivial things and sometimes deeper matters.
17 found comfort in the routine and in XY's company. Although he could not completely forget the horror he had endured, XY's presence gave him a sense of safety and family he had not felt in a long time. Gradually, his expression began to change, showing signs of hope and gratitude.
However, the shadow of his older brother was always present in his mind. He feared that one day his brother would appear and drag him back to the hell he had escaped. Yet whenever those thoughts overwhelmed him, XY's smile and gentle voice brought him back to the present, reminding him that he had found refuge in her friendship.
One day, while walking through a nearby park, XY asked if he felt his memories were returning. 17 looked into the distance, taking a moment before answering. Though his memories were still a chaotic mix of pain and confusion, one truth had become clear: XY had become his anchor, the reason he had found the strength to keep moving forward.
"Maybe some," he finally said, turning to her. "But not all of them are bad memories. Thanks to you, I have new memories—good memories."
XY smiled and gently squeezed his hand.
XY: That's what matters, 17. That you find peace and happiness in the present.
And so, day by day, 17 continued on his path to recovery, certain that no matter what the past had done to him, he would always have XY by his side to face the future.