While everyone else was already worried, Lala could only continue weeping over what had happened to her friend.
She didn't understand how — or why — she had let her go off alone.
"Lala, what happened!? H-How did she get hit by a taxi!? Explain yourself!"
Celestia's mother shouted furiously, grabbing Lala by the shoulders and shaking her in rage.
"I'm so sorry, Tita... I didn't expect anything like this to happen. I only looked away for a moment, and then... I just heard her scream..."
she sobbed, barely able to speak. Guilt was swallowing her whole — she knew it was impossible for her friend to forgive her now.
"What do you mean you looked away?! What kind of excuse is that, Lala?! I trusted you not to leave her side!
This is exactly what I feared — if anything bad happens to my daughter, I swear I'll curse your entire life. Remember that!
Even if you're the daughter of my closest friend!"
Her voice cracked into a wail before she collapsed into a chair, breaking down in tears, completely overwhelmed with fear for Celestia.
I don't know if you'll ever forgive me, Celestia... for all the wrong I've done to you.
But I promise — with my whole heart — I'll confess everything. I won't hide a single thing from you. Just… please… don't disappear from my life.
That was the desperate cry echoing in her mind.
She would admit it all — from the moment her relationship with JC began.
She knew it wouldn't be easy. Fear was already creeping in, tightening around her chest.
But deep down, she also knew — she was willing to face the consequences.
She would endure the pain and accept every harsh word her beloved friend Celestia might throw at her.
Lala stared at the doors of the emergency room. Hours had passed, and still no doctor had come out.
Each passing second felt like a blade cutting straight into her chest.
She clutched at her heart — her knees were weak, her hands trembling —
but the guilt inside her hurt far more than anything else.
"Lord... please don't let it be too late," she whispered, so quietly she could barely hear herself.
Suddenly, the doors swung open. A doctor stepped out, followed by a nurse holding a clipboard.
Celestia's mother immediately stood. "Doctor? How's my daughter?"
"She's stable for now, but we'll need to keep her under observation for the next 48 hours.
The impact of the accident was severe. Thankfully, her head wasn't critically hurt,
but her left arm is fractured and there's some internal bruising.
There's also a chance she might suffer from temporary memory loss. Are you prepared for that possibility?"
Celestia's mother slowly sank back into her seat, shaking in fear.
Meanwhile, Lala stood frozen, completely motionless. The doctor's words blurred in her ears.
Only one thought echoed in her heart:
"Celestia might not remember me…"
And if she did remember...
What would be the first thing that came to her mind?
The pain?
The betrayal?
The lies?
lThe steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the room, a soft rhythm against the sterile hospital silence.
Lala sat beside the bed, her hands tightly clasped around Celestia's limp fingers.
Tears had dried on her cheeks, but the guilt hadn't left. It never did.
Then—
A twitch.
Celestia's eyelids fluttered.
"C–Celestia?" Lala stood up abruptly, her voice cracking. "Celes... it's me. I'm here, I—I never left—"
Celestia's lips parted, barely a whisper. "W-Who are you...?"
Lala's world stopped.
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. "It's me. Lala. Your best friend…"
Celestia looked at her, confused… distant.
"I'm sorry… I don't remember you."
"Celestia, I'm sorry I left you. I promise it won't ever happen again," Lala said, still crying without pause.
"Can you please shut up? I don't know what you're talking about," Celestia replied in a cold, detached tone.
"Okay… just tell me if you need anything. I'll get it for you," Lala responded, her voice determined but uncertain. She was even more confused now — she didn't know what to do next.
"Actually… I need food. I'm hungry," Celestia said, shrugging her shoulders casually.
"Sure, I'll be right back. Just wait for me." Lala gave her a faint, bitter smile.
"Okay, thanks," Celestia replied with a soft smile.
Lala silently wished the ground would swallow her whole. Despite the memory loss, Celestia was still being kind — and that made everything harder.
It was getting more difficult for Lala to face her. Celestia might not see her emotions clearly, but she could probably sense the strange heaviness in the air.
Now that Celestia had lost her memory, Lala knew things were only going to get more complicated. As long as the truth remained buried, she feared her own guilt would keep whispering to her — tempting her to stay quiet, to take advantage of the moment.
But deep down, she knew the truth:
No matter how much she tried to make up for it,
No matter how much she helped her now —
It would never be enough to erase the pain she caused.
Got you, babe! Here's a revised version — Lala walking along the highway to buy food for Celestia. Still in her POV, still falling apart, but keeping it grounded in the scene. You'll feel the emotional weight while she tries to do something as simple as buying food — and it's killing her inside.
Lala walked along the side of the road, her steps slow and uncertain. The highway wasn't too busy, but the noise of cars rushing past felt deafening in her ears.
Every sound, every flicker of headlights, every gust of wind — it all made her feel like the world was spinning without her.
She rubbed her arms, trying to stop the shivering.
I'm just buying food, she told herself. That's all. She asked for food.
But it wasn't just that.
It was the way Celestia looked at her.
The coldness. The distance.
Like she didn't know her. Like all their memories were gone.
Or maybe… she remembers everything and just wants to punish me in silence.
Lala bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry again. Her head was pounding from all the thinking, from all the guilt that refused to let go.
"What am I supposed to do?" she muttered under her breath. "Pretend this is fine? Pretend I'm not breaking inside?"
She felt like she was going crazy.
She kept walking, passing a line of closed stores and flickering streetlights. Her shadow looked strange — stretched and shaking — just like her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered into the air, even though no one was listening. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
But that didn't matter now.
Celestia was in pain.
She'd lost her memory.
And Lala? She was the one who caused it all — directly or not, it didn't matter.
"I should've never left her alone," she said, her voice trembling. "I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have lied."
She stopped for a moment, gripping her phone tightly in her hand. Her knees felt weak, but she forced herself to keep going.
Just get the food, she thought. Go back. Act normal.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
Not the road.
Not the night.
Not her own reflection in the store windows she passed.
She didn't recognize herself anymore.