sushi

by ballpointae

00. Game Over. Restart?

My luck was shit.

Walking down the street with my earpieces plugged in like a stereotypical teenager, I made my way to the library in a last ditch effort to be studious for once.

Playing some mobile games on my phone, I tapped my feet to the music while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.

My luck was shit in such a way that when I needed it the most-

"Hey, stop it!"

"No, you stop it!"

Giggles could be heard behind me, and I paid no attention to it. They were kids, being kids after all. I blankly stared at the traffic and yawned.

'When will the light turn green?'

I continued playing my mobile game, not giving a care to my surroundings.

That was, until I felt a shove from behind me.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry, Miss-" Their faces which were apologetic turned into horror real fast.

'Why did they look so terrified?'

I heard the screech of a car and then pain erupted all over me.

-it failed me.

'Ah, that was why.'

Screams could be heard and I could feel myself just bleeding out on the ground. Was I even bleeding actually? I couldn't tell my vision was getting fuzzy.

I took a breath and winced. Definitely broken ribs.

"Oh my god- hang in there!" I could faintly hear someone vomitting at the side. God, I must looked pretty banged up then.

Haha, banged up. Literally.

"I-I'm calling the ambulance, you're g-gonna be fine." Lies, but I appreciated the help this stranger was giving me.

My head lolled to the side and the bright cracked screen of my phone greeted me.

「 Game over. Restart? 」

"T-Tell-" I wheezed as my chest throbbed, "-my f-family and... f-friends that I... l-love them." You have no idea how much effort it took to say that line.

"Don't talk anymore, save your strength!"

"WHERE IS THE AMBULANCE DAMMIT!"

It was nice seeing strangers going out of their way to help me. It's a nice sight to depart to. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the group of kids who were playing around, huddling at the traffic light.

They were crying and a puddle of bile was at the side. 'One of them must be the one that vomitted.' No shit, Sherlock.

I could make out the apologies the kids were spilling, and their tears just kept pouring. They didn't deserve to see death so early.

'It's okay,' I mouthed out to them. I'm not sure if they understood but my vision was darkening way too fast to care.

The bright light of my screen still stood out to me.

「 Game over. Restart? 」

Sirens of the ambulance blared in the distance. 'It's too late.' I didn't want to die this way- I still had my finals to ace and, and I never convinced my parents to let me have a dog- and I didn't say my I love yous and goodbyes yet.

There were so many stupid shit that I didn't do yet and so many loved ones that I'm leaving behind, it's not fair, it's not fair.

My luck was shit like that.

I didn't want to get snuffed out like this, all mopey and depressed, so with all my effort, I reached for my phone to do something dumb.

'Heh, putting the dying in studying. Who would've thought.'

「 Game over. Restart?」

Yes.