Chapter 1 — Failed Suicide Attempt

"Thank you very much."
I stepped out of the jewelry store, the small box in my hand feeling heavier than it should. Damn… even my heart was pounding just from holding it.
Then I saw them.
My girlfriend… and my best friend.
They laughed softly. Their hands intertwined.

And then—they walked straight into a hotel.

I froze.

My chest tightened.

Tears rolled down my cheeks before my brain could even process what I had just seen.

I turned around, I ran.

I didn’t even care where my feet were taking me.

---
Hours later, I stood on the rooftop of my apartment building.
The ring box was still in my hand. I thought I would use it to propose… but now it just felt like a cheap joke.
"Goodbye..."
I let myself fall.

The night wind whipped against my face… but I didn’t care.

Something like a faint light flickered in my vision, but my eyes were too blurred to focus on it.

The world flipped upside down. The city lights faded, and the black asphalt below rushed up to meet me.

---
I opened my eyes and looked around.
Where… am I?
Suddenly, someone appeared—dressed in clothes I had never seen before.
He said something… but I couldn’t understand a word.
Is this… the afterlife?
Seriously, this looks nothing like what I imagined…
The man walked over to someone standing nearby, whispered something, then looked back at me.
A thin smile formed on his face.
"Welcome, and thank you for coming!"