Glow Beneath The Ruins

🖤 Episode Thirteen – Behind the Veil of Loyalty

🎬 Scene One – Gang Headquarters – The Next Morning

Himura prepares a confidential file and hands it to the Boss.

Boss (with firm confidence):"Phase Three begins today… We aim to break Rei, and test Elyar.Loyalty isn't measured by words, but by silence under pressure."

Himura nods and leaves the room.

Internal Monologue (Boss):"When his weakness falls before him… we'll see how far he can be used."

🎬 Scene Two – School – Rei's Classroom – Just Before Recess

The air is thick with morning boredom. Suddenly, the door swings open.A stylish woman enters with confident steps.

Teacher:"Good morning, champions! I'm Miss Jana, your substitute for the day."

Miss Jana (with forced cheer):"Let's break the monotony with a simple activity… but first, we have a special guest!"

The door opens again… Elyar enters.But not as they know him. His face is pale, eyes empty, steps slow.He sits next to Rei without looking at her. Silence. A heavy atmosphere.

Rei (whispering):"Elyar? Are you… okay?"

He doesn't respond. The teacher continues.

Miss Jana:"Since we have a guest today, let's play a question game.Rei, what do you fear the most? Who do you trust? And if you had to run away… what would you do?"

Rei (awkwardly):"Aren't these questions a bit too personal? I mean… you could ask something else?"

Miss Jana (slightly nervous):"It's just for fun, nothing more."

Rei (slowly):"I fear betrayal. I trust my grandmother.And I don't run… I face."

She glances at Elyar, whispering:

Rei:"But some people… run while standing still."

Elyar slightly leans forward. Rei touches his arm… he flinches.

Elyar (softly):"Don't do that… not now."

Rei:"I'm not asking. But if you're lost… I'm here."

He sighs but still doesn't look at her.

🎬 Scene Three – Classroom – After the Lesson

Rei remains seated, silently watching Elyar beside her.He doesn't move. His eyes are fixed on the desk.His breaths are slow, broken — as if his chest bears a mountain's weight.

Rei (whispering):"Elyar… are you okay?"

No answer.

Rei (softer):"Why won't you look at me?"

Then suddenly, Elyar flinches.No shout, no rage. Just… he pulls away as if her touch burned his skin.

Elyar (hoarse whisper):"Don't touch me… just don't."

He gulps, blinking hard.A faint voice plays in his ear – the Boss, through the hidden earpiece.

Boss (coldly):"Her hand moved too much. One word of pity… and her day changes entirely."

Elyar freezes. He knows everything is being heard… even his breath.Every move is calculated. Every emotion monitored.

Rei (trembling voice):"I don't understand… why are you acting like this?You weren't like this yesterday… or the day before."

Elyar (cold and sharp):"Maybe… because you never understood me from the start."

She falls silent. Trying to comprehend what's happening.Her expression in disbelief — but her heart won't allow hatred.

Rei:"Just tell me the truth… was everything between us a lie?"

Elyar closes his eyes tightly…He wants to scream, to say: "I'm doing this to protect you," but he can't.Because someone is listening.

Elyar (harshly, forced):"Yes… it was all a lie. Every moment.And you… were just part of the mission."

Rei's eyes widen. She steps back.Her hands tremble, but she doesn't cry.She just looks at him like she's seeing a stranger.She turns to leave. Her steps are slow… but certain.

Just before she reaches the door… the voice returns in Elyar's ear.

Boss (devilishly calm):"Well done…But remember — any leak of emotion… will cost her dearly."

Elyar silently collapses. He doesn't move, but something inside him has shattered.He holds his chest, almost breaking down — but forces himself not to.

Internal Monologue (Elyar):"Forgive me, Rei… If you knew the truth now, you couldn't bear it.You're stronger than that… You have to stay safe, even if I'm not beside you."

🎬 Scene Four – School Rooftop – Himura Watching

Himura leans against the railing, the wind tugging at his coat. His eyes flicker between amusement… and envy.

Himura (muttering mockingly):

"It's tearing you up inside, Elyar… Not because of her… But because of you."

He pulls a small device from his pocket. Captures a still from the classroom camera. Presses a button. Sends it directly to the Boss.

Himura:

"The scene has been sent, Sir… He's on the verge of tears."

🎬 Scene Five – Rei's Home – Her Room – Night

Rei sits on her bed. Dim lighting. Her tablet rests at the edge of the mattress. Her eyes are tired… yet dry.

Internal Monologue (Rei):

"I don't understand anymore… Is the one beside me real? Or just a copy…

He pushed me away, but his voice screamed otherwise.

What's scaring him?"

She pulls the blanket closer, but sleep escapes her. Her eyes stay open, staring at the ceiling… as if it holds the answers.

🎬 Scene Six – Gang Headquarters – Briefing Room

A long black table. The Boss sits at its head. Himura beside him. Across stands a new woman — beautiful, stern, in a gray formal uniform.

Boss:

"Rei has started to suspect. But she knows nothing real yet."

New Agent (coolly):

"I can handle her psychologically, if needed… plant small rumors, subtle signals to throw her off track."

Boss:

"No… We want her to come to us… not flee. Create curiosity… not fear."

Himura (mockingly):

"So we bait the trap… and see if she catches herself?"

Boss:

"Exactly."

🎬 Scene Seven – Elyar's Room – Midnight

Darkness fills the room, broken only by a silver streak of moonlight through an open window. The air is heavy, as if refusing to comfort this worn heart.

Elyar enters silently. Closes the door behind him… leans on it as if it's the only wall left in his world. He slides down slowly until he sits on the floor, back against the wall, eyes staring into nothing.

Seconds pass… or minutes… no one knows. His face is frozen… silent…

Then suddenly…

A tear falls.

No warning. No sound. Just… falls.

His breath grows strained, his chest heaves with quiet agony.

A second tear. A third.

He crawls toward the center of the room, on his knees… Looks up at the ceiling… Opens his mouth as if to scream — but no sound escapes.

Only tears.

A sigh breaks free from his chest. A choked, trembling sound — as if his heart is speaking.

Then suddenly…

He collapses.

Breaks down like never before. Curls into himself, arms wrapped tight, face buried in the floor.

His sobs escape — hoarse, strangled, agonizing.

Not a man's cry… not a youth's cry…

But the cry of a child who lost everything… and stayed silent for years… until he couldn't anymore.

His shoulders shake violently. Tears pour endlessly.

Only crying.

Pure, honest, from the heart… from the soul… from the wound.

🎬 Scene Eight – Elyar's Room – Later That Night

Elyar sits on the floor, eyes swollen from crying, chest rising and falling slowly — as if relearning how to breathe.

His phone vibrates beside him. He looks at it slowly.

The name on the screen: "Rei 🌸"

He pauses… stares at it, as if something within him momentarily loosens.

Internal Monologue (Elyar):

"Did… did she feel me?

After all that happened… she still thinks of me?"

He answers in silence. His voice doesn't come out — but his breath responds for him.

Rei (soft, confused tone):

"I just… I don't know why, but I felt like I had to call.

I didn't take your words today seriously, but…

my heart suddenly ached, and I couldn't sleep."

Tears gather in his eyes again, but this time… tears of gratitude.

Rei (shy, avoiding the strange feeling):

"Anyway… is everything alright?

Are you okay… Elyar?"

A heavy sigh escapes him, and he whispers hoarsely — yet honestly:

Elyar:

"I'm… not okay.

But maybe… I'm a little better now."

A short silence.

Then Rei's voice — light, playful, as if she wanted to ignite something within him without even noticing:

Rei (teasing):

"That's good…

Otherwise, I would've had to send you a box of ice cream and schedule an emergency therapy session!"

Elyar smiles… a real smile. Small… but warm.

He tries to wipe his tears with trembling fingers — not fully successful.

Elyar:

"I'd have devoured it all… and remembered you with every spoonful."

Rei (laughing gently):

"Great… at least I'd be remembered for something sweet."

He doesn't reply. Just… smiles. A grateful, warm smile, from the heart of his pain.

Rei (soft whisper):

"Goodnight, Elyar."

Elyar (calmer, warmer):

"Goodnight… Rei."

The call ends. He leans his head back against the wall. Closes his eyes halfway.

His breath slows… In his heart — a fleeting moment of peace.

A small light in the darkness that hasn't yet ended… But he knows… Rei was that light.

🎬 Final Scene – Gang Headquarters – Boss's Room – At the Same Moment

A black screen displays the call between Elyar and Rei. The audio is clear. The Boss watches. Himura stands beside him.

Boss (calmly):

"Beautiful… So, his weakness still breathes."

Himura:

"What's interesting… is that he still tries to protect her despite everything."

Boss:

"Monitor every call from now on.

Any hint of emotion… we bury it instantly."

🖤 End of Episode Thirteen – To Be Continued…