The few customers present in the bar were enjoying themselves. But Riri was shrouded in a dark cloud of gloom- a painful contrast to the cosy mood in the room.
At first glance, it looked like any other bar- small, lots of brown wood, fancy drinks. But upon a second glance, perhaps one would notice that despite the actual bar area being small-ish, doors and hallways were leading into private rooms from where some times faint moans could be heard.
Perhaps they would notice that the bar which had potted plants with lush green leaves and colourful hues from the berries or flowers were not only exquisite but could be sold off for millions.
Among the people present there, talking with voices so soothing it might hypnotise you, not a single one would be considered ugly. Even the plain-looking ones were decorated with so many lustrous and twinkling accessories; they looked like a shining star. Every word they spoke was their move on the chessboard, their greed their driving force and wealth their ultimate goal. A single word could either make or break them.
In this crowd of the richly privileged, Riri felt like a second hand, cheap and worn-out watch that these people wouldn't even deem it worth a look before throwing it in the rubbish.
Except, she wasn't Riri.
Just like this wasn't her home, the Earth.
She was Kassidy Louis-haughty heiress, who at a mere snap of her fingers could command the world at her feet. Every girl hated her but admired her secretly. Her beauty, her intelligence made men fall at her feet from every direction.
All save for Wang Lou.
They would have made the perfect couple- both of them cold, both of them beautiful and most of all both were powerful. But Kassidy was smarter while Wang Lou was ruthless.
Kassidy fell for him, but he dealt with her only as long as she helped him climb up the ladder. He didn't like her for the very coldness present in her which was in him in the first place.
In the end, Kassidy died, caught in the crossfire between Wang Lou and a displeased customer.
Nobody managed to thaw the coldness in his heart, save for Lili Aubern.
The same Lili Aubern who was sitting next to her, except she wasn't Lili Aubern. She was Lilliana from Earth. And the only reason she knew things about the future was because this was a game.
A stupid otome game or something like that which Lilliana had been playing.
Riri remembered going to sleep and then waking up here. She found herself at this bar and dismissed everything that had happened so far as a dream.
Until she met Lilliana, who was also from earth. Her ridiculous explanation just had to be believed when she showed the necessary evidence to back her points.
At some point, Lilliana had ordered a cute little cake for which was ridiculously overpriced and put a silver spoon in her hand. Riri hadn't started eating it; she had no appetite.
What's the point? I'm going to die anyway.
Lilianna, who was mixing something into her tea, sighed. "Listen, you'll only die if you get involved with Wang Lou. Now, that you know... simply don't."
When Riri didn't respond, Lillianna grabbed her hand, making her look at her. "I... I think we might able to get out of here if we finish the game... which in turn means all the targets must be won."
Riri nodded. "There are five, right? And one other special target."
"Yes, and to make sure you don't fall in harm's way and to help speed up the process, maybe you could also help." She looked a bit uncomfortable saying the last part.
Riri scoffed, her fingers tightening around the spoon, causing her fingernails to dig into her skin. "You-"
"I completed the game while I was playing it." Lilianna cut her off abruptly. "I know all the choices, events and if required, the items needed to win each of their hearts. But unlike in the game, we have to live through every single day. If I'm the only one doing it, it might take two years or even more than that."
Seeing that Riri was listening to her, Lilliana calmly continued."Every night, all five targets come to this bar starting from tomorrow. If you want to help you can come...I'll be here... and even if you don't want to help," she hurriedly added. "-even then, if you don't mind I would like to friends."
Riri stood up. "Thank you for the cake."
And she left.
—
Riri could feel her eyes become wet with tears, but she refused to cry. Crying was for the weak.
She cocked her head, and so did the girl in the mirror.
She was beautiful. Pale, smooth skin stretched out elegantly by her tall limbs. Her strawberry lips seemed most comfortable in a curled smirk. Ebony hair which ended up in green was styled into a bun, a few stray strands of green on her face made her look like a delicate woman, the kind of ones you'd find in paintings. But her empty green eyes was the opposite. They say that the eyes were the window in her soul, but her's looked like they were made of glass, giving a peek into the emptiness that lay behind them.
Except that emptiness was now hers.
Riri didn't know why she got sucked into this stupid game. Sure, Lilliana was playing the game but she? She had never even heard of this game! Let alone play it!
After coming back to her mansion, she replied very coldly to any of the staff's requests. Oh yeah, she had an entire army of servants.
None of the staff seemed surprised at her anger or coldness, making her even more upset.
She looked around the room, her room was decorated with exquisite paintings on one wall while the only other one without windows had photographs of her with her family hanging on it. The room was meticulously organised- potted plants at all four corners of the room, a canopy bed that was against a wall with two windows on either side of the bed.
A coffee table in front of one of the windows had three books on them, probably taken from the massive bookshelf from beside the door leading into her walk-in closet which was a whole different world on its own. Other than that door, there were two other.
One lead outside while another lead into the bathroom which Riri was sure looked like some palace, but she was too tired to check it out.
Instead, she chose to collapse on her bed.
She was just about to sleep when pink squares started to appear, crowing on the air space over her. Riri squealed and quickly retreated to a corner on the bed. She remembered seeing those squares in the bar. Lilliana had randomly grabbed objects from the air, and the squares were there then too.
The pink squared floated towards each other, forming a rectangle which morphed into a book fell on the bed before it illuminated with a great pink hue.
A minute or two passed, and the book didn't seem to show any signs of danger, so she deemed it safe to approach it. It was a leather-bound book, with a small golden plate on it, a single word inscribed onto it—Kassidy.
The rich heiress had a diary.
It was stupid, but she grabbed it and skimmed through it till she reached the last entry:
Years. It took me years to realise he could never love me back. And he made it clear at such a time where I was no further use to him. It infuriated me more than I wasn't still doing business for him, at least I'd be able to have a hand in his demise.
I'm aware of the reputation I have- Cold, enchantress, monster. And according to that reputation, I should hate Lili Aubern. But I don't. She's a nice person, and I can see why Wang Lou would fall for her. I'm angry at myself the most and then him. I only feel sorry for Lili, she might be used and discarded just like me, but she chose to stay with him.
Tomorrow will be a fresh start. Today, I'll be going with Wang Lou to close a deal which will be the last thing I'll ever do for him and then, I'll be leaving here. I still haven't decided whether to abide by my mother's wishes and head the Brestige Empire, but I want a place to call home, and this isn't it.
This place holds too many painful memories, and so do you. You've been my only friend, taking the place of an actual human best friend, and have listened to me ramble about Wang Lou for years. The sentiment I carry for you, an inanimate object, is stupid, but it doesn't change the fact that the sentiment exists. I want to close this chapter of my life now and embark on a new journey.
I love you, and one day I hope I can love myself. You give me comfort and security- which isn't true, someone from the staff could easily read this, and if they do, then they'll know the words inscribed on my heart. And they'll know that this heiress is a shell of a person.
But I'd like to be still more selfish, despite all the wealth I have been born into, despite all the difficulties my mother has overcome to provide this life for us and ask to feel happiness.
Thank you for always being there,
Goodbye.
Riri wasn't sure why she felt like her heart was being squeezed. But maybe it had to do with the fact that this was written on the same day that Kassidy Louis was killed, the same day she had hoped to close this painful chapter of her life.
Kassidy Louis didn't deserve even half of what had happened to her. And Riri would be damned if she let that happen to her.