Everyone has had a fair share of envious moments before. Like whenever you see adorable and loving couples wandering across the streets, sharing some drinks while letting their shared scarf do the deed of warming them up in the cold winter night. Or, a couple who can't stop looking at each other with eyes full of love like the world is theirs.
Yet, she wants nothing but to gouge her eyes out to save herself from the public display of chaste affection in front of her. At the same time, she cannot stop staring at them with envy. But, that's not what hurt her the most was her first love's thought of her.
Lisha Anderson is an ordinary high school girl who is hungry for affection, pressured to be a magnificent daughter for her parents. Yet with her load of talents and achievements, she never receives any praise or appreciation from them. Which is also the reason for her perfectionism and cold personality. No one dared to get close to her even just for some greetings, except for him who chose to break her wall. It did take time for her to be able to open her heart for him, to put trust and her happiness on someone else.
But he also stupidly broke that trust with talk bad behind her.
"It seems like Lisha has a crush on you, Matt."
Hearing that, Matt scoffs. "Lisha? Oh, please no. Everything about her makes me sick, can't she notice that I only befriend her because of our parents? I wish she would just stop being clingy and leave me alone."
"Then, why did you try so hard to get close with her?"
"My dad promised me a cruise ship if I can get Mr. Anderson's good side and made him sign a contract with dad's company."
"Haha… you are sly."
"Of course. I'm your boyfriend after all and you love me for that."
Normally, Lisha would have confronted people like him and given them a hard slap on the face to remind them of their place, however this time, she can't find the courage to do that—instead, tears decided to roll down on her cheeks.
Is that why he has been avoiding her lately? Lisha couldn't help but ask herself that question with a laugh. The missed calls, the cancelled outing plans, the "I am busy" excuses, everything makes sense now. Disheartened, Lisha chooses to come out from her hiding place, making her presence known to them and walks past the two. Ignoring Matt's surprised look and his so-called girlfriend's excuses.
"Lis, please wait! This isn't like what you thought." She doesn't even want to spare Matt a glance despite his attempt to stop her.
"Go away, Matt. I don't want to hear your lies anymore."
"Lis, please…"
Now that he was busted, he starts to care about her feelings? Gosh, who ever thought her life will be this harsh.
Coldly, Lisha glares at him with hatred. "Just stop, Matt. Your excuses will not work for me again. I've heard enough, and thanks for all the lies."
"I'm not— LISHA! LISTEN TO ME FIRST!"
Call him stubborn, but there is no way Matt let Lisha just go away like that. There is no guarantee she would not report this problem to Mr. Anderson and this will make him break the cooperation contract between the two companies. That would make him lose his father's trust. He can not let that happen! Anything but that.
"Fine. You are the one who made me do this." As soon as Lisha gets near the stairs, Matt without hesitation pushes her all the way down. "AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GOT!"
"Kyaa!" A scream could be heard as Lisha lost her step and fell hard down. Despite his girlfriend's horror cry, Matt just stands there with a blank face without any guilt. He seems to be satisfied with the bloody sight downstairs, arms to legs were broken beyond repair and blood can't stop oozing.
'Ah, this is how I'm gonna die?'
Life is often unpredictable. Whether you want it or not, everyone is supposed to be born into the world. Lisha didn't even have time to live by doing what he wanted to do and now she had to meet her end which tragically got killed by someone she once loved.
'Isn't the world too cruel to me?'
Before her consciousness is completely gone, Lisha's eyes are landed on the sight of Matt calming down his girlfriend. What a pity, even in her last breath Lisha is still envious of the affection she gets.
'I just want to be loved, just for once...'
✧.✿.✧
Lisha isn't sure if this was a blessing or curse, but it seems like she has been given a second chance to live. She doesn't remember much about what happened after her fall, but someone must have found her and brought her to the hospital immediately.
The sunlight was seeping through the white mesh curtains, did nothing to help with the glaring morning gaze but she could understand why people would buy it as a decoration. Those useless and overpriced curtains, no matter what, do give the room a classic atmosphere.
The second she laid eyes on those mesh curtains, her eyes snapped open and the grogginess she felt from just waking up vanished immediately.
'Wait, since when does a hospital have mesh curtains?'
"Y-young Miss, you are awake!" Instead of hearing her mother's voice like what Lisha was hoping for, it was the voice of a stranger dressed in a maid costume. She has never seen her before but somehow she feels familiar with her.
The maid who just entered the room seemed so surprised and quickly rushed to her side.
"Don't worry, miss. Duke Garter will be here in a minute."
"D-duke who? Why do you call me 'young miss'?"
'Why does my voice sound plummy? Not to mention, my body feels lighter than usual. Something isn't right.'
"Young Miss, are you sure you're okay?" asked the maid, worried.
"Mirror! Please bring me the mirror!"
Though the maid doesn't know what's wrong with her master's strange behaviour, she quickly brings the mirror Lisha asked for.
"What the…" Lisha can't hide her surprise as she sees the reflection in the mirror. Right in front of her is no other than a little girl with soft brown wavy hair and sharp crystal blue eyes. Which is a perfect description for a princess in fairy tales. She wasn't an 18 years old girl anymore, but instead, an 11 years old child with an elegant and lovely appearance. This face kinda reminds her of—
"Talitha!" Right, one of her favourite novel characters' name, Talitha.
…Wait, what?
A couple in their late 30s suddenly burst through the door and went to hug the clueless girl. The woman seemed to can't stop thanking God as she looked at her daughter.
"Oh Talitha my dear, you finally awake! You don't know how worried we were when a knight found you drowned at the lake. What are you even thinking by going there without your maid!?"
While the woman in front of Lisha is busy scolding her with worry, the man just looks at her with a glad expression beside his wife.
Yet… "Do I know you two?"
Both of them look at each other for a second before answering her. "What are you talking about, dear? We're your parents, Talitha."
"Talitha… is that my name?"
"Of course! You're Talitha Aricia Garter, the first daughter of Garter Dukedom. Who else could you be?"
"Quick! Call the doctor!" orders the duke.
Great, now Lisha understands what just happens. She just entered into one of the novels she always reads, The Crimson Lily, as the villainess who was destined to die at the hands of male lead because of attempt murder on the female lead. The book itself is set in Yaneian, a country that using a constitutional monarchy as its government system where the only descendant of the king will inherit the throne.
Life is indeed unpredictable, to the point it likes to play with you. Lisha isn't sure if this is a blessing or curse, but it seems like she has lived again, as another person.