The bell above the door of Lil' Zing chimes softly as I step back inside, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wraps around me like a warm hug.
Kirk stands behind the counter, his signature grin lighting up his face as he unfolds the paper cup holder.
"You are back! Was there a problem with that black car outside?" he asked, leaning over to grab another cup from the shelf, concern lacing his voice.
I shake my head and smile lightly, "No problem at all. Just let me pay for those guys' coffees," I say, taking out my wallet from my purse.
Kirk waves me off. "No way. I said it's on the house so it is on the house."
His stubbornness makes me chuckle more freely. I missed his animated mannerisms. They always made me laugh. "You know, you will go out of business if you keep being this generous!"
Kirk chuckles as he hands me three cups neatly arranged in a paper holder, along with a box of pastries wrapped in colourful paper. "I will take my chances."
"Thanks!" I reply gratefully before heading up the narrow staircase that leads to our office space above.
As I reach the top and stand before the vibrant red door I pull out my key and turn it in the lock. The door creaks open to reveal darkness. June and Levi were night owls who, for the most part, lived in the office. They wouldn't be up yet at this hour.
I place the coffee and snacks on the nearby counter, but before I can turn on the light, I am suddenly caught off guard by a strong breeze that sweeps through just as something whizzes past me.
A figure swings what looks like a hockey stick right where I stood moments ago! Adrenaline surges through me instinctively; without thinking twice, I twist behind them and wrap them in a chokehold until light floods into the room.
"June!" My voice bursts forth, mixed with laughter and relief when she turns her startled eyes toward mine.
"Oh my God! Selene? You scared me!" She drops her hockey stick, her expression shifting from fear to excitement within seconds as she realises who is standing before her.
"Ugh, I thought you were an intruder," she gasps, her voice a mix of relief and excitement. "I thought you said you wouldn't come back. Aren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon!"
I release her, laughing. "Well, surprise. And how could you mistake me for an intruder, huh?" I tease playfully while we tumble just like old times.
June laughs while begging for mercy, "Sorry, sorry. It's just… no one else comes here except you and Levi."
Her laughter rings sweetly against my ears as she hugs me tightly. For her, it was a few weeks since we last saw each other, but for me, it's been ten years. June stiffens slightly, sensing something different in my embrace.
Just then, Levi emerges from his office, rubbing sleep from his eyes, looking every bit unbothered.
"What is going on?" he asks his voice groggy. When he sees me his face lights up. "Selene!"
He rushes over, joining the hug. June tries to nudge him away, complaining, "Ow, you are such a big man, you will squeeze us to death."
Levi, like a big cuddly bear, refuses to be left out. "No way, I am not letting go."
Hearing them banter my smile grows wider. "I missed you guys," I say while sinking into their comforting warmth. I regret ever letting the Kingsley family dictate how I lived my life and lose the only people who truly cared about me.
I throw myself onto the couch, laughing as Levi opens the curtains, flooding the room with light. June reaches for one of those lattes and sits beside me. "So did you get married?" she curiously asks having seen no ring on my finger.
I take my black coffee and nod. "Yes... but," I take a deep breath before adding quietly yet firmly, "I want to annul the marriage. I can only do that after a hundred days, so… yep."
"What?" Levi interjects sharply while taking the other latte and sit opposite me.
"It's complicated," I sigh softly.
"Good. I never liked that guy. He clearly hates you. What your family coerced you to do was really messed up," said Levi not holding back.
I can't even deny it. If only I had fought harder for myself I wouldn't have wound up miserable and dead in the middle of the street.
We chat while we eat, and I watch as Levi and June banter back and forth. For the first time in a long while, I feel at ease, at home.
After about an hour or two of mindless chatting, I pull out a piece of paper. I recall the man who attacked me in my last life before I died. I want to know who he is, where he lives, what his favourite colour is. I want to know everything about him and ruin his life.
Recalling the chain peeking from his shirt, I draw the diamond-studded chain he was wearing that night and on a separate paper, the geometric tattoo on his hand. It's a long shot, but I have to try.
I hand the drawing of the diamond-studded chain to Levi, who has been watching me curiously. He scrutinizes the near-perfect drawing carefully. June peers over his shoulder. "What's that?"
"It's not a unique piece of jewellery, but I want to know who designed this," I say before handing the tattoo drawing to June.
"This is a tattoo... I need to find out who did this work."
June, who has some tattoos herself, nods. "I can look into it. It might take some time, but we will find out." I don't even know if, ten years back, the man had that tattoo and jewellery, but it is worth a try.
Levi doesn't ask any questions; he just gives me a nod of understanding. They have work, but they don't mind taking this on as a side quest. I plan on sketching out a drawing of his face and searching for him in every database.
Soon after, we separate, ready to start our day. I step into the small office that was meant to be a bedroom. I converted it into an office and even added a sleeper couch in case I finished my work late.
A smile creeps up my face, despite the heaviness in my chest. This space is not as sophisticated as the polished halls of Lynx Corp, where I worked as part of the Kingsley family. Here, it feels like home, a sanctuary of creativity and warmth.
The dual monitors hum quietly, casting a soft glow over my workstation PC. My favourite boba tea humidifier sits proudly on the desk, filling the air with a sweet aroma that reminds me of lazy afternoons spent sipping bubble tea with June. The oversized dragon mouse pad sprawls beneath my hands like an invitation to embark on new adventures in game design. And then there's the pin board, my tapestry woven with memories, snapshots of laughter with friends, family and sketches of my ambitious goals for JLS company.
Seeing this cosy setup, my eyes sting with unshed tears. I walk closer to the pin board, running my fingers over my pictures with Sunny. They once brought joy to me but now they only serve as painful reminders. There are so many of us at the beach, on hikes, and at parties. Who knows how long she hated me if she was secretly plotting all along?
With trembling fingers, I start pulling down those photographs one by one until they lay scattered at my feet like fallen leaves in autumn, a prelude to winter's chill. I take down my parents' pictures too. In my past life, all they did was manipulate me and neglect me.
With each photo discarded into a pile at my feet, I finally can breathe. I reach for the paper shredder beside my desk. When I turn it on its mechanical growl fills the room as I feed it fragments of my past, each picture disappearing into confetti-like shreds.
The sound of the shredder draws my friends' attention. Soon they appear at the door, curiosity etched on their faces. They exchange nudges, silently debating who should ask what's going on. The back-and-forth stops when they hear me sniffle.
June rushes in, followed closely by Levi. "What's wrong?" she asks. I want to share everything with them and offload the pain I have been feeling but how can I possibly explain what I have been through in my past life? My emotions rush out like the floodgates had opened.
"Selene…" June murmurs softly before enveloping me in her arms; warmth seeps through every fibre of her being. We sit on the small couch, and Levi hands me some tissues. After what seemed like an eternity, I tried to restrain my emotions.
"Sunny," I manage finally between shaky breaths after wiping away tears that feel more bitter than salty against my skin.
"Sunny was the one who set me up in that hotel," I say, my voice trembling. "She made sure I woke up with Roan, in bed."
Levi looks confused. "Why would she do that if she was supposed to marry Roan? She has been throwing that engagement in all of our faces, so how could she?"
"Because she is with Orson," I reply, wiping my tears.
June gasps audibly while saying, "That ass hole of an ex-boyfriend? Is that why he broke up with you?"
Yes, that was why he broke up with me over two years ago via a message, and my sister was there when it happened, comforting me like the most caring sister in the world.
I nod, pushing my hair back. June stands up, ready to fight, while Levi rubs my back in comfort. "Where is my hockey stick?" June exclaims passionately fuelled by righteous indignation. "I will put a sack over her head and teach her a lesson."
I grab her hand and pull her back down. "No, June. I want to take her down. I want to rip off her mask and let everyone see who she really is."
"I want her to be left with nothing and no one to rely on," I add quietly, releasing pent-up feelings swirling restlessly throughout my body.
My eyes burn with malice, and I can see the goose bumps rise on Levi and June's arms. They understand the depth of my resolve, and they know this is just the beginning.