Claire packed her bag in silence before leaving for home. Outside the classroom, Vienna and Tasya were already waiting, their eyes meeting in a quiet exchange. Claire noticed them, yet pretended not to. She slipped the strap of her bag over her shoulder and walked past, as if their presence were only a passing shadow.
"Claire, what happened to you?" Vienna suddenly grabbed her bag before she could step out. "You don't want anything to do with us anymore. You've changed… a lot. Especially with Diana. Why are you so different now?"
Claire paused. For a moment, she lowered her gaze, searching for the right words that would not wound them too deeply.
"Guys… I'm sorry. Maybe I really have changed," she said softly. "I'm not the Claire I used to be. Lately, I've been thinking about my future. You know I'm among the top three students in class. If I don't keep my attitude in check, I might lose everything I've worked for. I just want to be better. For myself, for my brother, and for my mom. Please… try to understand."
Vienna let out a dry laugh.
"Oh, so now it's because you're a top student?" she sneered. "I never knew you were so good at manipulating situations. In front of the teachers, you act like the perfect, gentle student. But deep down, you hate losing. You're ambitious. And about love—you always chase whatever you want. Do you remember Jason? Or do you want me to remind you?"
"Sya, please stop!" Claire's voice trembled, yet it remained steady enough to hold its ground. "You wouldn't be happy even if I tried to become a better person. We're all tired of the constant drama. And you're right—I'm not completely innocent either. The teachers always defended me, even when I was wrong. Yes… I used to pretend to be good in front of everyone. I didn't want people to see me as a smart student with a bad attitude."
Tasya crossed her arms, her expression hardening.
"So the truth is, you want to leave our circle," she said loudly. "Fine. Let's walk our own paths. And don't interfere in our business anymore."
Without another glance, Tasya turned and walked away. Vienna followed shortly after, leaving Claire standing alone in the quiet hallway.
By the time Claire reached home, her energy had drained completely. The weight of the confrontation lingered in her chest like a dull ache.
"You didn't eat first, Claire?" her mother asked, suddenly appearing at her bedroom door.
"No, Mom. I want to study first," Claire replied, her eyes still fixed on her history book.
"Alright. But don't forget to eat."
"Yes, Mom."
Two days passed, yet Claire's body refused to recover. Even so, she forced herself to attend school because of her math exam. Her mother gave her medicine every morning, hoping it would ease the pain.
The exam went smoothly, but the sharp ache in her stomach soon became unbearable. Pale and trembling, Claire asked the teacher for permission and rushed to the infirmary.
As she lay on the narrow bed after taking the medicine, a thought crept into her mind.
Did I ever have stomach pain like this before?
As far as she remembered, the pain had only started after graduation in her previous life—never this early, never this intense.
Wait… does that mean my destiny has changed?
She exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling. The medicine made her body heavy, but sleep would not come.
Then, during break time, faint voices drifted in from behind the infirmary window.
"Are you sure she has changed?"
Claire froze. That voice… Diana?
"Yes. She doesn't want me to bully you anymore."
Tasya.
"Well, then I can't get Miko's attention," Diana scoffed, leaning against the window with irritation.
Claire's breath caught in her throat.
So all this time… Tasya had been playing behind her back. Bullying Diana on purpose. And they were cooperating?
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears. Fragments of the past rushed back like scattered memories finally aligning. Back then, everything had seemed peaceful whenever she stayed close to Tasya and Vienna. She had never questioned the late arrivals, the subtle provocations, the quiet encouragement to mock others.
Now, the truth unfolded with cruel clarity.
Claire sat up slowly. She had wanted to sleep, but her mind refused to rest. Instead, she went to the homeroom office and requested permission to go home early.
"Hi, Claire. You said you were sick?" Miko appeared at the school gate, startling her.
"Yes, Miko."
"Do you want me to take you home? I don't have class today. Mr. James has a meeting in the headmaster's office."
"It's okay. I already ordered a car online."
"…Alright. Be careful," Miko said, watching her from a distance as she walked away.
So Diana really likes you, Miko.
Claire leaned her head against the car seat, her eyes drifting shut.
Once, she had chased Miko with a foolish, stubborn heart. But now, that feeling had quietly faded—ever since she had been given a second life. Perhaps she no longer wished to repeat the same story, the same mistakes, the same love that led nowhere.
No wonder Tasya kept pushing me to be mean to Diana.
But since when did they become close?
And did Vienna know?
Days had passed without a word between them. The friendship that once filled her heart now felt like a distant echo.
The car stopped in front of her house. Her mother was already waiting on the terrace.
"Mom, you didn't go to the office today?" Claire asked as she hurried over.
"No, dear. I took leave as soon as I heard you were sick," her mother said gently, opening the door.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"Don't say that. You're my little girl. And Brian is home too. There was a school event he didn't want to join, so he came back early."
"Oh… so we're all home together," Claire said, resting her head lightly on her mother's shoulder.
"Yes. Let's get some rest first."
"Thank you, Mom."
Claire went to her room and locked the door behind her.
She woke up at four in the afternoon, yawning softly. Her phone lit up with a message from Miko asking about her condition. Before she could reply, a knock sounded on the door.
"Are you okay?" her mother asked, stepping inside.
"Yes, I'm fine," Claire said, sitting up properly.
"Oh, thank God. By the way, I have to attend my office anniversary event at a restaurant tonight. Many of my friends will be there. I might come home late."
"Can I come with you, Mom?" Claire held her mother's hands.
Her mother blinked in surprise. "You want to come? Seriously? You never liked office events. You always preferred going out with Tasya and Vienna. Speaking of which… I haven't seen you hang out with them lately."
"It's… a long story, Mom."
"Then come with me. There will be my friends' children there too. Maybe you'll make new friends."
Claire nodded slowly.
She wanted to do something she had never done before—something that might change the course of her destiny.
The party was lively, held at a famous restaurant in the city center. Music floated through the air as the MC and the company owner gave their speeches. Laughter, chatter, and clinking glasses blended into a warm, bustling atmosphere.
Yet Claire soon felt dizzy. Excusing herself, she went to find the restroom.
She paused in confusion.
Wait… this is the men's restroom?
Startled, she quickly turned and ran out—only to bump into a tall man in a shirt and jeans.
"Oops, sorry! I went to the wrong restroom," she said hurriedly, rushing past without seeing his face.
"Claire, is that you?" the man called.
She stopped and turned around.
A young man in a black leather jacket was looking at her with a faint smile.
"I'm sorry… do you know me?" Claire asked, trying to recall his face.
"Oh, you forgot about me? How sad," he said dramatically.
"…Have we really met before?"
He chuckled and took out his phone. "Check your DMs. I just sent you a message on Instagram. We've been friends on social media for years."
Claire opened her phone. The message appeared instantly.
Randy.
Memories surfaced at once—11th grade, the national mathematics competition, the boy who had once been her strongest rival… and later, an unexpected friend.
"Oh my God… Randy? I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize you earlier."
"How dare you," he teased lightly. "You didn't even reply to my messages for so long."
"I was busy with school," she said apologetically.
"So, what are you doing here, Claire?"
"I came with my mom. She has an office anniversary event tonight."
"Oh? Who is your mom?"
"Mrs. Cheryl."
Randy's smile deepened. "Mrs. Cheryl? I see."
"You know her?"
"Maybe," he replied mysteriously.
"Anyway, I should go. My mom is waiting."
"See you then."
Claire walked away, unaware of Randy's quiet gaze lingering behind her.
Thirty minutes later, the event ended. As Claire and her mother prepared to leave, her mother suddenly stopped.
"Claire, wait a moment. I want to say goodbye to Mr. Smith."
"Okay."
"No, you're coming with me too."
"Me too?"
"Yes. He even brought his son tonight."
They approached a man in a black suit.
"Hi, Mrs. Cheryl," Mr. Smith greeted warmly.
"Yes, sir," her mother replied, gently pulling Claire forward.
Beside him stood a young man who turned his head and smiled.
Claire's eyes widened.
Randy.
"Oh yes, Mrs. Cheryl," Mr. Smith said proudly. "This is my son, Randy."
"Oh, Randy. Nice to meet you."
"Randy… you're Mr. Smith's son?" Claire asked in disbelief.
"You know him, Claire?" her mother asked curiously.
"We met during a school competition, Mom."
"Yes," Randy added smoothly. "Claire was very kind to me."
For a brief second, Randy and his father exchanged a meaningful glance.
"That's wonderful," Mr. Smith said. "Perhaps we can have dinner together sometime."
"Of course," Claire replied, taking a slow breath.
On the way home, her mother spoke enthusiastically about Randy. Apparently, he often visited his father's office and already knew her mother well.
This never happened in my previous life.
Claire stared out the car window, lost in thought.
Is this a good sign… or a bad one?
She did not know.
By eleven at night, they arrived home. Brian was asleep on the couch, the television still flickering softly. Her mother carried him to his room, while Claire quietly returned to hers.
She washed her face and sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through Randy's Instagram profile. His photos were neat, composed, almost too perfect.
He looks kind… and handsome.
But something felt hidden beneath that calm surface.