Ethilia closed the door and carried the box into the dining area. Alena's eyes widened, and she darted forward, nearly tripping over herself. "Mommy, what's in there? Lemme see… lemme see!" she squealed, bouncing with excitement. Ethilia laughed at her daughter's energy.
"Wait up, Alena… let Mommy open it first," she said, setting the box down. Alena nodded, peeking curiously as Ethilia carefully lifted the flaps.
Inside, they found groceries and a handful of snacks. Ethilia's jaw dropped, and she glanced at Alena, who was already reaching for a big chocolate bar. "Wow, Mommy… I've never seen so much food all at once."
Ethilia held her breath, carefully lifting each item and placing them on the floor. There were fresh vegetables, a small roast chicken, slices of ham, a loaf of bread, a few pieces of cheese, and little treats—chocolates and snacks perfect for a three-year-old. At the bottom of the box, neatly tucked under the groceries, lay an envelope.
Alena struggled to unwrap the chocolate bar, her tiny fingers failing to grip it properly. Ethilia frowned but picked up the envelope herself, her heart skipping a beat.
She found a stack of cash first. "It's…" she murmured, unable to find the right words. Then her eyes fell on the folded letter inside, and she held her breath, hoping it wasn't some nasty note.
Carefully, she opened it and glanced at the bottom to see who it was from:
Your beloved enemy, Moron
Ethilia's eyebrows knitted together as she began to read:
Wassup, my biggest pain in the ass? Normally, I never liked that smug face of yours, but those dark circles always pissed me off the most. I don't care what mess you've gotten yourself into this time… but remember, I'll never let you have peace. Yep, I'm back to annoy you again.
Oh! Don't think I sent these things for you. I sent them for the girl I saw you with. She's got your features—cute… but hopefully not a dumbass like you.
Eat well, and I'll come tomorrow to meet you. For now, I don't want my dreams to turn into nightmares after seeing your scary face. I've also sent some spaghetti and tiramisu for you and chicken nuggets for that little girl.
Your beloved enemy, You Moron
Ethilia's lips parted in surprise. She stared at the letter, a mixture of disbelief, amusement, and cautious warmth bubbling inside her. Even the cash and groceries couldn't distract her from the playful venom hidden in every line of the note.
A small, unrestrained chuckle escaped her lips, the first genuine one in years. She folded the letter carefully and murmured, "That annoying smartass is back…" Relief and a strange touch of nostalgia colored her tone more than irritation.
Her gaze fell on Alena, who was struggling to bite through the chocolate wrapper. Ethilia let out a soft sigh, smiling. "Alena, let Mommy open this, and then you can have it, okay?"
Alena bounced in place, her tiny arms waving with pure excitement. "Mommy, hurry! I wanna eat!" she squealed. Ethilia chuckled and gently helped her unwrap the chocolate, sharing in her daughter's delight.
Their night passed in a blur, the simple joy of spaghetti and tiramisu softening the weight of their lives.
________
Far across town, dawn broke inside a lavish bedroom. Clothes littered the floor as Liana tore through her closet.
"I seriously have nothing to wear," Liana complained, pacing the room like a caged storm.
On the couch, Alex yawned and rubbed his eyes. "It's six in the morning. Do you really need to destroy my sleep for this?"
"I'm trying to look good," Liana snapped, disappearing back into her closet.
"That's the fifth outfit you've tried." Alex groaned. "You're meeting a rival, not a date."
Liana reappeared, fixing the cuff of a sleek black shirt. A smug smile curved across her lips. "Rival or not, I want her to see I haven't changed. And for the record…" Her eyes flicked toward him, smug. "I did propose to her once."
Alex froze mid-yawn. "You what?" His eyes widened when he finally looked at her. "…Damn."
Satisfied with his stunned silence, Liana grabbed her bag. "Let's go."
She pulled him up by the wrist. Alex muttered as they left, "Two heart attacks before sunrise. First, you drop a bomb like that, then you walk out looking better than half the guys in this city. No wonder women are rejecting men."
Liana laughed, pride shimmering in her eyes.
The drive passed in silence until they reached the small apartment. Liana drew in a steadying breath before pressing the doorbell.
Inside, Ethilia stirred, hair mussed, voice groggy. "Who's ruining my sleep at this hour…"
She dragged herself to the door and opened it—only for her eyes to fly wide. The last of her drowsiness vanished.
Liana stood there, matured but impossibly sharp, black shirt paired with dark blue pants, her hair loose around her shoulders. The smirk she wore was too familiar.
Ethilia, still in pajamas with her hair messy from sleep, suddenly felt exposed.
"Done drooling?" Liana teased, her voice light but edged.
"I wasn't—" Ethilia bit her tongue, flustered. "I mean, no."
Liana rolled her eyes and stepped inside without waiting.
"Hey—" Ethilia frowned, shutting the door behind her. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Just looking at where your choices landed you." The bitterness slipped out before Liana could stop it. The cramped apartment twisted something in her chest, but she forced her face into a mask of disdain.
Ethilia's jaw clenched. "I know what everyone thinks of me—foolish, cheap. I don't need you to repeat it." Her voice cracked despite her effort.
That faint crack pulled Liana up short. She exhaled slowly. "…Besides your pride, how's your health?"
Ethilia blinked at the gentle shift in tone, crossing her arms. "Perfectly fine."
A small smirk tugged at Liana's lips. "Still feisty."
She let her gaze sweep the room, then scoffed. "Don't tell me you're so broke you don't even own a chair?"
"Yes," Ethilia shot back, arms crossed. "So why don't you sit on the floor? Or has Miss Superstar forgotten how?"
Surprise flickered in Liana's eyes, but she sank onto the floor anyway. Her smirk returned, though softer. "Fate hasn't been kind, has it? Tell me, do you ever wonder if things would've been different… if you hadn't rejected me?"
The words dragged Ethilia backward in memory—the day she laughed off Liana's proposal as a prank, only to give her heart to the man who later ruined her.
"That so-called prank," Liana murmured, her tone suddenly sharp, "would've been a better choice than the joke he made of you."
Ethilia raked a hand through her hair. "If you came to throw that in my face, I've already heard it a hundred times." Her voice broke again, quieter this time.
Silence hung heavy until Ethilia whispered, "Why send me money? The food? You should hate me."
Liana leaned forward, arms crossing over her knees. "Sit."
Hesitating, Ethilia finally lowered herself opposite her. "Well?"
A smirk curved Liana's lips. "We were rivals, sure. But you know it was never toxic. We competed in everything—grades, sports—but we never left the other behind."
"That was when we were kids."
"Even in college." Liana's brow arched. "Remember who dragged you to the nurse's office when you fainted in gym? Because it sure wasn't your precious boyfriend."
Ethilia looked away. "You just wanted to mock me."
"Mock you?" Liana threw up her hands. "I fed you when you skipped lunch, patched you up when you got sick. Admit it—without me, you wouldn't have survived half of it."
Memories surged, and Ethilia couldn't deny them. They'd fought like enemies, yet when the world turned cruel, they'd stood back-to-back.
Liana chuckled, almost softly. "We were quite the enemies."
A ghost of a smile tugged at Ethilia's lips. "Like no one else could beat us—unless we weren't together. Until that day…"
The mood darkened, but before either could speak, small footsteps padded into the room.
Alena appeared, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Mommy, who are you talking to?"
Ethilia drew her daughter into her lap. Her smirk returned, though her gaze lingered a beat too long.
"She's your copy," she said, voice low, unreadable. "Maybe the only smart choice you ever made."
Ethilia stiffened. She couldn't tell if it was an insult—or the gentlest thing Liana had ever said.