My Second Chance
The morning sun spilled through my bedroom window, golden light warming my face.
For a moment, I simply sat there, stunned. The velvet sheets beneath me, the posters on the wall, the scent of jasmine soap in the air everything was familiar. Too familiar.
I knew this place.
My childhood bedroom.
My chest tightened. I had died in a pool of blood, but here I was again, eighteen years old, alive.
The mirror across the room reflected a girl with smooth skin, youthful eyes, no trace of scars. My fingers trembled as I touched my face.
It wasn't a dream.
I had been reborn.
---
The door burst open.
"Olivia! You're going to be late!"
A boy stormed in, tugging on the straps of his half-fastened school uniform. His dark hair was messy from sleep, his tie hanging loose.
Michael.
My brother.
In my past life, he had been nothing more than a memory, his smile erased too soon by the cruelty of fate. I had buried myself in business and forgotten how much he once meant to me. But now, here he was alive, young, full of life.
Tears stung my eyes.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, frowning as he threw his bag onto the chair. "Did something happen? Did that witch of a stepmother say something again?"
I shook my head quickly and stood, pulling him into my arms before he could escape.
"Hey! What are you doing?" he yelped, stiff at first. "You're acting weird stop! You're going to wrinkle my uniform"
I only hugged him tighter, my tears soaking into his shoulder.
"I missed you," I whispered.
He stilled. Then, slowly, his arms wrapped around me too. "Uh… I literally saw you last night. Are you sure you're okay, sis?"
I laughed through my tears. "I'm better than okay."
Because this time, I had him.
---
Downstairs, the smell of fresh bread and butter filled the air. Michael stuffed his mouth with toast while balancing a notebook under his arm.
"You're going to choke," I warned.
"Relax," he mumbled, swallowing. "I've got practice today. If I'm late, Coach will kill me."
"Practice?" I tilted my head.
He grinned, flashing that mischievous smile that always got him out of trouble. "Basketball. You forgot?"
Of course I had. In my past life, I never paid attention. My work consumed me, and I missed everything about his youth.
Not this time.
"Alright," I said. "But don't skip breakfast again, or I'll drag you back from the court myself."
He laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
---
The drive to his school was chaotic as always. Michael slouched in the seat, tapping on his phone, humming some pop song off-key. I watched him, a strange ache in my chest.
He had no idea what the future held. No idea that betrayal would shatter our family. No idea that his sister had already died once.
This time, I would protect him. At any cost.
---
The moment we pulled up to the gates of Hartwell Academy, chaos exploded.
"Michael!"
Two voices rang out at once.
Standing by the entrance were two identical girls long dark hair, bright eyes, flawless smiles. One wore her uniform perfectly, every button aligned. The other had her tie loose, skirt rolled up, and a lollipop dangling from her mouth.
Isabella and Allegra. The infamous twins.
"Oh, no…" Michael muttered, trying to duck in his seat.
I raised a brow. "Friends of yours?"
"They're… classmates," he said quickly. Too quickly.
Before he could escape, the twins rushed over, each grabbing one of his arms.
"Michael, I saved you a seat in class today!" Isabella chirped sweetly.
"No, he promised me first," Allegra shot back, glaring at her sister. "Right, Michael?"
"I..uh.. I didn't promise anything!" he sputtered, face red.
I smirked. So my brother was already popular with the girls. That explained his panic.
Then, another car rolled up a sleek black limousine.
From it stepped a tall girl with glossy curls, diamond earrings sparkling in the sunlight. She walked as though the ground belonged to her, chin lifted high.
Serena Valentine.
I remembered her too. Rich, spoiled, and dangerously obsessed with Michael. In my past life, she made his life miserable with her schemes.
She spotted him instantly and stalked over. "Michael! You didn't return my calls last night."
He groaned under his breath. "Oh, great."
The twins released him only to glare at Serena.
"He was with us," Allegra snapped.
Serena's eyes narrowed. "Stay out of this. Michael only humors you because he's polite." She smiled sweetly at him. "Isn't that right?"
Michael looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. "I..I need to get to class bye!"
He bolted, leaving the three girls behind, glaring daggers at each other.
I laughed so hard I nearly doubled over.
---
Inside the school, chaos followed him everywhere.
"Yo, Mike!" Blake, his loud best friend, slung an arm around his shoulders. "You ran like hell just now. What happened? Twins again?"
"Don't remind me," Michael groaned.
Blake grinned. "Hey, look on the bright side you're the luckiest guy in school. Three girls fighting over you. Some of us don't even get one."
Michael rolled his eyes. "You mean you."
Blake clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch."
At that moment, a shy girl carrying a stack of books tripped nearby, papers scattering across the floor.
"Sorry!" she squeaked, kneeling to gather them.
Blake's grin softened. He crouched down, helping her pick them up. "You okay?"
She blinked up at him, cheeks pink. "Th-thank you…"
Michael raised a brow. "Who's that?"
"Angela," Blake said, still smiling at her. "And I think I'm in love."
Michael groaned again. "Not you too…"
---
From the window of my car, I watched it all unfold the twins fighting, Serena fuming, Michael running, Blake flirting.
This world was alive, full of drama and laughter. And for the first time in years, I felt something I thought I'd lost forever: hope.
I had a second chance.
This time, I wouldn't waste it.
But as I turned away from the school gates, my smile faded.
Because war was waiting.
And I would make sure every single one of my betrayers paid in blood.