The late afternoon felt unusually quiet inside Claire's house.
Soft wind moved the curtains near the window, bringing with it the faint scent of rain from somewhere far away. Claire sat on the sofa with her injured leg resting carefully on a pillow, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the floor.
Since waking up from the hospital, her mind had not been at peace.
Fragments of memories kept appearing — incomplete, blurred, confusing.
She remembered dying at twenty-two.
She remembered fear.
She remembered being betrayed.
But love?
That part of her past life was still unclear.
Claire leaned her head back slowly.
After being reborn, she had made one decision very clearly — she would not let her emotions control her again. Dating Randy… it was not something she had planned before.
It was something she allowed to happen.
A change of destiny.
If she could change the person beside her, maybe she could also change the ending of her life.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
Claire frowned slightly.
Her mother was upstairs, so she slowly stood and walked toward the door.
When she opened it—
Her eyes widened.
"Miko?"
He stood there with a concerned expression, holding a small bag in his hand.
"I heard about the accident," he said. "Are you okay?"
Claire blinked, still slightly surprised to see him.
"Oh… yes. I'm fine now."
"Can I come in?"
She stepped aside quietly.
The living room suddenly felt awkwardly silent when they sat facing each other. Claire studied him carefully without realizing it.
There was something familiar about him.
Not like remembering a person.
But like remembering a feeling she couldn't explain.
Miko placed the bag on the table.
"I brought some fruit," he said. "You should eat something healthy."
"Thank you."
Another silence followed.
Claire felt an unexpected curiosity rising inside her.
She didn't know why.
Maybe because she wanted to understand more about her past self — the girl who died before finding the truth.
She looked at Miko again.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How was I… back in high school?"
Miko frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… was I close to you?"
He let out a small laugh.
"You really don't remember?"
Claire shook her head lightly.
"Just tell me."
Miko leaned back, thinking for a moment.
"Well… you were quite close to me."
Her heart beat a little faster.
"In what way?"
"You always came to watch my basketball matches," he said. "Even when your class finished late."
Claire felt a strange sensation in her chest.
"I did?"
"Yeah. Sometimes you waited until practice ended."
He smiled faintly.
"You liked talking to me. You always tried to sit near me during school events."
Claire lowered her gaze slightly.
So her past self had been someone who followed feelings like that.
"So… did I ever confess to you?" she asked carefully.
Miko looked at her for a few seconds before answering.
"No."
Claire blinked.
"But it was obvious you wanted my attention," he continued honestly. "Everyone could see it."
A quiet silence filled the room.
Claire didn't feel embarrassed.
Instead, she felt thoughtful.
So in the past life… maybe her feelings had gone somewhere she didn't even remember now.
But this life was different.
After being reborn, love was never her priority.
Changing fate was.
Finding the person who killed her was.
And choosing Randy… was also part of that change.
If she walked a different path, then the ending might also become different.
Claire looked up again.
"Do you think I was stupid back then?" she asked suddenly.
Miko shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?"
He smiled gently.
"You were just… sincere."
Claire stayed quiet.
Sincere.
Maybe that sincerity was what led her to danger in the end.
Maybe trusting the wrong people was what cost her life.
Her fingers tightened slightly on her skirt.
This time… she wouldn't repeat the same mistake.
No matter who stood beside her.
No matter who tried to get close to her again.
Because now, Claire was not living to fall in love.
She was living to uncover the truth.
And to survive.
The sky had already begun to turn orange when Miko finally stood up to leave.
"I won't stay too long," he said gently. "You still need to rest."
Claire nodded.
"Thank you for coming."
For a brief moment, they stood facing each other near the door. Miko seemed like he wanted to say something more, but in the end he only gave a small smile.
"Take care, Claire."
Then he walked out.
The sound of the gate closing echoed faintly in the quiet evening air.
Claire remained standing at the doorway for a few seconds longer before slowly shutting the door. The house suddenly felt much more silent than before.
She returned to the sofa and sat down carefully, letting out a slow breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
Her mind immediately began replaying the conversation.
So… she used to chase him.
She used to wait for him after basketball practice.
She used to look at him the way girls looked at someone they secretly loved.
Claire leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
No wonder.
No wonder Miko still looked at her differently.
There was a softness in his eyes today.
A familiarity.
Almost like unfinished feelings that had never truly disappeared.
A faint bitter smile formed on her lips.
"So it started from me…"
She murmured quietly.
If her past self had been the one who approached him first… then maybe Miko's feelings now were not sudden at all. Maybe they were something that had been growing slowly since those high school days.
Claire closed her eyes.
Another realization surfaced.
Diana.
Her eyes opened again.
That sharp gaze Diana always gave her.
The cold smile.
The subtle hostility she never explained.
Claire's fingers slowly tightened on the cushion beside her.
If she used to chase Miko openly… then it was very possible Diana saw everything.
And if Diana had feelings for Miko too—
Jealousy could easily turn into hatred.
A chill ran through Claire's spine.
Could that be one of the reasons?
Could her past death be connected to something as simple… yet dangerous… as love and jealousy?
Claire bit her lower lip slightly.
Everything felt like a tangled thread she was only beginning to untie.
This reborn life had already changed many things.
She chose Randy.
She changed her path.
But the people around her were still the same.
Their feelings.
Their desires.
Their darkness.
Claire slowly stood up and walked toward the window. Outside, the last light of the day faded behind distant buildings.
Somewhere far away, she could hear the faint sound of a basketball bouncing on concrete.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
"Miko…"
She whispered his name unconsciously.
Then she shook her head firmly.
No.
She couldn't let herself get dragged into emotions she didn't fully understand.
Not now.
Not when the truth about her death was still hidden in shadows.
Claire pressed her palm lightly against the glass.
This time, she would observe carefully.
Every smile.
Every jealousy.
Every lie.
Because she was starting to realize something frightening—
Maybe the reason she died at twenty-two was not only because of one person.
Maybe it was because of everyone around her.