Elena's POV
Elena had been running for what felt like forever, searching for a way out—but the road just kept going, endless and empty.
She didn't even remember how she got there.
All she knew was that she had to escape.
She suddenly stopped when she saw a figure standing in the middle of the road—a man, facing away from her.
"Hello?" she called out.
No response.
It was as if he couldn't hear her at all.
Hesitantly, she walked closer… step by step… until she was right behind him.
She paused.
Should she touch him?
After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and tapped his shoulder.
But the second her fingers made contact—
He turned to ash.
Elena gasped and stumbled backward, fear gripping her whole body. She turned and ran—but no matter how far she went, the man remained there.
Frozen.
Unmoving.
As if his feet were rooted to that exact spot.
Her knees trembled when she sensed someone behind her.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't even turn around.
"Elena…"
The voice echoed—deep, familiar… painfully familiar.
"Elena… come back to me…"
It surrounded her, filling the empty space.
"Ahh!" she cried out, clutching her head as a sharp pain struck her skull. Her vision spun wildly.
"My wife… are we going home?"
The pain intensified.
Images flashed.
Voices overlapped—strange, yet hauntingly familiar.
"W-who are you?!" she cried.
"I'm Elena… your wife."
She collapsed onto the ground, gripping her head as if it might split open at any moment.
"Carlos… when you finally learn who I really am… can you promise me you won't leave? I don't want to be left behind again…"
"S-stop…" she whispered, trembling.
The memories kept coming—fragments she couldn't understand, yet somehow felt like they belonged to her.
"Don't leave me…" "I'll love you, Elena. That's the promise I'm making today." "I promise… I'll find you and love you again in our next life." "I love you, Elena."
The last words echoed—
And everything went dark.
---
She jolted awake in her room, gasping for air.
Her heart pounded wildly as she rushed to grab a glass of water, drinking it in one go.
When she looked at her reflection, she froze.
Tears.
She was crying.
She quickly wiped them away, confused… shaken.
Why?
This was the tenth time she'd had the same dream.
Every time, she woke up in an unfamiliar place, hearing voices she didn't recognize—but somehow felt deeply connected to.
And every time… she woke up in tears.
"Are you okay?"
She turned to see her doctor—and friend—Lyra, standing by the door.
Elena exhaled slowly and sat down on the bed.
"You had the dream again?" Lyra asked gently.
Elena nodded.
"I don't understand why it keeps repeating. It feels like… there's something I'm supposed to remember."
Lyra softly rubbed her back, trying to calm her.
"Maybe it's just stress. Do you want me to run some tests?"
Elena shook her head. "I'm fine."
She took a deep breath.
"What time is it?"
"5 a.m. Do you want to go back to sleep?"
Elena stood up instead.
"No… I think I'll go out."
---
After breakfast, she asked, "Can I borrow your car?"
Lyra smiled. "Of course. Going somewhere?"
Elena paused.
A place surfaced in her mind.
"I'll just… go for a drive," she said quietly.
---
Hours later, after a long drive, she arrived.
Manila Bay.
She didn't even realize she was smiling.
She stepped out of the car, holding a small bouquet of daisies she had bought along the way.
The place felt…
Familiar.
Like she had been there before.
The sea was calm, the air peaceful—so different from what she used to see in the news.
She walked along the shore, the flowers in her hand, trying to understand the strange warmth in her chest.
Then she noticed an ice cream vendor.
"What flavors do you have?" she asked.
"Chocolate, pandan, and strawberry, ma'am."
"How much?"
"Ten pesos per cup."
"I'll take two. Strawberry."
---
As she continued walking, she suddenly stopped.
Carlos.
He was standing by the rocks, staring out at the ocean.
She turned away at first—but something pulled her back.
Before she knew it, she was walking toward him.
She climbed onto the rocks and sat beside him.
Carlos looked surprised.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she handed him one of the ice creams, already starting to melt.
He hesitated.
"Well? Are you going to take it or not?" she said, slightly annoyed.
He took it.
"What's this for?"
"Why do you ask so many questions?" she muttered, looking out at the sea.
Silence settled between them.
They ate quietly, both aware of each other's presence.
Carlos would glance at her from time to time—but she pretended not to notice.
Then she spoke.
"How long have you known me?"
He blinked, surprised.
"For a while now," he said with a small smile.
"Don't you get tired?"
"Tired of what?"
"Of me."
He turned to her, confused.
"Why would I ever get tired of you? I won't stop… not until you remember me."
She looked at him.
"Am I really that important to you? What are we?"
He froze.
She immediately felt guilty.
"Sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's okay," he cut in softly.
After a moment, he stood up and offered his hand.
"Want to walk?"
She looked at his hand.
Something inside her…
wanted to take it.
And she did.
The moment their hands touched, it felt like electricity ran through her veins—her heart racing for reasons she couldn't explain.
She didn't understand it.
But she liked it.
Being with him… felt right.
Even if she couldn't remember why.
---
At that moment, a quiet realization settled in Carlos' heart.
Maybe this was why fate had brought them back together.
A second chance.
A chance to change how their story ends.
And he made a decision—
He would fall in love with her again.
And this time…
he would make her fall for him too.
---
– THE END –