Chapter 6
Rhea's Pov Ginny gently held his arm, her voice trembling, “Is Rhea doing this again to get your attention? Maybe… maybe she’s mad you spent my birthday with me instead of her…” As she spoke, tears slid silently down her cheeks. Kevin quickly wrapped an arm around her to comfort her, “Ah, you’re right. That’s it. I almost fell for her trick again. Damn it. Even if she dies, it doesn't matter to me, it helps us anyway. So Ginny, don't think about her, she doesn't matter to us anymore.” Kevin said and kissed Ginny, together, they fell on the bed. “Hahahaha… hahahaha…” I laughed hysterically to myself, tears falling dry my eyes like a waterfall. In the end, I lost. I lost everything! I continued laughing until I noticed how white my hands were. “What…?” My voice trembled, this time audible only to myself. “What’s happening to me…?” The edges of my vision blurred. My body was growing lighter, more transparent. I was leaving. “No, no, not yet!” I cried, “I can’t leave like this! Not when they’re still laughing! Still living! After everything they did to me?” Tears of helplessness streamed down my face, vanishing before they reached the ground. I clutched my chest as a sharp pull yanked me backwards, like gravity itself had changed direction. “Please…” I begged, “Give me one more chance. Just one. I’ll right my wrongs. I’ll make them regret everything. Please!!” I begged as everything around me faded, and then... I gasped and choked, my lungs seizing as liquid flooded my mouth. My eyes snapped and I choked immediately, on water. I flailed around, struggling to get up and when I was able to, I stared at the scene in front of me with shock, my mouth wide open. "W... What the heck is this?!" I murmured under my breath; I was inside a huge pool, people were standing around me, some were laughing, some sent mocking looks to me, while others just ignored me. My heart did a double flip as my eyes met the banners that were hung on the roof. “I like you, Kevin!” Were the words written on the banner. Immediately, memories came rushing back to me. This was the day that I had confessed to Kevin! I had planned this entire confession with Ginny, got her help with the food and drinks, even with the perfect atmosphere to confess but due to some mishap, the entire party went wrong and to salvage the situation, I had to confess to Kevin in front of the entire school. However, Kevin had rejected me without a thought, he even pushed me into the pool because I was trying to not make him leave. However, the embarrassment I had faced didn't faze me and I continued pinning after Kevin and confessing to him until he accepted my confession and we started dating. Thinking about it, it had always been Ginny giving me the go ahead to try to date him even after how the whole school made me a joke. When he agreed to date me, I thought that all my actions had finally paid off and Kevin would be nice to me, but he became worse. I clenched my fists, raising my head to stare at Kevin who stood right in front of me, crossing his arms and looking me down like I was just an ant in his world, an ant that he could just step on. But not anymore. I slowly climbed out of the pool, the water sliding down my skin as my clothes clung to me, revealing the shape of my body. I glanced around, gauging everyone's reaction. They had stopped laughing and were staring at me in shock. Well, I wouldn't blame them. I was the president of the ‘wear baggy clothes group’ and I never showed my body or curves in public. Also, Ginny had always told me that Kevin liked girls who covered their body and left nothing to the imagination and even today that I came to confess, I wore a long oversized gown, put my hair up into a ponytail and wore my big framed glasses. Well, I didn't blame him for rejecting me but… I was no longer the same Rhea. Kevin took a step forward, a smug curl to his lips, “Did you fall in again just to get my attention?” He scoffed, “Rhea, come on. You’re too old for these childish games. It’s pathetic.” My eyes flicked to his face, so confident, so sure that I still revolved around him. I chuckled, soft at first then it became louder and unhinged. I tilted my head, water dripping from my hair as I met his gaze. “Ah… Kevin, I thought you were stupid but now I know, it seems you're also disabled.” I started. “What?” He muttered, his gaze shocked. “Everyone here could see who pushed me into the pool and yet, you're claiming that I fell in to get your attention? What attention? Who the heck are you for me to pine after you?” I asked, my voice sharp and cold. Everywhere went silent, so silent that you could even hear the sound of a pin drop. Kevin's smile faltered, and I could tell that he was struggling to wrap his head around the words I said just now. “You crazy… How dare you speak to me like that? You like me, remember and if you want me to accept your confession, then you better…” “Ah… That's the thing. Like you? Mhm… I actually did.” I nodded my head and crossed my arms, then kicked my legs forward playfully. The corner of Kevin's eyes twitched, “Of course you do so if you want me to forgive you, then you better kneel and beg me to accept you because what you just said made me angry. Also, I have a party to attend tomorrow and as usual, you're going to pay for my drinks and…” “Do you really think you're worth it?” I cut Kevin off, glaring at him with all the hatred that I had left in me for him. “W… What?”Chapter 7 Rhea's Pov “It seems that your disability also includes you being hard of hearing, Kevin but for the sake of the feelings I used to have for you, I will repeat my words. And I ask you again, Kevin, do you really think that you are worth it?” I stepped closer to him, “Making me pay for your expensive drinks, making me pay your tuition fees, making me do your assignments, making me kneel and beg you just so that you could inflate your small ego, making me do all sorts of things because you wanted to feel like you had power over me, tell me, Kevin. What exactly did I see in you that made me decide that I wanted to chase after you? I chased you like a fool.” I went on, walking slowly toward him, each step sending ripples across the soaked floor, “I begged for your affection. Got humiliated in front of the whole school. And you know what the saddest part is? I thought you rejecting me, pushing me into a pool, was the lowest point.”I stopped right in front of him, my chin lifte
Chapter 8 Rhea's Pov “Ginny… Actually, I need your help with something…” I started shyly, wringing my hands together. Ginny beamed at me, nodding her heads eagerly and taking my hands in hers, squeezing them. “You can ask me for anything, I'll do it to the best of my abilities.” She seemed like she was looking forward to what I wanted to ask her for. I smiled. Bingo. “Well… The thing is… I can't go home like this… After… After I confessed to Kevin, I think he got angry and accidentally pushed me into the water. No… That can't be right, Kevin is too kind, he couldn't do that to me.” I shook my head, as if disbelieving the fact that Kevin pushed me. Even if I didn't want to, I still had to maintain the façade that I still liked Kevin for now. “I must have slipped on my own and fell into the pool, so I got drenched and embarrassed Kevin in public. If I went home like this, mom and dad would get angry at me. So I was wondering… Could you give me back the card that I gave to you? I r
Chapter 9 Rhea's Pov “Why don't you tell me what I did for you to have slapped me the moment I walked in instead of yelling at me like a dog? Have you no manners, brother?” I questioned, glaring at him. Jason froze immediately, his eyes widening. I scoffed as I could see what he was thinking written so clearly on his face. “She wasn't throwing a tantrum after being slapped?”“She even dared to talk back to her older brother?” Questions were floating around in the sitting room, even the servants who were nearby were staring at me with such shocked looks on their faces. “You… What did you just call me? You just… You called me a dog?!” Jason's voice went high pitched at the end of his sentence. I shrugged, “If the shoe fits, you wear it. Or how did the saying go?” “Rhea! I'm your older brother! How dare you speak to me like that?!” He yelled again, his voice booming. “Oh… What did you expect me to do then?” I gave him a crooked mocking smile, “Did you think I would scream or cry
Chapter 10Rhea's Pov “And I gave you silence. I endured your indifference, your scorn, your favoritism. I kept my mouth shut through every slap, every cold shoulder, every ‘why can’t you be more like Ginny?’ And for what? So I could be accused of humiliating her for asking for my own things back?”Jason stepped forward again, his hand twitching at his side, but this time I didn’t flinch.“Try it.” I said softly, daring him, “Put your hands on me again and I swear, this time I won’t just stand there and take it. I’m not the same girl who let you all treat her like dirt.” “You’re delusional.” Jason spat, “You’ve gone completely mad.”I chuckled, taking a step back, brushing my fingers across the cheek he’d slapped earlier, “Mad? Maybe. But I’d rather be mad and free than sane and chained to this pathetic excuse of a family.”My mother looked like she might faint from the sheer audacity of my words. Ginny had gone pale, her act failing to hold up under the weight of truth. For once, t
Chapter 11 Rhea's Pov “Rhea… I… I just wanted to tell you that I thought of a plan to make Kevin completely yours, I'm sure that this time, it's going to work.” She said softly, as if afraid that I would reject her. At first, my lips parted, ready to hurl the sharpest insult I could muster. I wanted to tell her to go to hell, to take her plan and stuff it in the same black hole she threw her conscience into.But then I paused.A plan? For Kevin?I tilted my head slightly, curiosity slithering in through the cracks of my anger. If Ginny was scheming again, I wanted to know exactly what game she thought she was playing, especially if I was the one she intended to use.I took a breath, hiding my curiosity, “Fine.” I said, voice tight, “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Ginny stepped in hesitantly, wearing that fake-wounded expression she’d mastered so well. The one that screamed I’m the victim here, even when her claws were still dripping with blood.She took a single step inside a
Chapter 12 Rhea's Pov I stared at the door blankly after Ginny left, clutching the drug satchel in my palms. With a sigh, I stepped forward to lock the doors, fully intending not to answer anyone who knocks again, and for further measures, I pulled out a new notebook and turned off the light, using only the dim lamp on my table. My eyes had already gotten used to dim lights by this time so it was no problem using it. Placing the notebook on the table, I started writing everything I remembered from my past life. Despite the situations and miscalculations that I had made in my past life, some had turned out to help me in the long run so I wanted to keep a few of the situations and let them play out but in order for me to do that, I had to take a few hits either to my reputation or to my character like before. The scratch of my pen against the paper was the only sound filling the small room. Line by line, memory by memory, I poured it all onto the page. The lamp cast long shadows ac
Chapter 13 Rhea's Pov By the time night rolled around, the club was already pulsing with heavy bass that vibrated through the ground. Neon lights flashed against the grimy brick walls, and a line of eager students snaked around the entrance.I parked the car a few blocks away, and made the rest of the way on foot, blending into the crowds effortlessly.The moment I stepped into the club, the scent of cheap perfume, alcohol, and cigarette smoke hit me all at once.The inside was dim, chaotic, just the way I remembered it. I spotted Kevin immediately, lounging on one of the worn leather couches like he owned the place, a beer bottle dangling loosely from his fingers. Ginny was right next to him, clinging to his arm, her expression sour when she noticed the way Kevin’s eyes lit up as soon as he spotted me walking in.He practically stumbled to his feet.“Rhea!” He shouted over the music, beckoning me with a wide, greedy grin.I took my time approaching, letting the dim lights and tight
Chapter 14 Rhea's Pov “Rhea, are you okay? Your face looks red, do you need to rest up a bit before we leave?” Ginny questioned, she looked very concerned for me. “You feel it already, babe? C'mere, I’ll help you cool down.” His hand reached out toward me, but I stood up quickly, pretending to wobble a little as I smoothed down my dress. “Kevin, what should we do? My sister doesn't look well, I think we'll have to pay for a room for her to rest up until we leave. You said you wanted to drink a lot, so…” Ginny trailed off, biting her lips. “I... I think I need some air.” I said breathily, pressing a hand to my forehead, “Maybe I’ll go and pay for a room and rest for a while. Ginny, could you watch Kevin for me?” Ginny glanced up, "Are you sure?” She muttered and mouthed ‘Room 6’ to me. “Yeah I am. I'll see you later.” Feigning a dizzy stumble, I turned and headed toward the back hallway, going towards the staff office. I knocked twice on the door before hearing a ‘en
Chapter 16 Rhea's Pov “R… Rhea? You… You're alive?” For a moment, I thought he might have been hallucinating because the raw disbelieving way he said my name made my heart ache. “Um… Do you have me mistaken for someone? I'm alive, I didn't die.” He blinked slowly, as if trying to make sense of reality. His brows furrowed, his lips parting like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Instead, his hand moved, weakly reaching toward me, almost hesitant, like he was afraid I would disappear if he touched me. I caught it before he could strain himself, my fingers curling gently around his. His skin was clammy, fever-warm, and yet the touch sent a shiver down my spine.“You…” He started, but caught himself. Alaric closed his eyes and shook his head, groaning, “I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else.” He apologised and looked away, “Why are you here?” I narrowed my eyes, “Is that the first thing you say to the person that saved you?” I crossed my arms and huffed at him. “
Chapter 15 Rhea's Pov “A… Alaric Vale?” I whispered, my jaw dropping. Grunting, I tried rolling him over to the side and promptly froze, it was really him. With trembling hands, I slightly caressed his face, running my fingers down his handsome face. He was younger than the last time I saw him, before I died. I touched his closed eyes, frowning slightly, these eyes that had cried for me despite our relationship, despite my scorn for him and his circumstances, and yet… “Mhm…” He groaned, pain filling his features as he turned his head slightly to the side. He was feeling uncomfortable. But I didn't know what to do! “Okay think, Rhea, think.” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. I looked around desperately and spotted the bathroom door slightly open. Maybe if I could get him into a cold bath, it would help bring down the effects of the drug. But first, I had to get him there. Somehow. “Alright, big guy.” I huffed, crouching beside him, “You are lucky I'm the one you met.” B
Chapter 14 Rhea's Pov “Rhea, are you okay? Your face looks red, do you need to rest up a bit before we leave?” Ginny questioned, she looked very concerned for me. “You feel it already, babe? C'mere, I’ll help you cool down.” His hand reached out toward me, but I stood up quickly, pretending to wobble a little as I smoothed down my dress. “Kevin, what should we do? My sister doesn't look well, I think we'll have to pay for a room for her to rest up until we leave. You said you wanted to drink a lot, so…” Ginny trailed off, biting her lips. “I... I think I need some air.” I said breathily, pressing a hand to my forehead, “Maybe I’ll go and pay for a room and rest for a while. Ginny, could you watch Kevin for me?” Ginny glanced up, "Are you sure?” She muttered and mouthed ‘Room 6’ to me. “Yeah I am. I'll see you later.” Feigning a dizzy stumble, I turned and headed toward the back hallway, going towards the staff office. I knocked twice on the door before hearing a ‘en
Chapter 13 Rhea's Pov By the time night rolled around, the club was already pulsing with heavy bass that vibrated through the ground. Neon lights flashed against the grimy brick walls, and a line of eager students snaked around the entrance.I parked the car a few blocks away, and made the rest of the way on foot, blending into the crowds effortlessly.The moment I stepped into the club, the scent of cheap perfume, alcohol, and cigarette smoke hit me all at once.The inside was dim, chaotic, just the way I remembered it. I spotted Kevin immediately, lounging on one of the worn leather couches like he owned the place, a beer bottle dangling loosely from his fingers. Ginny was right next to him, clinging to his arm, her expression sour when she noticed the way Kevin’s eyes lit up as soon as he spotted me walking in.He practically stumbled to his feet.“Rhea!” He shouted over the music, beckoning me with a wide, greedy grin.I took my time approaching, letting the dim lights and tight
Chapter 12 Rhea's Pov I stared at the door blankly after Ginny left, clutching the drug satchel in my palms. With a sigh, I stepped forward to lock the doors, fully intending not to answer anyone who knocks again, and for further measures, I pulled out a new notebook and turned off the light, using only the dim lamp on my table. My eyes had already gotten used to dim lights by this time so it was no problem using it. Placing the notebook on the table, I started writing everything I remembered from my past life. Despite the situations and miscalculations that I had made in my past life, some had turned out to help me in the long run so I wanted to keep a few of the situations and let them play out but in order for me to do that, I had to take a few hits either to my reputation or to my character like before. The scratch of my pen against the paper was the only sound filling the small room. Line by line, memory by memory, I poured it all onto the page. The lamp cast long shadows ac
Chapter 11 Rhea's Pov “Rhea… I… I just wanted to tell you that I thought of a plan to make Kevin completely yours, I'm sure that this time, it's going to work.” She said softly, as if afraid that I would reject her. At first, my lips parted, ready to hurl the sharpest insult I could muster. I wanted to tell her to go to hell, to take her plan and stuff it in the same black hole she threw her conscience into.But then I paused.A plan? For Kevin?I tilted my head slightly, curiosity slithering in through the cracks of my anger. If Ginny was scheming again, I wanted to know exactly what game she thought she was playing, especially if I was the one she intended to use.I took a breath, hiding my curiosity, “Fine.” I said, voice tight, “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Ginny stepped in hesitantly, wearing that fake-wounded expression she’d mastered so well. The one that screamed I’m the victim here, even when her claws were still dripping with blood.She took a single step inside a
Chapter 10Rhea's Pov “And I gave you silence. I endured your indifference, your scorn, your favoritism. I kept my mouth shut through every slap, every cold shoulder, every ‘why can’t you be more like Ginny?’ And for what? So I could be accused of humiliating her for asking for my own things back?”Jason stepped forward again, his hand twitching at his side, but this time I didn’t flinch.“Try it.” I said softly, daring him, “Put your hands on me again and I swear, this time I won’t just stand there and take it. I’m not the same girl who let you all treat her like dirt.” “You’re delusional.” Jason spat, “You’ve gone completely mad.”I chuckled, taking a step back, brushing my fingers across the cheek he’d slapped earlier, “Mad? Maybe. But I’d rather be mad and free than sane and chained to this pathetic excuse of a family.”My mother looked like she might faint from the sheer audacity of my words. Ginny had gone pale, her act failing to hold up under the weight of truth. For once, t
Chapter 9 Rhea's Pov “Why don't you tell me what I did for you to have slapped me the moment I walked in instead of yelling at me like a dog? Have you no manners, brother?” I questioned, glaring at him. Jason froze immediately, his eyes widening. I scoffed as I could see what he was thinking written so clearly on his face. “She wasn't throwing a tantrum after being slapped?”“She even dared to talk back to her older brother?” Questions were floating around in the sitting room, even the servants who were nearby were staring at me with such shocked looks on their faces. “You… What did you just call me? You just… You called me a dog?!” Jason's voice went high pitched at the end of his sentence. I shrugged, “If the shoe fits, you wear it. Or how did the saying go?” “Rhea! I'm your older brother! How dare you speak to me like that?!” He yelled again, his voice booming. “Oh… What did you expect me to do then?” I gave him a crooked mocking smile, “Did you think I would scream or cry
Chapter 8 Rhea's Pov “Ginny… Actually, I need your help with something…” I started shyly, wringing my hands together. Ginny beamed at me, nodding her heads eagerly and taking my hands in hers, squeezing them. “You can ask me for anything, I'll do it to the best of my abilities.” She seemed like she was looking forward to what I wanted to ask her for. I smiled. Bingo. “Well… The thing is… I can't go home like this… After… After I confessed to Kevin, I think he got angry and accidentally pushed me into the water. No… That can't be right, Kevin is too kind, he couldn't do that to me.” I shook my head, as if disbelieving the fact that Kevin pushed me. Even if I didn't want to, I still had to maintain the façade that I still liked Kevin for now. “I must have slipped on my own and fell into the pool, so I got drenched and embarrassed Kevin in public. If I went home like this, mom and dad would get angry at me. So I was wondering… Could you give me back the card that I gave to you? I r