Chapter 9: The Stranger Behind the Smile
The next morning, Ariana walked through the school gates feeling more anxious than ever. Students laughed around her, discussing assignments and festival preparations as though nothing had changed.
But everything had changed.
She now knew that she and Elena had loved each other in a previous life. She knew they had died protecting one another. And somewhere nearby, someone connected to their tragic past was hiding behind an innocent smile.
"Ariana!"
Elena hurried toward her, carrying two cups of hot chocolate.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" Elena asked, handing one cup to her.
Ariana gave a weak smile.
"Was it that obvious?"
"You've been overthinking again."
Elena gently held Ariana's hand.
"We'll figure this out together."
Before Ariana could answer, a cheerful voice interrupted them.
"There you two are!"
It was Maya, their class representative.
She had always been kind and energetic, greeting everyone with a bright smile.
"The festival committee needs volunteers," Maya said. "You both are helping, right?"
Elena looked at Ariana.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The words from the diary resurfaced.
The one who hides behind a smile...
Maya tilted her head.
"Is something wrong?"
"N-No," Ariana replied quickly.
"We'll help."
Throughout the day, Ariana couldn't stop observing everyone around her.
Maya laughed with classmates.
Teachers praised students.
Friends shared lunches.
Everyone smiled.
But which smile was real?
After classes ended, Ariana and Elena went to the library to search for clues about their previous lives.
The mysterious girl, who had introduced herself as Lillian, joined them.
"We don't have much time," Lillian said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Elena asked.
"In your previous life, your memories returned gradually. After that, tragedy followed soon after."
Ariana's fingers tightened around the diary.
"There has to be a way to prevent it."
"There is," Lillian answered.
"You must uncover the truth before the past catches up with you."
Just then, something fell from inside the diary.
A faded photograph.
Ariana picked it up carefully.
It showed four girls standing beneath a cherry blossom tree.
Ariana.
Elena.
Lillian.
And another girl.
The fourth girl had a beautiful smile.
However, someone had scratched her face from the photograph.
"Who is she?" Elena whispered.
Lillian's face turned pale.
"I don't remember."
"How can you not remember?" Ariana asked.
Lillian looked frightened.
"It's as if someone erased her from my memories."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the library.
The three girls quickly hid the photograph.
Maya appeared between the bookshelves.
"There you are!" she said with her usual bright smile.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
Ariana's heart skipped a beat.
Maya glanced at the diary in Ariana's hands.
"What are you reading?"
"N-Nothing important," Ariana replied.
Maya smiled warmly.
"You know," she said softly, "friends shouldn't keep secrets from each other."
For a brief moment, the kindness in her eyes disappeared.
Her expression became cold.
Then, just as quickly, her cheerful smile returned.
"You should head home before it gets dark," Maya said.
After she left, silence filled the library.
Elena looked at Ariana.
"You saw that too, didn't you?"
Ariana nodded slowly.
"The look in her eyes..."
Lillian stared toward the exit.
"...was exactly the same."
"The same as what?" Ariana asked.
Lillian swallowed hard.
"The girl from the photograph."
A cold chill ran down Ariana's spine.
Could Maya be the stranger behind the smile?
Or was someone using her as a pawn in a game written by fate itself?
Outside, rain began to fall against the library windows.
And somewhere in the darkness, a voice whispered—
"This time... they must never remember everything."
To Be Continued..
