Ana had awakened when her name was called repeatedly. Her breathing had been labored, and sweat had formed on her forehead in beads the size of corn kernels. She had looked around, clearly confused. The blinding sunlight had made her squint as she tried to recognize the girl standing before her.
“Ana, are you okay?” Angel had asked anxiously. The girl had been standing in front of her, carrying some books.
Ana had blinked several times, struggling to comprehend her surroundings. The last memory she had was of blood seeping beside her, and her head had throbbed painfully after Charles had pushed her. The thought of those two people had made her blood boil. Their betrayal and infidelity had left her on the brink of death.
She had turned her head, trying to make sense of her location. Her eyes had then fallen on her best friend, Angel. Ana had furrowed her brow, attempting to recognize the crowded place that seemed familiar. Wasn’t she at her university? Why was she here? A flurry of questions had raced through her mind, intensifying her headache. Ana had been unable to grasp what was happening, but these were not the last memories she had held.
“What's going on? Where is this?” Ana asked, looking at Angel with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. She distinctly remembered that in her last memory, she had been dead, and Charles had been responsible for her death.
Angel gave her a puzzled look but answered her question. “We’re inside the university. You fainted earlier.”
Ana found Angel’s explanation confusing. She looked around once more; the scene matched exactly what she remembered from her college days. Sensing that something was amiss, she grabbed Angel’s hand and, with trembling lips, asked, “What month and year is it?”
Angel set down his book and, with a patient tone, responded to Ana’s unusual question. “It’s September, 2019.”
Ana gasped and her eyes bulged. Five years ago? How could she be in that year? Was she alive again now? Her heart was racing. Ana checked all her limbs, she felt healthy and strong. Exactly how she felt five years earlier. Realizing this, Ana smiled and clenched her hands tightly. This was her second chance at life, she must not waste it. Ana promised to avenge.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you smiling like that?” Angel had asked, noticing that Ana seemed oddly cheerful. He had been concerned about her unusual behavior.
Ana had shaken her head and sat down on a nearby bench. “I’m fine,” she had replied, not elaborating on what was on her mind.
Angel had handed her a glass of water. “You look different today. Don’t push yourself too hard. Remember to take care of your body,” her had advised. Ana nodded and took a sip of the water in front of her.
“Anyway, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself. If those books are causing you trouble, just get rid of them,” Angel had said as her prepared to leave.
Ana responded with a sweet smile. As soon as Angel had left, she had sighed deeply and decided to head to the restroom to calm her racing thoughts. In the ladies' room, Ana had examined her reflection in the mirror. She had been astonished to see her own skin—there were no wrinkles under her eyes, and her face looked notably younger. Despite the confusion she felt, she knew she had no time to ponder how she had returned to life five years earlier.
Ana had returned to the classroom with a more confident stride. She knew she had to make the most of this second chance. Taking her seat, she glanced at the cell phone on her desk—one she had used before. She had picked it up and tried to unlock it with her pattern. A photo of her and Charles in front of their house, which she had set as the wallpaper, had made her feel a mix of sadness and anger. It had been taken in September, one month after their wedding.
Ana's mind had been racing. She couldn't afford to cry; she didn't even have time for that. She had started devising numerous plans in her head, determined not to let the same events unfold again. She was resolved to use her knowledge of the future to protect herself, particularly from the treacherous individuals who had betrayed her.
When the clock had struck six in the evening, signaling it was time to go home, Ana had bitten her lip in anticipation. She couldn’t wait to get home and confront her husband. Yet, her steps had abruptly halted. She knew she had to avoid acting impulsively. One thing she had to remember was not to repeat past mistakes or make new ones that could jeopardize her. She needed to carefully consider her actions, as even a small error could ruin her life all over again.
Ana had taken a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
“Ana!” A single call had made Ana’s chest tighten. The voice was very familiar to her—one that made her want to both slap and confront the woman. But she couldn’t do that right now.
Camila had approached with a bright smile, waving enthusiastically. “Hi, Ana!”
Ana had been forced to smile, despite her deep-seated disgust and resentment toward Camila. She had felt foolish forever having considered Camila a good person. Ana had responded briefly, “Hi.”
As they reached the office, Ana spotted Charles waiting with a bouquet. She had been momentarily stunned. Charles’s once-sweet demeanor had been what had first made her fall in love with him. He had always been romantic and caring. However, Ana now had to confront the painful reality that those memories were bitter ones that needed to be forgotten.
Charles had greeted her with a broad smile as if nothing was amiss between them. “Hi, dear. How was your day today?” he had said, handing her the bouquet he had brought. His face had been as charming as ever, with eyes that seemed to hide something deeper. “I brought these for you.”
Ana had struggled to mask her annoyance and disappointment. She had accepted the flowers with a cheerful demeanor, saying, “Thank you. You’re very considerate.” Her compliment had prompted Charles to gently stroke her hair.
“You’re welcome. Let’s go,” Charles had responded, placing his arm around Ana’s shoulders.
Camila, who had been listening intently, had looked up with interest. “Can I come with you?” she had asked, her gaze fixed on Charles.
Charles had nodded in agreement. “Of course you can. Ana and I would love for you to join us,” he had replied with a tender expression, as though he were in love.
Ana had observed the interaction between Charles and Camila closely. She had felt foolish for not recognizing the change in their expressions sooner. Their wide smiles and affectionate glances had been as intimate as birds in courtship. Both of them had been adept at their pretense.
Ana had resolved not to let them continue their relationship and find happiness behind her back. She knew she had to teach them a lesson that would make them understand the pain they had caused.