Signed by Fate

Chapter 5: The New Case

Lena frowned.

"Rain."

"I'm talking to you."

Rain smiled.

"I don't have a place to stay."

"So I'll stay here."

Lena laughed.

"...Excuse me?"

Rain picked up her suitcase.

"If you don't want me..."

"I'll leave."

"I'll sleep at the bus station."

"Maybe some thugs will kidnap me."

"Maybe they'll kill me."

"If they don't..."

"They might keep me forever."

Lena hurried over.

"No!"

"Don't even joke like that."

Rain smiled.

"So..."

"I can stay?"

Lena sighed.

"...Fine."

Rain nodded happily.

"I'll take the room on the right."

"No."

"The left."

"But I like the right."

"I said the left."

Rain smiled.

"Okay."

"The left it is."

She walked toward the kitchen.

"I made dinner."

Lena frowned.

"You... made dinner?"

Rain nodded.

"Yes."

Lena looked confused.

"Hold on."

"You came here with your luggage."

Rain nodded again.

"Yes."

"So..."

"Did you cook dinner where you were staying..."

"...pack it inside your luggage..."

"...bring it all the way here..."

"...just to feed me?"

Rain didn't answer.

Instead...

She quietly opened one of her bags.

Lena sighed.

"There you go again."

"I ask a question..."

"You ignore it."

Rain reached inside the bag.

Lena expected a food container.

Instead...

Rain carefully brought out a small birthday cake.

She gently placed it on the table.

"Happy Birthday, Lena."

Lena blinked.

"My birthday?"

Rain smiled softly.

"You forgot."

Lena slowly counted the days in her head.

"...Wait..."

"...Today's really my birthday?"

Rain nodded.

"We promised we'd never forget each other's birthdays."

A memory flashed across Lena's mind.

Two little girls sitting together in a bathtub.

Rain held a tiny cake.

Lena laughed as she lit the candle.

"Promise me..."

"We'll never leave each other."

"Promise."

The memory disappeared.

Rain slowly walked closer.

She gently pushed Lena backward until the edge of the dining table touched the back of her legs.

Rain rested one hand lightly on Lena's thigh.

Slowly...

Her fingers traced upward to Lena's waist.

Then gently brushed across her chest before stopping beneath her chin.

She lifted Lena's face.

Their eyes locked.

Rain leaned closer.

Her gaze settled on Lena's lips.

For one brief moment...

Lena couldn't move.

Then another memory crashed into her mind.

Her birthday years ago.

Calling Rain.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Every call unanswered.

Every message ignored.

Rain had disappeared without a single explanation.

Lena's expression changed instantly.

She shoved Rain away.

"Don't touch me."

Her voice trembled.

"If you could disappear for years without a word..."

"...then don't stand here pretending nothing happened."

She turned around.

Walked into her bedroom.

Slammed the door.

Locked it.

Rain remained standing silently in the living room.

An hour later...

Lena quietly came back out.

The birthday cake still sat untouched on the table.

She stared at it.

For a long time.

Without saying a word, she placed it inside the refrigerator.

She opened a cabinet.

Took out a bottle of alcohol.

Poured herself a glass.

"...Happy birthday to me."

She drank it in one gulp.

Then returned to her room.

Today...

Had been the worst birthday of her life."

The soft morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, landing directly on Lena's face.

She groaned.

"...Ugh."

Her head felt unusually heavy.

Slowly, she opened one eye before squeezing it shut again.

"I'll never drink that much again..."

She buried her face into the pillow.

For a few seconds, everything was quiet.

Then—

Click... Click... Click...

The sound of high heels echoed across the apartment.

Lena frowned.

"Hmm?"

She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.

Standing near the front door was Rain.

She looked breathtaking.

A perfectly tailored black blazer hugged her figure, matching a short pencil skirt that stopped just above her knees. Her white blouse was neatly tucked in, and a pair of elegant black high heels completed the look.

A luxury handbag rested on her shoulder.

Around her neck hung a brand-new company ID card.

She looked every bit like a successful executive.

Lena blinked.

"...Where are you going?"

Rain smiled while adjusting her collar.

"Work."

Lena frowned.

"Work?"

"Since when did you get a job?"

"I start today."

Lena stretched lazily.

"What company?"

Rain answered as if it were nothing.

"Knight & Hale Group."

Lena froze.

"...What?"

Rain nodded.

"I'll be working as the Vice President's secretary."

Lena stared at her for a few seconds before...

looking away.

"...Okay."

"All the best."

Rain crossed her arms.

"That's it?"

Lena looked back at her.

"What else do you want me to say?"

"Aren't you going to wish me good luck properly?"

Lena shrugged.

"I don't care."

"That's your job."

Rain sighed dramatically.

"You still haven't forgiven me?"

"No."

Before Lena could react...

Rain walked over and wrapped her arms around her.

Lena immediately struggled.

"Hey!"

"Let me go!"

Rain gently patted her head.

"Calm down."

"You've been angry since yesterday."

Lena tried pushing her away.

"I'm still angry!"

Rain chuckled before suddenly giving Lena a quick peck on the cheek.

"There."

Lena finally managed to push her back.

Her sleepy voice came out weak.

"...Get off me."

Immediately, she wiped her cheek several times with the back of her hand.

Rain laughed.

"If you like, clean it."

She picked up her handbag.

"Bye."

She waved before walking out of the apartment.

Click.

The door closed.

Silence.

...

Ring!

Ring!

Ring!

Lena looked at her phone.

"Oh..."

"Kelvin."

She answered.

"Hello?"

"Lena."

Kelvin sighed dramatically.

"Where are you?"

"I'm almost at your apartment."

Lena looked down.

She was still wearing yesterday's oversized T-shirt.

"I'm already ready."

"Liar."

"What?"

"I know you."

"If I get there and you're still in your pajamas..."

"I'm leaving without you."

Lena puffed out her cheeks.

"I'm dressed already."

She immediately hung up.

Then looked at herself.

"...God."

"I'm so good at lying."

She jumped off the bed.

"Oh no!"

"I'm late!"

She rushed into her room.

Closets opened.

Drawers slammed.

Shoes scattered across the floor.

A few minutes later...

She walked out looking completely different.

A perfectly fitted cream-colored business suit hugged her figure.

Luxury high heels.

Elegant earrings.

A designer handbag.

Her long hair flowed neatly over her shoulders.

She looked like she belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine.

Outside...

Kelvin leaned against his car.

The moment he saw her...

He waved dramatically.

"Hurry up!"

Lena walked over.

She opened the passenger door and sat inside.

Before she could even fasten her seatbelt...

Kelvin looked at her.

"Aren't you going to greet your elder?"

Lena rolled her eyes.

"Shut up."

"I'm older than you."

"No, you're not."

"I am."

"You wish."

Kelvin laughed and started the engine.

A few minutes later...

Lena suddenly shouted,

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

Kelvin slammed on the brakes.

"What now?"

"I want toasted bread."

Kelvin stared at her.

"...Again?"

"I love toasted bread."

"You love it too much."

"I'll die for toasted bread."

Kelvin placed a hand over his chest dramatically.

"We've known each other since we were kids..."

"And you'd rather die for bread than for me?"

Lena looked at him with a straight face.

"I don't love you."

"I hate you."

Kelvin gasped.

"I hate you more than you can ever hate me."

They both burst into laughter.

A few minutes later...

They arrived at the famous toast stand.

Both of them froze.

The queue was unbelievably long.

Kelvin sighed.

"We're finished."

"We'll be late."

Lena smiled confidently.

"Watch me."

Before getting out of the car, she pointed at him.

"The moment you see me running..."

"Start the car."

Kelvin already knew that smile.

"...You're about to do something illegal."

She winked.

"I prefer calling it smart."

She jumped out.

"Good morning!"

She greeted everyone with a bright smile.

People smiled back politely.

As she greeted them...

She quietly squeezed through the line.

One step...

Two steps...

Three...

Until—

She reached the front.

Without hesitation...

She grabbed two freshly made toasted breads.

Dropped money onto the counter.

And ran.

"HEY!!"

The vendor shouted.

"Catch her!"

Several people immediately chased after her.

"Lena!"

Kelvin shouted from inside the car.

She sprinted toward him.

"GO!"

The moment she jumped into the passenger seat...

Kelvin stepped on the accelerator.

The car sped away.

Both of them laughed so hard they could barely breathe.

Lena happily patted Kelvin's head.

Kelvin looked at her.

"You're impossible."

"I learned from my mother."

Kelvin shook his head.

"I believe you." Kelvin trying not to laugh.

"I can't believe I just became an accomplice."

Lena happily said to him.

"I'm so proud of you."

"You've become smart."

Kelvin looked at her in disbelief.

"How can you be so proud after committing daylight robbery?"

Lena grinned.

"I paid."

"So technically..."

"I stole nothing."

Kelvin sighed.

"I don't even know why I'm friends with you."

"You've corrupted me."

Lena laughed.

"That's why i am Lena"

Kelvin couldn't help but laugh too.

Lena unwrapped one of the toasted breads.

A delicious smell immediately filled the car.

She took a big bite.

"Mmm..."

Her eyes slowly closed.

"So good..."

Kelvin glanced at her and smiled.

"You really love toasted bread, don't you?"

Lena nodded happily.

"I do."

Kelvin chuckled.

"I know."

"That's why yesterday you almost killed me."

Lena looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Kelvin laughed.

"Yesterday morning."

"You crossed your leg over mine..."

"You leaned closer as if you were about to kiss me."

"I froze."

"And before I could react..."

"You stole the toasted bread from my bag."

Lena burst into laughter.

"I had no choice."

"You would've never given it to me."

Kelvin pointed at her.

"You're shameless."

Lena proudly shrugged.

"But it worked."

Kelvin shook his head.

"I've never seen anyone risk their dignity just for..."

bread."

Lena smiled proudly.

"I'll do it again."

Kelvin laughed.

"I know you will."

Lena took another bite of the bread.

Suddenly...

She stopped chewing.

"...Wait."

Kelvin glanced at her.

"What?"

Lena slowly lowered the bread.

"...Yesterday."

"The stairwell."

Kelvin frowned.

"What about it?"

Lena's eyes widened.

"The door..."

"It opened."

Kelvin's smile slowly disappeared.

"...You're right."

"There was someone standing there."

Silence filled the car.

Lena searched her memory.

"I couldn't see the person's face."

"The light behind them was too bright."

Kelvin scratched his head.

"Maybe they didn't see anything."

Lena slowly turned toward him.

"...Kelvin."

"Hmm?"

"From where that person was standing..."

"It wouldn't have looked like I was pretending."

Kelvin blinked.

"...What do you mean?"

Lena buried her face in both hands.

"Oh no..."

"They'll think..."

"...we were actually kissing."

For a moment...

Neither of them spoke.

Then—

Kelvin burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Lena Brooks!"

✦ ✦ ✦

End of chapter 5