Her Second Life

Chapter 5

I woke up in cold sweat as I knew I already been dreaming about the real me.I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The cold water on my face helped a little, but the heaviness in my chest didn’t disappear.

I changed into something simple and was brushing my hair when I heard a knock on the door but before I could answer, the door swung open and two girls burst in like a mini hurricane.

“ARIAAA!”

“Girl, you’re alive!”

I blinked at them while trying so hard to remember them.

They rushed to me before I could even greet them and hugged me tightly while the other one grabbed my face like she was checking if I was real.

“Oh my God, do you remember us? I'm Hazel and this is Camilla” Hazel asked dramatically.

“Don’t pressure her!” Camilla hissed back. “What if she faints again? Do you want to kill her with friendship?!”

“I… I remember your names,” I admitted carefully. “From my phone.”

They exchanged a look — the kind best friends give when their third member has been struck by lightning or something.

Camilla placed her hands on her hips while Hazel crossed her arms.

Then Hazel said, “Okay, but do you remember that we’re your best friends? As in BEST.”

Camilla added, “Like the best best,not the gossiping witches in school. Us.”

“No… not really.” I said as I shook my head slowly.

Hazel grabbed my hand gently. “It’s okay, babe,we’ll remind you of everything.”

Camilla nodded fast. “Literally EVERYTHING. Your favorite snacks, your enemies, the boys who liked you—”

Hazel elbowed her. “And the ones who broke your heart.”

Broke my heart? I didn’t even… have a love life,at least, not in my real life.

Camilla flopped dramatically onto my bed. “And don’t worry, we’ll also remind you of how obsessed you were with—”

“CAMILLA.”Hazel called as she slapped her hand over Camilla's mouth.

Camilla mumbled under Hazel’s hand with her eyes wide, Oops.

“What were you going to say?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes.

They both froze as Hazel forced a smile. “Nothing! Nope! Zero! Not important!”

Camilla whispered loudly, “Totally important.”

Hazel glared at Camilla and she glared back.

“Guys…”I said while sighing but before they could spill anything, Hazel changed the subject like a professional.

“We came to cheer you up,we brought smoothies, snacks, and gossip.”

Camilla raised her bag proudly. “And clothes!”

“Clothes… why?” I asked as I stared at them.

“Because someone has a fiancé.”Hazel said as she smirked.

“Fiancee? Oh,Leon.What does the clothes have to do with him?”

Camilla’s mouth dropped while Hazel gasped out loudly.

“What does the clothes have to do with Leon?” Camilla echoed as she stood. “Aria, he is your entire world,you talk about him even when we don’t want to hear his name!”

Hazel nodded aggressively. “Yes! You talk about Leon when we’re eating, when we’re walking, even when you’re half-asleep! Once you literally said, ‘Leon, please text me back’ in your sleep!”

“…I did?” I asked as I stared at them blankly.

“YES!” they both shouted.

“Well… I don’t care about him anymore.”

Camilla blinked. “Come again?”

“I don’t care about Leon,” I repeated calmly.

Hazel clutched her chest. “Wait,wait. Aria… are you pranking us?”

“No.”

“Are you feverish? Dizzy? Drunk? Possessed? Or the memory loss hit that hard?”Camilla asked dramatically as she stepped closer, inspecting my face like a doctor.

“None of the above.”

“Aria, this is the man you were OBSESSED with. You used to check his social media like five times a day!”Hazel said

“Ten times,”Camilla said as she snapped her hands.

Hazel nodded. “You once cried because he didn’t like your picture.”

“And you stalked his page after every update.”

“And you used to say he was your soulmate.”

“And—”

“I get it,” I cut in gently.

“I’m serious,” I said softly. “I don’t feel anything about him anymore.”

Hazel’s eyes widened. “Aria… did you forget him too? You don’t talk like the girl who worshipped Leon.”

Camilla folded her arms while inspecting me from head to toe. “You’re really different now.”