2

One hundred years later

The girl and Alan have gotten to know each other more. They're closer than they were in their previous lives. Though, the girl does find it a bit strange that he likes oranges. In their previous life she remembers Alia saying something about Alan being allergic. Is it because he's never got to savor the taste before? They're closer now, but She can't get too comfortable. It's been weighing on her chest. Alan doesn't seem to remember anything, he would've known who she was by now.

What do I do now? Do I just continue to be his friend and never tell him? That feels so two-faced, I can't do that.

Alan and the girl were both on their 10 year break, the only years where souls don't work or sleep. They decided to go to a cafe. Besides the fact that souls' sleeping schedules and workplace are different, the After Quarters are similar to the regular world. Sitting at their table Alan notices the girl fidgeting in her seat.

"Are you oka-?"

The girl cuts him off,"If given the chance would you want to remember your past life?"

Alan thinks for a moment. "If I chose to forget then it must've been a hard time for me, I would prefer to not know." Alan says honestly.

"Why? Don't you want to know what happened to you? I mean what about your loved ones? What about-" the girl tries to reason, but Alan cuts her off.

"Calm down, it's only hypothetical" Alan laughs.

What...

"What do you mean hypothetical"

"I mean I remember"

He what?

"You what" the girl says in disbelief.

"Yea I chose to keep my memories, sadly I haven't met anyone from my past life yet, but you remind me of someone" Alan smiles kindly.

"I'm so sorry Alan" the girl says before fully registering what the soul exactly said. "Wait. You haven't met anyone?"

Oh no. How can this be? But they seem so similar. How different can we look and act in the After Quarters? Did Voice downplay it?

"Alan?" the soul says shocked. "You know Alan?"

"You know Alan?" the girl asks, confused. "Then who-"

It's not him. But- It has to be him.

The girls eyes are beginning to fill with tears before her name is called.

"Olivya?" The voice came from a waiter who was carrying a food tray.

"Yea, You must be…Olivya?"

"Alan?" Olivya and the soul said in unison.

"We need to talk" supposedly Alan says.

"Hold on a second- '' the soul tries to speak up, but it's useless. Alan already drags Olivya outside.

"Okay then…" the soul says, sliding down the cafe chair a little, sulking. "Can I have another drink?" he asks a waiter patiently.

—

If this really him this is the perfect chance to clear things.

"What are you doing here?" Alan asks.

"Alan I can explain-"

"You died? How? When did you get here? Who killed you?" Alan demands worriedly.

"What do you mean…who killed me?"

Is this the wrong Alan? Have I seriously given my hopes up again?

"You shouldn't be here," Alan says.

"You killed me," Olivya says in disbelief. "You poisoned me for revenge you don't remember?"

"It wasn't deadly poison. I faked your death and I even left you a note" he states confused. "I wanted you to start over. "

"The last thing I remember is drinking what you gave me. I never saw a note" Olivya says, even more confused. "How did you die then?"

This whole time I thought he killed himself after killing me, drinking who knows what before I did the same. When Alan came to my apartment I thought he was going to confront me, that he found out about what I did, that I killed Alia. When he confronted me I wanted to tell him I didn't kill her on purpose. But I might as well have. Even though their father was the one who planned it all, and the chef he hired was the one who put the poison in the food, I'm the one who delivered the food. I'm the one who spoke to their father not realizing how off he was acting, I killed my best friend. I should've known that he knew about Alia's secret.

When Alan showed up he never confronted me. I guessed maybe he didn't find out. Or maybe he did and didn't want to believe it. I wanted to tell him but his father threatened to kill him next. What was I supposed to do?

"Alia's been distant lately, let her know this was from me, she'll accept a visitor if it's you" Alia's father says.

"I will," Olivya says as she's grabbing the packed food from Alia's father.

"It'd be different if she wasn't the oldest, but business is business. You would know" he says, looking into Olivya's eyes and giving her a drink. "Here, try this. I hear you like strawberries these days" he grins and Olivya thanks him, smiling back, before leaving.

How could I have been so stupid? "Business is business?" Seriously? I was oblivious to his intentions and my best friend is gone and the chances of meeting Alia here are slim to none.

"The poison wasn't immediate," Alan says. "But, if that was the last thing you saw then maybe someone killed you in your sleep" Alan says.

Olivya doesn't respond. She only stares into nothing contemplating whether choosing to remember her past life was a good idea or not.

Is remembering Alia even worth it? Why would I choose to remember all those times where she's had to suffer and I was too oblivious to do anything about it? Why did I do this to myself? I should've left it alone. I could've met them here in the After Quarters or in our next life without knowing them and I know I would've loved them both just as much as I do now. I should've left it alone.

"Oh," Olivya finally says.

"Do you think my father killed you?" Alan says. "How are you not freaking out right now? You weren't-"

"Why did you keep your memories Alan?"