A new beginning
"Good morning, mister Evans." Elena greeted Mark, just like she usually would every morning, whenever she saw him.
Mark Evans was the only one Elena was able to talk with. He was new to the town, and because he has a completely different culture, he obviously wouldn't blame her for her husband's death. That's why she enjoyed his presence. She felt even lucky after someone like Mark had moved right beside her. He didn't look at her in the same way as others who would look at her as if she was a dirty outcast, and he was also very kind and helpful with her, just like he was with everyone else. With his presence in the town, Elena finally felt like a human being.
Unfortunately, those were the last days where Elena was able to feel like a human being, because it wasn't long before Alissa had succeeded in taking over her body. Elena was no more, or at least, she wasn't conscious enough to experience another few days with the kind hearted Mark Evans.
An early morning greeting. That's the last thing she had done before she lost complete control over her body and awareness…
It was no longer Elena that was looking at Mark's figure, but Alissa. Alissa, who was staring at the back of Mark with a devious smile plastered on her face. Surely, she must have been thrilled. Thrilled to execute her brilliant plan…
This… This was the start of a new beginning for her. A new life. A new goal…
"Excuse me, mister Evans. Would you like to have a cup of tea, and perhaps, have another short conversation while you rest and sip some tea?" Alissa asked, after she had approached the sweating Mark.
Mark was training at that moment. He was doing his usual morning routine of pull ups, and still had plenty of his usual workouts left to do. Running around the city, is one of those workouts. A workout that takes a lot of time, which is why Alissa had approached him the instant she had taken over Elena's body.
"Uhm… Do you have black coffee? I don't do tea…" Mark kindly answered. He was bit confused why the lady in front of him has been so inviting lately, but stayed committed to his facade of a character nonetheless.
"Yes. Yes I do." Alissa replied with a smile that was quite natural. The reason why, is because Mark's current attitude resembles that of Evan's. Hence why, she couldn't help having a warm smile after hearing the words of Mark.
'He's definitely in there.' She even thought.
"Nice. I'll finish these reps then, and be with you right after." Was Mark's reaction after Alissa had spoken her share of words.
That said, Alissa went to make some hot black coffee. Thanks to her being able to read the memories of the people that she possesses, she was easily able to find the things that she needed. A hot coffee that was to Elena's liking was therefore successfully made, and there was no way for Mark to get suspicious of her identity. With all of her abilities as a ghost, Alissa was a perfect undercover.
"You really do like your things strong, huh?" Mark said after he had taken a sip of the coffee that Alissa made. His face looked bitter, and his mouth slightly disgusted. For sure, he did not like the coffee the way Elena likes it.
"Strong like you~" *Cough* *Cough*
"Sorry. I did not mean to say that…" Alissa corrected her attitude immediately, upon realizing that she was flirting with her neighbor. Of course, she did all that on purpose, just for the sake of getting closer to Mark, in order to know more about Evan's whereabouts.
"Oh… Haha. No need to be embarrassed. I get that a lot." Mark lied, for the sake of keeping his facade. Or maybe, that was just Evan's personality popping up. Alissa couldn't be too sure, of course…
There's one thing that Mark was able to confirm after his interaction with who he thinks is Elena. Elena has some sort of crush on him, which is exactly the reason why she has been so inviting lately. That is, what he assumed. But of course, he was completely wrong.
Elena never saw him in a romantic way, and only held him dear because of his friendliness that nobody shows her, and because of the fact that he reminded her a lot of her dead husband. He simply brought her good memories, and makes her feel like a normal human being. Hence why, in a way to thank him, she would often invite him for a meal.
As to why she's suddenly gotten more inviting. Well… That's because she is no longer Elena, but Alissa, who was trying to set up a ploy for Mark.
With his false confirmation, Mark could at least feel at ease. He now knows that Elena wasn't trying to instigate his identity or past records, because he has figured out that she was simply a lonely woman who is in need of love.
"So… Have you ever wondered how you're going to spend the rest of your life? Do you have anyone that you dearly love, perhaps? I have this cousin who lives in your home country. Alissa… Do you know her?"