Backstory

Rose's life was once filled with warmth and love. She lived in a grand mansion with her parents, two younger brothers, and a little sister. Their home was secluded, with only a handful of trusted servants attending to the family. Laughter echoed through the halls, and Rose cherished every moment spent with her family. They were her world, and she couldn't imagine life without them.

But that world shattered one dreadful night.

Three masked men, armed and ruthless, broke into their home. Chaos erupted as they mercilessly slaughtered her family before her eyes. The men left Rose for dead, believing their work was complete. She lay in a pool of her family's blood, her body trembling with shock and grief. When the police arrived, they found Rose, the sole survivor, curled up beside her mother's lifeless body, her heartbroken cries filling the silence.

Alone and devastated, Rose was placed in an orphanage. The once-vibrant girl was now a shadow of her former self, haunted by memories of that night. Days turned into weeks, and the emptiness grew within her. Just as she began to lose hope, a wealthy businessman visited the orphanage. He was searching for a child to fulfill his dying wife's wish for a daughter. Rose, with her sad eyes and broken spirit, was chosen.

Her new home was nothing like the one she had lost. The businessman, though rich and powerful, was distant and cold. Rose was introduced to her new stepbrothers, Liam and Jack. They were older than her, and from the very beginning, their behavior was anything but welcoming. They saw Rose as an outsider, a nuisance. Their cruelty knew no bounds; they taunted her, made her life miserable, and took pleasure in her suffering.

Her stepmother, the only person who showed her kindness, was frail and ill. She held Rose close, trying to offer the warmth of a mother's love, but her health deteriorated rapidly. Within a week of Rose's arrival, her stepmother passed away, leaving Rose more isolated than ever.

With her stepmother gone, the bullying intensified. Liam and Jack's torment became relentless, and Rose's stepfather, lost in his own grief, turned a blind eye. Every day felt like a battle, and Rose, now trapped in a life of torment.

After graduating from school, Rose decided to leave the oppressive environment of her home. Determined to build a life on her own terms, she moved out and started working part-time jobs to cover her rent and other living expenses. Though her father continued to pay for her school fees, his financial support ended there. Rose took on the responsibility of supporting herself, juggling work and studies with a resilience born from years of hardship. Every day was a struggle, but it was a struggle that belonged to her alone.

She closed the diary, feeling an overwhelming emptiness. Loneliness weighed heavily on her heart, a constant companion in both her past and present lives. It struck her how eerily similar her two lives were—filled with isolation and longing for connection. Determined to change her fate, she resolved to make friends. But the path ahead was fraught with challenges. She wasn't naturally social, and most people barely noticed her, let alone liked her. The idea of forming friendships seemed nearly impossible.

Yet, she knew she couldn't face this world alone. There had to be someone out there who would see beyond the surface, someone who could understand the depths of her loneliness. With a deep breath, she decided to take small steps, even if they led to nothing at first. Perhaps if she showed kindness to others, it might be reciprocated. Maybe, just maybe, someone would extend a hand to her, even in the darkest of times.

But doubt lingered. How could she expect others to see her when she barely saw herself? The journey ahead felt daunting, but for the first time in a long while, she had a glimmer of hope. She wouldn't give up—not yet. The world was vast, and somewhere in it, she believed, was a place where she truly belonged.

Aira took aut a knife which was tucked in her skirt, her movements fluid and precise, like a seasoned predator. The light from a single bulb flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows on the walls as she unsheathed her knife. The blade gleamed under the faint light, its edge sharp enough to slice through the air with a whisper. She began her practice, her body flowing through a series of intricate maneuvers with the grace of someone who had honed these skills to perfection. Each twist of her wrist and pivot of her feet was a testament to her expertise. She wasn't just skilled—she was lethal.

For Aira, this was more than just a routine. This was her life. Beneath the unassuming façade of the café where she worked in her previous life, lay Astra Arion, a covert agency that operated in the shadows. To the world above, she was just another barista, blending coffee and serving pastries with a polite smile. But down here, she was an Astra—one of the agency's elite female operatives, trained to handle any threat that came her way. The male operatives, known as Arions, were equally skilled, but Aira had always prided herself on being among the best.

As she continued her training, her thoughts drifted to the past. The truck accident that had supposedly claimed her life had been no accident at all. It was a carefully orchestrated murder, executed with chilling precision. And the one who had pulled the strings? One of the Arions—someone she had once considered an ally. The realization had hit her like a thunderbolt, but it had also fueled her resolve. She had to be sharp in this game of world.

Her eyes narrowed, the reflection of her steely determination flickering in the blade. She would uncover the truth, no matter how deep it was buried. And when she did, there would be no mercy. But she remembered how her past life in that café was like. But now she had to adapt woth this new life.

Whem Sophia entered their dorm room, she found Aira seated at her desk, her attention absorbed in a stack of books. The diary was nowhere in sight, having been carefully concealed beneath other volumes and hidden in a drawer.

"Welcome back!" Aira greeted, her voice carrying a hint of genuine warmth.

Sophia's eyes swept over the room, taking in the scene. "Looks like you've been busy while I was away. What are you up to?"

Aira tried to sound casual. "Just catching up on some reading. Nothing too exciting."

Sophia's curiosity was piqued. "You seem awfully focused. Anything interesting?"

Aira smiled, trying to divert attention. "Oh, just some old texts. I found a few new ones among my things, so I thought I'd see what they're about."

Sophia's gaze lingered on Aira's desk, noting the careful arrangement of books. "It sounds like you've been productive. If you need a break, we could catch up. I'd love to hear about what you've been up to."

Aira's eyes flickered briefly towards the drawer where she had hidden the diary. "That sounds nice. Let's do that. I'm sure we have plenty to talk about."

Sophia settled into a chair, and the two began to chat. Despite the friendly conversation and Sophia's genuine interest, Aira's mind remained partly focused on the diary. She was determined to keep it a secret, feeling it held something too personal or dangerous to share.

As the evening progressed, Aira found herself relaxing into the familiarity of Sophia's presence. The tension and solitude that had defined her recent days began to lift, replaced by the comfort of friendship. Yet, the hidden diary remained a silent witness to the secrets she had yet to fully unravel.

When the time came to retire for the night, Aira's thoughts returned to the concealed diary. She felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. The diary had revealed unsettling truths, and she knew she couldn't afford to let its contents fall into the wrong hands.

As she prepared for bed, Aira made sure the diary was securely hidden away, her resolve firm. The path ahead was uncertain, but she was determined to face it on her own terms. The diary's secrets would remain her own for now, a mystery she intended to unravel in her own time.