Today was the final day of the trial session. The weight of my decision had been pressing on me all morning, creeping into my thoughts like an uninvited guest.
Now, as I sat in the office during my lunch break, my fingers tapped nervously against the table.
I took out my phone, unlocking it with a swipe that felt heavier than usual. The familiar interface of the SCAL app greeted me, its sleek design oddly comforting.
A bright red notification pulsed at the top of the screen, as if vying for my attention.
Trial Ending Soon.
A countdown timer ticked ominously beneath the notification, every second flashing by as though it were taunting me. Below the timer, two buttons stood out starkly against the screen:
Cancel Service or Go Premium.
I stared at the options, the weight of the decision settling on my chest. My mind raced with questions, doubts, and a nagging sense that this choice would change everything.
I'd made up my mind.
"Mavrik!" I called out loud, my voice cutting through the quiet hum of the office.
The world didn't just pause—it froze. Conversations halted mid-sentence, the distant clatter of keyboards went silent, and even the faint hum of the air conditioning ceased. The air itself felt heavy, charged with an otherworldly stillness.
Then, as if answering a silent cue, a shimmering portal of gold and blue light spiraled into existence before me. The swirl of energy was mesmerizing, its brilliance both beautiful and intimidating.
Out stepped Mavrik, his sharp, tailored suit impeccable as always, the edges of his figure glowing faintly as if he belonged to another dimension entirely. His smile was unwavering, confident, like someone who already knew the answer to a question yet to be asked.
"So, have you decided?" he asked, his voice smooth and steady, resonating in the stillness of the room.
I swallowed, my throat dry. Mavrik always exuded an air of calm authority, but today, that energy felt almost overwhelming.
"Before that," I said, forcing my voice to steady itself, "there's something I need to verify."
His smile didn't falter, but his head tilted slightly, the faintest hint of curiosity breaking through his assured demeanor.
For some inexplicable reason, I felt nervous—me, Arisa, nervous? I was a woman who thrived under pressure, who had tackled boardrooms and handled clients that would make most people crumble. Yet here I was, my palms slightly clammy, my heart pounding as though I were standing at the edge of a life-altering decision.
But today was different. Today, even I wasn't sure of what came next.
"Will I still have my family? I mean… will they still remember me if I decide to go through with the New Identity Pass?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly despite my efforts to stay composed.
Mavrik's expression remained calm, his professional demeanor unshaken. "Yes, your family will remember you. However," he added, pausing briefly as if to let the weight of his words sink in, "their memories of your previous identity will be erased and replaced with ones that align with your new age and persona."
I swallowed hard, the implications of his words hitting me like a tidal wave. "And… what happens to my old self? My old memories?"
"You will lose them," Mavrik said simply, his tone matter-of-fact but not unkind.
His words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.
"Including my past relationships?"
"It's like…" He paused, searching for the right analogy, then smiled faintly. "It's like starting with a clean slate—a fresh canvas, free of the weight of the past including relationships."
"I will lose my memories? What memories will those be? My childhood? My milestones?" I pressed, my voice rising slightly with each question.
Panic stirred within me. "Will I lose my company too?" My chest tightened at the thought. "That's not what I need. I worked too hard for Chic Avenue. I wouldn't want to go through my college years all over again!"
But then another, more intimate fear took hold. Maria. My best friend. My only best friend. The one person who stood by me no matter what. Sadness crept into my heart, wrapping itself around me like a cold fog.
"Maria…" I whispered, almost to myself. "If I lose my memories, does that mean I lose her too? All of our late-night talks, our stupid fights, and our unwavering friendship—just… gone?"
Mavrik didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. My mind raced, already conjuring a world where I wouldn't even recognize her face, her laugh, her unwavering belief in me.
But then again, if my memories of her vanished, would I even miss her?
The thought hit me like a sucker punch.
Mavrik's smooth, confident voice cut through my spiral. "Tell you what," he said, his tone saccharine and enticing, "if you decide to go premium today before the trial ends, I'll throw in a special perk. An extra bonus, just for you."
I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. "What kind of bonus?"
He smiled, as though he knew he had me exactly where he wanted me. "You can select the timeline of memories you want to start with. And…" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make it feel like he was letting me in on a well-guarded secret, "your company will stay intact."
I blinked. "My company?"
"Yes," he said, his voice silky smooth. "According to the records, you started Chic Avenue at 22, right after graduating college. By 25, you turned it into a resounding success. Impressive, really."
He smiled, clearly pleased with his own pitch, but I barely heard him.
The offer dangled before me like a shimmering prize, but it wasn't without its price. Maria's face lingered in my mind, a painful reminder of all I might lose. My heart waged war with my ambitions.
The promise of control over my new identity and the preservation of my hard-earned success was tempting. Too tempting.
"So, what do you say?" Mavrik pressed, his voice as smooth and enticing as velvet.
He leaned in slightly, his confident grin unwavering. "Think of it this way: starting with a successful career already in place means you can shift your focus to what truly matters—your love life. No need to worry about building from scratch. The foundation is set."
He spread his hands, as if painting a picture of the perfect future. "The only thing you'll need to start fresh is finding and nurturing the love you deserve. And that," he added, his grin widening, "is where SCAL—and me—come in. Together, we'll guide you, empower you, and help you discover your true soulmate."
Will I risk it? The question lingered, heavy in the air. My heart raced, torn between the fear of the unknown and the promise of something better. There was only one way to find out.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the leap. "Alright," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "I'll take your offer. I'm going premium."
The moment the words left my lips, Mavrik's face lit up with unrestrained delight, his grin widening like a child unwrapping the perfect gift. He clasped his hands together as if sealing the deal with his excitement.
"Excellent choice, Arisa," he exclaimed, his tone rich with satisfaction. "I'm telling you, this will be the best decision you've ever made. You won't regret it."
His confidence was infectious, but deep down, a small voice whispered: What if I do?