Chapter 5 : It's her

Claire furrowed her brow. She was deep in thought about what Tasya had done to her. Did Diana and Vienna know about this? It was so hard for Claire to solve her current problem, even though Sam was already helping her. Claire saw Tasya standing near the changing room. She approached Tasya while their friends were still on the field during PE class.

"Tasya, can we talk for a moment?"

"Yeah, what's up, Claire?" Tasya glanced at Claire briefly while taking her gym clothes from her locker.

"Why did you swap my math test answers?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"My math test answers—you switched them with the wrong ones, didn't you?"

"Do you have any proof, Claire?"

"I do. Should I report the evidence to Miss Ann?"

Tasya fell silent for a moment. She turned her face away, then looked at Claire.

"The evidence?" Tasya asked nervously.

"CCTV," Claire replied quickly.

"Claire, please don't report it. Yes, I was wrong. It was just a moment of emotion."

"That's not an excuse, Tasya. Just tell me—who were you working with?"

"Working with who? What do you mean?"

"It was just me, Claire. I was still upset that we're no longer friends."

"I don't believe you. If you won't be honest, then I'll report it to Miss Ann."

Claire started to walk away. Tasya chased after her and grabbed her shoulder.

"Claire, wait. If I tell you who it was, will you promise not to report me to Miss Ann?"

"I promise. But I don't want this to happen again."

"Okay. Diana told me to do it."

"Diana? Why?"

"Sorry, Claire. I can only tell you who asked me to do that. I can't say more. But please don't report me."

"Are you close with her?"

"Sorry, Claire. I don't want to say anything."

Tasya walked away toward the field for relay practice. Mr. Dane was already calling her from a distance.

So my suspicion was right. It was Diana. But why does Tasya follow Diana's orders so easily? What has Diana done to her? Claire wondered to herself.

Claire prepared to leave the classroom when the final bell rang. Before meeting Miko at the coffee shop, she took a moment to talk to Vienna in the music room.

"What are you doing here?" Vienna asked coldly.

"How are you, Vien?" Claire tried to say calmly.

"I'm fine. We're in the same class right, we see each other every day. Even though we're not close anymore."

"Vien, I hope if I've done anything wrong, you'll forgive me. I don't want any problems with anyone. I want to live in peace. So please, don't do anything bad to me."

Claire left Vienna, who was still silent after Claire's words.

"Claire. What do you mean?" Vienna stood there, staring at Claire, who looked back without responding to Vienna's confusion.

A young was waiting inside the café and saw Claire. He smiled.

"Finally, you're willing to meet me," Miko stood up to greet Claire.

"I promised, didn't I?"

"Seems like I need some explanation here." Miko said with a faint smile.

"Okay, let's start with how I used to be so obsessed with you. Let's just say I was still a teenager, infatuated and chasing after you. Still immature and didn't understand anything."

"Wait, aren't you still a teenager, Claire?" Miko was confused with Claire's question.

Gosh. What am I saying? Miko doesn't know I'm from 2025, reborn from death. He doesn't know that the Claire speaking now is already 22 years old. Claire quickly corrected herself.

"Oh no, I mean, my teenage behaviour a few months ago."

Miko sipped his drink, then spoke softly.

"So what do you want now? When you were chasing after me, I started to have feelings too. Are you going to take responsibility?"

"Miko, sorry. Let's just be friends as usual."

"Friends, okay. But please reply to my messages, Claire."

"Okay, I promise to reply to all your messages, but sorry if I'm late." Claire gave a brief smile.

"It's okay, Claire. Oh, wait a minute."

Miko walked to the waiter and asked for his order to be delivered. Claire's Caramel Macchiato arrived. Claire smiled.

"You know my favorite drink."

"Claire, I know your favorite drink. We used to be close."

"Yeah, because I was chasing after you, right?"

"Actually, I responded too."

"What, Mik?" Claire didn't catch what Miko said.

"Oh, nothing, Claire."

"Oh, Miko, have you known Diana for a long time?"

"She's my childhood friend, Claire. Actually, we're close because my dad works with her dad. So we often meet. And she often talks about her dad's business to me. I didn't know she liked me. But I already told her that I only see her as a friend."

"Why don't you like her?"

"There's something about her personality that I don't like."

"Isn't she nice?"

"Hmm, maybe outsiders don't know. Close people usually do, Claire."

"What is it? Tell me."

"It's unusual for you to be interested in this kind of thing. Before, you only focused on talking about us."

"That was during my immature days-duh." Claire exclaimed

"What did you say?"

"Eh, I mean, when I was obsessed."

Miko laughed heartily. He looked at Claire for a long time.

"Miko... Miko, don't keep staring at me," Claire said playfully.

"Hahaha. You're funny. If I look at you now and a few months ago, you're different. But your cuteness is still the same."

"What are you talking about, Miko?" Claire drank and finished her Caramel Macchiato.

Miko just laughed and smiled. Suddenly, he patted Claire's hair.

"What's this?" Claire asked suspiciously when Miko gave her a box containing some gifts.

"These are the gifts you gave me before. I'm returning them because you're distancing yourself from me now. So I'm giving them back to you."

Claire saw some photos of the two of them. Ugh, those photos are so cringy. Claire reacted unexpectedly. Inside the box were a handkerchief, a mug, and a photo frame.

"Why did you return to me?"

"Still ask about that? I can't focus looking at your gifts every day."

Claire smiled, flattered by Miko's answer. No wonder I used to chase after him. Miko always uses his clever pickup lines to make Claire flutter, Claire thought to herself.

Miko took Claire home. Her mother was already waiting on the front porch.

"Who is that, Claire?"

"Oh, that's Miko, Mom."

"Are you close to him?"

"Just friends, Mom."

"Oh, that's good."

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"Nothing. I just think since you're still in school, don't get into a serious relationship yet."

"Yeah, Mom. I know."

"Oh, Claire, next week Randy's Dad wants to take us to dinner together."

"Oh, Randy?."

"Yes, can you come?"

"Sure, Mom."

Claire's mom smiled happily at Claire's answer. Claire wanted to talk about the incident about the stairs , but she decided not to bring it up. She was afraid her mom would become sad again.