While recovering at home, Lynette found herself thinking about Neven more than she wanted to admit. "Is he thinking about me… like I'm thinking about him?" she wondered, rolling onto her side with a dreamy sigh.
"I've been stuck at home for a week and I haven't even come up with a single plan to get close to him!" she grumbled, attempting to kick her legs in frustration, only to wince in pain. "Ouch! Ouch! I was just kidding!" She gently cradled her leg. "I'm sorry, my beautiful leg. Please heal fast so I can begin Operation Neven."
Left with no choice but to lie still on her bed, Lynette continued to daydream about him. "I want to see him…" she whispered, hugging her pillow.
Time passed quickly, and soon the sun was casting a golden light over the neighbourhood. Then came the familiar chaotic noise from outside...laughter, squealing, and unmistakable voices.
"Oh no," Lynette muttered, dragging herself to the balcony.
Sure enough, Seena, Divitia, and Yelena were approaching the gate, their voices echoing down the entire street.
"Lynette!!" they shouted together, waving like she was a celebrity on the second floor.
"Guys, are you planning to announce to the whole neighbourhood that you guys are here?" Lynette called down, embarrassed but smiling.
People from nearby houses peeked out of their windows. A dog started barking.
Seena cupped her hands over her mouth. "LYNETTE, ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? WE BROUGHT SNACKS!"
"You brought chaos to my house," Lynette mumbled dramatically, but she was already laughing.
She waved them in, shaking her head as she muttered, "These girls don't know what the word 'quiet' means."
As the golden sun filtered softly through the windows, Lynette sat on her bed with her friends scattered around her room. They were chatting while munching on snacks and flipping through magazines. Seena was sitting behind Lynette, carefully braiding her hair.
"Wait till you see this," Seena said proudly. "I learned a new braiding technique from a tutorial last night!"
Lynette rolled her eyes playfully. "Are you sure you didn't learn this from braiding your dog's tail?"
Before Seena could protest, Divitia's voice cut in. "Girls, we almost forgot! Lynette, did you know? There's going to be a new transfer student."
Lynette raised a brow. "A new transfer student?"
"They said he's really handsome," Divitia added with a grin.
"I haven't seen him yet, but according to the rumours…" Seena blushed and fanned herself dramatically, "he sounds exactly like my type."
Lynette, Divitia, and Yelena all turned to Seena with a synchronized look of disbelief.
"What happened to that 'handsome senior' you were raving about last week?" Lynette asked, smirking.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Seena groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "We don't speak of him anymore."
"All the girls are dying to see this new guy," Yelena chimed in. "They're saying he might be the most good-looking guy in school."
"I saw him once outside the office," said Divitia. "He was wearing a mask, but… even with that, he looked so good."
Lynette laughed. "Oh my god, you're all falling for a guy you haven't even seen properly. What's going to happen when you do see his face? The whole school might faint."
"Well, now I want to see him too," she added, giggling. "Let's see how 'godly' this guy really is."
They all burst out laughing, leaning into one another as they shared jokes and playful teases. But amid all the fun, Lynette's thoughts quietly drifted to Neven again. "I need to do something. Anything. I can't stay stuck here forever if I want to get close to him…" she thought.
By the time the conversation faded, the golden light outside began to shift. The sky turned soft, and sunset was near.
Her friends stood, gathering their things. "See you tomorrow!" they called in together.
Lynette stood on the balcony, gazing at the setting sun. "Looking at the sunset... it feels like all my worries are gone," she murmured to herself.
Just then, her mother called from inside. "Lynette! Come down, someone's here to see you."
Curious, Lynette walked into the living room and paused. There, sitting calmly, was Father Luca.
"Lynette," he said warmly, "how have you been?"
"I'm doing much better now, Father Luca," she replied with a gentle smile.
Her mother stepped in, "Father, I'll prepare some tea and snacks."
"No need, really. I won't be staying long. I just came to visit Lynette," Father Luca replied kindly.
Her mother nodded and returned to the kitchen. Lynette stayed standing, her eyes narrowing slightly. She could feel it; this wasn't just a casual visit.
"You didn't come here just to check on me, did you?" she asked quietly.
Father Luca gave a small, knowing smile. "You've grown sharper, Lynette. No, I didn't."
His expression changed, more serious now, his gaze deeper. "I came to warn you, Lynette."
Lynette's smile faded. She looked away, waiting for him to continue.
"That child," he said slowly, "was meant to die that day. That moment... was her ending. But you changed it. And because of that, the threads of fate have begun to untangle. What was written is being rewritten. And not all rewritten stories end well."
Lynette didn't speak. Her hands gripped the edge of the table.
"You were given this second chance, Lynette, not just to live, but to fulfill what you couldn't before. Your path was already fragile. If you keep pulling at fate, it may break entirely."
Silence hung between them for a moment. Then Lynette raised her eyes to his...calm, but burning.
"Are you telling me," she said carefully, "that I should have just stood there and watched her die?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"But that's what it sounds like," she cut in. "That I should've let her go. To preserve a future that only benefits me. Is that what redemption looks like to you, Father?"
He fell silent. Her voice trembled slightly, but it was steady.
"I've been asking myself why I was given this second chance. Do I deserve it? There are people out there who were better than me… kinder than me… and what about their second chance?"
She placed a hand over her chest. "So why me? Why do I get to go back?"
Tears welled in her eyes but didn't fall.
"I don't have all the answers. But I decided something, if this life is mine again, then I'll live it not just for myself. If I can protect even one person, change even one ending… then I'll do it. Even if fate gets angry at me."
"You think you can save everyone now?" Father Luca asked softly, a hint of pain in his voice.
"I don't know," she whispered. "Maybe not. But I'll try. Because this time, I'm not going to look away. I won't be the person who regrets again. I'm not afraid."
There was silence again, thicker now, but not heavy.
Then, quietly, Father Luca stood up. His face was unreadable for a moment. Then he reached out, gently resting his hand on Lynette's head.
"…Then I pray," he said, his voice soft with emotion, "that your light doesn't burn out before it reaches the ones who need it most."
"Thank you, Father," she said.
The dinner table was alive with chatter and laughter. The aroma of warm, home-cooked food filled the air, plates clinked as dishes were passed around, and Toto, having already devoured his share, sat by the table with his tongue out, eyeing everyone else's meal like he hadn't eaten in years. It looked like the kind of cozy dinner scene straight out of a movie, with everyone smiling and voices overlapping with joy.
Everyone… except Lynette.
She barely touched her plate, absently stirring her food with a spoon, her thoughts lost elsewhere. The conversation with Father Luca kept replaying in her mind. His words echoed like whispers at the back of her heart.
Can I really protect everyone? Am I strong enough? What if Father Luca was right? What if…
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
"Lynette?" her mother called out in a low voice, noticing her silence. "Everything okay? You've barely eaten."
Startled, Lynette blinked as if waking from a dream. "Oh, yeah. I'm okay, Mom. I just… had a lot of snacks earlier. I'm full," she said quickly, trying to sound light.
She stood up. "I think I'll head to my room. I need to finish up some notes."
Her grandfather looked up from his meal. "It's alright, sweetheart. If you're still not feeling well, you should rest for a few more days."
"I'm perfectly fine, grandpa," Lynette replied with a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Her mother watched her quietly as she walked away. Something was off. She didn't say anything, but her heart knew Lynette was carrying something heavy.
Later that night, when she peeked into Lynette's room, she found her daughter slumped over her desk, fast asleep with a pen still in hand. Her textbooks lay open, and the soft glow of her study lamp bathed her in a quiet light.
Gently, she brushed Lynette's hair out of her face and whispered, "You've grown up so much."
She helped her daughter into bed, tucking her in with care, and sat by her side.
Your smile is so beautiful, Lynette… so please, keep smiling. Whatever you're going through, I know you'll find a way through it. You're braver than you think. Good luck, my girl.
Morning came with soft sunlight streaming through the windows. As usual, Toto jumped up on the bed, barking joyfully and licking Lynette's face until she groaned awake.
Stretching and yawning, she sat up and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes were tired but determined.
"Whatever happens… do your best, Lynette," she said to her reflection, softly clenching her fists.
Today was the day she was finally returning to school after the accident.
Lynette had finished getting ready, but instead of heading straight to the gate, she decided to wait for Seena in her room. After all, Seena was always late. She sat by her desk and opened her notebook, thinking maybe she could sketch out a plan to get closer to Neven. But before she could even think of an idea, she heard a loud voice from outside.
"LYNETTE!!"
The voice was familiar. She rushed to the balcony, and the moment she looked down, she burst into laughter.
It was Seena, waving from below. "Lynette, hurry up! What are you doing?"
But today, Seena looked different.
Her hair was styled differently, she had lightly coated her lashes with mascara, and a rosy tint to her usually bare lips. She never wore lip tint with colour; usually, she liked clear gloss. A soft scent of rose perfume floated around her. Lynette tilted her head, amused.
"Did you put on perfume? What's going on, Seena? Is something special today?" Lynette called out with a teasing grin.
Seena stammered, flustered. "What? No! I always go to school like this! It's nothing special, same old me!"
She sounded like she'd been caught red-handed committing a crime.
Lynette just smiled knowingly. "It's the transfer student, isn't it? Aeeee~ That's why you're early for once and all dressed up! Come on, tell me the truth!"
Seena groaned and grabbed Lynette's arm, dragging her away. "No! It's really not like that!"
Lynette couldn't stop giggling at Seena's reaction. "Now I really want to see what this guy looks like! He must be drop-dead gorgeous if even you are this flustered."
She was still chuckling to herself as they came near the school gate, but her laughter died when she noticed something odd.
People were staring. Not just looking but staring.
Lynette's heart sank. What's going on? Did I do something wrong?
The hallway felt unusually long as they made their way inside. Just then, Yelena and Divitia came running towards them, panting.
"What's wrong?" Seena asked, alarmed.
Yelena, breathless, managed to say, "The girl you saved… her family gave a huge donation to the school to thank you! The director himself is going to give you an appreciation award!"
"What?" Lynette and Seena exclaimed in unison.
So that's why everyone's been staring... Lynette thought, realizing her quiet return to school had turned into an unexpected spotlight moment.
"Our Lynette's a star now! Everyone's talking about you," Divitia chimed in proudly.
"Yeah, you're going to have a line of boys waiting to ask you out soon," she added with a wink.
Lynette smiled faintly, but her eyes didn't share the same joy. She wasn't used to the attention; it didn't sit right with her. She preferred the shadows, not the stage.
Then suddenly the spotlight shifted.
"Wait a second," Yelena said, narrowing her eyes at Seena. "Why are you so dressed up today?"
"What? This is how I always look!" Seena shot back, flustered again, and hurried away down the hall.
Yelena and Divitia exchanged a look. "Something's definitely cooking in her head."
They all burst into laughter, their teasing echoing down the hallway.
As they came near the classroom, a group of students stood gathered by the door. Kyren was right at the front, smirking as always, but it was the person standing behind him who made Lynette flustered, Neven.
Her heart skipped.
In that moment, everything else faded. The noise, the people, the hallway… it all melted away until only Neven remained in her eyes.
But then, Kyren stepped in front of her.
"Hi Lynette, how are you feeling?" he said with a smile, holding out something in his hand, a rose-shaped candy.
"I'm fine," she replied softly, eyes still trying to glance past him.
"I was so worried about you," he said, tone suddenly dramatic. "But don't worry. From now on, I'll protect you."
The candy hovered between them. A crowd had formed. Whispers turned to hoots and chants.
"Accept it! Accept it!"
Lynette stared at him for a moment. Then, with a calm voice, she replied, "Thanks… but I don't eat candy."
She walked right past him, leaving Kyren standing awkwardly with his hand still outstretched.
"Damn, that was savage!" someone shouted.
"Lynette, that was so cool!" another student laughed.
Kyren's forced smile twitched. He crushed the candy in his fist and turned away, his eyes looked annoyed.
But Lynette? She kept walking.
As she walked into the classroom and took her seat, the scene from earlier replayed in her head like a loop. She had been standing in front of Kyren, but the entire time, she couldn't stop glancing at Neven...hoping, just hoping he would look her way. But he didn't. Not even once. His gaze remained elsewhere, like she didn't even exist.
Doesn't he care how I'm doing? Or... maybe he didn't even notice I was gone, she thought, her chest sinking a little.
The room buzzed with chatter, some students still gossiped about her, others speculated on what class the new transfer student would join. But Lynette wasn't part of the excitement. She sat silently, her chin resting on her arms folded on the desk, thoughts swirling in her mind.
I just wanted a quiet, peaceful final year... maybe a little romance, nothing big. And now here I am, in the center of attention because of Ael, then Kyren, and now this whole award thing. Ughhh... what do I do now? she groaned inwardly.
God, please...I really don't need more drama. Just let things calm down soon... please...
Meanwhile, from the back of the classroom, Ael watched her quietly. The mischief and smugness from his usual demeanour were gone, his eyes softer now, thoughtful. There was something different about the way he looked at her.
Moments later, the teacher walked in, clapping his hands once to get everyone's attention. The room immediately fell into a chorus of greetings.
"Good morning, class," he said, smiling. "I have an announcement. We'll be welcoming a new student today. He's transferring in a bit late, so I hope you'll all make him feel welcome."
Cheers and whispers spread like wildfire. "It's him!" "The new transfer student!" "That handsome guy."
Even Lynette perked up with curiosity. She turned to glance at the door along with everyone else.
Then the door opened.
A tall figure walked in confidently, the classroom instantly fell silent, then erupted into stunned gasps. Girls blushed, some of the boys were shocked, others blinked in disbelief.
He had the aura of someone who didn't belong in an ordinary high school classroom. Tall and athletic with sleek black hair, clear black eyes, a beauty mark just under his right eye, elegant Adam's apple. And the way he smiled, casual, soft, left everyone speechless.
Lynette's eyes widened. Wait… what!? Rowan!?
That Rowan!? she panicked inwardly, blinking rapidly. He didn't say anything about transferring here!
All around her, students were whispering.
"He's so good-looking, is he a model or something?"
"Are we sure he's not a celebrity?"
As Lynette tried to shrink into her seat, she mumbled under her breath, "Of course it's him… he's too handsome, of course he would steal the spotlight. Please don't see me. Not now. Please…"
She hid behind her textbook, hoping to become invisible.
"Alright, settle down, everyone," said the teacher. "He's starting late, so I hope you'll help him catch up."
Rowan turned slightly, scanning the classroom, and his eyes landed on her. Lynette froze. He smiled knowingly. Oh no. Please don't...
"Hi, my name is Rowan Navarro. Nice to meet you all," he introduced himself.
Everyone clapped, already charmed by him.
"Sir," Rowan said, raising his hand, "Can I sit with Lynette?"
The room went completely silent.
Eyes turned toward her. Even Seena, Yelena, and Divitia stared in disbelief. Lynette forced a small, awkward smile, completely unprepared.
"She's the only one I know here, and it'll be easier for me to adjust," Rowan added casually, as if it were no big deal.
"Hmm, but Seena's already seated with her," the teacher said.
Seena stood up with exaggerated calm and grabbed her bag. "It's fine, I'll sit with Divitia," she offered it too quickly.
"Nooooo...Seena!" Lynette signalled with her eyes, trying to stop her.
But it was too late. Seena had already walked away.
Rowan grinned and made his way over, sitting down beside her with relaxed ease. He leaned slightly closer and asked, "Are you sure your leg is okay? Does it still hurt?"
Then, with a teasing smile, "Be honest...are you happy that I'm here?"
Lynette's brain stopped working. Everyone was still staring. Some students whispered. Others still looked shocked. Her cheeks turned warm.
She looked at Rowan, opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. She just smiled, awkward and wordless.
Yes, she was happy. But also terrified of the new wave of attention this was about to bring.
Still, deep inside, something about Rowan being there… felt warm.