Chapter 9

The Story

Claire and Alice sat side by side, watching the TV, munching on the food that Claire bought. The redhead talked a lot on the first minutes of their 'celebration' but after that, the two remained silent, pretending to focus on the movie.

They both want to make excuses to be alone but don't know how to break the silence.

"Hey…" they said in perfect harmony. "What?"

They both smiled.

"You go first…" Alice offered.

"No, you go fir—"the two chuckled. "I have to finish my designs, so—"

"Oh, actually I have to go out."

A sudden pang hit Claire.

"Was she seeing him again?"

"I have to go to the grocery."

"Really, huh."

"Claire?"

"Oh! Yeah, sure. Be safe, it's late."

"I'll be fine. You need something?"

"Nope."

Alice turned the TV off and head out after getting her purse. The fresh air felt good in her lungs. She wasn't actually planning on shopping but it was the only way to get out. She walked her way to the grocery store, admiring the trees along the way. The stars were placed on the dark sky, perfectly shining with the moon.

The trip could have been perfect for them. She could still remember how she pictured their trip a few days ago. After Claire finishes her project, they would explore Raccoon City together, shop and take pictures, everything that will be fun. It's still possible to do those stuffs, but she was afraid of the other things that might come along the way.

Alice sighed as the words played in her mind, continuously.

'You found my prince!"

"My prince…" she muttered.

"You looking for me?"

Alice eyes widen when Matt suddenly appeared on her side.

"Oh my god! How long have you been there?"

"Hmm, since you called my name…" Matt smiled.

"I did?... Wait… I did not!"

"Yes, you did… My prince…"

"You're not my prince!"

"But you're my princess." Matt declared. His face turned serious.

Alice's gaze was locked with Matt. They stood there for a while, doing nothing, just staring at each other. She was battling herself on whether to move closer and kiss him or to just ignore and walk away. Eventually, the one she would love to do lost. She continued to walk as soon as she got herself out of the locked gaze.

"Hey, wait!" Matt called.

"What?"

"Where are you going? It's late."

"I know. I have to go shopping."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Well, yeah?"

"Go back."

"No."

"Please."

"Matt!"

"Give me the list and I'll do the shopping for you."

"No, thank you. But I can do this myself."

"Alice."

"Matt."

"Fine."

Alice waited for him to go back but he continued to follow her.

"What are you doing?" Alice exclaimed.

"Shopping."

The blonde was about to argue but decided not to. Her mind started to fantasize about him taking her hand as they walk towards the supermarket. Then he'll wrap his arms around her as the wind blows. Her fantasy painted a smile on her face; Matt noticed it and smiled too. Like her, he was also dreaming of holding her in his arms.

But the smile immediately faded on the blonde's face. A face suddenly flashed at the back of her mind, sending a sharp pang, Claire. She shook her head trying to erase the fantasy she has perfectly woven. Matt was shaken out of his dream, too.

"What's happening to you?" Matt went closer to Alice.

"I just remembered something…"

"Oh, okay. I thought you're trying to erase your fantasy about me." Matt giggled.

"Whatever."

When they entered the supermarket, Alice waited until Matt chooses where he's going and decides to take the opposite way. Unfortunately, Matt has no plans of leaving Alice.

"Aren't you going to start?" Matt asked.

"And you?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

Shock revolted inside her. How could she not think that he already has a girlfriend? Silly, she thought. Well, at least she won't be bothering about losing Claire and their friendship, anymore. And she will not be guilty about hanging out with him anymore. And they could stay friends. And now, she's breaking.

"Uhm, well. Okay, then." Alice sighed. "See you around…"

She took her list out which is actually empty.

"Turns out I'm going to go back without anything…" she thought.

She was so occupied about Matt and his someone. She even thought of spying just to see how she looks like and what she has that made him fall for her. But eventually, she disposed the idea of spying. She's just going to wait until their paths cross; the supermarket wasn't that big, anyways.

Alice was about to turn her back when a familiar presence almost bumped her.

"Oh, you. Are you following me?" Alice accused Matt.

"Uhm, I believe this is Men's section."

Alice scanned the shelves and found razors, hair gels, wax.

"Oh, right. Just passing by. Anyway, you're waiting for someone, right?"

"Yup, she's actually here."

"Oh okay, I better keep going."

Alice tried to compose her mind and focus on shopping. Fortunately, she was able to pull out things that she really needs, but majority of what she bought was just random stuffs that she took every time she crosses way with Matt.

"Here's your change, Ma'am." The cashier said.

"Thank you."

Alice took her two paper bags out of the counter. She definitely overspent her money and she's going to regret this soon, but it's too late to go back and put all the stuffs back to their shelves. Alice was struggling to carry the two paper bags. It surprised her how heavy the bags were. She was obviously not paying much attention on shopping and just hoped she didn't buy anything ridiculous.

Suddenly, she was fantasizing again about Matt appearing in front of her and taking one of the paper bags with one hand and his other hand will be reaching for her free hand. Then they'll walk their way back to the mansion, hand in hand.

Alice shook her head again when the thought of Claire waiting at the mansion brushed in her mind. A man was already standing in front of her when she snapped back to reality. He took the other paper bag from her and started to walk.

"Hey!" Alice shouted, following Matt.

"What?" Matt asked without looking.

"Give me that! You're supposed to be waiting for someone, right?"

"Yep, I'm actually with her right now."

"You're waiting for me?"

"It's too late for a lady like you to go out alone in a place she's not familiar with."

Alice wasn't able to pull out any words to start another conversation or better, an argument with him. She was overwhelmed with emotions that is so hard to hide but harder to show.


On the other hand, Claire was trying to focus on her designs but she can't pull out anything from her crowded mind. She was occupied with too much emotion. One moment, she was drawing a layout for a living room, the next thing, she was already doodling her name with Matt. But what surprised her was her best friend's name that has been tried to be erased by someone who seems so angry.

She run her finger to the name now blocked with black ink. Was she really that upset? She has never been angry with Alice, they fight a lot but only with small things and reconciliation always follows.

Of course she loves her, but there's also a strong emotion inside her that somewhat makes her hate her best friend. It wasn't strong but it's growing.

"What's happening to me?" Claire thought.

She took the paper and crumpled it.

"I'm her friend, best friend. And the only family she has. I have to stop this."

She threw the paper which hit the bedside table. It was then she noticed the old lady's necklace on top of the diary Alice bought. Then she remembered the paintings in the library.

She took her laptop and went to the bed, leaving her works. She opened her browser and went to search. She hesitated for a while but finally gave in. She started typing, "Reincarnation".

First results defined Reincarnation, and the others were just opinions and beliefs. One story caught her attention. A story of lovers who believed they were together in their past life and was reincarnated and still met on the same path.

"We met a lot of people and crossed a lot of paths but in the end, destiny brought us back together. We never knew it was possible, but on the moment we laid our eyes on each other, it was love. We promised that we will always find a way to be together, forever and every lifetime."

Claire read the whole story then shut her laptop down. A lot of things were running in her mind. Was it possible? They were reincarnated? She can't help herself but be happy.

"If I was married to Matt on our past life, then –" She shook the thought out of her mind. She reminded herself not to hope too much. Then another idea came to her, she needs to know what happened in the past.

She opened her laptop again.

"Hmm, Voltaire family." She muttered the words as she typed.

The first link showed the family tree and background. She saw Matt's picture and standing beside him was the girl she talked at the library.

"Dahlia Adison?" Claire remembered the kid telling her that her name was Kmart Voltaire.

Eventually as she read the article, she found out that Kmart was her nickname and she really loves her family roots. She smiled. After scanning a lot of pictures and taking one of Matt Adison's pictures, she decided to take a look at the older articles. Unfortunately, everything that was written on the articles was already told by Kmart, and the others were the ones she already guessed.

She was about to give up when a horror story appeared on one of the results. Curiosity flowed down her veins so she opened the link.

"Voltaire: A love buried by lies and deception…?"

The story was about a couple who fell in love with each other but was separated by death. The girl mysteriously died, or killed. She was found at a cabin burned to death. Some said she was trapped but other said she was locked inside. The only thing that served as her identification was the necklace that her husband gave to her.

Claire turned on the table beside the bed, she took the necklace and analysed it.

The story goes on by saying that one part of the girl's soul was left on the necklace. The husband became lost and almost insane so his parents made him marry her dead wife's sister, thinking that it will help him move on and recover.

She was about to close the link when a picture caught her attention, the most beautiful pair of eyes were staring at her, again.


Matt looked at Alice when she didn't say anything.

"What?" Alice asked.

"Nothing." Matt smiled knowing that the blonde finally gave up in pushing him away.

They both remained in silence as they walk back to the mansion. Matt was behind Alice but she felt his stares bore at her back, it was like there's already a hole on her back and it was burning. After a couple of minutes, they finally arrived at the mansion.

Matt continued to walk to the elevator, Alice immediately tried to catch him up.

"Wait!" Alice exclaimed. "My paper bag…"

"It's okay, Alice. I'm also going on the same floor. I can drop you and your groceries on the way."

"No! I mean, it's late. You must be tired. I can handle this from here."

Matt didn't budge. He waited until the elevator stopped at Alice's floor.

"Matt…"

"We're already here, Alice. it's okay."

Matt walked pass Alice and out of the elevator, the blonde followed him and stopped at their door.

"Here…" Matt handed her the paper bag.

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it." Alice smiled.

Alice was waiting for him to leave before opening the door, afraid that her best friend might see her with him.

"Uhm, you're not going inside, yet?" Matt asked when he noticed the blonde was not moving.

"Uhm, oh. Actually, I was waiting for you to leave. Courtesy." Alice smiled.

"Oh. I think it'll be better if you invite me inside." Matt winked. "Kidding, it's okay. Go now, go inside."

"No, please. Grant me this request. You've been declining all the things I was asking you to do a while ago, so please. Give this to me." Smile remained on the blonde's face.

Matt sighed.

"Okay, then. Goodnight, Alice."

"Goodnight, Matt."


Matt or Matthew, there's no difference, no matter what lifetime, he never fails to make her heart jump.

Claire was about to look at the other pictures when she heard steps coming from outside. She immediately closed the link and shut her laptop down. She went near the door and listened. Just like what she was expecting, it was Alice… with Matt. Her hands clenched into a fist, as she try to wash away the emotion that's making her think of a lot of ways to just attack her best friend.

Guilt followed shortly after all the mean things that were running in her mind, not because she can't bear to hurt her best friend but because no matter what happens, no matter what lifetime it is, Matt will always be with the one he's destined with. And she'll make sure that the destiny's path will lead to her.