Rose Tattoo: The Thread of Fate
Chapter 1
(Lilianne)
But if we were to be reborn, I want to meet with you again... and fall in love, to the point that this tragedy will become a happy ending for the both of us.
I opened my eyes, the voice resounding in my consciousness.
"A happy... ending?" I echoed, puzzled and dazed, staring at the blank lilac-colored ceiling.
I sat up, dismissing the thought. And stretched and yawned. It's finally the start of classes but I'm in nowhere excited. I took a bath and got in the school uniform, a short navy blue skirt, a collared white blouse with a blue ribbon, and on top of it, I wore a sweater vest. And finally, ate breakfast.
Before leaving, I went to visit a certain room, one that emits the presence of death, waiting for its future victim. Stopping in front of the door, I bit my lower lip, frustrated at my own powerlessness and helplessness. But upon opening the door, I put on a mask of girl with a smiling face, on her way to school.
"Mom, I'm going to school now." I gently and cheerfully said as I approached the thin and fragile body sleeping on the bed.
The eyes of the sleeping woman slowly opened and a gentle smile crept up her lips. "Have a nice day, Lilianne"
How that gentle smile shatters me and I have no choice but to smile back.
"Thank you, mom!" And with that, I left.
I made sure to lock the door and as I went out of the gate, my childhood friend, Jonathan 'Jonah' Fidelis, was waiting for me, a boy with white hair and blue eyes, fair complexion and a fine build.
"Good morning, 'oujo-sama'" He bowed jokingly as I left closed the gate.
I rolled my eyes. "Geez, Jonah, I told you before to stop calling me that."
Jonah smiled. "I can't help it. Eversince we were kids, I feel like it's the proper way of calling you."
Jonah has always called me 'oujo-sama' since we were little but I never had such right. I don't have riches nor fancy clothes. I don't even have an inheritance because I denied my father who was a very rich CEO of a company when he tried to take me away from mom years ago. I stayed with her and soon after that, mother became terribly ill. We don't have the money for her treatment and we didn't want to depend on father either but because mother can't work, father would send us enough money to cover my tuition fee and daily needs but he won't send anything for mother's treatment and only a little for her medicine. And even when I tried to save most of the money he keeps on giving us so mother can have her treatment later on, she told me to just use it for myself. I was completely and utterly helpless.
I sighed. "Whatever. Let's go before we end up being late." Just as I turned and about to walk away, Jonah took my hand which surprised me slightly.
"Wait." He said and I looked at him blankly. He flashed me one of his adorable smiles and gently kissed my right hand which has my rose-shaped birthmark. "I swear to always protect you, my oujo-sama"
I looked at him thoughtfully and at the same time, a wave of sadness overcame me but I didn't know why. Perhaps it's because I pity Jonah for his loyalty and overprotection of me, a worthless and powerless illegitimate child? Or perhaps it's because I pity myself? Whatever the reason, I smirked and said confidently, "If that's the case, protect me from being late and having to deal with the teacher's wrath"
Jonah straightened himself and laughed. "All right, all right. Do you want me to carry you?"
"No, we'll only slow down." I turned away and started walking briskly.
Jonah smiled to himself in amusement. "Lilianne... You truly act like a princess. One who never backs down and whose decisions always go through without any problems."
And with that, we hurried off to school for the opening ceremony.
Arriving just in time, Jonah and I went inside the vast gymnasium. The opening ceremony was just the usual, boring welcoming speeches and the like. On our way out, the crowd was more pushy than earlier.
"Ugh! J-Jonah!" I was forcibly being separated from Jonah. The two of us tried to reach each other but it was no use. The current in this sea of people is pushing me away from him. "Ah!" In my frantic and fruitless effort of getting to Jonah, I accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry!" I turned around to apologize and in front of me was a guy about the same age as me with raven black hair, pale skin and gray eyes. He and I stared at each other and at that moment, the world seemed to have stopped spinning and time was immobilized.
