12— Protector in the Shadow

Serena excitedly pulled me inside her enormous wardrobe to show me the dress I was supposed to wear today. I distinctly remember being envious of her when I was this age; after all, her wardrobe is larger than my actual bedroom. As soon as we got in, she pretended to get zapped while still gripping the doorknob before doing an arm wave dance, and then poked my shoulder, waiting for me to follow her signature body wave dance.

She really be thinking she's adorable when in reality, she just looks like a complete fool. How come I saw this fun before, lol. I'm too old to be doing this stupid dance to entertain this traitor. Logically speaking though, I can say my mind and soul are old but my current body and age aren't. Rather than entertaining her, I have a more pressing concern at hand. To prevent that from happening to Mom, I need to think of a way first. Questioning why I am here and how I got back to the past is not the priority now. I'll think of that after I save Mom first.

My thoughts were interrupted when an extravagant off-the-shoulder lace dress with embroidery of a silver crescent moon was pushed to my face.

"Do you like it?" Serena widely grins. "This is my gift for you!"

I glanced at the wall clock, three hours left before that happens. I still have time. For now, I will have to play along with the written destiny until that time comes. I will follow carefully, one wrong move and this might interrupt the flow of time. I can't afford that to happen.

I closed my eyes as Serena started putting makeup on my face, I tried to remember every single detail of my memories. What happened when that blinding white light appeared? Where was I?

This is so frustrating! My vision was blurry at that time and all I saw were blinding lights, yet I have a nagging feeling that I am missing out on something... that the answer for how I ended up here lies in that glowing light, something happened there but I don't remember anything, tsk.

What else? I need something that can help me in my current plan to claim my happy ending.

Wait... there's that! Somebody suddenly grabbed my arm.

I held my breath as if my heart stopped beating. I screamed loud and hard in terror. I abruptly opened my eyes. Who was that?

"Eh? What's wrong, Rere?" Serena asked, her brows knotted.

I couldn't care less about her though. All I could think about is that one person, a person from that moment on the glowing white light I can't remember. I could only remember her mouthing inaudible words.

It seems like I knew that person but why can't I remember his face or his name? I'm not sure why I've traveled back in time. I'm not certain if my traveling back in time had anything to do with that person or if all this was just the will of the heavens. But the answers are all in my memories, I just need to face it and devise a plan to my advantage. Who are you and what's your role in my life? Are you my ally or an enemy?

"I'm sorry," I muttered to Serena, closing my eyes once again.

I pinched my hand, no matter how much I tried to remember its face it was all blurry. I don't even know if that person is a woman or a man. I don't remember anything about you but since you gave me the chance to change my fate, I will never let the things from my past life happen again. Whatever happened before I came here doesn't matter anymore.

So, please don't mind me changing the future now.

***

My party began with me taking every opportunity to hold Mom's hand. I'm exceptionally worried that if I let go of her hand, she'll meet her tragedy again. I can't go through it all over again, it'll break me for sure. I was given this chance to change that from happening, I am sure of it!

I roamed my eyes around, it never really come into my mind. I tried so hard to satisfy these people with these lavish celebrations. I wanted to be accepted so much by them, yet, it was Serena they were after from the start.

"You're unusually attached to me today. I thought you wanted to brag to your friends, I'm sure they'll stop bullying you now," Mom mused before pecking me on the cheek. "Well, I don't mind at all you're clinging to me. But I do need to use the lavatory now, my baby."

"I'll go with you."

Mom shook her head. "Go play with your friends. It's your birthday, you have been waiting for this."

Mom went without allowing me to say anything. Staying with these hypocrites is nonsensical. I should definitely stop worrying; after all, as long as I don't go into the back alley, Mom is safe. It all started because I went there in the first place. Guests were showering me with phony flattery and cheap presents. The past me would've been fooled but not the current me, they already ruined me once, and they won't be able to do it again. A couple of long minutes passed with me checking the time clock every minute but Mom didn't return. I decided to go check on her and went to the lavatory.

"Where is Mom?" I asked a maid I met in the comfort room.

"I just saw her left to the back alley two minutes ago, young mistress." The maid slightly bowed her head answering.

What?! She did what? Panicking, I went to chase after Mom. This can't be seriously happening. Why?! Why is she going there? I didn't go there to prevent the tragedy but Mom went there without a warning. No, I need to stop her! I dash through the back alley, checking my wristwatch as I go. I have five minutes till that catastrophic event, and I must stop her at all costs. I was going to turn left into the alley when a mortal popped out of nowhere and blocked my path. He was a little shorter than me, with raven black straight hair and a mask on his face.

"Move!"

What is this mortal doing here anyway? I don't recall any memory of this from my past life, however, I have no time to lament over that. The future of my mom and myself are ahead in this alley. I have to stop Mom from going after Serena or else she's doomed to repeat dark history.

"I'm sorry but I can't allow you to go any further," the mortal answered.

Memories from my past flashed across my mind; I can't and won't let the same scenario sabotage my life. I charged forward, punching the mortal, who quickly deflected by pushing my hand aside with the palm of his hands. I let out my claws in rage and went for his neck, which he barely averted.

"If you don't want to die. Step away!" I ordered impatiently, the dread of having my mom repeat her mistakes in the past had my soul shiver in despair. "I have no time for your silly game."

"I am more than willing to embrace death if it's for your sake," I heard him whisper. "You might not understand me now but know that I am doing this for you."

"I said, step away," I uttered through my gritted teeth. "...stalker."

This little kid is definitely acting like a psychotic stalker and ruining my plans to change my fate. The small cut on his neck slowly bled. It felt like my world turned slowly as I got a sniff of his blood.

Wait... I know this scent. The blood-crazed demon in me started to run wild. How can he be here? Even with wearing a mask to hide his identity, I can never mistake that mesmerizing jet-black orbs. I stared at him, confused. Regrets, longing, and pain? How can his eyes speak so much emotion? It's the eyes of someone who lost everything and was hurt badly. Deep, sad eyes that seem to hold stories.

I don't understand, this has never happened before. Is this the effect of my changing my mom's future? Why is he here? How is he here? If he is here then... what is his connection to my ruined future? Before I could ask anything, my brows met as he uttered those words that got me even more confused.

"This time, I won't just be hiding in the shadow anymore."

He suddenly run towards me and he pulled me for a tight hug. As if my world has been silenced, I can only hear his and my heart beating loudly.