1. Destiny

As far as I can remember, I have myopia minus three.

The world always looks blurry.

I think I've fallen asleep and woken up enough times, but this time everything felt strange.

The moon-patterned ceiling was visible and sparkling.

I was shocked to see the coffin adorned with a dress and a bouquet. 

People suddenly screamed, and some shouted one name.

"ARTHEMISYA! OH MY GOD, SHE'S ALIVE!"

By the way, that's not my name.

Camera flashes exploded around me.

My white lace dress rode up to my knees, and I jumped like a squirrel caught stealing nuts. I managed to escape from the chapel room. I kept running and getting away from the room, which was wide but felt stuffy with the overpowering scent of flowers.

Even so, I heard footsteps behind me.

So, I found myself in another random room, much smaller, quieter, and colder.

I walked in front of the large mirror above the dressing table. My head almost exploded when I saw the reflection of another person.

"WHAT THE HELL!" I screamed for a moment, reflexively covering my mouth.

I slapped my face over and over again, pulling at the fair skin until the corpse makeup peeled off.

Where was my old face?

The sweet olive skin that my mother gave me?

Where was the purple layered hair that I always thought was cool?

Why? Why is there another person's face?

The face of a popular pop star, Arthemisya Zacceline. 

Why has that become my face? That is beyond crazy!

Wait.

A bloodcurdling scream pierced my ears and then penetrated my brain as a flash of memory rang.

The door slammed with a strange man whose name I only knew.

Tiger Letto is the head of the largest recording studio in Ljubljana. He is not much older than I, approximately 27 years old. And it feels like just a few hours ago, I saw the figure of the tall, broad-shouldered man. He had been kind to me; I fell in love at first sight. However, I didn't expect to see him making out with Arthemisya. I mean, Misya, who resides in this body.

What happened in the hours that followed that were lost?

"Oh, my goodness, my woman!" Tiger hugged me tightly. The muscles in his arms almost strangled me. 

"You're alive! The fortune teller was right. We are destined to live and die together!"

"I am not Arthemisya!" I screamed, pushing him away.

Tiger stared at me sharply. "What do you mean? Did near-death make you lose your memory?"

"I don't know! What's clear is that I'm not your woman!"

"Impossible!" Tiger suddenly turned my body roughly to face the mirror, then tore off the sleeve of my dress.

"Hey!"

Tiger kissed my shoulder, nape, and collarbone. I had never felt this way after twenty-five years of wandering the world. My blood raced, heart pounded, and something profound in me soared. Dancing together, kiss after kiss. I couldn't stop all of this.

"Ah!"

However, Tiger stopped. His long fingers suddenly strangled my neck. His touch shifted, slow, suffocating, and terrifying. His eyes were sharp, piercing directly into my veins. 

I don't understand why he turned so scary in an instant.

"Why did you do that?"

"I know every inch of your body," Tiger growled. "So don't even think about tricking me again or pretending you're someone else, understand?"

Tiger's gaze fell upon me, and my whole body trembled. He quickly hugged me so tightly that it was hard to breathe. Tears welled up, fighting to break free. Confusion and frustration pushed me to be brave.

I made my knee kick Tiger's crotch. He suddenly screamed and pulled away. 

I took the chance to run, nearly stumbling down the emergency stairs.

My body almost fell on the emergency stairs. Luckily, I was still strong enough to hold the iron in support. I don't know how many emergency stairs have been passed. The stairs finally led to the basement. I didn't care where I was. I just wanted to get home. 

But a man in a black hood stood stiffly in front. I hoped my guess was wrong. He wasn't waiting for me. However, it turned out that he walked into the middle and blocked me.

"Who are you?" I asked breathlessly.

"You're alive again!" he said, tears in his eyes. "I brought you back to life!"

I widened my eyes. Tiger was aware of the chaotic situation unfolding around him. The man, who was about my height, lowered his hood. Wait. He looked familiar.

"Miss Arthemisya, I am truly a lucky fan. Don't worry about your scandal being exposed! The girl has already gotten her karma. She had an accident and died on the spot," he beamed.

Accident. The girl, the girl who knows the scandal.

He was talking about me.

A truck accident.

I remember the blood pouring from my head all over my body. The world felt like it was falling, then everything went black.

Karma? Scandal? I died because of the Arthemisya scandal and Tiger Letto.

"Misya!" Tiger's deep voice was arousing again. He grabbed my wrist and spun me around. "How long are you going to act crazy?"

I slapped his hand away roughly. "When are you going to stop asking questions? "I just came back from the dead, you think I'd be sane? And listen! I died because of you!"

Tiger's jaw tightened. So were his eyes, filled with red veins.

"Mr. Tiger, I'm sorry, but it looks like you'll have to give it some time," the hooded man said.

Tiger swallowed. "Leave us alone."

It took a long time for the hooded man to answer, but eventually, I could hear his footsteps moving away.

"You died because of me?" Tiger asked hoarsely, "You know, right, my goal in life is for us to die together. You promised, Misya. Why'd you leave me behind? Do you know how scared I was? Do you know how many ways I thought of to catch up with you quickly?"

My brow furrowed, trying hard to process Tiger's complaint while starting to feel pity and worry.

Without any warning, Tiger's fingers slipped into the nape of my neck, pushing me down into a kiss. Slowly, in the caress of his soft lips, flash after flash of memory showed how Artemisya died because of me.

And, I lived taking over her body.

"Actually, what kind of karma is the universe trying to give?"