Chapter 3: Reborn To Rewrite Fate

Cleopatra’s consciousness returned slowly, shrouded in fog. Disoriented, her body felt broken, and a deep terror settled in her chest as distant music drifted in, making it seem as if she had been dragged back into a world that no longer felt real.

Her eyes snapped open.

She gasped.

“Hng!”

Coughing as though she had surfaced from deep water. Nausea twisted her stomach, and panic flooded her chest before her gaze lingered at the familiar surroundings. Her gaze drifted on a neatly folded uniform resting on the bench.

Suddenly, a young lady grabbed her by the shoulders. A familiar face loomed before her, lips moving as if to soothe her, but no words reached Cleopatra. Her mind spun wildly, desperate to make sense of what was happening.

‘Wait… This is the Atelier Club…?’

Her voice shook as she forced the words past her dry lips.

“H-How…vHow am I not underwater? She stammered, “Didn’t I die?”

“Die?” The young lady repeated. “Cleopatra, it's me, Ana. Why will you be dead?”

Cleopatra ignored her completely; her hand went to her skin, her fingers pinching sharply. Disbelief clung, but the sharp sting searing through her confirmed it was real.

‘I'm not dead. I'm … alive.’

In the chaos, she wrenched free from Ana’s grip and lunged toward the door.

She opened it.

BAM!

Only to slam headfirst into someone the moment she stepped out.

“Ah, my head…” she groaned, clutching it.

The pain confirmed it; she was in reality.

Her head felt impossibly heavy.

“Cleo.”

A familiar voice cut through the haze; soft, gentle hands steadied her, and the moment their eyes locked, her body froze, every nerve ignited by a shock so profound it stole her breath.

“K-Ka…tie?” Cleopatra whispered. “Ka…tie… is this really you?”

She struggled to steady herself.

Katie's grip around her loosened as she withdrew her hands.

Cleopatra batted her eyes, a strange wave of familiarity washing over her.

“This feels like déjà vu.”

She barely had time to process it before Katie’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Are you okay?” Katie asked, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes. “Did you get hurt?”

Her gaze swept over Cleopatra, widening as she searched for any sign of injury.

Cleopatra glimpsed the brief flicker of irritation in Katie’s eyes, yet it stirred no reaction within her as a smile curled on her lips.

"You’re alive; I can’t believe you’re alive,” a sob escaped her. “I’m so sorry… so sorry for not believing you and for treating you so badly.”

Katie’s chest constricted painfully, her words trembling yet heavy with disbelief, each one carrying the sting of years unacknowledged.

“What have you gotten over? Since when did I ever matter?”

Confusion swirled through Katie's mind as she struggled to understand why Cleopatra was being unusually kind and asking such strange questions. Her eyes remained fixed on Cleopatra’s tear-streaked face.

WAAAH!

Cleopatra cried loudly, pulling Katie into a hug; her grip tightened around Katie’s back. Holding Katie as if the world itself were crumbling around them as her shoulders trembled violently.

Feeling the raw ache in her friend’s soul, Katie mirrored the embrace, her hands gentle against Cleopatra’s back, trying to soothe the storm within her.

“Stop crying, it’s okay,” Katie whispered, her hand lightly resting on Cleopatra’s back, soothing yet hesitant.

Cleopatra pulled away; their eyes met, calm on the surface but heavy with unspoken weight.

“Katie,” she sniffed back her tears, “may I have a moment?”

Katie exhaled slowly, relief washing over her, and nodded once.

“Yes, of course.”

The two women walked down the hallway, finding a quiet room. They stepped inside and walked towards the chair. Once seated, Cleopatra's hands trembled slightly under the table.

“Where is Calvin?” She asked abruptly. “Is he safe?”

Katie blinked.

“Did I hear that correctly?

Katie let out a low laugh.

“Wow! You're asking about Calvin.”

She tilted her head.

“Well, he's fine.”

Cleopatra exhaled deeply as a wave of relief crossed her chest, a shy smile softening her lips.

“Good to know he's fine; that's a relief.”

Katie looked at her, studying her for the briefest moment.

“So what do you want to talk about?”

Cleopatra pressed her trembling hands together, trying to steady them.

“Actually,” her smile faltered, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”

Katie fixed her gaze on her, giving her undivided attention.

“Alright, go on.”

Instantly she poured out everything to Katie. How Guinevere had harbored jealousy since high school, how she had manipulated her into giving up her INK Model debut after her parents’ death, and how, behind a façade of friendliness, Guinevere’s heart had held nothing but hatred.

Katie listened in quiet composure, unsurprised; she had warned Cleopatra about Guinevere more times than she could count.

“Hello!”

Katie’s voice rang with unshakable confidence, sharp and unapologetic. She lifted both hands, twisting her index and middle fingers with effortless flair.

“I noticed it long ago, and I even told you back in school. She doesn’t just despise you; she's envious that Calvin chose you over her.”

Cleopatra lowered her head.

“I'm sorry for not trusting you.”

Katie's eyes narrowed as she shook her head with sharp disdain.

“You pushed my beloved brother aside and clung shamelessly to that damn Anthony.”

Cleopatra quietly rubbed her palms against her knees.

“I was a fool; please forgive me.”

“Ewrp,” Katie pouted sweetly, “if you want me to forgive you, at least let me see your face.”

Instinctively Cleopatra lifted her face with a smile.

“Thanks.”

“You're welcome.”

Cleopatra’s words haunted relentlessly.

‘I’m sorry, Katie. I can’t tell you that I’ve been reborn.’

The words remained trapped in her chest.

‘I’m truly disappointed in myself for pushing such a good person out of my life.’

Her gaze fell, regret tightening around her heart as the weight of everything she had lost finally settled in.

A beat passed, and then she spoke again.

“Guinevere is still INK’s model, right?”

Katie nodded casually.

“Yeah. Why are you asking?” Her eyes widened by the realization. “Don’t tell me—”

Cleopatra cut her off; her voice carried a cold edge.

“I’m coming back into modeling.”

Katie’s eyes widened in shock.

“No way!” she exclaimed, her voice alive with excitement. “Now that’s the spirit, girl!”

Her voice dripped low.

“Getting into the spotlight won’t be easy. Start with backstage work for now, while I comb through potential brands. Securing even a few good ones will give your debut a real edge.”

Cleopatra nodded thrice.

“Okay, thanks, Katie.”A few moments later, Cleopatra hugged Katie tightly before reluctantly letting go, their whispered goodbyes laden with unspoken words.

***

At 10 pm, Cleopatra retired from her work and rushed back to her apartment.

Pausing at the keypad, doubt flickered in her heart.

“Would the old password still work?”

She entered the code.

The door unlocked.

Stepping inside, she froze. Nothing had changed. Nostalgia hit her all at once, followed by a sudden, chilling realization.

‘If I’ve truly been reborn… then I have the upper hand,’ she mused, her eyes widening with realization. ‘My life has been reset. If I can foresee every pattern, I can defy the fate that once shattered me.’

She closed the door behind her.

“Holy moly!” she gasped, her breath catching. “I can rebuild my career and save Calvin from dying.”

A spark of determination ignited in her eyes as she lunged for the calendar, scanning it frantically.

[January 3rd, 2018.]

She grabbed her bag and pulled out her phone. The glowing screen confirmed the date.

Her heart thundered.

‘I have nearly a whole year laid ahead of me, a chance to rewrite fate and prevent Calvin’s death.’

Her thoughts churned like a raging storm.

“I needed a solid plan to deal with Guinevere and Anthony.”

“This time, I won’t be naïve,” she sneered, contempt filling her gaze. “I’ll break every wall and go all out. It’s my turn to drag you out from behind your masks and destroy you both.”

She suddenly unlocked her phone and checked her serving schedule.

“If today’s the third, that means I’ve already served Anthony twice,” she muttered. “Before the third time, I should run into Calvin.”

Her breath caught.

“Bloody hell, yes. That’s why I ran into Katie today. It’s like I’m reliving my past.”

In a flash, she shook her head sharply.

“No. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I’ll wait and see how things unfold.”

The mattress dipped under her weight.

“After work tomorrow, I will go to INK’s Model Agency to see Cal. We are still enemies, and he wouldn't want to see me.”

She licked her lips unconsciously.

“I need Katie’s help to come up with a convincing excuse.”

She shot to her feet, rushed to the table, yanked open the drawer, and pulled out a notebook. Sitting down, she flipped it open and began sketching her plans. The once-blank pages quickly filled with bold notes: debuting as INK’s model, sabotaging Guinevere’s gigs, and exposing Anthony’s fractured personality.

Once the decision was made, there was no turning back.

Fate had already begun to shift.