Reborn: 16 Again

Chapter 2 Save Hardin

The sudden sound of the evening bell from the church brings Tessa back to consciousness.

This was the first time she remembered seeing Hardin. Soon after, she changed her mind and went to Pennignton Art School. She has never seen Hardin again. Until......

Until she became an extra in a TV serie and a prop bomb somehow exploded on scene. If it hadn't been for Hardin's sudden appearance, she would have died in that accident in her previous life.

Unfortunately, when Tessa woke up in the hospital, Hardin, who saved her life, had already left. Until her death, she has never saw him again or said "thank you" to him.

Tessa slows down with mixed feelings on her mind. She feels confused -- she feels like she's forgotten something.

"Tessa! "

She looked up and saw a face more unfamiliar than familiar. She only vaguely remembers that the girl is a classmate from middle school, but she can not name her face.

Luckily, the girl is too excited to notice her confusion. She grabs Tessa's hand:"Have you heard that there's a special party tonight at Asset bar? The bar Hardin owns? Everything will be on the house tonight and I heard Hardin would play the piano!"

"Samantha, hurry up, or we will be late!"

"Coming -- Tessa, you're coming too!"

Tessa is still standing there, as the girls run away together. Her mind slowly uncovers this section of buried memories.

Asset bar...

Special party...

She did not go to the party in her previous life. Someone drugged Hardin's drink. When the party was over, a bunch of his enemies ambushed him, breaking three of his ribs and kept him in the hospital for half a year.

On top of that, he had ten fingers broken that night, and could never play the piano again.

These were all the things that later Molly spoke of with great pity.

Tessa finally makes up her mind. She keeps on walking away.

Hardin's face suddenly appears on her mind. His face was distorted and pretty. He rushed into the fire, screaming her name until he found her.

Tessa stops. After standing there for two seconds, she turns around.

Tessa runs after the girls in the same direction they left.

Before it gets dark, Tessa finally finds the door to Asset Bar.

She is just as about to go in when she sees three or four girls turning around the corner. Seeing Molly in them, Tessa quickly hides behind the sign next to her.

"Is this it?"

"It is. The last time I was here, the security guard wouldn't let me in!"

"Let's go, they say Hardin's here!"

"Molly, you are so beautiful tonight! Hardin will definitely notice you."

"So jealous! I wish I were as good-looking as you!"

"By the way, Molly, how's Tessa doing? Have you made her away yet?"

The sound of her name catches Tessa's attention. Then she hears Molly's familiar voice, mocking --

"I made her change her school with a few words. And she thought it was her own idea. You may rest assured that when the school opens there won't be her."

"So no one in our school will be cute enough for Hardin except you..."

The chatter of the girls goes away inside the door.

After waiting patiently for another minute, Tessa slowly walks out and sneaks into Asset.

Two minutes later.

Tessa stands among the high schoolers, frowning and sighing. The sigh was soon drowned in the uproar.

Carefully passing a female classmate who seems to have an electric shock, Tessa ducks away to a small clear space.

She looks around and doesn't know what to do next.

Tessa has mild night blindness. The dim, faint light of a bar makes her uncomfortable. She could barely see anyone or anything more than a meter away, except for the colorful spotlights that sways overhead.

She opens her mouth and says "ah". She can not even hear her own voice.

... How can I find Hardin?

Tessa is worried when she suddenly feels a different texture of the floor under her feet.

She looked down, and in the light of a spotlight, she could see a carpet of Burgundy velvet.

She takes two more steps. And in the darkness, she touches something black, cold and smooth.

It is a grand piano.

Samantha told her that Hardin would play the piano tonight. So as long as she waits here, Hardin will show up, right?

Tessa feels reassured and sits down on a nearby piano bench.

...

In the corner of the bar, there is a elevated stage that overlooks the whole bar. On the stage there is an annular sofa. Anyone who is familiar with Asset knows that this is reserved for Hardin and his guys. Even when they aren't there, no one dares to sit there.

So most of the time, the couch is empty -- but not tonight.

On one side of the sofa, there are two boys with glasses in their hands. Opposite them, a figure leaned on the back of the sofa.

A black jacket covers his upper body. Because his loose sleeping position, his T-shirt is pulled up by a bit. Most girls on the dance floor are curiously looking over.

In the midst of the loud music, he sleeps undisturbed.

Until someone steps up the stage, approaches the sofa, and bends down to pull the jacket off his head --

"Little Master Caviezel, still sleeping?"

Under the jacket is a cold, pale and beautifully handsome face. Thin lips, straight nose, deep eyes.

The boy finally wakes up. He turns down the glass that the man has offered him, stands up and stretch his shoulders.

"Which girl made you so exhausted last night, Hardin?"

Hardin said nothing. He raises his eyes carelessly and lifts his glass between his long fingers. Just as he is about to say anything, two girls suddenly goes up the stage from the middle of the dance floor.

The first one is wearing a bright red strapless skirt, and her eye shadow is shining in the light.

It is Molly.

"Hardin." She holds a glass in her hand and looks a little shy and bold. "I hear it's your birthday. So, happy birthday?"