Gacha Story (Mature Readers Only)

Third Life

The man crept out of the graveyard, dark trainers squelching in the mud, toppling over onto soft grass, a dark trail behind him. He allowed himself to lie down, his back on the grass, eyes gazing up into the night sky. Everything seemed so peaceful, and yet, he knew in reality, that there was very little peace left in this world. He could not hide in the serenity forever; it was all superficial, a bomb timed to explode. He let his breaths hiss out unevenly, feeling his own body shiver in the cold defyingly, the wind blowing his bangs to the sides of his pale face. Staring down at himself, he could really sense the stiffness of his own body, how shockingly cold it was as if he had never moved a muscle in decades.

That was the reality. He hadn't moved. And no one had wanted him to move. And yet, he was back and alive... and moving.

He knew the way home. After all, to him, it was only yesterday since he had roamed the streets, had a place to belong. Had a fiancée, had... children... though, he very much despised. But it was something that he could say he had. Now, he had nothing. And it was all because of one person. She had killed him, right before his wedding. (Of course, he had no idea that she had dragged his dead body in, and that she had killed him a second time in a different timeline).

Stopping outside Crystal's door, he waited, hand over the knocker, but not hitting it yet. He pulled out his phone, starting up his Instagram to see updates. He was curious, yet afraid to see what had happened to her now. How different she'd be, and perhaps, she'd be able to stand up to him now.

All pictures that Crystal had of him were gone, replaced by a blond man with bright eyes, a kind face and soft outwear.

His eyes narrowed as he aggressively tapped on a picture. "Who the hell is Lemon?" The man demanded, glaring down at his phone. "So that's it... Crystal moved on, huh? She got over me fast? Well, she'll learn her lesson soon enough." Watermelon brushed against the wall, kicking one foot up as support as he leaned back against it, one arm held up, its shadow like a spear on the wall. His face, half shrouded in the darkness, contorted into a smug expression.

Reaching for the knocker, he let it hit the door harshly three times, the polished wood splintering where it hit and he smirked at that. The door opened, and he was greeted by the man he had seen on his phone. Lemon. This must have been Crystal's new boyfriend.

"You," Watermelon spat, with contempt.

The man smiled. "Yes, me."

"You're Lemon, aren't you?"

Lemon wasn't stupid. He could sense the bitterness in his voice, feel that he was trying to hold back his anger. Yet, he was unsure how this man even knew him. "Yeah, Lemon is my name. Not 'You'," he said savagely.

Watermelon did not appreciate being provoked. He stepped forward, almost as if he was trying to assert dominance. Shoving Lemon back, he moved into the house, pushing past him, storming down the corridor.

Lemon yelled, calling out for him to leave, that he had no permission to trespass, but he was behind, unable to stop Watermelon. He reached the kitchen, seeing Crystal outside in the garden, watering plants, apparently humming to a tune while smiling. He pulled the door open, and went outside as Lemon ran after him. Crystal's eyes widened when she saw him, dropping her gardening equipment onto the grass as she stumbled back, Lemon rushing in between them immediately, to protect Crystal who was shaking with fear.

"Get out of this house," Lemon said. "I'm not sure who you are, but you aren't welcome here."

Crystal trembled as she spoke. "How... how are you alive?"

Watermelon scoffed. "Aren't you pleased to see me?" he asked her. "Don't tell me that you didn't miss me."

"I - I saw your body," Crystal replied. "Chromia dragged you in. I saw it. How could you - how did - did you -"

"I didn't fake my death, if that's what you mean," said Watermelon. "I really did die. Some kids brought me back to life. I woke up in a coffin underground."

"Oh..." Crystal said, lost for words.

Lemon was looking at her, taking her hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "Come on," he said. "Let's go inside."

She pointed down at the gardening.

"It's fine, I'll sort it out." He glared at Watermelon. "And I'll sort him out too."

Watermelon glared back. "This is none of your business, Lemon. It's me and Crystal only."

Crystal brushed past him, entering the kitchen. "I don't want to sort things out, Vann Melon," she said quietly. "I just... I want to leave it all behind. What happened... I don't want to think about it, and I think you should leave too."

He raised an eyebrow, catching her arm, pulling her out from the kitchen, back into the garden.

"Oi!" Lemon yelled at him, putting down the equipment and pulling Crystal away from him. "Don't touch her. Get out of this house. You heard us."

"No," Vann replied. "I'm not leaving. I can make her love me again."

"No," Crystal denied. "Don't even try. Please just leave. It's better for us both. And don't come back."

He bit his lip. "You changed. You're leaving me now because I died? So you moved on? If I never died, we would be married. Why don't you think about that?"

"I'm glad we didn't."

"You're only saying that now," Vann muttered irritably. "Was it my fault I ended up dead?!"

"No, but I realised that we weren't good together!" Crystal replied. "It took me a while, I admit, but it's what I know now. You did horrible things to people, like Avo, and I thought you were different, but I was wrong."

"And now what?" he asked. "You think you know what's good? You think you can judge me? You think Lemon is good?"

"He is, and I love him," Crystal confirmed. "Me and you will never work out again. It never really did. It was forced, I guess. And it's not your fault you died, but it had to happen for me to realise that it was a mistake."

He shook his head, disapprovingly. "It's all Chromia's fault. She killed me. She's the reason why we can't be together right now."

"No," Crystal replied. "No, she saved me. She saved me from staying in our toxic relationship. It was for the best. One day, you will realise it too. You have to move on, Vann Melon. We could be friends... maybe... but... you have to let go of the past. You have to move on."

"'Life moves on, and so should we'," Lemon quoted. "Albert Einstein."

"I know," Vann Melon said.

"No, you don't," Lemon replied. "Einstein didn't say that. Why are you lying?"

Vann Melon gave a quizzical look. "What is your point?"

"My point is that you are a liar," Lemon replied. "So just... uh... leave."

"It was Spencer Johnson."

Lemon raised an eyebrow. "What? Who?"

"The quote was by Spencer Johnson."

"Okay," he said slowly. "Good for him. Now leave. You've had your chance to speak to Crystal, not that you even deserved that chance. So just leave. I don't want to ever see you here or near Crystal ever again."

He laughed. "I do what I want. Besides, you can't control Crystal."

"I don't want to see you again," Crystal confirmed, without hesitation.

"Fine," Watermelon said, as he made his way to the back door exit. "But there's one more person I need to pay a visit."