Ophidian's Genesis (UNDER REVISION)

CHAPTER 16

Everyday.

That was how she frequented her best friend's grave. Fresh flowers each time. Sometimes early in the morning or very late at night.

Jessica sat beside the tombstone. Although she does have a reason to believe Seline's alive, she visits the grave with no body buried underneath. It gave her a strange comfort. It made her feel closer to Seline.

She sat there in silence sometimes. Some days she'd talk. About her life. About Melody. Today was just one of those days where she sat in silence with her eyes closed. 

It was until footsteps that crunched the grass below where her eyes snapped open. There, she saw the person she never ever wanted to see: Michael Leandor.

Jessica's face immediately contorts in annoyance and disgust. Mike seemed to not care and was even smug, "So this is where she's buried," he said casually, glancing at the headstone as though it were a tourist attraction.

Jessica shot to her feet, her voice cold and sharp. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Mike didn't answer right away. He held up the lilies, his gaze flickering to the identical flowers Jessica had placed on the grave earlier. "Seems I got the right kind. These were her favorite, weren't they?"

Jessica's eyes darted to the bouquet, her fists clenching. How does he know that?

"You have some nerve, showing up here," she spat, her voice shaking with restrained fury.

Mike shrugged, unfazed. "I just wanted to pay my respects."

"Respects?" Jessica's voice rose, incredulous. "You have no right to be here. You don't get to act like you cared about her after what you did."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Calm down. I'm just here to leave some flowers, not start a fight." It was as if the boy didn't cause Seline so much harm in the first place.

Jessica stepped closer, her jaw tight. "She doesn't need your flowers. Or your fake apologies. She needed you to leave her the hell alone when she was alive."

Mike's smirk faltered, but only slightly. "Look, I'm trying to make peace. You don't have to like it."

Jessica let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Peace? You think you can just show up here and fix everything with a bunch of lilies? You're delusional."

Mike crouched down, placing the bouquet beside hers. The sight of his hands near the grave made Jessica's stomach twist. He doesn't belong here. He never did.

For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Then, in a low voice, Mike muttered, "She looked pretty that night. Smelled good too."

Jessica's breath hitched, her vision blurring with rage. "Don't," she hissed. "Don't you dare talk about her like that."

Mike looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "I'm being serious."

"Serious?" Jessica's voice cracked as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest, trying to hold herself together. "You have a girlfriend, remember? Rachel? The same Rachel who made Seline's life hell? Why don't you go bring her flowers?"

Mike sighed, a hint of irritation slipping into his tone. "Rachel and I aren't that serious."

Jessica's laugh was sharp, venomous. "Oh, really? Tell that to the girl who disrespected Seline even after she died. God, I should've ripped her hair out when I had the chance."

"Stop being dramatic," Mike said, his voice mocking.

Jessica's eyes blazed. "Dramatic? You think this is drama?" She stepped closer, her voice low and full of fury. "Seline is dead because of you. You and that awful excuse for a girlfriend of yours made her life a living hell. So no, Mike. You don't get to be here. You don't get to make peace. You're not worthy of it."