Love after Death

Chapter 8

7 YEARS AGO

"Wow, Monique!! Have you seen the new drama series about reincarnation??" her best friend asked her, eagerly waiting for her response, to which she just shook her head as a reply. "If you only watched it, you'd surely fill a bucket with tears..." she continued, pouting as if she'd already experienced filling a bucket of tears herself. "The lead woman is so pitiful because she died from a brain tumor. When it happened to her, I couldn't eat... I was crying so much last night," she added, covering her mouth as she spoke loudly. Monique just laughed.

"Oh, well, if you ask me why I watched it, it was because I was curious if it was true... Goodness! If it were true, I would want that to happen to me too so I could be with the person who will marry me forever..." she said, still talking, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Resurrection of the beautiful Selena... The one and only queen of all queens in the world," she said while smiling and caressing her cheek, at which a classmate from behind suddenly tapped her.

"You're so loud, Selena!! No one would want to marry you, you're beautiful but you have no brains. So assuming!!" the person from behind teased. Selena just scrunched her face, while Monique laughed, as usual.

"You're so noisy! Can't you see the real queen is working?" she pointed to the teacher, who was busy with the projector and laptop, referred to as the "queen" because of all the activities she gave.

"So how are you feeling now? You've been fainting a lot lately... Have you seen a doctor?" Selena whispered, not wanting to disturb their other classmates. The once smiling Monique answered her best friend while writing.

"I'm feeling fine now... It's probably just because of the changing weather..." she paused, looking out the window. "If I didn't feel well, I wouldn't be here in class, Selena." she pouted and went back to writing. "But yesterday, do you know that I felt a strange chill? It felt like something embraced me... Then I suddenly became weak..." she added. Selena just looked at her, waiting for her to say more. So predictable...

"Don't you have more to say? I'm getting goosebumps from your story!" Monique laughed softly. "Are you trying to scare me?" she teased. Selena nodded and rolled her eyes at her.

There was a brief silence between them, and Monique thought the conversation would end, but it didn't. Suddenly, Selena tapped her on the arm to get her attention.

"By the way!! While you were in the clinic, Liam passed by here! Oh my gosh, he's so handsome..." Selena gushed. She looked straight at Monique. "Tell me the truth! Are you and Liam together??" she asked, and Monique just shrugged, avoiding the question.

"So not yet?? What are you waiting for, Monique!! You should make the first move..." she suggested, making Monique laugh again.

"I don't do that. Studying comes first for me. I already told you that before," Monique replied, turning her attention back to her notes. "And besides, if Liam likes me, he should've confessed already. There are so many chances for us to be together, Selena," she added. Her best friend knew that she was living at Liam's house and had been with him for the past eleven years. Selena gave her a curious look.

"Well, if he asked you out, would you say yes?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Monique replied with a smile, and Selena's face twisted as if she were giddy after hearing that.

"You!! You're getting all mushy!! You're catching my vibes!!" Selena joked.

It was true that every time Monique saw Liam in their house, her heart would race as if it was about to jump out of her chest. She was lucky to have found Liam, who made sure she was never hurt by anyone. She was deeply grateful for all the happiness he and his family had given her. She could only repay them with love and care, and that was all she could do.

Hours later, it was almost four o'clock, and their teacher dismissed them. Selena left early, and Monique walked down the hallway out of the campus when suddenly Liam blocked her path. It wasn't something new to her, but it still made her heart race. Every time she was caught off guard, her heart would tighten, but when it was Liam, it felt like her heart was soaking in dishwashing liquid, beating fast and uncontrollably.

Monique smiled as Liam extended his hand, and she held it. Her heart would race every time they held hands while walking together.

"How was your day? Did you eat a lot of lunch earlier?" Liam asked as he drove his car. He glanced at her, who hadn't answered his question, but then smiled because he saw her peaceful face as she slept. He stopped the car on the side of the road and continued to watch her, unaware.

"Why do I go crazy every time I see you, huh? Did you put a spell on me, Monique?" he laughed as he looked at her. He shifted in his seat and grabbed the steering wheel, glancing at the road.

"Why did you stop, Liam?" Monique asked sleepily.

"Oh, nothing! I just bought something, so I parked here for a bit." Liam said, but his eyes betrayed the joy he couldn't hide.

"You look happy, huh?" Monique asked, laughing but also confused, her heart racing with anticipation for what Liam would say.

"Is it wrong to smile!?" Liam replied, his tone playful as he looked at her straight in the eyes, trying to hide the happiness he felt.

Monique just smiled, shaking her head like a child, which only made Liam's heart race even more.

"Uh!!" Liam sighed and started the car again. "Mom made your favorite chop suey," he added, looking at the road.

"Thank you," Monique said sincerely.

"For what?" Liam responded gruffly, though there was a hint of curiosity in his voice. Monique was used to his gruffness, so it didn't bother her.

"For protecting me, for picking me up and taking me to school," she said while looking at him, then turned to look out the window. "I guess I'll miss you when you have a girlfriend, Liam," she added, pretending to laugh, but her heart suddenly sank. It felt as though Cupid had struck her, telling her that Liam didn't feel the same.

"You'll miss me." Liam said suddenly, and Monique turned to look at his serious face as he drove. He stopped the car, turned to face her, and looked straight into her eyes. "Because you're the one I want to be my girlfriend, Monique..." he said directly, with no hesitation.

To be continued...