Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I had a nightmare again.

It was still Scar Man's hideous face haunting me. I was curled up in a corner, calling out Claude's name over and over again.

"Save me, Claude."

But the dream was a never-ending darkness. No matter how loud I shouted, there was no response.

My tears wouldn't stop flowing, and even when they dried up, Claude never came.

"Claude, why didn't you come?"

Crying myself awake, I realized my eyes were wet, and my pillow was soaked through with tears.

Those dreams, even though they're relics from a past life, still bring me sorrow just by surfacing in my sleep.

Back then, Claude never came to save me, leaving a lasting pain in my heart that I couldn't get rid of.

"Awake?" A deep, cold voice snapped me back to reality, reminding me that I had fainted right as the elevator doors opened.

Am I in Max's apartment? Lying on his couch?

His place has a vibe completely different from mine. While mine is all standard-issue decor, his is custom-designed, dominated by dark colors, simple yet comfortable.

And it's spotless. Every single item is neatly arranged, often at perfect angles-just like Max, meticulous and immaculate.

stained with the imprint of

clean the tears and

direction of the voice. Max, dressed

mind the mess I made on

realizing he might be warmer than his

asked after I

I nodded hastily.

up and opened the front

was kicking me

placed the glass back on his table, thanked him,

familiar voice: "Max, can I borrow

It was Ronald.

a towel draped over

I covered

"Sorry, to

quick my leaving now. I

exit.

They were living together!

Max closed the door, I heard Ronald say, "Did

a detective living together seemed like a perfect

I thought about it, a thunderclap sounded, signaling the start of