Chapter 3
The next morning, Micah was back to his usual self.
He walked over with breakfast, wearing a cheerful smile. "I shouldn't have argued with you last night. Let's not talk about the house anymore."
"Yeah?" I replied.
"I made you some oatmeal. Since your stomach's not great, you should have more," Micah added.
I took the bowl, lowered my head, and took a sip.
My phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number.
I didn't catch what it said, but Micah did. His face suddenly shifted, his expression darkening in a flash.
"Who sent that?" he asked.
I opened the message. There was only one line: [Micah, I'm back. — Briseis]
Briseis must have sent it to the wrong number. She'd accidentally texted me instead.
In my previous life, this message had gone to Micah's phone. I'd never even known it existed.
It wasn't until I'd lived in that rental for three years that I found out Briseis had come back.
But this time, fate had handed me a gift.
I looked up at Micah. His face turned ghostly pale.
"Micah," I said, showing him the screen of my phone. "Who's Briseis?"
Micah was way better at hiding his emotions than I'd imagined.
He was only thrown off for a second before he went back to looking calm.
"Just a high school classmate," he replied. His tone was casual, almost a little impatient.
"How does she have my number?" I muttered.
"Maybe she just got the wrong number. Ours are only one digit apart," Micah said.
It was plausible. Almost too plausible. In my previous life, I would've totally believed him.
"Alright," I said, tucking my phone away.
Micah breathed out in relief. But what he didn't realize was, I remembered her number.
This time around, I wasn't going to delete it.
"Were you two close?" I asked.
"Not really. We lost touch after high school," Micah replied.
He was lying. Briseis was his first love.
They dated for two years in high school, but split up after graduation when they went to different colleges.
The breakup happened because Briseis moved to Harboin. But they never really stopped talking.
"That's fine then," I replied.
Micah looked at me, testing the waters. "You're not going to get the wrong idea, are you?"
"Wrong idea about what?" I asked.
"I mean... there's really nothing going on between me and her," he said.
"I know. You said she was just a high school classmate," I replied.
Micah grinned, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You're so understanding, honey."
I smiled and finished the oatmeal in my bowl.
In my head, I was counting down.
In my previous life, three days after Briseis sent that text, she asked Micah to meet up.
They met at that Starbucks downtown. So I kept waiting.
The next day, Micah told me he had to stay late at work.
On the third day, he said he had to work overtime again.
By ten that night, he still wasn't home.
I sat on the couch and dialed up Winona. "Winona, can you help me check on something?"
"What is it?" Winona replied.
"Micah's old high school classmate, Briseis Grimshaw. I want to know if she's come back to Harboin lately," I said.
Winona had been working at the market for over twenty years. She pretty much knew everyone in town, no matter what they did.
She even had a nephew over at the police department's registry office.
"You think your husband's up to something?" Winona asked.
"I'm not sure. Can you check for me?" I replied.
"Sure, I'll get back to you," Winona replied.
After hanging up, I slumped back onto the couch.
At half past ten, the door swung open. Micah walked in, carrying a chill from outside and a subtle scent of perfume.
It wasn't mine. I don't wear perfume.
"You're back?" I asked, without taking my eyes off the TV.
"Yeah, had to work overtime until now. I'm exhausted," Micah replied, rubbing his neck.
"Did you have dinner?" I asked.
"Yeah, the office ordered takeout," he replied.
"What kind of takeout?" I asked.
He paused for a second. "Pizza."
"Okay," I said.
Pizza and coffee were nothing alike. They were totally different.
There was a small brown stain on his collar. Micah didn't notice it himself.
But I saw it. I kept quiet.
Winona called me around noon the next day. "Nicole, I checked for you. Briseis is twenty-three.
"She returned from Harboin last month. Right now, she's staying at Building 18, Happiness Bay, East Sewia. And..."
Winona dropped her voice to a whisper. "Looks like she's pregnant. My nephew said she set up her maternity file at Sewia Hospital last week."
I gripped my phone tightly. It was happening. Just like last time.
Briseis was back, and she was bringing a child with her. And Micah would soon have to make his choice.
"Winona, thank you," I said.
"Nicole, are you okay? Do you want me to come over?" Winona asked.
"No, I'm fine. I can handle it," I replied.
After hanging up, I stood on the balcony, watching the people come and go below.
In my previous life, I was the last one to know the truth. This time, I was the first.
Micah, didn't you say it'd be fine as long as I was only two hours late?
I was late. But you still picked her. So don't blame me for getting ahead of you this time.