The Memory Keeper: Twisted Roots

Rain's POV

I woke up with a slight headache, my body heavy with the remnants of last night's indulgence. Groaning softly, I rubbed my eyes and stretched, only to pause when I felt the soft fabric against my skin.

Pajamas?

A frown creased my forehead as I glanced down at myself. These weren't mine.

Confused, I sat up and looked around. The room was unfamiliar yet strangely... familiar. My eyes darted to the bed sheets-the texture, the scent, the color. The linen. The pillows. The panoramic view from the wide glass windows. The curtains swaying lightly with the morning breeze.

No.

No way.

I threw off the blanket and stood up abruptly, my pulse racing. My gaze swept across the room, searching for confirmation of the impossible. That's when I saw it-perched on the nightstand beside the bed. A picture frame.

Me and Khai.

My breath hitched.

"Oh my God," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

A sudden knock on the door made me jump. Before I could react, it swung open.

"Hey, Rain! Good, you're already awake." A familiar voice greeted me warmly. "I prepared a smoothie for you at the counter, and of course, your favorite-waffles, bacon, and eggs."

Jessica.

She smiled at me like nothing had changed. Like I had never left.

I followed her toward the kitchen, still disoriented. As I walked through the penthouse, my surroundings only deepened my unease. The living room-the way it was arranged, the placement of the furniture, the little trinkets-it was all the same. Exactly as I had left it years ago.

As if time had stood still here.

Jessica slid a mango smoothie toward me. "Did you sleep well last night?" she asked casually.

I barely nodded, my fingers wrapping around the cold glass as my eyes roamed the space again. There were some new additions, but the essence of this place remained untouched. Preserved.

"Where's Khai?" I finally asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Jessica took a sip of her own drink before answering. "Oh, she took her usual morning run. She'll be back by eight."

My grip tightened around the smoothie.

Khai.

I wasn't ready for this.

Jessica leaned against the counter, watching me as I hesitantly took a sip of the smoothie. Then, with a warm smile, she asked, "How are you? I'm really happy to see you again."

I gave a casual shrug. "I'm good-except for the hangover from last night."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, you were really wasted." Then, pointing to the plate in front of me, she added, "Oh, by the way, eat this. Khai asked me to cook it for you."

I glanced down at the plate-waffles, bacon, and eggs. My favorite.

A strange feeling settled in my chest, but I pushed it aside as I stood up and wandered around the penthouse. My fingers lightly grazed the back of the couch, the marble countertop, the edge of the dining table. Everything felt... untouched.

"The placement of the furniture, the scent of the candles..." I murmured, my voice trailing off as the memories flooded back.

Jessica smirked knowingly. "Yeah, she didn't want to move anything. She'd get mad at me if I even tried to shift one thing."