Scene "Good Morning, Ava"
The sunlight hit her eyes before she even opened them.
Ava sat up slowly, her throat sore from crying. The air in her room felt heavy, like it still carried the echo of everything Kira said last night.
The swing, the truth, the tears.
Judith.
Ava pressed her fingers to her temples. Her head was throbbing again. Every time she tried to remember that summer, all she got were flashes… water, screaming, the smell of wet earth.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She groaned and reached for it, thinking it was Ethan.
Unknown Number:
"You look beautiful when you cry."
Ava froze. Her breath caught halfway in her throat.
The message disappeared almost instantly, like it had deleted itself.
"What the hell…" she whispered, heart pounding.
Another buzz.
Unknown Number:
"Still wake up with nightmares, mi sol?"
Her blood ran cold. Mi sol.
That was what her ex in Spain used to call her. My sun.
But he was dead. He had to be. She killed him.
The phone slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a thud. Her whole body started shaking.
She stumbled toward the window, pulling back the curtain with trembling fingers. The street outside was quiet. Calm. Ordinary.
But something…..someone — was out there. Watching.
A small brown envelope lay on the front porch.
Ava's heart thudded so hard she thought it might break through her ribs. She ran downstairs, her feet barely touching the steps.
Inside the envelope was a photo. old, slightly water-damaged.
It was of her, Kira, and Judith.
But in the corner, behind them, blurred and barely visible, was a man's shadow …. standing near the trees.
On the back of the photo, a message written in shaky handwriting:
"Did you miss me, Ava?"
The room spun. Ava dropped the photo, her breathing uneven.
Somewhere outside, across the street, a figure watched quietly from a black car, smiling.
Ava's POV "The Lie Between Us"
I don't even know why I brought it.
The photo felt heavier than it should, like it carried all the weight of the past I never asked to remember.
Ethan looked at it for a long time, his jaw tightening. "Where did you get this?"
"Someone left it on my porch," I said, my voice small. "And there was a note."
"What kind of note?"
I hesitated, studying his eyes. The same eyes that always looked kind, steady… safe. "Just…someone saying they missed me."
Ethan blinked. His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but he didn't.
"You know something, don't you?" I asked quietly.
"Ava….." he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to lie to you. Back when you asked if we'd met before… we did. The four of us. You, me, Kira, Judith. That summer at the lake."
The world around me dimmed for a second.
"So you did remember," I whispered.
"I was told not to bring it up. Your mom…Miyeong…they said it could make things worse for you."
"And you just listened?" I snapped, my voice shaking. "You let me think I was going crazy, Ethan."
He stepped closer. "I was trying to protect you."
"Protect me from what? The truth?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "Seems like everyone thinks lying is love these days."
His face softened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Ava…"
"Don't," I said, backing away. "Just… don't."
I turned and walked out before the tears could fall again.
The sky outside was gray….like it knew. Like it was holding back the rain just for me.
I didn't go to class that day. I couldn't. My head hurt too much. My heart even more.
I stayed in bed, the photo sitting on my nightstand, staring at me like an open wound.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that same man's shadow behind us at the lake.
And for the first time in a long time…
I didn't know if I was remembering the past..or if it was finding its way back to me.
Scene " A friend"
The week drifted by like fog. slow, heavy, and quiet.
Ava hadn't spoken much to anyone since the fight with Ethan. Kira tried once or twice, but Ava just didn't have it in her to pretend.
That morning, she decided to walk to school alone. The sun was brighter than usual, almost mocking.
As she turned down the street, a group of kids ran past her, laughing and tossing something between them, probably candy or chalk.
One of them tripped, and the small paper cup of muddy water in his hand splashed straight onto her white shirt.
"Oh my—hey!" she exclaimed, looking down at the mess.
The kids froze for a second, wide-eyed… then ran off screaming in laughter.
Ava sighed, half-annoyed, half-amused.
"They're cute," a voice said softly behind her, followed by a light laugh.
Ava turned. A girl stood there….tall, with smooth tan skin and short, dark hair that glowed auburn under the sun. There was something calm about her eyes, something familiar and strange all at once.
"Yeah," Ava said, smiling awkwardly. "Cute and deadly."
The girl chuckled. "Sounds like every kid, huh?"
"You could say that."
"I'm sorry about your shirt though," the girl said, pulling a pack of tissues from her tote bag. "Here, it might help."
Ava blinked, taking it. "Thanks, you really didn't have to."
"It's fine," the girl said with an easy smile. "I'm helen."
"I'm Ava."
"I know," Helen said, her tone light but her eyes unreadable. "We have Literature together, right?"
Ava tilted her head slightly. "Oh. Yeah, I think I've seen you around."
"Then it's nice to finally talk to you," helen said softly.
There was something about her voice, a quiet warmth, like she knew exactly what to say to make the world feel still.
"Same," Ava said, smiling faintly. "Nice to meet you, helen."
They walked the rest of the way together, chatting about random things… classes, music, coffee shops. But beneath every laugh, Ava felt a strange pull, like something deep inside her was whispering:
You know her.
She just couldn't remember
Helen's POV: "The Girl Who Forgot"
Ava.
The name still sounded like a ghost on her tongue.
She watched her walk through the school gates, the wind tugging lightly at her hair. The same walk. The same way she always looked down when nervous.
She hasn't changed much, Helen thought. Just older. Softer.
Helen smiled faintly, tucking her hair behind her ear as her heart thudded quietly.
"You really don't remember me, do you?" she whispered to no one.
Her phone buzzed. A message popped up…. a name she hadn't seen in years.
Unknown: You found her, didn't you?
Her fingers froze above the screen.
Helen: Don't text me here.
Unknown: You're not the only one watching.
Her chest tightened. She looked up, scanning the street, the rooftops, the windows. Nothing. Just silence.
Helen slipped the phone back into her pocket and took a deep breath. She'd promised herself she wouldn't get close, not again.
But when Ava smiled at her, that same soft, nervous smile…everything inside her started breaking all over again.
She deserves the truth, Helen thought, staring at the gates. Just not yet.
Because the last time she tried to tell the truth, people disappeared.
And she wasn't sure Ava could survive losing herself a second time.
Scene - Ava & Kira (In Ava's Room)
Ava sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling mindlessly through her phone. The silence between her and Kira was heavy, the kind that makes the air feel too thick to breathe.
Kira was by the desk, pretending to focus on her notes, humming quietly under her breath.
"Hey… Kie," Ava started, her voice small.
Kira looked up, hesitant. "Yeah?"
"I, uh…" Ava paused, chewing her lip. "I met someone today. At school."
Kira arched a brow. "A boy?"
Ava shook her head quickly. "No, a girl actually. Helen. She seemed nice… familiar, kinda."
Kira hummed, turning her attention back to her pen. "You make friends fast," she said, half-teasing, half-flat.
Ava chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess. It's weird though. When she smiled, it felt like I'd seen her somewhere before. Maybe from that summer or something…"
Kira's hand froze mid-air, but she didn't look up. "That summer?" she repeated softly.
"Mm." Ava nodded, eyes clouded. "But I don't know. Maybe I'm just overthinking again." She gave a small laugh and waved it off. "Forget it."
Kira looked at her then, something unreadable flickering in her gaze. "Yeah. Maybe you are."
For a moment, they both just sat there… quiet but not quite peaceful.
Then Kira reached for her phone, forcing a grin. "Wanna order ice cream? We could watch something dumb, like old K-dramas. My mom says I need to 'bond' more."
Ava smiled faintly. "Yeah. Sure."
And as the episode played, Kira laughed too loud at the silly scenes while Ava's thoughts drifted back to Helen's face...
and the strange, haunting feeling that she was looking into a memory she wasn't supposed to remember.
Scene — The Attack
The streets were quieter than usual.
The orange glow of the sunset stretched across the pavement as Ava walked home, her backpack swinging lazily by her side.
Her earbuds played a soft song….something slow and familiar, but even that couldn't drown out the weird chill creeping down her spine.
She glanced behind her.
Empty.
She laughed nervously to herself. "You're just being paranoid again, Ava."
A car drove by, and she relaxed a little. Then, suddenly...a hand grabbed her arm.
Ava yelped, twisting around.
A man in a hoodie, face hidden, whispered harshly, "You shouldn't have come back here."
Her heart raced. "W-who are you?"
He didn't answer. He just shoved her toward the wall. Pain shot through her shoulder as she hit it, her bag falling to the ground.
"Let me go!" she screamed, kicking his leg, but he was strong… too strong.
Then a loud voice cut through the air, sharp and angry.
"야! 그만해!" (Ya! Geumanhae! …. Hey! Stop it!)
Kira.
Before Ava could blink, Kira swung her backpack at the guy, hitting him square in the face. He stumbled back, cursing, then ran off into the dark alley.
Kira rushed to Ava, breathless. "Ava! Are you okay?"
Ava's hands were shaking. "He…he just grabbed me out of nowhere…"
Kira cupped her face gently, scanning her for bruises. "천천히, okay? (Cheoncheonhi … slowly, okay?) Breathe."
Ava nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "Kira… he said I shouldn't have come back."
Kira's expression darkened. She swallowed hard. "Let's just get you home first."
As they walked, Ava clung to her arm.
Kira's heart pounded, but not from fear, from anger.
Because the way that man moved, the way he looked at Ava …
it wasn't random.
Someone was watching.
And this time, Kira swore, she wouldn't let history repeat itself.
Scene — Late Night Confession
Ava couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that man's face … or what little she could of it. The darkness behind his hood. The way he said those words like a warning.
Her hand brushed the faint bruise on her shoulder. She winced.
Then … tap, tap.
The window creaked open slightly, and Kira's whisper came through.
"Ava?"
Ava sat up immediately. "Kie?"
Kira slipped into the room in her oversized hoodie, her hair messy, face pale. She sat at the edge of the bed, hugging her knees.
"You should've told your mom," she said quietly.
Ava sighed. "She'll just freak out, Kira. You know how she gets. I don't even remember his face properly."
Kira frowned. "Still, this isn't just some random creep, Ava. The way he said that…"
"I know," Ava cut in, her voice trembling. "But please, can we just not tell them yet? Not until I figure out what's going on."
Kira stared at her, lips pressed tight. "You always think you can handle things alone," she muttered in Korean. "진짜 바보야…" (Jinjja baboya …. You're really such an idiot.)
Ava blinked. "What?"
Kira forced a small smile. "Nothing. Just….don't scare me like that again, okay?"
Ava smiled weakly. "Deal."
For a moment, it felt like things were okay again, two girls, side by side, whispering under the dim glow of a nightlight.
But Kira didn't sleep at all that night. She kept hearing that man's voice in her head, and her own … the one that said she should've told someone.
⸻
The Next Morning
Breakfast felt off. The table chatter was awkward.
Yuri poured tea; Miyeong buttered toast. Kira's spoon clinked too loudly against her bowl. Ava tried to act normal, even joked about being late for class.
Then Kira dropped her spoon and blurted out, "Someone attacked Ava last night."
Everything stopped.
Yuri's hand froze mid-air. Miyeong's eyes widened. "What?"
Ava's head whipped toward Kira. "Kira…"
Yuri stood up instantly. "Why didn't you tell me? Ava!"
"I'm fine, Mom, really...."
"Fine?!" Yuri's voice cracked. "A man attacked you and you didn't think to tell us?!"
Miyeong was already on her phone, muttering in Korean. "경찰 불러야 돼… (We have to call the police…)"
Ava sank into her chair, cheeks hot, heart pounding. Kira stared down at her lap, guilt heavy in her chest.
And just like that, the quiet house turned chaotic ….. phone calls, questions, worried glances …
while somewhere, not too far away, a man watched from a car across the street.
He smiled faintly, whispering,
"Told you, Ava… you shouldn't have come back."
— Kira's POV: "The Ghost at the Gates"
Classes had ended, but Kira barely heard a word any teacher said all day.
Her mind kept looping back to last night…. the man, Ava's pale face, the way her hands trembled when she said "I'm fine."
Fine, my ass, Kira thought, kicking a pebble as she walked toward the front gate.
Then she froze.
Across the courtyard, Ava was smiling….. that soft, cautious smile— talking to a girl Kira didn't recognize.
The girl had light brown hair that shimmered under the sun, her laugh soft familiar in a way that made Kira's stomach twist.
She walked closer, her heart suddenly pounding.
The girl turned slightly, and for a split second, Kira's breath hitched.
The eyes …. the curve of her face ….that same quiet expression from years ago.
"Judith?" Kira blurted before she could stop herself.
The girl blinked, her smile faltering. sorry?"
Kira stared harder, searching her face. "Judith… right? From…."
The girl cut her off quickly, chuckling nervously. "You must've mistaken me for someone else. I'm Helen."
Ava glanced between them, confused. "You two know each other?"
"No," Helen said too fast, forcing a polite smile. "I just…. I should go. See you tomorrow, Ava."
And just like that, she turned and walked away, her steps light, her shoulders stiff.
Kira watched her disappear down the hall, her pulse still racing. "Ava," she whispered, voice shaky, "that… that was her."
Ava frowned. "Who?"
Kira turned to her slowly. "Judith."
Ava blinked, lips parting. "What?"
They stood there, speechless…..
the air between them heavy, the same name echoing in both their minds like a memory neither of them were supposed to remember.
Judith.
Scene — Helen's POV: "The Name I Buried"
The room was too quiet.
Too clean.
Too fake.
Helen ... or whatever that name meant anymore …closed the curtains tight and pressed her back against the wall. Her heart hadn't stopped pounding since the moment Kira said it.
Judith.
That name used to be hers once. The girl with messy hair, scraped knees, and a silly laugh. The one who used to sit between Ava and Kira, pretending not to blush when Kira smiled at her.
Now that girl didn't exist.
She reached for her phone. The screen lit up immediately.
Unknown: You hesitated today.
Helen's fingers trembled. She typed fast.
Helen: They recognized me. Kira almost said my name.
There was a pause ….. long enough to make her stomach twist.
Unknown: Then you know what to do.
She didn't reply. She couldn't. Her vision blurred as she stared at the old photo he'd sent, the one she could never delete.
Three kids by the lake. Ava, Kira, Judith.
The day before everything went wrong.
He'd kept it all these years ... as proof.
Helen bit down on her lip until it bled. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Why are you doing this to me…"
Her phone buzzed again.
Unknown: Because you owe me.
Her eyes burned. "You ruined everything," she whispered to the dark. "I was happy back then…"
Unknown: No, you weren't. You were invisible. She chose Ava over you. Remember?
Helen's breath hitched.
Her hand shook violently as she dropped the phone on the bed.
She stumbled to the mirror, staring at her reflection … blonde hair, contacts, pale skin powdered into something new.
Helen. Not Judith.
A ghost pretending to live.
She clenched her fists. "If they find out," she said quietly, "he'll kill me."
But a small voice deep inside her …. the part that still remembered the summer sun, Kira's laughter, and Ava's friendship …. whispered something different.
Or maybe, this time… you could save them.
Helen turned off the lights, her reflection vanishing into the darkness.
But even in the silence, her phone buzzed one last time.
Unknown: Don't forget, Judith. I'm watching all of you.
"Dinner Shadows"
The restaurant glowed softly under the warm lights, the air filled with soft chatter and the smell of sizzling steak.
For once, everything almost felt normal.
Yuri laughed at something Miyeong said, her hand brushing crumbs off the tablecloth. Ava smiled faintly, poking her food with her fork while Kira scrolled through her phone.
It had been a long week …. police visits, restless nights, whispered worries …. but tonight, they'd promised no talk of danger.
Just dinner. Just family.
"Eat, Kira," Miyeong said, nudging her gently. "You haven't touched your food."
Kira groaned playfully. "I'm eating, eomma, jeez. You talk like I'm five."
Ava chuckled. "You kinda act like it sometimes."
Kira shot her a fake glare, then laughed, and for a moment, Ava laughed too ….. and it really did feel like things were okay again.
Then Kira stood up.
"I'm going to the restroom," she said, pushing her chair back.
As she walked toward the hallway, she glanced toward the window ….and froze.
Across the street, just beyond the glass, a figure stood under a flickering streetlight.
A girl.
Her blonde hair shimmered faintly in the night breeze.
Eyes fixed straight on their table.
Helen.
Kira's heart skipped a beat. Her steps faltered, breath catching in her throat.
Helen didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stared.
Kira whispered under her breath, "Helen?"
The girl tilted her head slightly ….. almost like she heard her …..and for the briefest second, her lips curved into a faint, haunting smile.
Then a car passed, headlights flashing …..and she was gone.
Kira stood there, staring at the empty sidewalk.
The laughter from their table sounded far away now.
Too bright. Too safe.
Too fake.
When she finally returned, Ava looked up. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."
Kira forced a smile, her throat dry. "Maybe I did."
Scene: Silent Warnings
The morning light barely crept through Ethan's blinds when his phone buzzed. Half-asleep, he reached for it, expecting some random group chat message.
Unknown Number:
You couldn't protect them then.
Don't fail again.
Ethan froze.
His pulse quickened as he reread it ... twice. The words felt heavy, sharp, like they were meant for his guilt alone.
He typed fast, jaw tight:
"Who's this?"
Delivered.
No response.
He stared at the screen until it dimmed, then sighed and muttered, "Not this again."
Moments later, another notification lit up his phone …..this time from Ava.
"Hey, u coming to class?"
He forced a weak smile.
"Yeah… just running late."
But deep down, he already knew — something wasn't right.
⸻
At campus later that day, Ava was walking to her Literature class. She sat by the window seat she usually shared with Kira, opened her tote bag, and froze.
There was a small folded note inside ….. the paper looked old, slightly wrinkled, like it had been handled too much.
She unfolded it slowly.
You were lucky once.
Don't push it again.
Her heart skipped.
She looked around .... students laughing, typing, sipping iced coffee ….everything looked normal.
But she could feel it.
That cold, crawling sensation on her neck.
Like someone was watching.
She shoved the note back in her tote and looked up … Ethan had just walked in.
His face looked pale, distracted. Their eyes met across the room.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
They didn't speak.
But deep down, both knew the past they tried to bury… was clawing its way back.
Scene — Ava & Kira in Kira's Room
The soft hum of the ceiling fan did nothing to ease the tension in Kira's room.
Ava sat cross-legged on the floor, clutching the cryptic note she'd found earlier. Kira perched on her bed, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone but her eyes kept flicking to Ava.
Finally, Ava broke the silence.
"Kie… I got something today," she said, voice low. She pulled the note from her tote and handed it over.
Kira's brow furrowed as she read it quickly. "Who would…?" She stopped mid-sentence, shaking her head. "We need to be careful, Ava."
"I know," Ava whispered. "I just… I had to tell someone."
Kira scooted closer. "I'm here. Always."
They sat in silence for a long moment, just breathing.
Then Ava's thoughts drifted, darker and heavier than before.
The past five years, the stalking, the attacks, the nightmares… Ethan, Helen, the lake, the fear …. it all weighed on her chest like a stone.
Her gaze shifted to Kira. So close. So steady. So safe.
And suddenly, the question that had been burning inside her since the night of the almost-kiss resurfaced.
"The kiss… Kie. Did you mean it?"
Kira froze, cheeks slightly pink, lips parted to answer ….but before she could, Ava leaned in.
Their lips met.
Soft at first, hesitant. Then urgent.
Ava's hands slid to Kira's waist. Kira's hands tangled in her hair.
For a moment, the world disappeared — the notes, the stalker, the danger ….. everything but the warmth between them.
They pulled back briefly, breathing heavily, foreheads resting together.
Ava whispered, almost to herself, "I… I don't know why I did that."
Kira's eyes were wide, searching Ava's. "You mean…?"
Ava shook her head, voice low and trembling, "I don't know. Maybe because of everything… maybe because of you."
And then… they kissed again, slower this time, letting the confusion, the fear, the longing all mix into one.