Betha - POV
I look at her slowly.
From her eyes... to her shoes... and back up again.
Then I sigh.
Nonchalantly.
"And what exactly is a bully doing here?"
Emily's face turns pale instantly. She lowers her gaze, fingers fidgeting together like she's afraid they might betray her.
I glance at Coccette.
Too pure. Too soft. Too kind for this world.
After everything Emily did to her, she deserves way worse than my attitude.
Emily speaks carefully, her voice low, nervous.
"Look... I changed. I'm not a bully anymore. I understand if you don't believe me, but I saw you by chance and I just wanted to say hi..."
I laugh. A short, cold laugh.
"Changed? And you came to say hi?" I tilt my head. "Seriously? Did you forget how you used to call Coccette your plaything? Your punching bag? Just get the hell out of here before I lose my temper, Emily."
I look straight into her eyes. Angry. Sharp.
Coccette looks at me... then at Emily.
Emily suddenly stands up, her voice louder, trembling.
"I'm sorry, Coccette. I was a bad person to you. I hope you can forgive me. I really changed, and I regret everything..."
Her eyes fill with tears.
People in the café start staring.
I blink.
Wait.
Did this witch just apologize... in public?
Is she trying to attract attention now?
Coccette speaks softly. Too softly.
"Sit down, Emily."
I almost choke.
"Sit? No, seriously?" I snap. "After everything she did?"
I stare at Coccette in disbelief.
This girl is too kind. Too naive. That's exactly why she got killed and reborn in the first place.
Honestly? Emotionally speaking... she's kind of stupid.
Coccette takes my hand gently.
"Breathe, Betha. Let's hear what she wants to say. She apologized to me. That's good."
I stare at her like she just spoke another language.
"Good?" I repeat.
I mime Emily dramatically. "Sorry."
"So that's it? Someone ruins your life for years, then comes back like 'sorry' and suddenly it's yes of course, let's be best friends? Yay?"
I laugh again, bitterly.
Coccette looks at Emily. "I know... but let's hear her. Maybe she really did change."
I put my hand over my face and sigh - but I stay quiet.
Emily swallows hard.
"I'm sorry again, Coccette. Thank you for listening to me. What I did to you was horrible. I was young and selfish."
"And evil," I add calmly, staring at her.
Coccette lightly hits my arm to shut me up.
Emily continues, voice shaking.
"I just wanted to say this. I'm happy you're still friends with Betha. She's a good person."
I smile proudly.
"Sure. Better than you at least."
Emily sighs.
"I'll go now. That's all I wanted to say."
I smile sweetly. Fake.
"Yeah. Hopefully we never see you again."
She stands up to leave-
Then Coccette speaks.
"How have you been, Emily?"
Me and Emily talk at the same time "WHAT !??"- two very different emotions.
"What the hell?" I shout.
"We're making friends with the enemy now?!"
"Please, Betha," Coccette says.
I sigh loudly.
Emily smiles softly. "I'm fine. Just very busy with work. What about you?"
"We're good," Coccette answers. "You said work... what do you do?"
"I'm a doctor."
Me and Coccette freeze.
"You're a doctor?" we say together.
Emily laughs. "A doctor for the dead. Forensic medicine."
I nod slowly.
"Of course. You could only work with dead people."
"Betha!" Coccette scolds me. "She's still a doctor. Congratulations, Emily. What matters is that you like your job. Though... isn't it disgusting working with bodies?"
Emily smiles calmly, breaking her mochi in half.
"No. I'm used to it. I was working less than an hour ago actually. I'm tired... and hungry."
I mutter, "Still a psychopath."
"I think so too," Coccette whispers, nodding.
Emily looks at her.
"I heard you got married, Coccette."
Coccette rolls her eyes, forcing a smile.
"Yes. To Frost."
"Congratulations," Emily says. "And Betha... you're still with Alex?"
"No," I answer immediately.
"Yes," Coccette says at the same time.
I turn to her slowly. Devilish smile.
"We still talk," I clarify. "Only as friends. We work together. That's all."
Emily nods. "You all work together?"
"Yes," Coccette explains. " My company and Frost's merged. Canned food."
Emily smiles. "That's amazing. What's your company's name?"
And then-
Coccette hands her a business card.
I swear my soul leaves my body.
She's smiling.
At Emily.
Emily reads it. "Tasty... Wow, Coccette. You're doing really well."
I stand up abruptly.
"Okay. Emily. Not nice seeing you for my part. We have work. Let's go."
I fake-smile.
As we leave, I hear Coccette say softly behind me:
"Maybe we'll see you again. Don't listen to her... deep inside, she's kind."
I almost trip.
We leave Emily alone at the table.
And I already know -
this is far from over.