Chapter 3:

  Conversation and Breakfast

  "Well, now that you know..." Elizbeth sighed, her yandere gaze returning to normal, "What will you do?"

  "I'm not sure," I answered honestly, sitting up with her help, "I guess, I'd like to get to know you...again?"

  I ughed awkwardly at the thought, as I couldn't recall anything about this woman. I had a theory that the dreams I saw her in, were actually memories bleeding through. If that was the case, then that meant I had died many times. "Just how many times?" I wondered, but tried not to give it too much thought.

  "I suppose that would make sense," Her expression was bittersweet, "I know everything about you, but you know nothing about me."

  "...I'm sorry," I felt bad for not knowing or remembering anything, "I-"

  "Hold that thought," she touched her finger to my lips, looking into my eyes with a burning fire, "You've nothing to be sorry for, so I don't want to hear it."

  "But..." I began to protest, though her gaze warned me off of it, "Alright, but...I'll still feel that way. Regardless, I like the idea of learning more. It's kind of...exciting?"

  Gring at me pyfully, she sighed and shook her head.

  "Well, I guess I'll have to make you feel otherwise," Her smile as she said this sent chills down my spine, yet I didn't mind, "I'm gd you like the idea. You've always been a bit strange."

  She ughed, causing me to feel a bit embarrassed. This entire situation was so strange, yet felt so normal. It was like she had never not been in my life, even though this was the first time I was meeting her. At least in this life. Why is it that I could never recall her before?

  It was a thought that went through my head throughout our entire interaction. I had distinct memories of my friends not knowing who she was, yet if she was someone so famous, then how did no one know about her? Were those memories of another life when she kept a lower profile?

  "Lucas..." Elizabeth called to me softly, pulling my attention to her, "Please don't think too hard. I know that look you get. Take it slow, or your head may begin to hurt again."

  Her concern for me was touching, and I found myself not wanting to do anything to make her sad.

  "Alright, but...can I ask another question?" I was a bit nervous now.

  "I told you," Her smile became warm, "You may ask me anything."

  "Well, alright, but..." Sighing, I shook off my nerves and took a deep breath, "Have I...ever reacted this way before?"

  "You mean...when I've met you before?" She asked quietly, to which I nodded, "A few times, yes. Though, not always."

  "I see..." It answered my question I had, if only a little.

  I had been wondering about it for a while. How my other selves reacted to her. She seemed incredibly prepared and knowledgeable, so I was curious how many times I had reacted like this.

  "I'll be honest, however..." She stated cautiously, watching me closely, "This is the first time you've had such a strong reaction, and the first time you've even recalled anything. So...please take it slow."

  "I see...So this is new to her as well." I smiled, for it felt nice to have at least one thing we could share together, that we haven't already. I don't know exactly why I was so happy about that, but I was. She seemed to understand and patted the back of my hand lovingly.

  "I'll try my best," I told her, leaning my head back against the couch, "Though, if this is the first time I've recalled anything, then what reactions are you talking about?"

  "Ah, your headaches," She expined, a pained smile on her lips, "You never understood why you got them, this is the first time you ever realized it. That I was a regressor. You had suspicions before but...this is also the first time I was ever so aggressive about it."

  "That...could have something to do about it," I ughed lightly, realizing the absurdity of it all, "Are you happy that I did?"

  "...Yes," Her pained smile turned to one of pure joy.

  "That's a better smile," I muttered, to which was the first time I saw her blush.

  A light pink entered her cheeks as she looked towards me with a cheeky expression.

  "Come on..." She mumbled, though wasn't upset at all.

  "By the way...how long was I out for?" This was something I was putting off, but it was something I definitely needed to figure out, "I'm probably definitely te for work, but-"

  "Don't worry," She chuckled, "I took care of that."

  "Took...care of it?" I was a bit afraid to ask, and seeing the look upon my face, she ughed even more.

  "I didn't do anything bad," She stated through her ughs, "I'm not irrational. I simply gave them a leave of absence for today. You're fine."

  "Are you sure?" I asked doubtfully, "Mr. Park isn't exactly forgiving..."

  "Oh, don't you worry about Mr. Park," Elizabeth told me, a glint to her jeweled eyes and a hidden danger to her tone, "I know what he's done. I've taken care of it."

  "I...will choose not to ask," Laughing awkwardly, I rubbed the back of my neck.

  "Smart choice," She giggled, taking a small breath before continuing to speak, "That aside, are you hungry? Since you have the day free, would you like to go for some breakfast?"

  "I mean, I do have-" I began to say I had food here to eat.

  "Lucas," Elizabeth interrupted with a skeptical look upon her face, "You have no food here, so don't give me that. Not only did I check while you were unconscious, I know you."

  "Well, damn. You didn't have to say it like that..." Giving her a side-eye, I couldn't help but admit she was telling the truth.

  "Please, if I didn't, you'd never admit it," She stated the truth once more, causing me to grumble, "Come on, it's my treat. So get ready."

  "Alright..." I smiled, standing up from the couch with her help, "I guess...this would be our first date in this life."

  She was silent for a moment, and for a while I thought I said something wrong. Looking at her face, she seemed to be recalling memories. Reaching out to her, she took my hand and shook her head.

  "Don't worry, I'm alright," She stated confidently, smiling lovingly, "You're right. It is our first date, but I'll treat you to an even better one in the future. That's a promise."

  "Well, if you say that..." Holding her hand in mine, I smiled, "Then I look forward to it."

  -----

  I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit freaked out. The idea that this woman was a regressor and knew me from previous lifetimes was a lot to take in. Thinking that there were other versions of myself that lived and died...it was disorienting, but I did my best to take it in stride. It wouldn't be the craziest thing that happened in this world, but it was crazy to have happened to me.

  I never really thought I was special in any way. I wasn't a Pyer, and I had no real skills to speak of. Though, isn't that something everyone says about themselves? Always downpying who they are, but honestly, I've lived a rather boring life until now.

  I grew up with very few friends and enjoyed the nerdier side to life. I love animals and always wanted a cat or dog, but we could just never afford one. My father and mother worked hard to provide a life for me, even moving states when a job offer came. Even so, we barely made ends meet.

  Nothing really extraordinary ever happened until the gates appeared. Then, everything was a fight for survival and things became worse. That's why I was living alone, to lessen the burden on my parents. I found a job and just coasted through life. Now, here I was having breakfast with the woman I had seen in my dreams.

  It was a small sit-down restaurant nearby. Nothing fancy, but filling. In fact, it was one of my favorite pces to eat whenever I had the money to do so. Joe's Diner.

  Your typical diner with a counter to eat at and several booths. Tiled bck and white floors and fluorescent lighting. We found ourselves sitting in a small dark red booth at the back.

  The name, just like the interior, was simple but the food was delicious. Eggs and hashbrowns, some sausage links on the side. It smelled divine. My mouth was already watering even before the food had arrived. All the while, she sat across from me, head resting in her hands as she simply stared with a smile.

  Her gaze was hot, burning into me with the devotion and love flowing through them. It was rather embarrassing, and also surreal. "Someone like this...really loves me?" It was hard to grasp, but I felt my heart soar.

  "Did we...go here before?" I asked quietly, not being able to eat in silence under her gaze.

  "...Once or twice," She answered softly, pyfully dismissive, "It's your favorite pce to eat when you have the money."

  "Yeah, it is," I smiled, feeling a little flustered, "You even know that, huh?"

  "I know everything about you," She stated with a light chuckle, though soon her expression grew sad, "I hope...I do not overwhelm you."

  "...No," I shook my head, taking a bite of the food before me and savoring it before I spoke again, "I am the one who doesn't want to ask too much too quickly. I'm sure there are things that are hard for you to talk about. Being a regressor...it can't be easy."

  She was silent as I spoke, her expression softening. I could tell that she went through a lot. From her yandere look from earlier to how she shifted her expression ever so subtly while sitting there. One doesn't get that way without a reason. On top of that, I knew the hardships regressors could go through. There were plenty of fictional stories about them, but now it was a reality.

  "Thank you, Lucas," her words were filled with gentleness as she reached across the table and took my hand in hers, "You've always been kind and attentive of others. I'll tell you everything in time."

  "Of course, just take it slow," I told her, feeling the softness of her skin against mine, it was quite rexing.

  "Heh, I should be saying that to you," She ughed lightly with an amused smile, "This is a lot for you. It'll take you time to adjust, but just so you know..."

  Her hand suddenly held mine tightly, though it wasn't painful. I gnced at it before looking back up at her. She had that look in her eye. That obsessive glint. My heart beat quickly in my chest, overwhelmed by the sudden intensity behind her stare.

  "I'm not letting you go," the words left her lips with finality.

  A shiver ran through my body as I heard them, but I wasn't afraid. It was as if I was drawn into her eyes of emerald. Fields of green with a shimmering warm sun that I could just y down and get lost in. I smiled then, a small smile that came from the slight excitement I felt.

  "Is that so?" I held her hand back, running my thumb along her skin, "Am I that special?"

  She slightly jumped in surprise at the touch of my thumb against her skin. Her eyes returning to a more normal appearance as they looked towards our entwined hands. There was a look of pleasant surprise and a light blush across her cheeks.

  "Yes...as I've said before, and will always say..." She looked at me with steady eyes of obsession, "To me...you are."

  Merely hearing those words helped to clear up the doubt in my heart, if only for a moment. It made the st few bites of my meal taste even more delicious.

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