Alice is in his room.
It's morning.
Suddenly, Lucien and Victor walk in.
"Alice, wake up," Victor says firmly.
"We have college."
Lucien laughs.
"Yeah, get up. And don't take years in the bathroom again. You spend more time on skincare than most people."
"Guys… let me sleep," Alice groans, pulling the blanket over his head.
Victor loses patience.
"WAKE UP!" he shouts.
"It's the first day of college, and you're acting like this? If you're already this careless, imagine what'll happen later."
That works.
Alice sits up immediately—half asleep, half shocked.
Lucien watches, amused.
Alice stares at Victor, then slowly places his hand on Victor's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you," he says seriously.
"When did you grow up so much?"
Victor blinks.
"Huh… I— I don't know. Come on, get ready. I ordered breakfast."
"Okay," Alice says, standing up.
"I'll just take a bath and come."
Lucien points a finger at him.
"Please. No skincare drama."
Alice scoffs.
"I don't do skincare, okay? That's for girls."
He smiles confidently.
"Look at my skin. Naturally perfect."
Lucien raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah… we can see."
Alice walks into the bathroom.
A few seconds later, a strong smell of shampoo, face wash, and cream fills the room.
Lucien looks at Victor.
"So… this is 'no skincare'?"
Victor laughs.
"Okay, okay! I'm coming out!" Alice shouts from inside.
They all go downstairs.
After some time—a little too much time—Alice finally joins them at the breakfast table.
Victor looks at him.
"You know, you cook well. You could've made breakfast."
Alice shakes his head.
"Sorry. I've never cooked for someone else."
Lucien looks surprised.
"Why?"
Alice pauses for a second.
"I don't know… I just don't like it."
No one says anything after that.
They quietly continue eating.
Then suddenly, Victor picks up a glass.
"Lucien, want some mango juice?"
Lucien smirks and looks at Alice.
"Mango juice, huh?"
Alice, who's eating bread, suddenly starts coughing.
He freezes.
A flashback hits him—
the bar, the noise,
and her.
Lucien laughs.
"Well… looks like there's no mango juice here."
Victor grins.
"Guess we'll have to go to a bar again."
Alice looks away, trying to hide his expression.
The room fills with laughter—but inside him, something feels different.
Quieter.
Heavier.
Some memories don't fade with sleep.
They wait for the morning.
Just then, the college van arrives.
Victor checks the time.
"Guys, hurry up! I'm done."
"Me too," Lucien says, grabbing his bag.
Alice rushes in with a slice of bread half in his mouth.
"Guyss— I'm not—"
Victor quickly takes the bread from his hand.
"Give it to me. Let's go!"
Alice nods.
"Okay, okay."
They all get into the van, which slowly starts moving.
The three of them sit together.
Alice puts on his headphones and opens a book—more like a novel than a textbook.
The title reads: Whispers of Forever.
Lucien glances at it and sighs.
"Why are you always reading this novel? What's the story, anyway?"
Alice smiles faintly.
"You should read it yourself. Then you'll understand."
Lucien nods.
"Interesting. I'll read it someday."
Alice continues reading for a while…
then slowly looks out of the window.
The familiar streets pass by.
Old buildings.
Old turns.
Old places.
Suddenly, childhood memories start flooding back—
playing outside, running without worries, laughing without reasons.
Soft music plays in his headphones: "Those Eyes."
Alice closes his eyes.
In his mind, he sees a girl he used to play with as a child.
They're running.
Laughing.
But her face is blurry—
like a memory that refuses to be fully remembered.
His heart tightens.
He opens his eyes again and looks out of the window.
The world keeps moving.
The song keeps playing.
Some memories don't disappear—
they just wait quietly,
until one day,
something brings them back.
The van slows down—almost in slow motion—
and stops in front of D'Aurelia Mansion.
Old ivy crawls over the stone walls near the gate.
Time feels suspended here.
Standing just outside is Edmund D'Aurelia—
a cane resting in his hand,
eyes calm, filled with quiet nostalgia,
as if he's been waiting for something… or someone.
The van door opens.
A boy steps out.
Alice Devereux.
Dark coat. Perfect posture. Controlled presence.
Yet behind his composed expression lies exhaustion—
and a sadness he doesn't let anyone see.
Driver:
"Sir, we'll stop here for a few minutes. We need to pick up another student."
Alice gives a small nod and steps aside, standing near the window.
His eyes drift toward the mansion.
Something about this place feels familiar.
Too familiar.
He inhales slowly, as if the air itself carries fragments of forgotten memories—
slipping quietly into his chest.
That's when Edmund notices him.
His eyes narrow slightly.
Then soften.
A gentle smile appears as he walks toward the van.
Edmund:
"Are you… Richard's son, aren't you?
Alice Devereux?"
Alice looks up, surprised.
For a second, he searches the man's face—
then smiles politely.
Alice:
"Yes, sir."
Edmund's smile deepens.
Edmund:
"It's been a long time. You've grown."
Alice nods, unsure how to respond.
"I guess time doesn't really ask for permission."
Edmund lets out a quiet chuckle.
Edmund:
"No… it doesn't."
The rain continues softly around them.
The song hums in the background.
Two generations stand facing each other—
connected by memories neither of them fully speaks aloud.
And somewhere nearby,
another destiny is quietly approaching.
Just then, a girl comes running.
Baggy shirt.
Loose pants.
Messy bun.
Big glasses slightly slipping down her nose.
She keeps checking the time on her wristwatch while running like her life depends on it.
One hand is holding a book, the other trying to balance the bag hanging on her back.
She almost trips.
Almost crashes into the van.
Almost drops everything.
Edmund sighs softly, shaking his head.
"Always late," he murmurs.
She finally reaches them, slightly out of breath.
That's when Edmund turns toward Alice.
"My boy," he says warmly,
"come, meet her. This is—"
He pauses for dramatic effect.
"—my granddaughter."
The girl straightens up.
Before Edmund can finish, both Alice and the girl freeze.
Complete shock.
From inside the van, Lucien and Victor are staring too—mouths slightly open.
Lucien whispers,
"Bro… is this real?"
Victor mutters,
"Am I still asleep?"
Elara said:
"This is Alice Devereux"
Silence.
Alice blinks once.
Twice.
Then—
"Elara… D'Aurelia?"
Everyone looks at him.
Edmund raises an eyebrow.
"How do you know her name?"
Elara adjusts her glasses and replies seriously, almost annoyed,
"Obviously. His batch number is written on his ID. Anyone with eyes could read it."
She pauses, then adds coldly,
"Also, I don't know him."
Alice exhales sharply.
"Yeah. Same."
Lucien chokes on air.
"Same?!"
Victor covers his mouth to stop laughing.
Alice points lightly at her.
"She's in my batch. That's how I know."
Elara gives him a quick look.
"Good. Then let's keep it that way."
She checks her watch again.
"Oh no—"
She turns toward the van, opens the door, and hops inside.
Lucien scoots a little.
Victor whispers,
"New character unlocked."
Elara sits quietly, opens her book, and immediately starts reading—
like none of this ever happened.
Alice stands outside for a moment, still processing.
Same girl.
Mango juice girl.
Messy bun girl.
And now—
D'Aurelia.
Edmund smiles knowingly.
"Fate has a strange sense of timing," he says gently.
Alice forces a small smile and steps back into the van.
As the van starts moving, Alice glances at Elara.
She doesn't look up.
Not once.
Lucien leans in and whispers,
"So… mango juice girl?"
Alice whispers back,
"Shut up."
Victor smiles quietly.
Outside, the rain continues to fall.
Inside, something has shifted.
Some meetings don't feel new—
they feel postponed.
And this one?
It was waiting all along.