Chapter 1

✧ The Death Of My Best Friend And I ✧

The chatter of teenage girls echoed in the spacious classroom, and one by one some student would enter and be greeted by her friends excitedly. After all, it was the day that the girls of Saint Mary’s College awaited the most. Graduation day. To be finally freed from this female only society and experience the pleasure of being in the company of the opposite sex, many girls eagerly anticipated this stage of their life. However, amidst the deafening conversations, two girls weren’t even fazed in the least bit. In fact, they were too indulged in browsing through the latest valentine edition novel releases on their phone together. Just then, a student approached both of them in a fastidious manner.

“Hey! You too! Do you guys ever take a break from all of that weeb stuff? It’s our graduation day from this academy at last and you guys are spending it reading online novels? Seriously?”

The girl looked mildly annoyed at the fact that none of them gave her a response and she let out an exasperated sigh. At last, growing weary of the girls, she threw her arms around their shoulders and inquired.

“Won’t you guys join us? Huh, Amy? Wena?”

Upon hearing their names and sensing the weight of the girl’s body against their backs, both of them swiftly turned their heads towards her and smiled beamingly.

“Of course we will! Just after we book these new novel volumes. They sell out pretty fast and since its valentine’s day, they are bound to be sold out in mere minutes!” Replied Amy to her friend’s inquiry, accompanied by a curt nod.

“Exactly! If we don’t get our hands on this volume then we’ll never know whether Prince Stephen confessed to his lover, Lydia, the royal gardener!” Joined Wena, who was wearing an enthusiastic glow on her face.

The student at this point had given up on her desperate persuasion after noticing both the girls delight in the stuff that was occupying them.

“Alright fine, if you’re going to be boring might as well be useful while doing it. Take these supplies to the chemistry lab, the class prefect is too busy taking her last farewell pictures with the girls”

The girl left both of them to happily indulge in their weird hobbies, and joined the others in their partaking of fun activities. Amy noticing that the girl was gone took an advantage of the situation and nudged Wena in the shoulder.

“Hey, let’s take this stuff to the chemistry lab and stay there until all of this chitter chatter is over! We can discuss the latest episode of ‘Undying Love’ over there! No one would disturb us”

Wena let out a sheepish chuckle and approved heartily of her best friend’s suggestion. She knew very well that she could trust Amy to help her escape from any type of unfavorable circumstance.

“Sure, sounds like a plan!...”

With saying that, both of them took off from their seats and made their way to the chemistry lab blissfully while conversing about random subjects.

“By the way Wena… I just heard someone say that they brought alcohol today to the graduation party. Do you think its true? If it is, Sister Beth would lose her mind!”

“I don’t think so… even if they did where could they possibly hide it? You know how the teachers are during these parties. Their caution level increases even more, and they guard every place like hawks”

“That is true, I suppose…”

They entered into the lab, and while Wena searched for the light switch, Amy proceeded to place the contents in the heavily dusted cabinets. During the search, Wena noticed the lower cabinets open to which she was quick to ask her friend about it.

“Hey, why are these cabinets open? I thought the lab was off limits during celebrations..?”

Amy turned around to look and immediately let out a soft gasp, while turning white.

“Do you think…it’s a snake?? There had been rumors going around that a snake was spotted here! Quick Wena! Take high ground! It could be anywhere!”

“Don’t be silly Amy! How can a snake open a cabinet?”

Wena exhaled, observing Amy’s behavior while being completely oblivious to the fact that she still had to turn on the lights and everything in the room was hardly detectable.

“Speaking of snakes…Hey Wena, I just recently read this new unpopular novel called ‘Meant to be rivals’. It’s honestly great!”

“You too? I thought I was the only one since it’s not that famous-“

Just then an abrupt shatter of glass was heard by the two and the whole lab was lit up into flames. Not a yell, cry or shriek could be heard from the girls and the fire continued until a swarm of students rushed to the scene, possibly alarmed by the burning smell, and discovered that an explosion had just occurred. What remained later of the lab after the fire was stopped was nothing. The walls were blackened and charred from where the flames had licked them, and dust hung in the air. Glass was littered on the floor from the alcohol bottles and a pair of burnt bodies was found that were blackened and scorched to the point where the students had a hard time believing them to be the same lovely Amy and Wena.

That is how the youthful life and friendship of these two inseparable friends had ended…at least, that is what we thought how it would end but you know what they say… fate likes to surprise you when you expect it the least. While their souls left their bodies, to be taken into afterlife… a new life was born for them right that moment and they were thus reincarnated into… Eliana Gentileschi and Flavia De Luca, the two female protagonists of the novel, "Meant to be rivals".