I felt like I hadn't slept so well in a long time. I was about to turn over when I encountered a warm touch.
"Sss!" (The sound of air being sucked in through the teeth, indicating hesitation or reflection.)
"It's still early. Are you getting up?" A slightly nasal, soft male voice said. Then, he pulled me into his arms. Though the room wasn't brightly lit, the sunlight filtering through the curtains was enough to make out the surroundings.
"Honey, I need to go to the bathroom." I gently pushed him away, signaling that I needed a little space. He sighed and released me. I stroked his red hair and said, "I'll be back soon."
I searched my memory for this familiar apartment belonging to César, and managed to find my way to the bathroom.
It was the first time I'd looked at myself in a mirror since waking up from the test session. In the mirror was a clear, smooth face with light skin. Her eyes were pale gray, and her eyebrows were long and naturally arched. The nose was high and straight, and her lips were red, displaying a charming allure. Long, slightly curly black hair cascaded over her shoulders, shining with a healthy glow. It was a beautiful face, but it wasn't supposed to be mine.
"There are countless people named Vivienne, and naturally, there are countless faces," I told myself.
To fit the character, I couldn't be gone for too long. Even though I needed to sort out the details, I should find the right moment—not now.
When I returned to the bedroom, the curtains were open, and César had already gotten up and even tidied the room. He was sitting calmly on the bed in a matching couple's sweatshirt that 'we' had just bought together yesterday.
"You've been gone quite a while this time. I don't think you'll be able to fall back asleep," he said, glancing up at me. Between the lines, he expressed a familiarity with Vivienne's routine.
It's hard to shake off a young man in love, isn't it?
"Oh, I just took a shower. I plan to go to the university after breakfast to borrow some books. Want to come with me?" I replied naturally.
"Of course, I want to spend the whole day with you," he said, getting up and pulling me into his arms again, his nose gently sniffing my neck. "Can I help you change?" He started offering.
"Just a change." I flirted.
He eagerly rushed to the wardrobe and found a sweatshirt for me.
"Because of this unresolved incident, there are far fewer students at the university outside of class hours now. Otherwise, more people would have seen our sweatshirts," he said with a hint of regret while helping me change.
He must be referring to Sophie's death in the lake, but how can he be so indifferent to the death of a university girl? All he cares about are the sweatshirts?
"I heard about that girl. She was really popular in her freshman year. I don't know how she ended up like that," I said with a sigh, carefully watching his expression.
"It might just have been a fun night and a fall into the water. Life is full of surprises, isn't it?" He patiently adjusted the hat on my back, but what he said sent chills down my spine.
"That's true, but it's still a shame," I replied, feeling like I couldn't get any more useful information from him at the moment.
"Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let you fall into the water accidentally," he said, taking my hand as we left the room and headed toward the kitchen.
This memory was only Vivienne's initial memory, which means her impression of these people didn't necessarily reflect their true nature. César's behavior today clearly shows he's not as simple as he seems, but Vivienne's original impression of him was that of a simple, love-struck teenager, and she hadn't noticed anything unusual—or perhaps her mind wasn't focused on him.
My mind raced while César prepared breakfast in the kitchen. If Vivienne's heart wasn't truly with César, then he couldn't be the person she'd want to spend the most time with. I'd have to wait and see how the other three turned out.