BAD HEROINES

2. Her Identity

She stared out the window as she sat on the bed, her legs pulled close to her chest as her mind ran through questions she couldn't find answers to.

She had done only that for a week now.

The door opened, and she slowly turned her eyes in that direction.

Alan walked in, his gaze landing on her posture. He shook his head.

"Your errands," he said, placing a bag on the bed beside her.

She let out a deep breath, grabbed a bag and stepped into the bathroom.

Reina looked at her reflection. That familiar face looked colder than she remembered to be. Exhausted, even.

She picked up the scissors.

Instead of struggling with something beyond her control, why not turn it to her advantage? From now on, she would live under this identity: Detective Michelle. But she wouldn’t become her.

She grabbed her long hair and cut it.

A minute later, she went back to the room wearing a short black jumpsuit, her hair now reaching her shoulders.

Alan looked Reina up and down, his brow furrowing. Was it his imagination, or had Michelle truly changed?

He had never even seen her expose this much of her body before, but now... she had even cut her favorite long hair.

After finishing the discharge procedures, he led her to his car.

As Alan drove, she gazed out the window with a distance expression.

Alan tilted his head, trying to figure her out. Michelle had been unusually silent. Where had her loud mouth gone?

It must be the shock from the accident. He nodded to himself and kept driving.

Eventually, he pulled up in front of an apartment.

He glanced at the girl who had once been unwillingly engaged to him and was now his neighbor. Till the last time, they had been fighting over who should move.

They were both detectives, but he was from Team B while she was from Team A. More often than not, they were opposites.

Inside the elevator, silence stretched between them until Alan finally broke it, his voice curious though he didn't face her.

"Why did you refuse to let your fellow officers visit you? I thought you people were close."

She glanced at him briefly before turning her eyes forward. "I'll meet them tomorrow."

Alan's eyes widened as he turned to look at her.

"You're going back to work tomorrow? In your condition? You don't even seem in your right mind."

"Nothing is wrong with me," she replied flatly.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out first.

She walked a few steps before halting, realizing she had no idea where her apartment was.

Turning around, she found Alan watching her with knitted brows.

"Michelle." He walked up. His sharp gaze locked onto hers. "You're not fine."

She raised a brow. “Ah, about my arm? I said I was...”

"Don't take me for a fool. You've been acting strangely since you woke up. Tell me, what's wrong with you?"

She gritted her teeth. Lying to him wouldn't be easy. Alan knew Michelle better than she had expected, and with him being a detective, the situation had become even more difficult.

Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "Fine, I'll tell you. I'm not that fine."

A tinge of tears welled up in her eyes.

"I... lost some of my memories," she said, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I can't even remember if I had a family..." Her voice cracking up “You know what scares me, Alan? Forgetting who tried to kill me.”

Alan's eyes widened. She even cried?

Then he frowned. Who knew if this was one of her schemes again?

No, she wouldn't gain anything by pretending to have amnesia.

The only thing that explained her actions until now was that she had really lost her memories.

"Reina's case might trigger my memories. Everything happened because of that," she said with determination. "I have to find out who was behind everything that happened."

"What? Do you hear yourself? If you've lost your memories, that's all the more reason to step back."

Her cries increased. "Don't you understand? Nothing is more dangerous than my situation right now."

Alan stared at her in disbelief. Should he inform her team leader? But with Michelle's stubbornness, she would get herself involved even if she was suspended.

Frustrating!

He looked at her and noticed she still had tears in her eyes.

"Then... you have to let me help you. Don't do anything alone."

She smiled a little and nodded.

He gave her a handkerchief "Wipe your tears. It's weird"

Reina accepted, then glanced at Alan’s back with a sharp gaze. What could be better than having a hand in her situation.

He brought her to one of the rooms.

"Your room. You use your fingerprint for the key code, so it shouldn't be difficult." He hissed. "Doesn't it ring a bell?"

She pressed her finger to the scanner, and the door unlocked. Then she turned to Alan and shook her head.

Alan sighed.

I will have to ask a doctor.

Stepping inside, Alan flicked on the lights.

She glanced around, her eyes widening.

Clothes hung on chairs. Empty instant noodle cups and snack packages filled the table.

Alan scoffed at her surprised expression. "This is just how you live."

She could only nod inwardly. That damn officer knew nothing other than cases. She couldn't even take care of herself, let alone the house.

They changed into more comfortable clothes and started cleaning up the room.

Opening the fridge, she found not a single beer—only water and other non-alcoholic drinks. She sighed and closed it.

By the time they finished, evening had fallen, and Alan ordered food for them.

They sat at the table as they ate together under the fresh air. It felt strange to him. In the past, they had never shared a meal like this.

"So, where will you start?" he asked.

As she ate, she replied casually,

"I'll have to read all the files on Reina's case. That will tell me where to begin."

"Remember. Don't overwork yourself. It's no use. I'm telling you, you always lose seven cases out of ten. You weren't that smart."

Reina blinked at him. She knew Michelle was worse at finishing cases, but that bad?

He sighed heavily. "I'm not sure anymore... You don't seem worried. If this ever gets out..."

"It won't. And if it ever does, I won't drag you into it," she told him seriously.

Alan looked at her, speechless.

Later, she was left alone.

She walked into a room where a desk and shelves lined with books and files stood. It seemed Michelle liked to read.

She pulled out a random book, only to see it was fiction. She put it back. She preferred non-fiction.

She moved to Michelle's desk, where some files and a computer sat.

Sitting in the chair, she picked up one of the files and skimmed through it.

The notes were calculations on past cases. Michelle was a hard-working officer; she could agree with that.

After reading a little, she smirked. "How naive are you, Michelle?"

She set the file aside and turned to the computer. She powered it on, only to be met with a password prompt. She slumped in her chair.

What could the password be?

She tried Michelle's birth date, knowing it was unlikely. It failed.

Finding the password herself would be a waste of time. Maybe she needed an expert.

At the thought, she muttered a name.

"Hanae."

Her younger sister.