That night, sleep didn't come easily for Celine. The encounter with Madame Zora, Alexander's insistence on calling her "Corazon," and the sketches that seemed to echo a forgotten past all swirled in her mind. As she drifted off, a vivid dream enveloped her.

She found herself in a simple wooden house, sunlight streaming through the cracks in the walls. A sense of warmth and familiarity washed over her. A young woman with long, dark hair and gentle eyes stood beside her, a smile gracing her lips. "Sister," the woman said, her voice filled with love. "Come, let's go to the market."

Celine's heart skipped a beat. She knew this woman, she knew this place. Memories flooded her mind, fragments of a life she had long forgotten. She saw herself laughing with the woman, their voices echoing through the rice fields. She felt the warmth of the sun on her skin, the gentle breeze in her hair.

Suddenly, the dream shifted. Darkness descended, and the sound of gunfire filled the air. Celine saw herself running, her heart pounding with fear. She saw the woman she called "sister" fall, her body crumpling to the ground. A scream tore from Celine's throat, a primal cry of anguish and despair.

As the dream faded, Celine awoke with a gasp. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding, tears streaming down her face. The dream felt so real, so visceral. It was as if she had lived those moments, experienced those emotions firsthand.

Celine knew in her heart that the dream was more than just a figment of her imagination. It was a glimpse into her past, a confirmation of the connection she shared with Alexander. She was Corazon. And the woman in her dream was Tala, her beloved sister. The memories of their love, their laughter, and their shared tragedy were etched into her soul.

With this newfound clarity, Celine was more determined than ever to uncover the truth about her past life and the love that bound her to Alexander. She knew that their story was far from over, that their destinies were intertwined in ways she was only just beginning to understand.

—

"God, you look awful." Peter said as he looked at Celine with a mix of concern and disgust. He had never seen her so pale and with dark bags under her eyes.

"I had a bad dream." Celine grumbled as she sipped on her first cup of coffee that morning. She was also feeling dizzy and her eyes seemed to be hot as well.

Peter took a thermometer and gave it to her, "C'mon, I wanna know if you're well enough to work today or not. I am not letting you work looking like that unless I confirm to myself that you're alright."

She sighed and placed the thermometer in her armpit. A minute later, the thermometer produced a beeping sound. "Thirty-nine point four." Peter read from the thermometer. "Jesus, you're burning up. Come, I'll drive you home."

Before the two of them could leave the ward, Celine collapsed into Peter's arms. "Celine!" Peter called out as he frantically shook her friend in his arms. "Somebody prepare a vacant room!"

—

Celine lay in the hospital bed, shivering and sweating, her mind drifted in and out of consciousness. In her feverish state, a vivid dream took hold. A dream that transported her to a different time and place.

She found herself in a grand palace, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering silks. She was dressed in a flowing red wedding hanbok, a golden hairpin with a dragon crest adorning her hair. A sense of regal bearing washed over her, and she knew instinctively that she was someone of great importance. The weight of the golden hairpin, a dragon crest gleaming, pressed against her scalp.

Suddenly, a handsome man with kind eyes and a gentle smile appeared before her. He reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek. "Seohyeon," he whispered, his voice filled with love and adoration. "My beloved Empress."

Celine's heart fluttered. The name, Seohyeon, felt strangely familiar, as if it were a part of her own identity. Memories, hazy and fragmented, began to surface. She saw herself walking hand-in-hand with the man, their laughter echoing through the palace halls. She felt the weight of a crown upon her head, the responsibility of a nation resting on her shoulders.

The dream shifted, and a sense of impending doom washed over her. She saw herself standing beside the man, their hands clasped tightly. Arrows flew through the air, and chaos erupted around them. Fear gripped her heart, and she knew that their happiness was about to be shattered. She saw Eunwoo fall, his lifeblood staining the palace floor. A scream tore from her lips, a gut-wrenching cry of despair.

Celine awoke with a gasp, her body drenched in sweat. The dream felt so real, so visceral. It was as if she had lived through Seohyun's pain, her loss, her heartbreak.

Her fevered mind struggled to make sense of it all. Was this just a dream, a bizarre manifestation of her illness? Or was it something more, a glimpse into a past life that was slowly unraveling before her?

As the fever raged on, Celine drifted in and out of sleep, the dream repeating itself, each time more vivid than the last. The lines between reality and the dream world blurred, leaving her questioning her own identity, her own existence.

When the fever finally broke, Celine was left with a lingering sense of unease. The dream, though fading, had left an indelible mark on her soul. She couldn't shake the feeling that Seohyun was a part of her, a past life that was calling out to her, demanding to be remembered.

Weakened but determined, Celine resolved to uncover the truth. She knew that the answers she sought lay hidden within the depths of her own heart, waiting to be revealed.

"Peter..." Celine mumbled and Peter, who was then regulating her IV fluids, leaned over to hear what she had to say. "Peter, we need to go back to Madame Zora." She tried to sit up but she was engulfed with a sharp, stabbing pain on her upper back which made her groan in pain.

"It... hurts... my back..." Celine said. "An arrow... shot me." Though confused and creeped out, Peter decided to check her back for any presence of wound but to his dismay, Celine's skin at the back remained intact. He called the physician to examine what was happening with Celine, but he, too, was also dumbfounded about the cause of her pain as all of her laboratory and imaging results came back negative. When he finally came into his senses, he realized that this is more than just physical pain. This was the pain that Celine's past lives had experienced.

"Seohyun..." Celine mumbled deliriously in her sleep. "Akihiro..."

He pulled out his phone from the pocket of his scrubs and dialed the number of the only person he knew that could help his friend. "Hello?", he said when the other line picked up. "Madame Zora?"

—

Due to Celine's illness, Peter was the one who tended to Alexander and Celine's other patients for the day.

Peter found himself at Alexander's bedside, a sense of unease clinging to him. Celine's fever had worsened, and her delirious murmurs of "Akihiro" and "Seohyun" had left him deeply troubled. He couldn't shake the feeling that Alexander held the key to understanding her distress.

"Alexander," Peter began, his voice hesitant, "Celine's not doing well."

Alexander's eyes, which had been closed, snapped open. Concern etched itself onto his features. "What's wrong?"

"Her fever's high," Peter explained, "and she's been saying strange things... names. Akihiro. Seohyun."

A flicker of recognition crossed Alexander's face. "She's remembering," he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and hope. "It's all coming back to her."

Peter frowned, "I don't understand. What does it mean?"

Alexander sighed, a weary look in his eyes. "It means that what I've been telling you about our past lives... it's all true. Celine is Corazon. She's also Seohyun, and perhaps others. And I... I'm the one constant in all her lives."

Peter's skepticism battled with the undeniable concern he felt for Celine. "But why is she suffering?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration. "If you're connected like you say, shouldn't you be able to help her?"

Alexander's gaze fell. "I'm trying, Peter," he said, his voice heavy with guilt. "But the memories... they're surfacing in a chaotic way, causing her pain. I can only hope that with time, she'll be able to make sense of it all."

Peter's heart ached for both of them. He could see the depth of Alexander's love for Celine, the pain he felt at her suffering. And he couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to his claims even though he himself is a believer of reincarnation.

"I just want her to get better," Peter said, his voice filled with a desperate plea.

Alexander nodded, his hand reaching out to clasp Peter's. "We both do, Peter," he said, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "We both do."

As Peter sat with Alexander, a sense of camaraderie blossomed between them. They were two men, bound by their love for the same woman, united in their desire to see her healed and whole. And in that moment, despite their differing beliefs, they found common ground in their shared hope for Celine's recovery.

"You know what? I never had the chance to tell you this but you feel very familiar too." Alexander pointed out in a casual manner. "It feels like you're the same person who stayed by Celine's side when she was still living her life as Corazon."

"Maybe..." Peter smiled. "But that doesn't really matter. I'm prepared to be her friend in every lifetime that she exists."

"I just want her to be happy," Peter finally said, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Whether it's with you, or with someone else."

Alexander smiled, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "I want that too, Peter," he replied. "More than anything."

As Peter left the hospital that day to fetch Madam Zora and some food for Celine, he couldn't deny the undeniable connection between her and Alexander. It was a connection that defied logic, a connection that whispered of a love that transcended time and space. Peter knew that he couldn't control Celine's heart, or her destiny. All he could do was be there for her, offer his support, and hope that she finds the happiness she deserved.