After Reincarnation, I Changed My Boyfriend

to the time before J

love for me had bor

d once proposed to me, draping the scarf I'd

didn't want

n just a replacement, he begged me

s always a s

l for this secon

g at our proposal spot, confessing his feelings for ano

a question. What was th

rashing waves resurrecte

efore him with that familiar hopeful hesitation

d in my previous life, I wa

ed the scarf around

ng that I'd spent mon

heir words, Jason's radi

ed trul

fe, this moment h

y cheeks as the wi

ectedly - I'd though

uelty perfe

est love abandoned me again; behind me was the

forced me back; I

d in my mind. "Jason, I

iliar rooms felt a

d empty where his

il he notice

eks, or may

visited

even kept this

charity before, but the t

at apartment s

t friend Debbie Wall hesitated before

es

ned with concer

on

he apartment w

still keep me o

of I didn't need Jas

my absence a

le for his mont

t, Abia? Do you plan to live in the slum? What the h

years, I could practical

typed, ignoring his const

ered all c

votion had proven m

tion learned to mistake b

e, yet I earnestly devoted my

er tang of beer clung to my tongue as empty bottles bo

d been prese

his life should have

e, Sheri had n

tiently each evenin

nsured we lingered ten minute

ent was to avoid the sta

insist, like a loyal knight to his queen. "No y

d our ritual for

ect of his protective instincts. Even

n the vicinity around the school turned into a rathe

worrying abo

equests for accompaniment met only with vague

shadow, hoping he would walk me

ck remaine

found me alone. For them,

meager lunch mone

ed my next meal. So I

and pulled

thought persisted. If

y chanting his name, but thi

was battered

r to behold Jason walking Sheri home, the

ling the anguish in my soul

engagement had be

n into her and decided to walk her

ay in my willingne

on schedule, a hammer pou

rsistent doorbell slicing thr

r- only to find Jason standing there, his usual polished

ut he was quicker, his strength

in a frantic cascade. "Why did y

ad made diploma

t the beach

not what y

y unnatural, and I inter

tching his face twitch. "I k

forced his way in.

, his face darkened immediately, and his tone gr

ntly, "We've broken up. Yo

tics, his voice dipping into that coaxin

aded, "Abia, come back wit

stomach. He still thought thi

laughed bitterly. "You m

tructed calm on hi

tchen and began rattling the pan, making a

the beach with my own eyes, perha

it like a fr

m before collapsing to the tile

ghtening his features as he presse

the room and fed

so, the ringtone cu

roze for

ine melody was the one he'd

't know, but I ha

played, Jason's face lit

but each time I saw

cond before abandoning me

ice resounded thro

uss about get

ion, Sheri had tum

grew even m

riedly grabbed his cloth

ed as he grabbed his jack

moment, then left w

, "I'll come to pic

s her. Even if I was in excruc

I took the me

ng ingredients, and I fe

e, but once again, he ch

it must be the side ef

aden, dragging me back to a

eet, Jason and I represented our re

n the accide

nt fell backstage, right wher

backward. His immediate and reflexive protection of Sheri was evident, but at the same

also hit

and bleeding arm, crying ou

s already carrying Sheri to the in

with just

h pain that I a

out my health, but at that moment, the pain shot through every nerve in m

ugh pain-hazed eyes, while my uncle's family c

; I was dependent on som

m, and what she heard was, "We will find the best

mon for me, and every time I woke up in pain, I saw

nothing an

ng - the way his gaze lingered on Sheri, the secret smil

"We're classmates. I co

ielded from falling debris, me he stayed with

a familiar face. Where my Jason ha

red the equation, I

me stubborn part of me kept seeing the gh

't breathe. Gho

ps. Pathetic - that's what I

at life felt more

romised to

w the horizon witho

ted by the window lik

to the kitchen, where I sta

how. "This doesn't suit my taste,"

h a satisfying thud. The s

gh my mind - precise measurements,

made

ice echoed, "Your mother loved this dish.

rs plopped in

udy was, "Actually,

y molding myself around Jason's

ple as food had becom

ack, I'd walk right past Jas

nvitation arrived a

ty, I saw Jason, whom I

ely and energet

wasn't sh

m stiffened wh

e history betwee

saw me would've been satisfy

met only air as

band-aid gracing Sheri'

e-threatening in

My voice dripped ho

to her defense before she could speak. "S

made the party's cha

ing above his collar. "Maybe cover th

as he fumbled for words

not what y

ading to an empty seat ne

emained

expression flickered with s

ith forced cheer, redirecting a

d bustle, she took me to a quiet co

ice came from above, "L

w an unfamiliar face that yet somew