Chapter 2

"Patient 12 is so pathetic. His wife comes every day but never steps foot in his room."

"Yeah, she always goes straight to the room next door to see that patient named Noah."

The nurses' whispers drifted in from outside the door.

After the car accident, I had multiple fractures and had been lying in the ICU for seven days.

I was in a coma, but my mind was perfectly clear. I heard the nurses call Olivia over and over.

But she never once came to see me.

Turns out, she was with someone more important.

What I thought was my salvation was just a scam.

I tried with all my might to open my eyes, but all I could see was a flatline on the EKG monitor.

When I opened my eyes again, the sunlight was blinding.

I was sitting at my familiar desk. The calendar showed that I had three months before I gave up my study abroad spot for Sophia.

This time, I answered the call from the school's international exchange office: "Professor, I confirm I'll participate in this year's exchange program. Thank you for this opportunity."

On the other end, the professor's voice sounded relieved: "Glad you decided. It would've been such a shame to give up such a great opportunity."

Yeah, it was a huge shame.

Giving up my entire life for a woman was the stupidest thing I’d ever done.

After hanging up, I contacted a real estate agent and listed the house my parents left me.

My only requirement: full payment, as soon as possible.

Right after that, Sophia called.

Her voice was distant: "Ethan, Noah's graduation project has hit a snag. You're good at academics; can you help him?"

Noah again. His issues always seemed to come between us.

In my previous life, I pulled three all-nighters for that sentence, revising his design from rough draft to final product.

The result? Only his name was on the award-winning work.

Sophia's explanation to me was: "Noah isn't well, and he needs this award to boost his resume."

I actually believed her back then.

I gripped my phone and softly said, "Sure, send me the details."

Sophia's voice came through the phone: "Good boy."

Just one word, and she expected me to fall in line.

I looked out the window, remembering my past self, and just felt how ridiculous it all was.

Soon after, Olivia knocked on my door, carrying takeout from my favorite breakfast spot.

She neatly arranged the containers on the table, her voice gentle: "Eat it while it's warm. I know you've been worried about Sophia and Noah lately. Don't overwork yourself."

She always appeared to care for me whenever Sophia hurt me.

Then, she casually brought up: "Noah's project is really important, Sophia can't help it. He's been weak since he was little, he can't handle it alone."

See? They always had a thousand reasons.

Noah being "unwell" somehow justified everything.

I picked up a pastry, smiling at her: "I know, Olivia. I won't make things difficult for Sophia."

Olivia smiled, relieved.

They all thought I was still the same Ethan, ready to endlessly compromise for Sophia.

The next day, I took my laptop to the library to prepare my study abroad application.

While looking for literature in the reference section, I looked up and saw Sophia and Noah not far away.

Noah was leaning into Sophia's embrace, his face flushed and looking nothing like someone who was "unwell."

He was smiling, telling Sophia, "Sophia, I'm so glad I have you. I really don't know what I'd do without you."

Sophia looked down at him, her voice filled with a tenderness I had never heard before: "Silly boy."

Sophia turned to buy water, and when she looked back, she saw me.

Sophia's expression froze for a moment, then she quickly frowned. My presence had clearly interrupted them.

I didn't rush over to confront her like I did in my previous life. I just crooked my mouth into a slight smile from a distance.

Then, I turned around and continued searching for my book on the shelf.

That gaze from behind made me uncomfortable.

I didn't care. Anyway, these days would be over soon.