"Ah!"Liora jolted awake. Her breath came in short, quick pants. Her eyes darted around the room. This is my room, Liora thought. Have I gone back in time?
Her gaze landed on her tablet. "Oh, my tablet! It's not broken yet!" she said excitedly. She grabbed it and quickly checked the date. "14 March 2019…" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "I'm back… two years ago…"
"Liora! Get—" Her mom walked into the room mid-sentence. "Oh! You're already awake. What a surprise."
"I suddenly woke up after dreaming I was falling…" Liora said, still dazed.
"Well, go shower and then help your dad load the car. By the time I come back, you better not be asleep again!" her mother warned.
"Yes, Mom!" Liora nodded quickly and hurried off to shower.
— An hour later —
Liora stared out the car window. A sea of green forest rolled by as they headed toward Owos.
It's impossible not to meet him, huh? she thought. How am I supposed to forget him if I meet him again? Will I fall in love all over again?
She shook her head.No. I could never forget how he betrayed and insulted me. Her hand pressed against her chest. It ached—as if a thousand knives were stabbing her. Even breathing became painful.
Suddenly, a translucent screen popped up before her eyes.
"Attention, host! A new mission has been activated: "Forget My First Love."Once the mission is complete, you will be awarded the Erase Elixir to forget your memories from before regressing.
First Quest: Change all endearing encounters with your first love, Ashen, on 14 March 2019.Failure to do so will result in punishment."
Liora blinked. "What in the world…?"
"Did you say something, Liora?" her sister Crystal asked.
"No," Liora muttered, shaking her head.
So I complete quests until the mission is over... Changing all the encounters, huh? Fine. I'll just ignore Ashen as much as possible, she thought with a confident smile.
"Liora, you're on your period today, so if you get bored, just read your tablet," her mom said. Liora nodded. "Yes, Mama. I downloaded a bunch of books to read."
— At Owos —
Liora was carrying the lapiz her mom had made to the family's tent. Okay! You can do this, Liora! Just pretend you don't hear anything. Just keep walking. He doesn't deserve your attention!
As she neared the tent, a familiar voice rang out across the water. "Anyeonghaseyo!"The young man was waving excitedly, his smile bright and eager.
Liora froze. She took a deep breath. I can do this.
She turned her head slightly, pretending to look around as if she hadn't noticed him.
She shrugged her shoulder and continued walking to the tent.
"Hi, everyone!" she greeted cheerfully. "Aunt Rose, where can I put the lapiz?"
"Oh! Just put it on the table there with the rest of the snacks," Aunt Rose said, pointing.
Liora nodded, set the lapiz on the table, and smiled to herself. I did it. First encounter changed!
"Great job changing the first encounter, host! Good luck with the rest.Remember: Don't create new precious memories with Ashen either!" The system window popped up again.
Liora ignored it and placed down the other bags she'd been carrying.
"Liora, we're done unloading the car. You can sit on the hammock over there if you want to read in peace," her mother said.
"Yes, thank you, Ma!"Liora grabbed her tablet with a grin and made her way to the hammock, ready to dive into her fanfictions.
"Isn't she gonna swim?" Aunt Rose asked.
"She's on her period," her mom explained. "We're waiting for it to stop."
Aunt Rose nodded in understanding."Liora! Remember to get some food if you're hungry!" she called out.
Liora turned around."Yes, Aunt Rose!"
She was now sitting quietly in the hammock, completely absorbed in the world of fanfiction.
"Liora, I brought you some macaroni and barbecue chicken," her mom said. "Eat it before flies get on it."Liora looked up to see her mom holding a plate. She took it with a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Mom. Love you," she said.
"I love you too," her mom replied, placing a cup of soda beside the hammock before heading back.
'Yummy barbecue chicken!'Liora bit into the drumstick and soon finished the rest of her macaroni and soda. Then, happily full, she returned to her fanfiction.
I feel like I'm forgetting something important… What was supposed to happen again? Liora wondered.
Just then, a gust of wind blew past, sending her empty plate and cup flying a few meters away. With a sigh, she got up to retrieve them.
As she bent down to pick them up, a familiar song began to play.
"Agust D" by Agust D.
Liora froze.Oh no… That's right! In my past life, Ashen played a BTS song, and I rushed over to him the moment I heard it. I was so excited to meet another BTS fan...
She clenched her fists.Ignore… ignore! You must resist BTS for the sake of your heart, Liora! Yes! I must change the encounter!
Taking a deep breath, she straightened up.I'll pretend I'm a new BTS fan who doesn't know the solo songs. That's it! Just act clueless! I'll get some more food instead—food is safe. Food won't betray me!
With great effort, Liora tore herself away from the hypnotic beat and made her way back to the tent to grab some snacks.
I remember after I walked over, we bonded a lot.He even danced "Mic Drop" for me. But if I don't go over now… then none of that will happen. That's good. That's what I want.
She picked up a bag of chips.
If I don't go over, the future me won't remember falling in love with Ashen. I won't remember the way he laughed or the way he left me behind to swim with my cousins and how I teased him about it later.
Liora took a deep breath and stuffed a chip in her mouth defiantly.
No bonding. No "Mic Drop." Just snacks. I can do this.