In my previous life, Ash locked me in his world. He controlled my phone, my friends, my every step. He used his illness as a chain and treated my fear as loyalty. When I tried to leave, he broke my bones and called it love. I died in that cage. Then I woke up on the day I confessed to him. This time, I cut him off before he could touch my life again. No hesitation. No mercy. I’m alive again, and I’m not his cure or his possession. I’m here to take back everything he stole—starting with my freedom. I was tortured to death. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day when my crush rejected me. As we were cutting the cake, they encouraged me to confess. Gathering my courage, I said, “Ash, my birthday wish is you.” Ash’s hand holding the cigarette trembled. He smirked and said, “Sorry, you’re too good. Not my type.” In my previous life, because of these words, I went crazy, thinking about my miserable end. My whole body felt cold, and I wanted to kill Ash right then and there. “Nova, are you okay?” “Ash, can’t you say something nice?” Ash maintained his laid-back and nonchalant attitude, lazily blowing smoke rings. “I’m not good at lying.” His lazy British accent was quite alluring. But hearing it now, I only felt disgusted. In front of everyone, I coldly made a new birthday wish. “Ash, I hope that for eternity, you and I will never cross paths again.” I blew out the candles. They tried to stop me, but couldn’t. Ash’s smile froze on his face. “Nova, are you serious?” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make a new wish, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything just now.” No need. I ignored him and started cutting the cake. Ash rushed towards me, grabbing the blade with his right hand. “Nova, I’m talking to you.” The blade cut his finger, drawing blood. Someone exclaimed, “Blood! Ash, you’re bleeding!” I knew he was having an episode again. Ash had a severe psychological disorder. In my previous life, only I could stop him from having these episodes. Oh, to be precise, only I could before that poor junior girl appeared. Because of this, I always thought I was special to him. Until I heard him comforting that poor girl in his lazy tone. “She’s different from you.” “At most, she’s just a placebo. Only you are my sole medicine.” “Without you, I’d die.” I let go of the knife and said, “If you like it so much, you can have it.” As I turned to leave, Ash threw the knife aside and grabbed me. His bloodied finger stained my white shirt. “Nova, who are you trying to impress with this attitude?” The blood terrified me. Uncontrollably, I remembered the things from my previous life. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, I fainted. When I woke up, Ash was by my bedside. “Awake?” “You made me angry, yet I had to carry you back. Nova, how do you plan to make it up to me?” Ash was a player. He often said these ambiguous things, making me harbor inappropriate hopes. But I was no longer who I used to be. I knew very well that when faced with someone he truly liked, Ash couldn’t utter a single flirtatious word. Even when confessing, his voice would tremble. I sighed and said, “I’m tired.” “Ash, let’s not see each other anymore.” 0
The next day, I went to school alone. Ash didn’t wait for me. I knew this was his punishment for me. He was waiting for me to apologize. But I ignored him all day. In the afternoon, I was sleeping in the classroom when someone shook me awake. “Nova! Wake up! Ash’s fighting with someone on the basketball court!” Still half-asleep, I was dragged to the basketball court by my deskmate. “Quick, go look! Ash’s gone crazy, only you can stop him!” No. He was wrong. I didn’t need to go over there. Because his leading lady had already appeared. I guessed right. By the time we arrived, Ash had stopped fighting and was sitting to the side, drenched in sweat. Beside him sat a girl. She had a low ponytail, a serene expression, and was holding his hand. Her voice carried a hint of choked emotion. She said softly, “Ash, you’re hurt.” Ash hated being touched by outsiders. He tried to pull his hand away. But when his eyes met mine, he paused, his gaze darkening, allowing Lily to hold his hand. The senior he had beaten was leaving, supported by his classmates. “Wait,” he called out to them. He pointed at Lily beside him. “Apologize.” The senior’s face was bruised and swollen. A classmate tried to persuade Ash, “Ash, let him go to the hospital first.” Ash refused, his voice deepening as he repeated, “I said, apologize to her.” Lily grabbed Ash’s hand, shaking her head, “It’s okay, Ash, I’m fine.” The senior, beaten so badly, still had to bow and apologize. Someone asked why he was beaten. My deskmate answered, “He called her poor, and Ash overheard.” “Serves him right! Who told him to be so mean!” “Ash is so cool! A hero saving the damsel in distress!” “Is this a campus romance happening right before our eyes?” Only I knew that wasn’t the truth. In my previous life, the senior was forced to transfer schools by Ash. Before leaving, he came to warn me about Lily. He wouldn’t say more, probably scared by Ash. The senior needed to go to the hospital, but the ambulance would take some time to arrive. I went over and said, “Take my car.” The senior was stunned and said, “Thanks, but no need.” Ash ran over and grabbed my arm. “Nova, are you deliberately trying to upset me?” I looked at Lily behind him, her eyes red from crying. “Mind your own business.” “If you dare leave, don’t ever come find me again.” I left without looking back, leaving them in a mess. “Bang!” There was a commotion behind me. Ash had punched the basketball hoop. Tsk, doesn’t he feel pain? 0
Ash and I haven’t had much interaction lately. I heard that for Lily’s sake, he hasn’t been fighting for a long time. He’s even turned over a new leaf and started studying hard. Ash’s friends called him to go to the internet cafe. Lily whispered to him, “You haven’t memorized your English vocabulary yet.” Ash sighed deeply and sat back down. “My family’s strict, I can’t go.” I hear stories like this from my deskmate every day. But whenever they see me approaching, they stop talking and go back to their own business. “She’s so pitiful.” “Yeah, she chased Ash for so long, only to be snatched away by a poor junior girl.” Pitiful? I don’t think so. My paperwork for studying abroad is all set. Once I pass the Japanese language test, I’ll be off to study my favorite major, journalism. My beautiful new life is about to begin. That day, on my way home from school, Ash’s mom stopped me: “Nova, Ash forgot his medicine again. Could you please take it to him for me?” I really wanted to refuse. But seeing the bruise on Ash’s mom’s wrist, I sighed and said, “Alright.” I asked Ash, “Where are you?” He took a long time to reply, sending me a location. Pool hall. In my previous life, I had been there countless times. When I arrived, I knew exactly where to go. The pungent smell of smoke made me feel sick. I spotted Ash immediately. He was at the central pool table, gambling with someone. There was a thick stack of cash on the table. I walked over and tossed him the medicine. “Your mom asked me to bring this to you.” Seeing me, Ash frowned and said, “Who told you to come?” I didn’t bother responding to him. I dropped the medicine and turned to leave, but someone blocked my way. “Ash, is this your girlfriend?” Ash sneered, taking a cigarette offered to him and tucking it behind his ear: “Do you think that’s possible?” Just then, Lily came in with her backpack. As soon as she entered, she started coughing. Ash stood up, shielding her. “Put out all the cigarettes.” The guy with yellow teeth who had stopped me earlier grinned. “Looks like the real girlfriend is here.” Lily’s face turned red. “Ash, don’t talk nonsense. The teacher said we can’t…” “I know.” Ash lightly tapped her nose. “Be good, call me ‘brother’ and I’ll let you go.” Lily exclaimed “Ah!” and pointed at the cigarette behind his ear: “Ash, didn’t you promise me you’d quit smoking?” I noticed Ash’s gaze fall on me. Suddenly, I remembered that I had also asked him to quit smoking before. Because I had asthma since childhood and couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. At that time, he didn’t even bother to pretend, deliberately blowing smoke rings in my face, saying, “Can’t do it.” A cold smile crossed my lips as I tried to leave, but someone grabbed me again. “Don’t go, little sister.” “Ash, hurry up. It’s two on two. My girlfriend’s here, who’s going to play on your side?” 0
I just walked away. Lily tugged at my sleeve. “I… I don’t know how to play pool.” I frowned and said, “What’s that got to do with me?” “I…” Intimidated by my harsh tone, Lily’s eyes welled up with tears. Ash ran over, shielding her behind him, and confronted me: “Can’t you speak nicely?” “Psycho.” I tried to leave, but he blocked me. Fed up, I deliberately provoked him: “What’s the deal, Ash? Playing hard to get? Want me to be your girlfriend?” “In your dreams.” “Then don’t block my way.” I left, and this time no one stopped me. I heard Lily panicking behind me, asking, “What should we do, Ash? I don’t know how to play pool.” Ash patiently comforted her: “Silly, with me here, we won’t lose.” I had no interest in the outcome of their game. But that evening, during dinner. My mom kept sighing, saying, “I saw Ash’s mom again today, she was covered in bruises. His dad is really going too far…” “By the way, Nova, why haven’t I seen Ash come over for dinner lately? Did you two have a fight?” “No.” “That’s good. If you’re free, invite him over more often…” I looked up, interrupting my mom. “We’re not friends anymore.” “What? Why?” I took a bite of the tender fish. “No reason. I just can’t stand blind people.” My mom cautiously asked, “Is Ash dating someone?” I put a piece of fish in my mom’s bowl. “Yeah, and they’re sickeningly sweet.” They’re acting out some idol drama and insist on dragging me, a passerby, to play the supporting role. Early the next morning in the classroom, I heard Lily crying. “What should I do, Ash? It was in my backpack this morning, but now it’s gone!” My deskmate told me: “The class fund that Lily was keeping has disappeared. Everyone’s helping her look for it.” I casually said, “Why not just check the security cameras?” Lily reacted defensively, coming over to me and saying, “Nova, I may be poor, but I’m not so poor that I’d steal the class fund.” I didn’t even say she stole it, why is she so defensive? Ash came over and coldly commanded. “Apologize to her.” I put my backpack on the desk and sat down. He threw my backpack and flipped my desk. Ash was having an episode again. “Apologize to her, didn’t you hear me?” The classmates didn’t dare to make a sound, and no one dared to come stop him. I bent down to try to right my desk, but Ash grabbed my neck. His eyes were red as he said, “A-po-lo-gize.” I couldn’t breathe, tears welling up in my eyes. My neck quickly developed a red mark from his grip. Lily tried to stop him: “Ash! Ash!” He wouldn’t listen to anyone, staring at me with red eyes, not knowing who he thought I was. It took several teachers rushing in to separate us. Lily went forward and hugged the frenzied Ash. “It’s okay, it’s okay, Ash. I don’t care about others, as long as you believe me, that’s enough.” He buried his head in her shoulder, but his gaze was fixed in my direction. I was taken to the infirmary by the teachers. His gaze was obscure, constantly fixed on my retreating figure.
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