The Page I Flipped Past

After I got a second chance at life, I burned every photo I had with Sophia. I also shredded the love letters Olivia had written me for three years.

Because in my previous life, caught between these two women, I had lived like a total joke.

Sophia said she loved me, but after I gave up my chance to study abroad for her, she left the country with Noah.

She left a note before she went: "He needs me more than you do."

I was a wreck for three months. Olivia brought me food every day, telling me, "I've waited for you for eight years."

After we got together, she came home on time every night and never socialized with any other men.

I thought I had finally made the right bet.

Until that winter, I got into a car accident. I was in a coma in the ICU for seven days, and she never once came to see me.

Instead, I heard the nurses talking: "His wife comes every day, but she goes to the room next door to take care of a patient named Noah."

Later, I found out that Sophia took Noah abroad to help him pay off his gambling debts, and Olivia had paid for everything.

Turns out, I was just an NPC in their three-person love story.

This time, I sold the house in advance and took Grandpa to study abroad.

"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 Id 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.

I didn't touch a single word of Noah's graduation project.

A couple of days later, Sophia found me in the library.

She snatched the book from my hands and slammed it onto the table with a bang.

Students around us all looked over.

"Ethan, I told you to help Noah, and you're just sitting here reading leisure books?"

I looked up at her, and at Noah, who stood behind her with an innocent expression.

"I'm just researching something," I replied.

"What research is more important than Noah's graduation?" Sophia demanded, pulling Noah in front of her.

"He hasn't slept properly for days because of this project, and you? You don't care at all."

Noah, ever so timely, tugged at her sleeve and softly said, "Sophia, don't be like that. Ethan must have his own things to do. I'll just figure something out myself."

His words only made Sophia think I was being more unreasonable.

"Listen to that!" She pointed at Noah and snapped at me, "Noah is more sensible than you! Ethan, I'm telling you one last time, I want to see a complete proposal within a week."

I watched them play their little game and averted my gaze.

I nodded: "Got it."

Sophia thought I had given in, her expression softening slightly as she pulled Noah and turned to leave.

I absorbed all the strange looks from the surrounding students.

It didn't matter. This was the last time, anyway.

Sophia finally lost her patience.

Her voice on the phone was sharp: "Ethan, what exactly are you doing? It's due in a week, and you haven't done anything?"

I turned on the faucet, the rushing water serving as background noise.

"I'm so sorry, Grandpa hasn't been feeling well lately. I've been at the hospital taking care of him, so I got delayed," I lied.

"Noah's graduation project is very important to him. Put your family matters aside for now and finish his project."

Listen to that, how entitled. My Grandpa, in her eyes, was less important than Noah's assignment.

"But..." I feigned difficulty.

"No 'buts'," Sophia cut me off directly. "Ethan, stop being petty. If Noah can't graduate, I'm not done with you."

She hung up the phone with force.

I turned off the faucet and looked at my reflection in the mirror, unable to understand how I could have been so desperately infatuated with such a woman in my previous life.

Thankfully, this time, I had a chance to start over.

The agent's call came in at the perfect moment, informing me that the house had found a buyer who agreed to full payment, and we could sign the contract today.

I replied with an "Okay."

To make the house-selling act seem more genuine, I needed to move some old furniture my parents had left behind. The items were heavy, and I couldn't manage them alone.

The first person I thought of was Olivia, who had always played the role of the reliable senior.

I called her: "Olivia, are you free? I have some old furniture at my place I want to get rid of, and I was hoping you could help me out."

A few seconds of silence, then Olivia's voice came through: "Ethan, what a coincidence, I'm tied up right now."

In the background, I clearly heard Noah's delicate cough.

"Noah has a bit of a fever, I need to stay here and take care of him," Olivia explained. "You should try to figure something out yourself, or maybe find a moving company? I'll transfer you some money later."

Noah, again.

I chuckled softly: "No need, Olivia. You take good care of him. I can manage on my own."

I hung up the phone without a moment's hesitation and immediately looked for a paid moving service online.

Why beg people for things money could solve?

After hanging up, I clutched my stomach and called Olivia again, my voice weak: "Olivia, my stomach hurts terribly. I'm at the downtown hospital right now."

Olivia immediately replied: "Don't move, I'll be right there!"

I sat on a cold bench in the emergency room lobby, watching people come and go.

Half an hour later, I saw Olivia.

She ran quickly, looking hurried, but didn't even glance my way.

Olivia rushed past me and headed straight for the orthopedic clinic on the other side.

I stood up and followed her.

At the clinic door, Noah was sitting in a wheelchair, his ankle bandaged, crying.

Olivia was (half-kneeling) in front of him, gently soothing him: "There, there, don't cry. Didn't the doctor say it's just a minor sprain? It'll heal in a few days."

"But it hurts so much..." Noah whined, pouting.

Olivia frowned, reaching out to touch his ankle, but hesitant to hurt him, her movements cautious.

Her expression was more genuine than any act she put on at my bedside in my previous life.

I stood behind them, watching.

So, the rumors I heard in the ICU in my previous life had already begun.

My appearance changed the atmosphere between the two.

Olivia whirled around and saw me, freezing completely.

"Ethan...what are you doing here?" Her eyes were panicked when she saw me.

Noah also saw me. The tears in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a defiant look.

"My stomach hurt, came to get some medicine," I said, gesturing to myself.

"Then...how are you?" Olivia stood up, looking flustered.

"It's nothing serious, just an old problem."

"Well, you should get back to what you were doing, Olivia. I'll head home after I get my medicine." I gave her no chance to explain and turned to leave.

I knew that my not looking back would only make them more convinced that I was still the jealous and helpless Ethan.

The day I signed the house sale contract and received the full payment, the weather was beautiful.

I transferred the money to a bank card, then went to school to complete the suspension and study abroad procedures.

That weekend, a mutual friend organized a karaoke party and invited me.

I knew Sophia and her crew would be there. To avoid tipping them off, I accepted.

In the private room, everyone started playing Truth or Dare.

After a few rounds, Noah suddenly rattled the dice in his hand and suggested with a laugh, "Let's play King's Game! The person who draws the King card can order any two people to do anything!"

The suggestion was immediately met with enthusiasm from everyone, including Sophia and Olivia.

Sure enough, in the first round, Noah became the King.

He announced his order: "I command number 2 and number 5 to recreate the classic Titanic 'King of the World' pose at the ship's bow!"

After he spoke, everyone started checking their cards.

I opened my palm, it was a 2.

And Sophia, frowning, revealed her number 5 card.

The room instantly erupted with whistles and cheers.

"Ethan, this is your chance!"

"Sophia, don't just stand there, hug him!"

I was pushed and shoved until I stood on the coffee table, my limbs unsure where to go.

Sophia was pushed in front of me, her face clearly unwilling.

Olivia was still laughing on the side, saying, "Sophia, hurry up, don't keep everyone waiting. Ethan, spread your arms."

I stiffly spread my arms and closed my eyes, not daring to look at Sophia's expression.

I didn't get the embrace. Instead, a strong push came from behind me.

It was Noah. He was laughing as he hugged me from behind, shouting at Sophia, "Sophia, look, isn't this the same?"

The moment he hugged me, my foot slipped, and I fell backward, completely out of control.

With a loud thud, I landed hard on the floor, the back of my head hitting the hard corner of the coffee table. The pain made my vision go black.

The drinks on the table toppled from the impact, and cold liquid mixed with fruit splashed all over me.

The whole world went silent for a second.

Then, I heard Sophia's undisguised scoff.

Sophia didn't even look at me; she just said to someone nearby, "What a buzzkill."

Olivia only frowned, "Ethan, how can you be so clumsy? It's just a game."

Not a single person came to help me up.

All their gazes were focused on Noah, who had pushed me and now had red-rimmed eyes.

Sophia was the first to pull him close, comforting him softly: "It's okay, it's not your fault, he just couldn't stand still."

The sharp pain in the back of my head continued. I lay on the cold, wet floor, soaked and utterly pathetic.

I silently got up and walked out of that noisy private room.

At that moment, I was only grateful that I had already sold my house and completed my study abroad procedures.

Only three days remained until my departure.

The third day was my birthday.

Perhaps because of the drama that night at the karaoke, Olivia's text came: "Happy Birthday, Ethan. 7 PM tonight, The Summit Bistro. I booked the best table for you. See you there."

Not long after, Sophia also sent a text: "Happy Birthday. Noah didn't mean it last time, don't take it to heart. We'll celebrate your birthday together tonight."

I looked at these two messages, feeling nothing.

Consider it our final goodbye.

I replied "Okay" to both of them.

In the evening, I took a taxi to the restaurant.

It was still the same window seat, with a view of most of the city's night skyline.

This scene was identical to my previous life.

In my previous life, on this very day, in this very place, I was wearing the suit she gave me. They were called away by Noah's phone call before they even had a chance to order.

I waited from seven o'clock until the restaurant was about to close, but they never returned.

Calls went unanswered, texts unread.

The sympathetic glances from other diners, the hesitant inquiries from the waiters, made me incredibly uncomfortable.

Until I saw a photo in a friend's Ins story.

In the photo, he was dressed in a tuxedo, holding a cake and smiling. Sophia and Olivia stood on either side of him, looking at him with doting expressions.

The caption read: "Grabbed two knights last minute to eat cake. It's not a birthday, but who says you can only eat cake on your birthday!"

Turns out, my birthday was far less important than his impromptu celebration.

"Ethan? What are you thinking about?" Olivia's voice pulled me back from my memories.

Olivia and Sophia had already arrived and were sitting across from me.

The dishes were served quickly. No one spoke, and the atmosphere was a bit tense.

Olivia raised her glass first: "Ethan, I was wrong that day. I'll drink to that. Happy Birthday."

Sophia, for once, didn't have a stern face, though her eyes were still complex.

Just then, Olivia's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, immediately answered, and her voice changed: "What? How could he suddenly faint? Which hospital?"

She hung up, her face apologetic as she looked at me: "Ethan, I'm so sorry, Noah...he fainted from acute low blood sugar. He's at the hospital right now, I have to go check on him."

Before I could say anything, Sophia had already stood up, coat in hand, and said to Olivia, "Let's go together. One person might not be enough."

Just like in my previous life, they abandoned me again for Noah.

Olivia promised me: "Ethan, you eat first. We'll settle him in and be right back, quickly!"

They left in a hurry, the private room door closing, cutting off the outside world.

The world instantly became quiet.

I looked at the table full of food and didn't wait another second.

I picked up my jacket and called a waiter.

"Hi, check, please."

Walking out of the restaurant, the evening breeze blew on my face, cold, yet I felt clearer than ever before.

I took out my phone and blocked and deleted Sophia's and Olivia's contact information.

This time, I wouldn't wait anymore.

I hailed a taxi and went straight home.

Pushing open the door, the house was empty.

Aside from Grandpa's and my suitcases, there were no traces of a life lived here.

I took off the soiled suit, and without a second thought, threw it into the trash.

Along with that suit, the last vestiges of my feelings for Sophia were also discarded.

I walked into Grandpa's room. He was already asleep, his breathing steady.

I tucked him in and kissed his forehead.

Grandpa, this time, I will take you away from this place that caused you so much sadness.

I barely slept the rest of the night.

I checked our documents and luggage again and again, making sure everything was perfect.

As dawn broke, I woke Grandpa.

"Grandpa, how about we go to a very distant, fun place?"

Even though Grandpa's memory was a bit hazy, he loved me the most.

He looked at me, smiling and nodding: "Okay, Ethan. Wherever Ethan goes, Grandpa goes."

The morning light streamed through the airport's floor-to-ceiling windows, warm and inviting.

I held Grandpa's hand, walking step by step towards the boarding gate.

Goodbye, Sophia.

Goodbye, Olivia.

And Noah.

May your love last forever.