Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

When Chloe tried to run into the burning building to save Jake, I stopped her.

He ended up losing both legs.

After cheating death, he couldn't face this reality and took his own life with a knife.

Chloe held his hand, tears streaming down her face.

Jake, babe, don't leave me! I was waiting for you to marry me!

In that moment, she seemed to forget that I was her fianc.

I knew well that Chloe and I would never get married now. Yet, I still drove us both to Jake's funeral.

On the cross-sea bridge, Chloe suddenly screamed, accusing me of being Jake's murderer, demanding I pay with my life.

In the struggle, the speeding car swerved, crashing through the guardrail, and plunged into the sea with us inside.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the day of the fire.

This time, when Chloe tried to charge into the flames, I didn't stop her.

...

If I'd been more observant in my last life, I would have noticed the sheer panic on Chloe's face was way beyond what you'd feel for just a friend.

She didn't hesitate for a second, even facing the inferno.

To be honest, even after loving her for years, I don't think I could have been that decisive.

As Chloe screamed Jake's name and rushed past me, she barely glanced my way. Her look was ice-cold, like I was a stranger.

In that split second, she vanished into the inferno.

Like a moth to a flame, hell-bent on saving her beloved.

A love that selfless I couldn't compete.

So after she ran in, I just found the nearest firefighter, told him someone was in there, and walked away.

Three's a crowd in any relationship. Someone had to bow out.

Might as well be me.

The fire made huge news. Even before people figured out the cause, the internet was flooded with reports and live streams.

That's how I found out Chloe actually managed to save Jake this time.

Except the chandelier meant for Jake's legs crashed onto Chloe's face instead.

When they were pulled from the wreckage, one wounded on the left cheek, the other on the right.

They held hands tightly. and kissed passionately in front of the cameras.

Their act got dubbed the "#CoupleGoals" moment.

Their scars were romanticized as "marks of true love."

The headline was everywhere C websites, TV, newspapers. My parents saw it too.

While the internet swooned over Chloe and Jake's "epic love," my parents were grim-faced, especially when they looked at me.

They had a million questions but held back for my sake.

Finally, seeing their concern, I explained.

"I've decided. Once Chloe's out of the hospital, I'm calling off the engagement. We haven't registered the marriage, thankfully. We just need to inform the relatives."

The words were barely out of my mouth when Chloe's parents burst through our front door. They each grabbed one of my arms.

"Ethan, you can't call it off! You're the only son-in-law we'll ever accept!"

The Evans and my family, the Millers, had been neighbors and close friends for decades.

Chloe and I were the same age.

When my parents were swamped with work and couldn't pick me up from school, Mr. and Mrs. Evans would give me a ride.

If my parents weren't home yet, they'd warmly invite me for dinner.

I remember warm yellow light spilling over little Chloe's face, making her look like a little golden bunny, utterly adorable.

"Ethan, sit next to me! Then you can eat the rice I don't want!"

Chloe never liked eating plain rice, only the dishes. So whenever we ate together, I'd pile her favorite dishes on her plate.

After she was full, I'd finish whatever rice she left behind.

Remembering this, I drifted off for a second.

Mrs. Evans snatched a newspaper off the coffee table, jabbing a finger at Jake's picture, furious.

"A pauper from the sticks! No degree, no job! Over my dead body will Chloe marry him!"

Chloe's parents poured out their woes at our house for a long time.

Just the usual.

how their daughter was blind, rejecting a fine young like me for some useless deadbeat, and now it's all over the news.

All sorts of relatives had been calling, which made them exhausted.

My parents sat there, nodding felt wrong, not nodding felt worse.

Their perfect future daughter-in-law ran into a fire, got her face messed up, then locked lips with some random guy on live TV, splashed across every media outlet.

Who could stomach that?

By the end, the Evans were steaming mad too.

They clutched my hands, swearing up and down.

"Don't you worry, Ethan. We'll make sure Chloe gives your family a proper explanation"

I didn't respond. Just politely saw them out.

My parents sighed behind me.

"Ethan, honey... what are you going to do?"

Without the memory of my past life, I might have still hoped Chloe could explain it all away. After all, our childhood bond had become part of me, not easy to sever.

But now, I knew with absolute clarity. Chloe and I were done.

I straightened my mindset and gave my parents a calm smile.

"Mom, Dad, I think love has to flow naturally. You can't force these things."

After that, I gathered some files from the study and headed to the office.

Passionate about software development, I'd started a small tech company after college with some buddies, Dave and Alex.

With the engagement prep, I'd barely been around lately. Seeing me today, Dave and Alex were shocked.

The "#CoupleGoals" hype was everywhere. Including Twitter and everything else, it felt like the whole planet had seen it. They were no exception, so they looked at me with awkward sympathy.

"Ethan, man, if you need to handle family stuff, go ahead. We've got the office covered."

Truth was, we'd landed a massive contract. Everyone except me was drowning in work. Dave and Alex, especially C hadn't been home in weeks, I heard.

I clapped them on the shoulder gratefully.

"I'm good. Ready to dive back in headfirst."

Alex looked surprised.

"So... you and Chloe? Splitsville?"

Seeing my non-committal look, they exchanged a glance. Dave hesitated, then spoke up.

"Look, I've wanted to say this. A woman like Chloe, wavering between two guys she doesn't deserve you. Remember the rumors back in college?

That she got pregnant by Jake and had an abortion while she was dating you? And they still couldn't cut it off clean? She'd wasted years of your life, man."

I knew about the abortion rumors.

Sophomore year, someone snapped them going to a private women's clinic. Chloe looked rough coming out.

The whole department buzzed. Chloe, supposedly dating Ethan Miller, was cheating and got an abortion for some guy from the community college.

After that, Chloe took a long leave, claiming she was sick and needed rest at home.

When I visited, she was ghostly pale. Even the warm light couldn't brighten her. She looked half-dead.

I wanted to ask about the rumors, but she threw herself into my arms first, sobbing, her tears quickly soaking my shirt.

"Ethan, it's all lies! You believe me, right?"

Her big eyes were red and swollen, like a hungry little rabbit begging for mercy.

Just then, Mrs. Evans walked in, tears and snot streaming.

"Our Chloe just got sick! Who knew people would twist it like this? What rotten luck!"

"Some photo from God-knows-where! That guy? I've never even seen him! How do they make this stuff up?"

"Ethan, honey, you and Chloe grew up together! We were going to be family after your graduation! You can't believe these vicious rumors!"

The sheer conviction in Chloe and her mom's voices made it impossible to push further. It eased my doubts, somehow.

Now, thinking back

Mrs. Evans swore she didn't know Jake, yet the second she saw his picture, she rattled off his background, his lack of education, his unemployment. Didn't sound like someone she'd "never seen."

A bitter laugh escaped me. I playfully punched Dave's arm.

"Hindsight's 20/20, huh? Where was this wisdom back then?"

Dave scratched his head, embarrassed.

"Telling a buddy to dump his girl? That's bad karma, man. You made your choice; you had your reasons. Me butting in would just hurt our friendship."

Dave nailed it.

Adults are responsible for their own choices.

Meddling just breeds resentmentor worse, like in my last life, cost me my life.

This time, I'm only responsible for myself.

Step one. Get my career on track.

I threw myself into the project. Partly to make up for my absence, partly hoping its success would launch the company forward.

After pulling three all-nighters at the office and finally catching some rest, my mom called.

"Ethan, sweetie, if you can, come home. Mrs. Evans insisted on bringing Chloe over. Says they need to apologize."

It sounded chaotic on the other end. I could hear Chloe crying.

I rubbed my temples and agreed..

Pushing open the front door, I saw the living room packed.

My parents, the Evans family, and a couple of community mediators.

Seeing this, my face fell instantly.

Chloe, who'd been crying non-stop, ducked her head when she saw me.

The burning chandelier in the fire had left her left cheek covered with a palm-sized bandage.

My parents rushed over.

They didn't look happy either.

Mrs. Evans spoke first.

"Ethan, honey, we're here to clear the air. The wedding date's set! We can't just cancel it!"

The others with her chimed in.

"Yes, couples have little disputes. Just talk it out. Don't throw it all away!"

"You two have history since childhood. Would you really split over this?"

"Honestly, Chloe was just being heroic! No need to make a big deal."

"What matters is building a life together!"

"..."

I slammed my phone face down on the coffee table. My gaze locked onto Chloe, cold and steady.

"What do you want?"

Before Chloe could speak, her mom jumped in.

"Ethan, of course she wants to make up! After all these years, you know how she feels about you!"

I ignored her, staring straight at Chloe.

"Chloe, love can't be forced. I won't force you. Don't force yourself either."

At that, a light seemed to flash in Chloe's eyes.

"I want to be with Jake."

She looked at me, maybe a hint of guilt in her gaze.

"I admit I failed you, Ethan. But I was just chasing true love! That's not wrong!"

In that moment, a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Mrs. Evans exploded, ready to argue, but her words died in her throat as Chloe cut her off, slapping a ultrasound picture on the table.

"I'm pregnant with Jake's baby."

"I listened to you last time and got rid of my first baby. You won't force me this time!"