Ever since Andrew was born and lost his innocence as a child, he only had one dream. A quiet and peaceful life with a loving wife and spoiled children. And for him to have that life, he must at least have a decent job to support such a life no matter how ordinary.
Andrew was actually successful enough to have that kind of job when he turned 25 years old as a successful writer. Unfortunately, not one woman stays more than a few days in a relationship with him. The longest relationship he had was actually a week.
When Andrew turned 41 years old and had his 100th break up, he's had enough.
That is why, about early 3 in the morning, on a rooftop of a building, just on the edge, Andrew was contemplating life and having trouble deciding if he should jump or not.
He's been stuck for 3 hours now, which means he's been on that position since 12am.
"Sigh, should I give up? Or should I continue? Sigh."
Elsewhere
"YOU'VE BEEN ASKING THE SAME QUESTION FOR THE LAST 3 HOURS! JUST JUMP ALREADY!" screamed a ROB while looking at Andrew.
Yet no matter what he said, Andrew was unable to hear him and so, nothing happened.
"….."
"OH, THAT'S IT!" reaching a certain point on his patience, the ROB moved in a flash.
Back to Andrew.
He was still deep in thought, sitting at the edge of a building's rooftop, when suddenly a gust of wind blew over him. Then, dark clouds gathered near the building through the darkness, as lightning seemed to gather in it.
Andrew barely lifted his head to look at the dark clouds forming nearby when lightning suddenly struck near him. It traveled through the railings towards him as the shock pushed him off the rooftop.
Before his body could hit the ground, his consciousness had already left.
The next thing Andrew saw was an old man staring daggers at him as if he's done something to warrant such reaction from someone he didn't even recognize.
"Uhhh,,,,,, Did I do something wrong?" Andrew asked with curiosity.
The old man stared for a bit more before he finally stopped and breathed out as if letting go of something.
"Sigh…Technically, you didn't, it was me who did something…" The old man started, but as he was about to continue, he couldn't help but shout his next words.
"BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE IF YOU SIMPLY JUST JUMPED AND END IT ALL!!! Why couldn't you do it sooner? You were destined to jump from that building, SO WHY DIDN'T YOU?"
Andrew could only stare at him in silence…
Then, a moment later, as if the words of the old man finally registered, he answered.
"I was actually going to do it, but before I could, a gust of wind pushed me back to my place." Andrew answered honestly as he rubbed the back of his head and laughed it off.
"Y- y- you- YOU DAMN MORTAL!!!!!!" shout the old man in anger as the place quaked.
"Uhhmm, I'm sorry?" Andrew apologized in confusion as the old man rubbed his temples as if he was on the verge of an explosion.
After a few moments of silence, the old man sighed heavily.
"Fair enough, it was my fault in the end and altered your destiny. You were supposed to die at your own hands, but since you were going to die because of me, I immediately took away your soul from your body to spare you the pain of dying."
"T- thank you? I guess?"
Andrew answered, not sure if he should be thankful, honestly speaking, no amount of pain would have registered on his aching heart at that moment.
That was the main reason he was going to jump from that building anyway, to die and maybe feel a bit of pain from it.
Not the pain of being left alone, of being given up upon, the pain of being unworthy to be loved, the pain of failing to keep that which is important to his heart.
"Anyway, since it was through my intervention that you died. It is only proper that I also give you a choice."
"What choice?"
"To reincarnate with a clean slate or transmigrate with your memory intact, but with a certain catch."
"So, it's basically the blue and red pill choices? Just like Neo?" The old man smirked.
"You could say that."
"What's the catch?"
"You get to choose the world you want to transmigrate into and also get to choose your cheat or golden finger or boon or whatever you want to call it."
Andrew thought about it and let it all sink in. All he ever wanted was someone to love him back the way he did. Someone who would settle down with him for a lifetime and raise children together. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Can I, can I ask you to get me wife instead of a boon?"
"I can't."
"Why not? You can give me something extra ordinary but unable to give me a wife?"
"It's not as simple as that. No matter how powerful a being is, what's the use of controlling someone else's will if it's not really what they feel?"
"Then what can you do to get me a wife?"
The old man thought for a while before saying.
"How about this, instead of a boon and your choice of world, I will change it into a chance encounter with someone from a random world where you will be sent. You will have 3 chance encounters and this will happen on two people if the first one fails to be become your wife."
"I can accept that as long as those people are both females." Andrew commented sarcastically.
"Hahahahahahahaha…. Of course, of course what else could it be but females only." The old man cracked up, amused at Andrew.
"You have to understand though, the choice to be your wife is theirs alone. I am simply giving you an opportunity."
"That's plenty enough, Old man. I really hope I can finally get one."
"I am sure you will. Curious question though, if you don't mind."
"Shoot."
"I thought you've given up? What's with the sudden change of decision?" Andrew stared at the old man and honestly answered.
"That time, when I was about to fall off. I felt regret of giving up then the next thing I know, a gust of wind pushed me back. I held on unconsciously or on instinct. Then, I just knew, I don't want to give up yet. So, thank you old man, thanks for this second chance." The old man smiled at him.
"You're very much welcome. Now, I am sure you'll know which world you'll be in once you're there. Oh, and you get to keep your first name."
"Sweet, Can I have Neo's last name?"
"Are you sure? Andrew Anderson sounds like a mouthful."
"I like it!"
"You have a weird taste kid." Andrew just grinned at him.
"What job would you like to have?"
"Can I not?"
"Okay, so rich kid it is. You'll be an only child of a rich couple with an inheritance where you won't have to work a day in your life even if you get married. Sounds good?"
"That's actually a lot. I'm just afraid if you're breaking some rules?"
"I'm not breaking any rules kid, we're simply converting your right to have a boon and a choice to which world you get to transmigrate to."
"That's fine, I guess? This way, I get to focus on getting myself settled down and raise children of my own."
"A fine dream, for a fine man. Good luck. Do you have any other request or questions?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Oh, I know, I'll just gift you something that can help you in that to world blend in."
"Thanks, old man, I won't forget your kindness."
With a snap of the old man's finger, everything turned dark as Andrew's soul was sent to another world.
End of Prologue
AN: I plan to post this in p.a.t.r.e.o.n
Schedule of updates: Starts August 6, 2025
WN: 1 chapter per week
Chapter 1 is free so you can check it out first if it's to your taste.