They had just come back from class. Even outside, Luna was still lost in her own world, chatting nonstop.
Elira, already frustrated with all her meaningless talk, forced a fake smile. She continued to tolerate it, pretending she was genuinely happy with Luna, masking her true feelings beneath a perfect act.
As they reached the garden area, they saw Zyan standing right in the middle of the ground—with a flower bouquet in his hand and a mad man's smile plastered on his face.
The moment Elira saw him, her expression didn't change, but her eyes narrowed slightly. She already knew what was coming next. A smirk formed on her lips. A wicked, knowing smirk—as if she had been waiting for this very moment.
In her previous life, Zyan had proposed to her at this exact time, in this same place. And from that day onwards… her life had become a living hell.
Elira's Inner Thought:
With a mysterious smile
"Zyan, in this life… I won't fall into that trap again.
After your proposal, everything went downhill.
You made my life hell.
But this time, I'll play this love game with you—on my terms."
Zyan stepped forward toward Elira, his creepy grin widening with every step.
He stopped right in front of her.
Elira, swallowing down her growing rage, spoke in the sweetest, softest voice she could fake,
"Zyan? What happened? Why are you standing here like this… with a bouquet?"
She tilted her head innocently, acting like she had no clue what was going on.
But inside her mind, with a cruel smirk…
"You bastard. Do you think this cheap gesture and empty proposal will melt me? Not this time."
To everyone watching, Elira looked like the picture of innocence—a sweet, shy girl caught in a surprise moment.
But around them, whispers had already started.
A girl from the side whispered, "Oh my god… that's Zyan! Why is he standing in front of Elira with flowers?"
Another chimed in, "I think… he's going to propose to her."
First girl: "No way! How could he propose to Elira? He doesn't even like her. Everyone knows it was always one-sided—Elira liked him and kept chasing him!"
Another girl joined in, "And don't forget the rumors… they said she stalked him. Even blackmailed him into a relationship."
First girl gasped, "Eww, really?"
Second girl: "Yeah, and someone said she even threatened to end her life if he didn't agree to be with her."
Third girl: "So cheap…"
First girl nodded, disgusted, "Honestly, so desperate."
Second girl: "He's probably proposing to Luna. Look at her—she's beautiful. Only someone like Luna suits him. And honestly, they do look good together."
Third girl: "Yeah, you're right. He must be proposing to Luna."
Meanwhile, all the gossip hit Elira's ears like a storm. Her anger surged. Her fists clenched behind her back. Every lie, every whisper, every rumor from her past life came flooding back.
Elira's Thought:
"In the last life… everyone said I chased you. That I blackmailed you.
They said I forced you to be with me.
But the truth is… yes, maybe I chased you first. But you agreed. You said we should keep the relationship secret, to avoid gossip.
You fed me all those beautiful lies—
That love could distract from your studies. That privacy was for protection.
And like a blind fool, I listened to you. Obeyed you. Believed every word you said."
Her nails dug into her palms.
"I stood by your side, loving you in silence. While you ignored me like I didn't exist.
You told me we had to hide our love. But in truth, you just wanted to hide me.
I was the joke. The psycho. The stalker. The blackmailer.
People said I was insane. But you?
You just stood there like a statue. You watched me fall, break, and bleed—and you enjoyed it.
I was too blind to notice then, but now I know what your smile meant when they humiliated me.
You never loved me. You used me.
And once you found someone better, you tossed me aside like garbage."
She smiled now—not with sadness, but with rage wrapped in sweetness.
"But this time? I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget.
You're about to propose to me, hoping I'll accept and fall into your trap again.
But no, baby… not this time."
On the other side, Luna was completely stunned. Her jaw nearly dropped.
Luna's Thought:
"Is this idiot seriously going to propose to Elira?
He must've lost his mind.
Elira better reject him.
Just look at that fool!
Ugh… I feel like throwing up just looking at him.
She shouldn't even think about saying yes to this goofball."
Back on the main stage of this twisted scene, Zyan took a deep breath and prepared himself to propose.
Zyan's Thought:
"I know how to control you…"
He smirked inwardly.
"My mother may have rejected our relationship, but I know your value.
You're going to be very useful to me in the future.
All I have to do is polish you, shape you… and use you when the time is right."
Flashback….
Zyan: "Mom… why did you humiliate Elira like that?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes held a spark of calculation.
His mother scoffed and folded her arms.
Zyan's Mom: "Because I don't want you to have any kind of relationship with her. That girl belongs to an average family. She's not rich.
Zyan let out a small laugh, walking a few steps, then turned to her with a twisted grin.
Zyan: "Mom, why don't you get it? That's exactly why we need to keep her close.
You've no idea how blindly she trusts me… how madly she loves me.
She would do anything for me—even destroy herself if I asked."
He stepped closer, his voice lowering, eyes gleaming with darkness.
Zyan: "In the future, she'll be useful in so many ways.
If I go into a relationship with her now, we can drain her emotionally—and financially.
Even if she's not rich, we can use her to cover things—small expenses, housework… everything.
You always complain about all the house chores, right?
She can take care of all that like a free maid. And because she loves me, she'll never say no."
He leaned back, voice calm but filled with venom.
Zyan: "And once I'm done using her completely…
I'll break up with her.
Then marry someone rich.
A girl from a family that'll actually benefit us."
His mother stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled—proud and wicked.
Zyan's Mom: "Oho! My son has grown up so much.
You're turning into a copy of me!"
She slapped his cheek playfully, laughing softly with satisfaction.
Zyan smirked, pure evil behind his charming face.
Zyan: "So Mom, I have your permission now, right?
To go into a relationship with her?"
His mom nodded with a cruel smile.
Zyan's Mom: "Of course, my son. Of course.
Go… and trap her completely.
Just make her feel like she's the queen of your world…
until she's nothing but a pawn in our game."
Present time…
Zyan dropped to one knee in front of her.
With all eyes on him, he extended the flower bouquet toward Elira, his voice soft and coated in fake romance.
Zyan (in a dreamy, romantic tone):
"Elira… I know this might seem sudden but… I just want to confess that I love—"
SLAP!
Before he could finish, a loud, thunderous sound echoed through the garden.
Elira had slapped him.
Hard.
With her full strength.
Her palm struck his cheek so fiercely that he stumbled back, crashing onto the ground.
His face stung violently—burning with the imprint of her fingers. A red, furious mark spread across his cheek.
For a moment, he couldn't even move.
He just lay there—eyes wide, frozen in disbelief.
He looked up… staring at Elira, whose face was calm—ice cold, emotionless.
The crowd gasped.
A beat of silence followed.
Murmurs broke out.
The girl who once chased Zyan blindly… who supposedly loved him madly…
Just slapped him?
Gasps. Whispers. Confusion. Shock.
Some stood frozen.
Others exchanged stunned looks.
And then… Luna.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Luna's Thought (in shock):
"Wait… what?! Did Elira just slap Zyan? Really?!"
Her expression instantly shifted into a wide grin.
Luna (with excitement, smirking):
"That's my girl! You did perfect.
That dumbo totally deserved it!"
She was about to burst into laughter watching Zyan lying there like a fool—but somehow managed to hold it in, biting her lips to control herself.
Zyan remained on the ground.
Frozen.
He could now hear the quiet chuckles… the growing laughter… the mocking voices behind him.
Zyan's Thought (furious):
"Elira… How dare you slap me?!
You'll pay for this.
I gave you the chance to be with me, and this is what you do?
Just wait… the moment you enter a relationship with me, I'll show you who I really am…"
People in the crowd didn't hold back.
Random student: "He looks like a clown!"
Another: "No… like a poor beggar holding rejected flowers!"
Someone else: "Just look at his face—pure humiliation!"
Zyan's rage built like a volcano. His blood boiled as the mocking laughter grew louder.
He clenched his fists, pressed his teeth hard, and somehow managed to push himself up, seething with fury.
Zyan (through gritted teeth):
"Elira…"
But Elira didn't flinch.
She didn't speak.
She didn't even glance back.
Expressionless.
Cold as ice.
As if nothing had happened.
She simply turned around and began walking away—her posture proud, unaffected.
Zyan stared at her back.
Zyan (shouting): "Eli… Elira!"
But she didn't stop.
Didn't respond.
Didn't feel anything.
Luna, who had been silently enjoying the entire drama like a movie, watched as Elira walked away.
Without a word, she began to follow her—smiling proudly.
Zyan still stood there—alone, humiliated, boiling with rage.
Zyan's Inner Thought (dark, trembling with anger):
"Elira… you don't know what you've done.
You'll pay a heavy price for this insult.
You dared to slap me—in front of the entire college?
You humiliated me?
You… b!tch.
For this… I'll take everything from you.
You've declared war…
Now get ready for the consequences."
Scene change…
"Eli... Elira! Please wait—walk slower! Just stop!"
Luna called out loudly, her voice echoing across the corridor.
Elira stopped in her tracks.
Luna hurried over, nearly breathless. She finally reached Elira, bending down and resting her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
After a few deep breaths, she stood up straight, her face lit with excitement.
Luna (grinning wide):
"What was that?! What did you just do?!"
She laughed, her eyes sparkling.
"I knew it! I knew you didn't actually like him! All those rumors—they were all lies. And today… today you proved it!"
But Elira stood there—blank, emotionless. Her eyes gave away nothing.
Luna (still smiling, talking fast):
"I never wanted you to get into a relationship with that dumbo anyway. He's totally not worth it.
You did the right thing.
You should always keep your distance from that kind of goofball."
But inside Elira's mind… a storm was brewing.
Elira's Inner Thought (confused and guarded):
What..? But..?
"Why… why is everything so different in this life?
In the previous life, she was happy—excited—when I got into a relationship with Zyan.
But now? Now she's the one advising me to stay away from him?
Why is she acting so kind to me in this life?
Has she really changed…?
No… no, Elira. Don't fall for it.
Don't melt from her sweet words.
She's the same person who betrayed you before.
Don't forget that. Stay on your path. Don't trust her again."
Meanwhile, Luna kept chattering excitedly, completely unaware of the silent war happening inside Elira's heart.
Luna (beaming):
"You did perfect! That slap? It was iconic! You should've seen his—"
But before she could finish, Elira interrupted softly.
Elira:
"Luna… I just remembered something. I need to return to my dorm.
See you tomorrow."
Her voice was low, calm, but distant.
Before Luna could respond, Elira turned and started walking away—leaving Luna standing there, confused.
Luna (murmuring, shocked):
"What's wrong with her lately?
Why is she acting so strange… so distant?"
She let out a deep sigh, concern settling on her face.
Luna (quietly):
"God… please protect my girl."