Chapter 3No Return to the Harbor Anymore

Derek's handsome brow furrowed. He waved a hand in front of my face.

"Sophie?"

I snapped back to the present. The boy in front of me had clear, bright eyes, with none of the dark hatred I remembered from my past life.

But I scrambled to my feet, putting as much distance between us as I could.

"I... I have something to do. I can't make it to the basketball game. You guys go ahead."

I was afraid of him. Truly terrified. Just being near him made me tremble.

He looked momentarily stunned, as if he couldn't process me rejecting him for the first time. After all, wasn't I always the one chasing after him?

He thought for a moment before speaking. "Sophie, are you mad at me? Because I brought Luna a gift the other day and not you?"

Mad? A bitter smile touched my lips. I didn't have the right to be.

In my last life, Derek had never said he liked me, but he'd never said he liked Luna, either. Yet he was always by her side.

And I was the blind fool who couldn't see it. The fool who still harbored delusions. Who dared to compete with Luna.

No wonder my end was so miserable.

The bell for the next period rang, saving me. If I remembered correctly, it was gym class. Our class and the one next door had a basketball game.

Luna was in the next class over. I could already see her standing by their classroom door.

Derek didn't press the issue. He gave me one last look before turning and jogging toward Luna, who was waiting for him.

Watching their retreating backs, side by side, I let out a long breath of relief.

But I hadn't even had a chance to properly enjoy the sunlight of my new life when, just before school let out, a call from my mother summoned me to the hospital.

Luna was having an episode. She needed a blood transfusion.

Just like in my last life. Whenever she needed it, I was her on-demand blood bag.

At first, when my parents told me Luna had a rare disease that required frequent transfusions, and that my blood type was a perfect match, I was actually happy. I had plenty of blood. I could save my sister.

I knew long ago that my parents loved her more. She was their biological daughter, after all. I couldn't fault them for that. I just thought that if I was good to her, extra good, my parents would be happy. And if they were happy, maybe they would love me again, too.

But Luna was too greedy. She was always crying, always needing my blood. The transfusions became more and more frequent, until I could barely handle it. It was always worse when Derek was around.

Just like now.

I rushed to the hospital in a taxi. Just before they pushed me into the treatment room, Derek quickly shoved a gift box into my hands.