"Five days until your birthday, Joe. As tradition dictates, you must marry immediately. What is your decision regarding the arrangement with Manda? Or are you going to—"
"Fine, Ma. I agree to the arrangement," Joe hissed, without a second thought.
Jena’s eyes widened with delight. She hadn’t expected those words to finally cross her youngest son’s lips. His face was grim, etched with lingering fury; Jena had actually braced herself for him to snap at her again.
"You’re serious? You agree?" Jena asked, confirming the news with a wide smile. For the first time, Jena smiled at Joe—a sharp contrast to the bitter arguments that had become their daily breakfast ritual. "If that’s the case, I’ll arrange everything immediately."
Jena scurried toward the house phone. She dialed a familiar number and began explaining everything with chirpy enthusiasm. Without hesitation, she even called a wedding planner to set an appointment. Watching from the sofa, Joe clenched his fists tightly. He told himself there was no turning back; he had to commit to this reckless choice. Yet, the fact remained that Joe had once sworn he would never, under any circumstances, accept this marriage.
His reason for refusing? Iona. And his reason for suddenly accepting? Also Iona. Or more accurately, the misunderstanding from that night. Since then, they hadn't seen each other. Joe had chosen to ignore her calls—hundreds of them. The third-year student no longer visited Iona’s classes as he used to. He felt betrayed by the only person he had ever truly trusted.
Jena was a harsh, overbearing mother. Despite Joe being the youngest of two, he was far from the favorite. He was often treated unfairly compared to his older brother, Sammuel. It was as if the best of everything was reserved for Sammuel, while Joe received the scraps. As previously told, Joe’s father had passed away years ago in an accident during a family vacation with Iona’s family.
The two families had once been incredibly close. However, due to the negligence of Iona’s father, Nando, the large vehicle he was driving swerved and was struck by a truck. Everyone in the car was injured and knocked unconscious. Tragically, only Joe’s father didn't survive; he had been sitting in the front passenger seat, the exact point where the truck impacted at high speed. Since then, Joe’s family had harbored a deep hatred for Iona’s family, refusing to ever see them again.
"Since your birthday is in five days, I’ve decided that you and Manda will get engaged tomorrow. Do you agree?"
Joe stared blankly into space. Yet, in stark contrast to his heart, his voice rang out, "If necessary, hold the wedding a week from now, Ma. Let’s just get it over with so I can focus on my future."
"Are you serious?" Jena jumped for joy. She immediately reconnected with Manda’s family. "Hello, Jeng! Yes, Joe doesn't even mind if the wedding is held next week. What do you think? Oh, really? Good... good, wonderful."
Joe exhaled sharply and moved to leave just as Jena hung up the phone, beaming.
"Manda’s family is thrilled! Thank you, Joe! This is the first time you’ve truly listened to your mother."
Joe only gave her a resentful look before walking away. He felt a bitter irony in how his mother’s attitude shifted the moment he accepted the arrangement. Of course, this was because Manda was the sole heir to the wealthiest family in Jodhokerto—owners of nearly every boutique and textile company in the region. That was the source of Jena's happiness.
Deep in thought, Joe clenched his fists again. He had only accepted the proposal minutes ago, yet he was already drowning in regret.
"I shouldn't have been this reckless..." Joe murmured, choking back tears.
＊✿❀ ❀✿＊
After that disastrous night, Iona’s condition took a turn for the worse. She was struck by a sudden fever, and her legs were severely swollen. She had tried to reach her lover countless times, but her hundreds of calls went unanswered, and her dozens of messages remained unread. She had tried to find Joe on campus several times, but to no avail. She didn't dare show up at his house; she knew she would be kicked out instantly if his family realized she was Nando's eldest daughter.
The weight of it all left her paralyzed in silence. She refused to eat and locked herself in her room. By the time she finally mustered the resolve to see Joe regardless of the consequences, she was gravely ill. In her weakened state, Iona could only lie in bed, haunted by regret. She should have told him sooner that she was engaged to Vigeno. Whatever the outcome had been, it couldn't have been worse than this.
After managed to open the door with a locksmith's help, Ira entered. Her expression was hard to read, but she looked every bit as miserable as her eldest daughter. Her eyes were filled with pity and guilt. Ira had heard everything from Vigeno; she even knew Joe's wedding was set for that very day. She decided Iona deserved to know, rather than living a life of "what ifs."
"Iona..."
Iona turned weakly. "I want to be alone, Ma."
Ira shook her head sadly. "It’s about Joe, darling..."
As if injected with a sudden burst of life, Iona bolted upright. Her eyes sparked with a flicker of hope. Her mind raced, imagining what good news could possibly have arrived this morning.
"Where is Joe? Did he leave a message?" she asked enthusiastically.
Ira remained silent, her hand merely offering a beige Fedrigoni paper. As Iona read the words, every ounce of hope drained from her face. Her lips trembled in disbelief; her cold hands flipped the wedding invitation over and over, desperate to prove it wasn't real.
"What kind of joke is this, Ma?" Tears began to flood her pale cheeks. Her body shook uncontrollably, her heart tightening with an agonizing ache. "Please tell me this is just a trick. Right, Ma?"
"Joe came by himself yesterday to deliver the invitation. But I couldn't bring myself to let you see him then. So—"
"Why didn't you tell me immediately? You did this on purpose, didn't you? You want me to be miserable?" Iona screamed in frustration. She looked at the invitation again. "The wedding is... in half an hour?!"
Realizing she was out of time, Iona scrambled to her feet and grabbed a brown outer coat. She didn't care that she looked disheveled and sickly, or that she had lost a significant amount of weight during her illness. Fueled by a sudden surge of adrenaline, she sprinted out of the house.
"Iona! You haven't recovered yet!"
Ira stopped chasing her. She decided to let her daughter pursue her one true love. Instead of dragging her back, Ira called Vigeno, telling him to meet Iona at the venue where Joe was to be married.
Suddenly, Ira was struck by a chilling premonition.
Iona kept running, pushing her frail body to its absolute limit. From the right side of the road, she saw Joe’s luxury wedding car passing by. Inside the Rolls-Royce Phantom sat Joe, Manda, his mother, and his stepfather. Manda looked stunning in a white wedding gown, her long black hair flowing beautifully under a delicate veil. Joe wore a sophisticated white tuxedo, his hair perfectly styled.
Iona focused on chasing the car as it slowed down. But no matter how hard she ran, the luxury vehicle didn't stop. Her weakened body couldn't keep up; her steps grew heavy and staggered.
"Joe! Please, just listen to me! He’s not my boyfriend, Joe!" Iona screamed, oblivious to the confused stares of onlookers. She was still in her pajamas, covered only by the brown coat, her hair a tangled mess.
Joe, hearing the familiar voice, whipped his head around. He saw Iona chasing them. Shock and instant guilt washed over him, especially seeing how deathly pale she looked.
"Driver! Stop! Pull over!" Joe shouted in a panic.
"No, don't! Keep going!" Jena glared at her son. "What are you doing, Joe? We’re already late! Don’t tell me you’re wavering now?" she hissed.
Manda watched in silence, glancing back at the girl who refused to give up. She saw the raw desperation in Joe’s eyes. He couldn't look away from Iona.
"Driver, please stop here."
Jena was stunned to hear that command from Manda. Her tone was absolute and beyond argument. Manda wasn't an egoist; she had a heart. Even though it pained her to see Iona—the 18-year-old girl who was the reason Joe never looked at her—she couldn't just stand by and let a tragedy unfold.
"Manda, dear... shouldn't we stay focused? We’re almost at the church—"
"I can't, Ma. I can't be at peace seeing this."
Iona’s strength was failing. Her breath came in ragged gasps. She knew she wasn't too late yet. But her focus shattered when she saw the church looming ahead—the very place Joe was about to marry someone else. The thought was unbearable. She would rather die than witness it.
"Joe!" Iona sobbed, her face drenched in tears.
She stared at the beautiful church. It was the place she had always dreamed of marrying him, of exchanging vows and starting their life together.
Lost in her gaze at the church, Iona forgot she was running in the middle of a busy road. She didn't see the freight truck speeding from the right, trying to beat the traffic light. The driver couldn't brake in time; he couldn't even swerve. The collision was inevitable. The front of the truck slammed into Iona, throwing her violently to the side.
"Aaaakhhh!"
Her small body was tossed several meters away. A thick, red pool began to form around her. Her vision blurred, fading into darkness. Powerless, she stared up at the darkening sky, surrendering her sorrow and disappointment to God.
"Joe... I guess this wasn't our destiny," Iona whispered before coughing up blood. She took her final breath.
＊✿❀ ❀✿＊
Everything was void. Empty. Only darkness stretched before her. She couldn't hear her own breath or the beat of her heart. Iona smiled sadly, remembering the truth: she was dead. Her only wish had been to see Joe one last time—to part ways without hatred.
God, is it so hard to grant a simple wish?
She wanted to scream, to cry out. But she couldn't even feel her own body. She felt as though she were floating between existence and nothingness.
After a moment, a blinding light pierced the dark. Iona opened her eyes, squinting against the glare. Strangely, her sense of smell returned. She smelled something metallic and the scent of damp earth. As her vision adjusted, she took in her surroundings.
"What? Why am I here? I thought I was dead," she thought to herself.
She was confused to find herself buried under a pile of cardboard boxes. With all her strength, she pushed them aside and slumped against the stone wall behind her. She was weak, her breathing shallow. She looked down and gasped. She was wearing a tattered maroon outfit.
"What is going on?!" she exclaimed. She froze. The voice that came out of her mouth was raspy and unfamiliar. She immediately clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Iona Renata. Born July 8, 2003. Died April 13, 2021, at 8:56 AM due to a concussion and blood loss." A man—no, a figure—stood before her. He was tall, dressed entirely in black, with piercing eyes and tiny pupils.
"So I really did... die?" Iona asked, defeated.
"...Transmigrated or reincarnated into the body of Stella Viviana on April 13, 2026," the figure added.
"Reincarnated? 2026? What do you mean?!" Iona cried out, still struggling with her new voice.
"I know it's confusing, but isn't this what you wanted? To return to life? To fight for your destiny?"
"I—"
The figure shook his head, silencing her.
"I am your guardian spirit. Be grateful for this chance to fix your fate. My advice: cherish this life and don't be as foolish as you were five years ago. Understood?" he said coldly.
"But how... why—"
"Get what you desire. Remember, this opportunity won't come twice. Live your life fully as Stella Viviana."
"Wait, I—"
The figure vanished. Iona tried to stand, but her head suddenly throbbed with an intense pressure. The pain of every cut, bruise, and scrape on her new body began to sear through her.
"H-help..." Iona rasped before losing consciousness once more.
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