Chapter 8
After graduation, when I came home again, the Parkers had already moved away.[]
Unable to survive that financial crisis, they couldn’t afford the HOA fees in the wealthy neighborhood anymore.[]
I ran into Jonas again at a bar with my friend.[]
He was dressed in hip–hop gear, carrying a guitar, arguing with Rachel in heavy makeup backstage:[]
“I told you we don’t have two million! We don’t have it!]]
“I’m busting my ass playing gigs here every night to earn money for our wedding – what more do you want!“[]
But Rachel wouldn’t let it go:[]
“Your family used to be fucking rich! Even if you’re down and out now, how can you not have that kind of money lying around![]
“You just don’t want to spend it on me!“]]
Jonas frowned:
“Are you only with me for my family’s money?!“]
Rachel paused.]
Then, like she’d made up her mind about something:[]
“What else would it be? You think hanging around with that bookworm all the time, not even knowing how to drink properly – what do I’d want?
you
have that
“My parents are dead. Is it wrong for me to find someone who can support me? If you can come up with the shit money, great. If not, I’ll find someone else!”
There was a sound of things being thrown around backstage.
I was about to get away from the drama when the door flew open.]
Jonas’s eyes were red:[]
“Ruby?”
His eyes lit up:
“You’re back?“]]
I bought him a drink and sat across from him, listening to his updates.]
He downed the drink, and his first words were totally heavy:]
“Ruby, I fucked up so bad…“]
I refilled his glass, and he knocked it back, his eyes watering as he gripped the glass tightly:[]
“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking making that stupid decision.
“Ruby, seeing where you are now… God, I really regret it. I do. I really, really do…“]
“We had it all in our past life – the money, the status, everything. If we did it over, we would’ve done even better, but I…“[]
I watched him in silence.
I’d figured all this out when I was first reborn. Hearing him say it now felt pretty pointless.]
But honestly, truly hearing him say he regrets it felt pretty good.
Chapter 8
I paid the bill and got up to leave.]
But he frantically grabbed my hand:[]
“Ruby! Ruby, don’t go! Can you give me your number?“]
Ever since I started college, I’d blocked Jonas on everything.
He’d never tried to add me back either.
“Ruby, I regret it all now.
“Just give me a chance – I’ll get back into studying, I’ll get into your school, we can be classmate again, please?”
I yanked my hand away:
“I already graduated.“]
“Ruby!“]]
He still wouldn’t give up and tried to grab me again, but another hand stopped him.]
“Back off. What the hell do you think you’re doing to her?”
The man’s cold voice sobered Jonas up completely.
He stared at the man beside me in shock, his voice trembling as he looked at me:
“Ruby, who is he?“]
