Chapter 2

"Alex, I love you!"

The resounding, unwavering confession, accompanied by the drone swarm's hum and the crowd's excited screams, snapped my consciousness back.

Chloe stood in the center of a star-filled pattern crafted from roses and lights, microphone in hand, her eyes shining as she gazed at me.

The cheers were deafening.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

It took a moment for me to realize I had been reborn.

I was back to the annual campus celebration, the very day Chloe planned to publicly declare her love for me with a drone light show.

In my past life, I'd stood right here, heart pounding like a drum, waiting for her to walk toward me.

But just as she was about to utter her final vows, her gaze had drifted past me, landing on Ryan, my friend, who was standing behind me.

I'd never forgotten that moment.

Later, I learned Ryan had an App on his phone, one that could steal love.

It was him, like a thief, who had stolen Chloe's love for me.

And now, history seemed poised to repeat itself.

I could almost feel Ryan, behind me, subtly tightening his grip on his phone, ready to pull the same stunt again.

The shouts from the crowd grew louder, and Chloe's smile became even more radiant and sweet.

Before she could utter the crucial words, I stepped forward, took the spare microphone offered by someone nearby, and spoke in a chillingly calm voice:

"Chloe, we're over."

"I don't like you anymore. I just don't feel anything."

Those words landed like a bombshell, exploding in the stunned crowd.

"Is Alex crazy? Chloe's been chasing him forever, put on such a huge show, and he's publicly blowing her off?"

"How could the most popular girl on campus not be good enough for him? He actually broke up with her?"

"This guy's brutal, didn't hold back at all!"

Chloe's face instantly went white.

"Why? Alex, tell me why? Is there something I did wrong? I can change!"

In my past life, I had pleaded with her just like that, only to be met with her cold disdain.

Now, it was her turn to bear that pain.

"Alex!"

A hand clamped hard on my arm. It was Ryan, his face etched with fake concern.

"Don't be impulsive, man. You and Chloe have such a great relationship, everyone's jealous. How can you just break up like that? Apologize to her, stop messing around."

I looked at his face, plastered with hypocritical concern, and smirked inwardly.

He was definitely panicking.

Suddenly, I completely understood: his App probably only worked on his current partner's love.

Once Chloe and I broke up, he couldn't steal anything from her.

That's why he was so desperate to get us back together.

I violently pulled my arm away, my former dejected self gone, my eyes sharp as daggers as I stared at him.

"My business is none of yours."

With that, I pushed through the crowd without looking back, leaving behind a wave of stunned murmurs and Chloe's muffled sobs.