Literally Die in His Tenderness

Chapter 6

That explained why I felt this dangerous mix of anticipation and unease in the stairwell. And why Troy had entered the elevator only to show up on the stairs again. As for why everything fell apart... it was probably because I had been reborn. It all clicked: Terra was the reason.

I suddenly remembered that night from four years ago. The night I first saw Troy at university, and it was love at first sight. I knew about Terra, his childhood sweetheart, so I never told him how I felt. But then, on my birthday, my sister and I went out to a bar for the first time. Troy was there, and he and Terra were in the middle of a heated argument. It was too far away to hear the details, but it was clear they weren't getting along.

On my way to the bathroom, I bumped into Terra. I was dazed, still wearing my birthday hat. She looked at me and asked, "It's your birthday?"

That was the first time I saw her up close. Beautiful, with a sly, almost flirtatious energy.

"Uh…" I wasn't sure how to answer, but before I could say anything, she kept talking.

"Happy birthday," she said, a smile playing at the corner of her lips, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sorry for bumping into you. Here's a glass of wine as an apology, and a blessing. I made it myself. Maybe your birthday wish will come true after you drink it."

For some strange reason, I drank it. My wish was simple, to be closer to Troy. And, that night, my wish came true. Amid the cheers and playful teasing, Troy blushed and confessed to me. I knew it was partly to get back at Terra, or maybe it was the result of a dare, but I still couldn't help feeling a rush. I believed that if we spent time together, he'd eventually realize I was just as good as Terra.

The next four years went by, and for the most part, it felt like he loved me. But then everything changed when Terra came back from studying abroad. And just like that, Troy dropped a bomb on me.

"I actually never liked you," he said, out of nowhere.

He wanted to break up.

Gordon's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You scared?"

I exhaled slowly. "If this... thing inside me, the insect... if it stays, will the other person fall for me? Even if the original person is around? And... can it be removed?"

The little girl nodded solemnly. "Yes, the Substitute Insect causes emotional attachment, but only the original owner can control it. If she knows you're the stand-in, she'll hate you. It can be removed, but..."

She hesitated, then added, "If it's taken out forcefully, the person who placed it will suffer a backlash."

My stomach sank as she continued. "Unless the host of the insect dies. That's the only permanent solution."

So that was it. The only way for Troy and Terra to truly be together was for me to die first.

The little girl's voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "Aubrey, since you're Gordon's friend, I can help you take it out. It'll hurt a bit, but I'll move fast. As for the backlash... that's just her fate."

I didn't think twice. I wanted it out, whatever the cost.

She carefully pricked my middle finger with a needle, and blood dripped into a small glass tube. Then she muttered something I couldn't understand.

I watched as a small bulge appeared under my skin, moving slowly toward my fingertip, following the path of my blood vessels. The closer it got to my finger, the slower it moved, and the pain intensified. But compared to the agony I'd endured in my past life, this was nothing.

I bit my lip, holding back the tears. Then, a tiny black worm crawled out of the needle hole in my fingertip.