Reborn To Chasing My Own Horizon

In my previous life, after my pilot mother passed away, I was taken in by her brother-in-arms. His two sons were my shadows, protectors who granted my every wish since we were kids.

That all changed when their childhood obsession returned from her studies abroad. Suddenly, I was met with nothing but cold shoulders and silent treatment.

They didn't just let her steal the credit for my flight achievements. They forced me to abandon my wings and enter a forced marriage as her substitute, leading me to a lonely, bitter end.

Now, I have returned to the moment the Sterling twins tried to pressure me into a flight competition for their precious Winona. I didn't cry, and I didn't argue.

I simply turned around and submitted my application to the National Combat Pilot Team. This time, I am chasing my own horizon and serving my country's skies.

On the training field, the buzzing voices of the others grated against my ears.

"Gia, you're the reason Winona's hand is hurt! What's wrong with taking her place in the competition?"

Young Sean Sterling, clad in his olive flight suit, glared at me with a darkened face.

Beside him, Shane Sterling yanked off his aviators and chimed in.

"Exactly! You're obsessed with training anyway. Just look at this as an extra practice session."

Behind them stood Winona Zell, tears streaming down her face like a wilting lily.

"It's all my fault. My hand is just too weak. Don't make it hard for Gia anymore."

"I can handle the pain. Sean, Shane, please don't worry about me."

I looked at the three of them performing their little drama, and a wave of nausea washed over me.

In my past life, Winona had made a bet with the ace pilot from the neighboring class. The prize was exclusive weekly access to the training grounds.

Three days before the race, she suddenly claimed I had bumped into her, injuring her hand. The twins didn't hesitate to force me to fly in her stead.

Now, the scene was repeating itself. Instead of resisting like I did before, I gave a calm, slow nod.

Sean wiped away Winona's tears with a look of heartbreak. "Winona, don't be scared."

"Gia hurt you, so this is her penance! It's the least she can do."

Shane looked at me in disbelief, nudging his brother's arm. His voice was thick with excitement. "Brother, look! Gia actually agreed!"

I spoke up before they could celebrate. "I have one condition. All of your after-hours training slots belong to me."

We were at the new campus of the Flight Academy, where resources were tight. After-school practice time was strictly regulated for every cadet.

That was exactly why the other class had used training time as the stakes for the bet.

The brothers froze, their faces hardening as they instinctually prepared to refuse. But when they met my unwavering gaze, Sean reluctantly caved.

"Fine. If that's what it takes for you to help Winona, consider it a deal."

Shane, always following his brother's lead, added a threat. "You better train hard. If you lose this race, you're going to regret it."

With that, they escorted Winona away to rest. I stood still under the setting sun, watching their retreating silhouettes.

In my last life, my refusal to sub for Winona led to a campaign of bullying and isolation led by these very brothers. It ended with me crashing during a test flight due to a mental breakdown and being expelled.

I won't let history repeat itself. I won't swallow any more insults.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and headed straight for Coach Miller's office. I knocked and walked in, declaring my intent to join the National Combat Pilot Team.

Coach Miller's brow furrowed. He looked at me skeptically for a long moment before speaking.

"Gia, you spend every waking moment following those Sterling boys around. Are you really ready for the isolated, grueling life at the base?"

"Besides, the elite team requires a brutal entrance exam. You should think this over carefully."

My voice didn't waver. "I have thought it over. It is my final decision."

"Becoming a combat pilot is my lifelong calling. It's what I was born to do."

"Coach, my grades and physical scores are at the top of the class. I know I can do this."

Miller's eyes filled with sudden admiration. He stood up and actually started clapping.

"Good! That's the spirit we need. You're a true talent of this academy!"

"Since your mind is made up, I'm behind you. I'll register you for the selection trials in three days."

Three days. That was the same day as the competition I'd promised Winona I'd fly. I asked the coach to keep my application a secret until then, and he gave me his word.

Leaving the office, I hopped on my bike and headed back to the Sterling estate. As I pushed open the door, I saw a crew moving things into my room.

"Oh, Gia, you're back! You don't mind if I keep a few of my dresses in your closet, do you?"

Winona's tone was dismissive, showing zero intent to actually wait for my permission.

When I didn't immediately respond, Shane snapped at me from the hallway.

"What are you standing there for? Get your old, dusty junk out of the way."

"Don't you dare get dust on the dress Winona's wearing for her birthday tomorrow. Or else!"

I clenched my fists inside my sleeves. Tomorrow was also my birthday.

But they didn't seem to remember that at all.

Near the closet, the flight suits they had gifted me in the past were tossed carelessly on the floor. They used to say I looked cool in them, that I was born for the cockpit.

Now, those suits were just "old trash" compared to Winona's British-style skirts and delicate bows.

My room was being colonised. There were the silk dresses Sean bought to spoil her and the custom perfumes Shane had ordered for her.

The brothers' hearts had been occupied by her, and now my physical space was next. I silently began packing my clothes, taking the opportunity to fill my suitcases for good.

The next morning, I woke up to an empty house. They had already left for the festivities.

In the kitchen, there was a bowl of traditional birthday noodles and a small gift on the table.

Our housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, told me that Mrs. Sterling had left them for me before her business trip.

I ate the breakfast with a small smile, then rushed to the airfield for training. I stayed until the stars were out, my muscles aching from the physical drills.

When I finally stepped out of the gym, the twins and Winona were waiting for me at the gate.

"Gia! Where have you been? we've been looking for you all day!"

"Winona was thinking of you the whole time. She insisted on bringing back cake for you to eat!"

Back at the house, the twins were busy lighting candles on a massive strawberry cream cake. After Winona made her wish, she cut a small slice and shoved it toward me.

"Try it, Gia. It's delicious."

"The boys drove halfway across the city just to get this specific one for me."

Winona's voice was dripping with smugness. She kept pressuring me to take a bite.

She didn't know I was deathly allergic to strawberries. But the Sterling brothers knew perfectly well.

When I was eight, my mother died in the line of duty and left me to her friend, Sandra Sterling. On my first day here, I'd nearly died from anaphylactic shock after eating a strawberry.

Since then, Sean and Shane had banned strawberries from the house. It was a rule they had enforced for a decade.

But now, for Winona's happiness, they acted as if they'd never heard of it. I looked at them, searching for a spark of memory or concern.

Instead, when I tried to push the plate away, Shane lost his patience. He grabbed the fork and forced a piece of the cake into my mouth.

"Stop being so dramatic. Why do you have to make everything difficult?"

"Just eat it. Don't ruin Winona's kindness with your sour attitude!"

Ten years of history had vanished from their minds. Our bond had been erased by a single summer with Winona.

Winona was happily devouring her cake, but she started coughing after a big bite. Sean jumped up instantly to get her water.

Shane rubbed her back, his voice tender. "Slow down, princess. Nobody's going to take it from you."

I watched the scene, a bitter taste blooming in my mouthDand not just from the cake. They used to look at me like that.

I must have been staring too long because Sean looked up and caught my eye. The warmth for Winona vanished, replaced by an icy stare that made my heart stop.

I looked away quickly. Within minutes, my throat began to itch and my skin felt like it was on fire.

I excused myself, claiming I was exhausted from training. They barely nodded as I hurried to my room.

I decided to white-knuckle through the hives. If I took the heavy-duty antihistamines, I'd be too drowsy to fly the next day.

Luckily, I hadn't swallowed much. The reaction stayed manageable, but the sting in my heart remained.

Over the next few days, I spent every second I could on the training grounds. Finally, the day of the competition arrived.

I skipped my morning milk and only ate two boiled eggs to stay sharp. Coach Miller came by early to remind me the elite trials were happening that afternoon.

The weather was gray and moody. By the time the conditions cleared for takeoff, two olive-drab jets sat waiting on the tarmac.

I was in my gear, standing across from my opponent, Leo Ford. The challenge was simple: a high-stakes time trial through a complex course.

I climbed into the cockpit, my heart thrumming against my ribs. I adjusted the dials and flipped the ignition.

The engine roared to life. "Pilot One ready for takeoff. Requesting clearance."

Seconds later, Leo's signal came through. The tower gave us the green light, and I pushed the throttle forward.

Once airborne, I was in the zone. I hit every mark and executed every maneuver perfectly. But as I neared the final stretch, my head began to spin.

A wave of unnatural dizziness hit me. I thought back to my breakfastDwas there something in it?

Suddenly, the instructor's voice crackled in my ear. "Gia, you're drifting off course! What's going on up there?"

I couldn't find the breath to answer. I saw Leo's plane gaining on me in the periphery.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper, using the pain to stay conscious. I fought the controls, forcing the jet back onto the line.

When I finally slammed the lever down and landed safely on the runway, I was ahead. I had won.

But as I climbed out of the cockpit, there were no cheers. Instead, a pair of hands grabbed my flight suit and yanked me down.

"Gia! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have crashed!"

"You were supposed to represent our class, and you pulled a stunt like that? Are you insane?"

Shane was shaking me. I tried to speak, to tell him I felt sick, but the world went black.

When I woke up in the infirmary, the sun was already setting. My heart sankDI had missed the elite selection trials.

Then, the news got worse. My win was disqualified due to "unauthorized maneuvers." Our class had lost the training grounds for the week.

I tried to sit up, to explain the sabotage, but the twins were already there, looking at me with pure disgust.

"Why did you take allergy meds before a race, Gia? Are you that stupid?"

"You did it on purpose, didn't you? You wanted Winona to lose face!"

I stared at them. "I didn't take anything. I think my breakfast was tampered with."

"I had to fly like that because I was about to pass out!"

Nobody believed me. The room was filled with the judging whispers of my classmates. They didn't care if I had almost died; they only cared about the lost practice time.

Then, Sean dropped a folder on my lap. It was a formal disciplinary notice.

I looked at it in shock. They knew a mark like this could kill my career. They were willing to destroy my future just to appease Winona.

After they left, my heart felt like a block of ice. I was about to drag myself to find Miller when he walked in with a high-ranking officer.

"Cadet Evans, I have some news for you."

"This is Commander Zachary Vance of the Eagle Squadron. He's here to see you."

I scrambled out of bed and snapped into a sharp salute. "Good evening, Commander! Pilot Gia Evans, sir!"

Zachary Vance was a legend, the kind of ace pilot every cadet dreamed of becoming.

Miller explained that because of the weather, very few candidates had finished the trials that afternoon. But the Commander had watched my morning race from the tower.

He had seen my struggle and my recovery. He knew it wasn't a stuntDit was a feat of pure grit.

I was so excited I couldn't sleep a wink that night. The next morning, the entire academy gathered to hear the selection results.

Commander Vance stood on the podium and read three names. "Valerie Cross, James Thorne, and Gia Evans."

The crowd went silent. Winona's head snapped up, her face pale. She hadn't made the cut.

The twins looked like they had been struck by lightning.

"Sean, Shane, what's happening? Gia didn't even take the test and she got in?"

Sean tried to comfort her, but his voice was shaky. "Don't cry, Winona. We'll go find out what kind of mistake they made."

But Zachary was already heading out. He caught my eye and checked his watch.

"You have two hours to pack your things. My transport leaves at six sharp. Don't be late."

Two hours was plenty. I only wanted the things my mother had left me.

When I got back to the Sterlings', I pulled out the old trunk. Inside was my mother's pristine flight suit, her pilot number gleaming on the chest.

I touched the fabric, tears pricking my eyes. I felt her spirit with me, a ghost in the cockpit.

I left the expensive gifts the brothers had given me over the years. I only packed my essentials and my mother's legacy.

Suddenly, my door was kicked open. Sean stood there, his face twisted in a scowl. "What are you doing with that suit?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but Shane pushed past him.

"We talked it over. You're going to give your spot in the Eagle Squadron to Winona."

"She studied abroad for this. It's her dream to serve. You're just doing this to spite us."

His words were like daggers. I swallowed the bitterness and stood my ground.

"I earned that spot. I'm not giving it to anyone."

"If Winona wants in, tell her to ask Commander Vance herself."

I grabbed my suitcase and tried to walk past them. I had never spoken back to them like this before.

Shane's face turned purple with rage. "You're really going to be this selfish? Look at how you're hurting her!"

Sean's eyes landed on my luggage. "Wait, where do you think you're going?"

"Winona wanted my room, didn't she? I'm making it easy for her. I'm leaving."

Winona appeared in the doorway, reaching out to grab my arm. "Gia, please don't go. It's your room, I couldn't possibly..."

I was running out of time. I shoved her hand off. "Move. I'm done with this."

She let out a small cry and collapsed backward. Sean caught her instantly, his eyes blazing.

Shane lunged forward and shoved me hard. I lost my balance and slammed into the heavy wooden banister.

A sharp pain shot through my lower back, making me gasp.

"Gia! How can you be so cruel? You actually laid hands on her!" Shane screamed.

"Our mother should have never brought a stray like you home. You're nothing but an ungrateful bitch!"

Winona whimpered in Sean's arms, playing the victim to perfection. The physical pain in my back was nothing compared to the death of my affection for them.

I looked at the brothers and realized I had spent a lifetime chasing the love of two men who would never value me.

"Don't worry. Once I'm gone, I'm never coming back."

As I dragged my suitcase toward the front door, they finally realized I wasn't bluffing.

"Fine!" they yelled after me. "Go! And don't you dare come crawling back when you fail!"