Take My Place

JoJo and I were high school sweethearts, yet we lived as strangers for most of our lives.

She blamed me for using an old debt of gratitude to trap her.

She felt I was the shackle preventing her from chasing the man she truly loved.

So, when I was withered and dying in a hospital bed, she didn't hesitate.

She reached out and pulled my oxygen plug.

She wanted to spend her remaining years with my brother, the true master of her heart.

Now that I have been reborn, I've decided to grant her wish.

I stepped aside and let my brother take my place at the altar.

I watched them walk into the church, hand in hand, with a smile on my face.

I gave them my blessing and walked away from the city I called home for twenty years.

In this life, I only want to live for myself.

"Hurry up! I'm on a schedule here!"

JoJo stood in front of City Hall, tapping her foot impatiently.

There wasn't a hint of bridal joy on her face.

I stared at the sign for the Clerk's Office, my mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.

In my last life, I had reached for our marriage license with sacred reverence.

But JoJo had been faster.

She snatched the papers and threw them into the trash can right there in the lobby.

Ignoring the shocked gasps of the staff, she sneered at me.

"Congratulations, Nate. You finally got what you wanted."

"I've paid you back now. Don't ever bother me again. Looking at you makes me sick!"

The memory hit me like a physical blow, making it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, JoJo shoved my shoulder.

"I'm talking to you! Don't think acting like a statue will make me stay."

"In my heart, you aren't even worth a single hair on your brother's head."

"If you keep wasting time, we aren't getting licensed today!"

I looked at her beautiful, frustrated face and spoke two words.

"Fine then."

JoJo blinked, looking stunned. "What did you say?"

"Let's not get licensed today. You're right."

"Nate, what kind of game are you playing? Do you think this pathetic threat will work?"

A threat?

Just like before, everything I said was viewed as a scheme in her eyes.

I looked at her calmly. "Aren't you and my brother catching a flight?"

"The line inside is probably huge. I don't want you to miss your plane."

JoJo's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but her voice softened.

"Are you sure? Nick and I don't know how long we'll be gone."

"I'm sure," I said, forcing a casual shrug.

"City Hall isn't going anywhere. We can do this whenever. My brother needs you more right now."

I saw the massive wave of relief wash over her.

Without a second thought, she turned to walk away.

After a few steps, she paused and looked back.

"Nate, you're the one who called it off today. My parents"

"Don't worry. I'll tell them it was my fault we didn't sign the papers."

JoJo studied me for a long time, searching for a lie.

I met her gaze with complete indifference.

Finally, she spoke again.

"I promised to marry you, and I won't back out. But Nick's situation is an emergency."

"I'll come back as soon as I can. Don't start a fight with him over this. He works so hard, you need to be more understanding."

I nodded without expression.

She didn't wait for another word before sprinting toward the parking lot.

I watched her back disappear, feeling the familiar bitterness swirl in my chest.

Memories of my past life replayed like a tragic movie in my mind.

Last time, she stayed long enough to sign the papers, then abandoned me that same afternoon.

She followed my twin brother, Nick, across the ocean.

She didn't return for five long years.

When she finally came back, I thought I could win her over.

I thought if I gave her everything, she would eventually see my worth.

But she never gave me a chance.

She rarely stepped foot in our home.

When she did, she only had venomous words for me.

We became a couple defined by resentment and cold silences.

In the end, she was the one who signed my "Do Not Resuscitate" order without blinking.

As I lay dying, she stood by my bed with ice in her eyes.

"Nate, you used that childhood accident to tie me down for a lifetime. I hate you."

"I just want to spend what's left of my life with Nick."

"If there is a next life, I hope I never have to see your face again!"

Her final words echoed in my ears.

I slowly unclenched my fists.

This time, I won't let history repeat itself.

JoJo, if you love my brother that much, you can have him.

Nick and I are identical twins, separated only by a tiny mole near the corner of his eye.

Our parents split up when we were very young.

I moved to New York with my mother and grew up next door to JoJo.

Back then, we were actually close.

I remember the day she almost wandered into the path of a speeding car.

I lunged forward and pulled her back just in time.

From that day on, we were inseparable.

Then, when we were seventeen, my father passed away.

My mother brought Nick to live with us.

At that point, JoJo and I had only been officially dating for three months.

Since Nick and I hadn't grown up together, we were practically strangers.

But JoJo was fascinated by him from the start.

She was especially obsessed with that mole near his eye.

One afternoon, she looked at me and sighed.

"Nate, I think your brother is actually hotter than you. Why don't you get a tattoo of a mole just like his?"

That was the first time we ever had a real fight.

We didn't speak for three months.

I waited for her to apologize, to come find me.

But she didn't care. She spent every day glued to Nick's side.

Eventually, I was the one who crawled back and begged for forgiveness.

That was when the invisible wall rose between us.

No matter how hard I tried, things were never the same.

Between Nick and me, she chose him every single time.

If I showed even a hint of jealousy, she would explode.

She'd accuse me of being a petty brother.

She even said I had a happier childhood than Nick, so I should let him have whatever he wanted now.

But I didn't owe Nick anything.

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was JoJo's mother.

I hesitated before answering.

"Nate? JoJo said you backed out of the licensing! What happened? Is this about her going abroad with Nick?"

"Don't worry, her father and I will talk some sense into her. We'll make her stay."

I cut her off quickly. "Mrs. Vance, it wasn't JoJo. It was me."

"I realized I'm not ready to settle down yet. I need more time to think things through."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Vance."

The line went silent for a moment before she let out a long, weary sigh.

"Oh, Nate. Our daughter doesn't know how lucky she is to have you."

My eyes stung with sudden heat, and my voice turned thick.

"No, ma'am. I'm the one who isn't lucky enough."

"Well, no matter what happens between you two, you'll always be like a son to us."

I hung up and walked over to the wall, taking down the framed photo of JoJo and me.

In my last life, our toxic marriage broke her parents' hearts.

When Mr. Vance found out JoJo was living with my brother while still married to me, he had a massive heart attack.

He died that same night.

Mrs. Vance disowned JoJo after that.

She died alone in a nursing home just two years later.

JoJo spent years blaming me, claiming I turned her parents against her.

That was one of the reasons she was so happy to see me die.

This time, I'm walking away to save all of us.

I expected JoJo to stay away for five years like she did before.

I was shocked when she showed up at my door only five days later.

I was coming home from my last day at work when I saw my front door was ajar.

As I reached for the handle, I heard voices from inside.

"JoJo, since we're back for a few days, you should just have the wedding with Nate."

It was Nick's voice.

"Nick, you know I don't want to marry him. The person I want to be with isD"

"JoJo!" Nick cut her off sharply.

"I love you, but he's my brother. I don't want to break his heart. Plus, he saved your life."

"Please, just marry him. Do it for me, okay?"

I heard JoJo start to sob.

"Nick, why didn't I meet you first? Why weren't you the one who saved me?"

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the doorknob.

Even with a second chance at life, hearing the woman I loved talk like that still felt like a knife to the chest.

I stood there for a long time, but I didn't open the door.

I turned around and walked the streets until my legs ached.

In my past life, JoJo always screamed that I used my "heroism" to trap her.

But I had never once brought it up.

I would have saved any stranger in that situation.

I had even asked her, dozens of times, if she truly wanted to be with me.

She always said yes.

I never understood why she said yes while resenting me for "blocking her happiness."

Now I finally understood.

She was only doing it because Nick told her to.

It was pathetic, really.

My phone rang. It was JoJo.

"Nate, I'm back in town. Are you still working this late?"

"Yeah," I replied, keeping my voice flat.

She didn't notice my coldness.

"I'll be here for a week. Let's just get the wedding ceremony over with while I'm here."

I had begged her for a wedding in my past life.

She had called me obsessed with empty rituals back then.

Now, Nick says the word, and she's ready to walk down the aisle.

"If you're busy, we don't have to rush," I said quietly.

She sounded stunned by my lack of enthusiasm.

"Nate, what is that supposed to mean? Do you not want to marry me anymore?"

I was about to answer when Nick's voice came through the background.

"Nate, are you mad because JoJo went away with me?"

The next second, JoJo was snapping at me again.

"Nate, I already told you, ID"

I cut her off. "I'm not mad. I just don't want to waste your time with formalities."

"But if you're both set on it, let's do it. Let's have the wedding."

I hung up before she could say another word.

The wedding was set for five days later.

JoJo dragged me to a bridal boutique for final fittings.

Through the window, I saw her in a stunning white gown, leaning into Nick's arms. He was wearing a tuxedo.

The shop assistant was gushing over them.

"Oh, Mrs. Vance, you and your husband look like movie stars! I've never seen a more perfect couple."

JoJo gave a shy, radiant smile.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

The moment they saw me, they jumped apart. The smiles vanished instantly.

Nick cleared his throat, looking guilty.

"Nate, don't get the wrong idea. You weren't here yet, so I thought I'd help you out by trying on the suit. We're the same size, after all."

I looked at the tuxedo on him and smiled.

"It looks great on you, Nick. Let's go with that one."

In my past life, JoJo had planned every detail of our wedding to suit Nick's tastes.

This tuxedo was no different.

Fine. In this life, I'll let everything go to its rightful owner.

Nick looked surprised that I wasn't angry. "Don't you want to try it on?"

I shook my head. "If it fits you, it fits me. No point wasting time."

JoJo frowned, eyeing me with suspicion.

"You've certainly become more sensible lately," she muttered.

I didn't argue. I just looked at her.

"JoJo, work is crazy right now. I have a huge project I need to finish."

"You and Nick should handle the rest of the wedding prep. I trust your taste."

JoJo nodded, seemingly happy to be left alone with him.

I knew my presence was just making things awkward, so I turned to leave.

"Nate!" JoJo called out as I reached the door.

There was a flicker of unease in her eyes.

"Is something wrong? You've been acting different."

I shrugged. "Not really."

"It's just ever since that day at City Hall, it's like you're a different person."

I thought about it for a second. "I just realized a few things, that's all."

She looked like she wanted to push for more, but I didn't give her the chance.

"Go back to your fittings. You're the bride. I'll see you later."

I stayed away from her for the next few days.

The night before the wedding, JoJo came to my place with my tuxedo.

She found me packing a suitcase.

"Nate? Why are you packing?" Her voice was tight with anxiety.

"I have a business trip in two days," I said calmly. "Just getting a head start while I have a free night."

She exhaled, relaxing.

She handed me the garment bag, her voice unusually soft.

"Here is your suit for tomorrow."

"Just put it on the couch," I said without looking up. "I'll check it later."

"Nate, ID"

She was interrupted by her phone. It was Nick's ringtone.

"Hey, Nick? What's wrong?"

"Okay, don't move. I'm coming over right now."

She stood up to leave, but paused by my side.

"Nate, I know you feel insecure sometimes. After the wedding tomorrow, we'll go straight to City Hall and make it official. Okay?"

I was genuinely shocked she would offer that.

But she didn't wait for an answer. She hurried out the door.

She was so sure I could never say no to her.

The next morning, I carried my suitcase to Nick's hotel room.

I left the tuxedo at his door with a letter tucked inside.

"Nick, JoJo, I know you love each other. This wedding should belong to the people who actually want to be there."

"JoJo, I know I tried to force things. Today, I'm letting you go, and I'm letting myself go too. I hope you two are happy."

Then, I headed to the airport.

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