Damar leaned his arm on the table, sipping champagne while eyeing Evan inquisitively. "Another new girl?" he asked casually. "What happened to the last one?"
Evan blinked, his mind scrambling to catch up with this sudden shift in reality. "Huh?"
Damar chuckled and gave Evan's shoulder a light slap. "Come on, Van. I know your pattern. There's always a new girl every few weeks. If it's not Vanessa, it's someone else. What was her name last time? Fanny? Felicia?"
Evan said nothing. His stomach churned. This wasn't him. Or… was this the new version of him in 2018, one he couldn't remember?
Damar kept talking, unaware of the chaos inside Evan's head. "Honestly, I don't know how you juggle it all—work, parties, women. Like you never get tired."
Evan swallowed hard. Sure, before the curse, he had jumped from one relationship to another—but not like this. Now Damar could name women Evan didn't even remember. How many women had he "known" in this timeline?
Ayla, who had been glued to her phone, finally glanced their way. "Seriously, Evan. When are you going to settle down?"
Evan turned to her quickly. "What?"
Ayla sighed. "You're 25. Instead of thinking about your future, you're still playing around."
Evan almost laughed bitterly. "Already 25"? If he were honest, he'd turned 25 three times. This year might be the fourth. The future? His future kept getting reset.
Damar added jokingly, "Careful, bro. You might end up old and alone. Or worse—immortal."
Evan stiffened, his heart skipping a beat.
He forced a laugh, even as a thousand alarms rang in his head.
Evan stared at his phone, rereading his father's message: "Come home. We need to talk."
His heart thudded slowly. He knew this wasn't just a casual text. That terse, direct tone only meant one thing: his father was angry. And Evan had a sinking feeling the reason had to be Vanessa—the girl who suddenly clung to his arm earlier.
He took a deep breath and typed out a reply.
"Okay, Dad. On my way."
After sending it, Evan glanced at Damar and Ayla, who were still deep in conversation. They didn't seem too concerned with his presence. No point sticking around.
Before leaving, his eyes searched for Sienna among the catering staff. He needed to be sure of something. But she was nowhere to be seen.
With a storm of emotions swirling inside him, Evan walked out of Reza and Nadira's wedding venue. He got into his car, started the engine, and drove toward his parents' house.
He had to be ready. Whatever his father had to say tonight, he knew it wasn't just going to be a simple scolding.
Evan entered the house with heavy steps. As he opened the door, the familiar scent of wood and warm tea greeted him—but tonight, the atmosphere felt more tense than usual.
In the living room, his father was already seated on the couch, wearing a stern expression. His mother sat beside him, hands clasped in her lap, eyes filled with worry.
"Sit," his father said firmly.
Evan obeyed, sitting across from them. He glanced at his mother, hoping for a hint of support, but she only let out a soft sigh.
"Who was that girl?" his father asked bluntly.
Evan rubbed his face, trying to find a response that wouldn't make things worse. "Her name's Vanessa. She's... just a friend."
His father narrowed his eyes. "A friend?" His tone was full of skepticism. "I'm not blind, Van. From the way she held you, the way she spoke—it's clearly more than that."
His mother finally spoke, her voice gentle but sharp. "Van, can you explain this? Why do you keep playing around with different women?"
Evan lowered his head, déjà vu flooding him. He'd heard this before, before the curse. But back then, he hadn't cared. Now? Something felt off inside him.
"Damar mentioned something too," his father continued. "He asked, 'What happened to the last one?' So this isn't the first time you've brought someone new around."
Evan exhaled. "Dad, I…"
"You've changed, Van." His father shook his head. "Last year, I thought you were maturing. But now? You've fallen back into your old habits. What kind of man do you want to be?"
The words struck deeper than Evan expected. Not just because they were harsh—but because… his father was right.
Last year, in 2017, he had changed. He took work seriously, grew interested in Raka, put family first. But now, after the year reset—or more accurately, after his birthday failed to move forward—he'd reverted to his former self. At least, that's what the world saw.
But he didn't want that.
He wanted to explain, to scream that none of this was his fault. But what was the point? They wouldn't understand.
"I'm sorry," was all he could say.
His father sighed deeply. "I don't want apologies, Van. I want you to think. Do you want to stay like this forever?"
Evan was silent. He had no answer. All he knew was that he had to figure out how this all happened. Why the world had changed, why Raka had vanished, and… how to break the curse.
His father fixed Evan with a sharp stare, hands clasped on the table. The living room's air grew heavier by the second.
"Remember, Van." His voice was low but pressing. "You're 25 now. Your mother and I are getting older. The company needs you too."
Evan swallowed, trying to stay calm. "I know, Dad. I'm serious about work."
His father let out a small scoff, clearly unconvinced. "Serious?" His tone rose slightly. "Serious means disappearing from the office whenever you feel like it? Hanging out with women who only care about luxury handbags?"
Evan rubbed the back of his neck, feeling cornered.
"Dad, I'm not—"
"Don't deny it, Evan." His father cut him off. "You used to be ambitious. You worked hard, had a clear goal. But now? You think I don't know you skip work hours? That girls come and go? That you're just drifting through life without purpose?"
His mother's voice broke in, softer but just as piercing. "Van, your father just wants you to reflect. How long will you keep this up?"
Evan said nothing. There was no defense he could give. Because they were right.
This world saw him as the same Evan he used to be. The Evan who lived for fleeting pleasure. The Evan who shirked responsibility.
But that wasn't him. Not anymore.
He clenched his fists on his lap, trying to steady the storm inside his chest. "I… I will change."
His father squinted. "When? After everyone around you gives up on you?"
The words hit deeper than Evan expected. Because instantly, one name echoed in his mind.
Raka.
The one who had already disappeared from his life. And if he didn't act soon, he might lose even more.
At work, Evan behaved like his old self—his better self. Ambitious, focused, diligent. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he typed up reports, eyes locked on every document he reviewed. Even though he was now just a regular employee again, he gave it his all.
As he was immersed in a report, his phone buzzed on the desk. A message from Vanessa.
Vanessa: Babe, let's go to the mall tonight! I found the cutest shoes. You have to see them! 💕
Evan frowned, then opened the photo she sent. A pair of nude high heels with a luxury brand logo. Even at a glance, he knew they cost a fortune.
She wants me to buy her these? he thought.
Instinctively, he checked Vanessa's profile. Her photo made his breath catch.
It was him—posing intimately with Vanessa. Their faces close, like they were the only two people in the world.
Damn it.
Another notification popped up. This time, from Michelle.
Michelle: Babe, don't forget—we're going on that staycation this week, right? 😉
Evan stared. Staycation? When did I promise that?
Before he could process it, another message came in—from Celine.
Celine: Miss you! Dinner later? 😘
And then Jessica.
Jessica: Baby, when are you picking me up? It's been ages~
Evan leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily.
What the hell is this?
He hadn't just reverted to his younger self. He'd become the version of Evan that was… overflowing with women.
Amid all the chaotic messages from women he didn't remember meeting, one message made Evan freeze.
A number he didn't recognize.
Unknown: Uncle Evan, this is my number. It's Sienna.
His heart beat faster.
Sienna.
She had really reached out to him.
Evan quickly saved her number, then typed a reply.
Evan: Sienna, can we meet?
Message sent. But it remained unread.
Of all the chats he received today, only hers made him feel alive.