"So, you've finally come to your senses, my idiot son?"
After arriving at Jeff's home, Jess was warmly welcomed by his entire family—both parents and brothers. That was to be expected, considering their mothers had long considered each other like sisters. In fact, since Jeff's mother only had sons, she had always thought of Jess as the daughter she never had.
Yet the "idiot," as his mother called Jeff, had the audacity to ignore Jess—pushing her away and limiting her relationship with their family over the past four years.
As Jess was guided to the living room by Jeff's mother, Jeff was harshly dragged upstairs by his brothers, forced to kneel on the bedroom floor while awaiting his mother's arrival.
Which brings to the current moment, as Jeff prepares to respond to his mother's biting question.
"Yes, I realize my foolishness and swear to make amends, dear Mother."
"And by make amends, you mean?"
"I'm going to make Jess my wife—and your official daughter-in-law—by any means necessary!"
"It's good that you finally know your priorities."
Despite his bold declaration, forgiveness wasn't earned so easily. Unknown to Jeff, his vow had just been recorded—and it would soon be the highlight of his 20th birthday, played in front of all his guests.
Though it wasn't planned, Jeff's family ended up celebrating Jess's 20th birthday again. In fact, the celebration seemed more focused on entertaining Jess than honoring Jeff.
Jeff, meanwhile, was punished—running every errand needed to make the event a success.
At the main event, with all the expected guests in attendance—including Jess's mother and a few of Jeff's closest friends—his declaration was played for everyone to see. It prompted laughter and teasing questions:
"So, when's the wedding?"
But the real question on everyone's mind was:
"What's the current status of their relationship?"
The video came as a surprise not only to Jeff—but even more so to Jess. Despite her embarrassment—flushed cheeks and red ears—she managed to give an indirect reply:
"Jeff and I... we're still talking about our relationship..."
It wasn't quite the answer Jeff had hoped for, but at least she didn't reject him outright—or deny that something was going on.
Just before midnight, after all the guests had left, Jess and Jeff found themselves alone on the balcony, watching their families continue the afterparty in the yard below.
"Want a drink?"
"Idiot. You know we're still underage, right?"
"It's non-alcoholic, though."
Accepting the can of flavored beer, Jess instinctively leaned her head on Jeff's shoulder as he sat beside her. With her arms still wrapped around her knees, she took a sip.
"How about a snack?"
Picking a chip from the plate and taking a bite, Jess eyed Jeff suspiciously. He was being unusually attentive—not that she minded.
Of course, besides enjoying the sight of Jess drinking and nibbling snacks (which, truthfully, was turning him on), Jeff had another motive: he wanted to calm her before making a request—a rather ridiculous one.
"So... about my gift?"
—crack!—
The loud snap of a chip being crushed between Jess's teeth cut through the air—sharp and deliberate.
She was clearly pissed.
What angered her most was the fact that Jeff, who had ignored her for four years, now had the nerve to ask for a gift. Sure, he had sent her oversized jackets every birthday—but she had never sent him anything in return. Not once.
But this year was different. Jeff had made it in time—before her birthday ended.
"I gave you a different gift this time, didn't I?" Jeff said, half-playful, half-serious.
"I don't remember receiving anything, idiot," Jess replied, clearly annoyed—but still leaning on him.
"I gave you my proposal... and my virginity, remember?"
The second part was meant to lighten the mood. And while it did, it also made things... painful.
Jess reached out with her left hand, took Jeff's right, laced their fingers together—and then sank her nails into his palm.
"Ouch! You're hurting me, Jess..."
Despite the pain, and his rising... rod, Jeff was more surprised than anything else.
"What do you want then?" she asked.
Wait... did she really take my virginity last night while I was asleep? Jeff wondered, stunned that Jess might actually give him a birthday gift.
Of course, what he really wanted was Jess. But the look in her eyes made it clear—he couldn't ask her to marry him. Not yet.
"Then... can we do it tonight—Ouch!" Her nails dug deeper.
As she paused her assault, Jess gave him a chance to revise his request.
"Then... how about becoming my girlfriend?"
Of course she wanted to say yes—but the resentment over those four years still lingered. She wouldn't make it easy for him. But she wouldn't let him go, either.
"If you make amends for ignoring me for four years, then I might consider it."
"Then I promise to make it up to you."
"You better, idiot."
Now that Jeff had her permission to court her, it was time to focus on what really mattered—because the Returner Fantasy System had just flashed a new quest across the holographic display in his vision:
---
[RETURNER FANTASY SYSTEM]
[Quest 3 – Shit Bastard]
[Reward – Trud's Archive]
[Objective – Make Jess turn down Trud]
[Countdown – 30 minutes]
---
"Jess... please break up with your boyfriend."
—Bam!—
A loud crash echoed from the balcony where Jess and Jeff were. Though their families below heard it and grew momentarily concerned, they quickly dismissed it as just another round of the usual flirting between the two—especially after the next remark rang out:
"Who the fuck said I have a boyfriend?!"
Jess's outburst, as she straddled Jeff and pinned him to the floor with her nails digging into his shoulders, might have looked excessive to anyone else—even to Jeff.
But Jeff, understanding Jess's personality better than most, knew exactly why she reacted that way.
Though often seen as a bit of a pushover, Jess was fiercely loyal. So loyal, in fact, that she hadn't betrayed the man who was supposed to be her future boyfriend—even in the timeline before Jeff's regression—despite the fact that the bastard had abandoned her.
To claim she had a boyfriend now, after enduring four years of waiting for Jeff, was more than just offensive—it was infuriating. At least, that's how Jeff made sense of her sudden fury.
Still, despite vividly remembering Jess's future, there was one thing Jeff hadn't fully considered until now.
"Wait... That shit bastard wasn't your boyfriend?"