Chapter 1

Rebecca's POV

My boyfriend, Carl Hopper, sent a long string of messages in the group chat I shared with him and my best friend, Joanna Kingston.

Those messages were full of blame as he accused me of not telling him about wanting to transfer departments. He said that since I wasn't able to hear anything, transferring into the Music Department would bring nothing but humiliation on myself.

He also complained about my excessive attachment to him. "Isn't it enough that you're my girlfriend? Why do you insist on sticking to me every single day?"

I laughed when I read those messages, bitterly amused that he still called himself my boyfriend when he had time to talk about music with Joanna but not to have a meal with me.

At last, Carl ended his tirade with, "I took your hearing aid away earlier. If you can endure it for a full day, I'll agree to you switching departments."

Instead of answering, I merely left the group chat.

When Carl had pulled the same thing in my previous life, I had gone an entire day without my hearing aid to please him. However, I had ended up getting hit by an electric scooter because of it.

It wasn't until two whole hours had gone by before Carl finally came to see me.

Yet, the first thing out of his mouth had been yet another accusation. "See? You can't even live a normal life without your hearing, and yet you insist on going into music."

Half an hour after I left the group chat, Joanna and Carl finally noticed.

Carl messaged me with a trace of reproach.

"Becca, what's causing your temper tantrum this time? Joanna only told me about you wanting to transfer departments out of concern for you. You really hurt her by leaving the group chat like that. Besides, didn't I already give you a way out without hurting your pride?"

My eyes burned with tears as I read the words. They were clearly in the wrong, yet they wanted me to set aside my pride and submit first.

I didn't bother replying. Despite that, he didn't even try to coax me out of my bad mood.

The next morning, I got a message from Mom saying she had bought me a birthday cake.

When I headed downstairs to accept the delivery, I happened to run into Carl and Joanna.

Carl handed my hearing aid back to me before patting my head. "You sure are stubborn. I only wanted you to realize the difficulty of the situation and back down, so imagine my surprise when you actually managed to hold on for an entire day."

A mix of exasperation and indulgence glinted in his eyes as he added, "Switch departments if you want to. Whatever happens, Joanna and I will have your back in the future."

Hooking her arm through mine, Joanna said with a smile, "Congratulations on getting your wish, Becca. Are you happy?"

In response, I only laughed, not saying a word. I wasn't about to tell them that I had no intention of transferring departments anymore.

Joanna took out her phone and glanced at the time. "Carl, my friend managed to buy the concert tickets for today from a scalper."

The concert was for one of their favorite singers, and they immediately launched into an excited discussion about heading over as soon as classes ended.

I calmly spoke up. "How many tickets did you buy?"

Pursing her lips, Joanna replied, "Becca, I didn't buy yours because it's not right for you to attend a concert, what with you being deaf and all."

Beside her, Carl also added, "Just wait for us in your room, okay? I'll get you a milkshake later when we return."

For a moment, I simply stared at him, disappointment and dejection swirling inside me.

In my previous life, they had gone to the concert and even uploaded a collage of them with their faces pressed together.

Some people had jokingly commented that they were flaunting their love, even while attending a concert.

Carl hadn't responded, though Joanna had replied with an emoji of a smiley face with its tongue stuck out playfully. Neither of them tried to clarify things; their silence was almost a quiet admission.

As for me, despite waiting all night, I hadn't even received a single "happy birthday".

Back in the present, I tugged on Carl's sleeve. "Could you not go to the concert? It's my birthday today."

Carl froze in surprise, as though it had only just occurred to him. A conflicted look appeared in his eyes, but before he could open his mouth and refuse, I released his sleeve with a blank expression.

Staring at me for a few seconds, Carl suddenly said, "Alright, I won't go. I'll spend time with you instead."

However, in the next second, Joanna spoke up, her tone wounded and reproachful.

"But I went to great lengths before I was finally able to get someone to buy the tickets for us! Becca, please, could we delay your birthday celebration just for one day? We can celebrate it together tomorrow, okay?