I stand facing the window, watching the sunset. It's hard for me to believe that I'm still in the past. The future I dream of feels so real. I wonder to myself, what will happen in the future? I think maybe it's fine if I just let mom and dad be. I also have no desire to change the past. But... is it true that everything will be okay in the future? No. I lie. Honestly, I’m already aware of my mistake. I admit how great dad's sacrifices are. Half of me says, if things don't change in the future, mom's life will surely be miserable, and dad will eventually become a gambler. Is that the future I want?
“Hanna...”
I startle as my shoulder is touched. I turn around and my lips curve into a smile, seeing Dylan.
"It's good to hear you calling me by my real name," I say with a smile.
“Hanna... It's a pretty good name. I've been wanting to call you by that name for a long time. I'm so grateful that you are finally awake. I don't know what would happen to my world if anything happened to you. I love you so much, Hanna...” Dylan pulls me into his embrace. I return Dylan's hug, patting his back reassuringly that everything will be fine.
“Hanna, from now on, I won't let you go again. I won't let you leave my life again. Never.” Dylan whispers.
I loosen the hug. Dylan looks at me with a melancholic gaze. I take Dylan's hand and hold it firmly.
“From now on, let's enjoy our time together to the fullest.”
Dylan nods with a smile.
“I'm sorry, but that won't happen,” James interrupts suddenly. Dylan and I turn. James hugs himself, his face serious. Dylan tightly grips my hand.
“What do you mean by that?” Dylan's voice rises slightly. I can feel Dylan's anger rising because of James's words. I turn Dylan's body to face me, holding his cheeks.
"Let me talk to James. Wait for me in this room, okay?" I request softly.
"What? But..."
"Shh... Just trust me. Like I said, everything will be fine. Wait for me, okay?" I reassure Dylan. Dylan exhales, releasing all the dissatisfaction he feels. He falls silent for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Don't be too long."
"I won't." I throw a smile at him before pulling James out of the room.

“What the hell with that promise? What? Let's enjoy our time together to the fullest? Are you crazy? What about my Bella then? You're supposed to find a way to get back to your time! Plus, he kissed you using my wife's body! What the hell?” James bursts out until the veins in his neck pop. He sits on the sofa, frustrated.
I take a seat facing him. My face remains calm as I look at him.
“I'm sorry. I know you're a good man, James. If not, you wouldn't have brought Dylan here and explained everything to him. But I really need your permission. Please allow me to borrow Bella's body for a while. There's something I need to do. One month. Just give me a month. I promise within that time, I'll find a way back to the future. I hope during that time, you can give me space and help, whatever I need. Can I?”
“One month? Then what will happen if you failed to return within a month?”
“That won't happen. I can guarantee it. And if I failed, I will surrender myself to you and it's up to you what to do with me.”
James nods.
“Fine. A month. You must keep your promise, otherwise you'll regret it. You can stay here with Dylan during that period. I need to go out-of-town, anyway. If you need money, you can take as much as you need from that safe and let me know if you need any other help. But remember, just for a month, and please don't let him touch you. It's my wife's body. Remember that.”
"Don't worry. Dylan is not that kind of person and... thank you for your consideration. I really appreciate that." I express my gratitude.
"Just for a month," James repeats before leaving.
I take a deep breath. One problem solved. I am determined. Since I'm here, I must do something for mom and dad's future.
A knock on the door makes me turn around. Dylan rushes to me.
"Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?" Dylan checks my entire body in a panic. I laugh. I hold his hand tightly. I know I only have a month with Dylan. Whatever happens later, I have no regrets. The time I have is more than enough for me.
"I'm fine. I've talked to James, and he agreed to help me," I tell Dylan.
"Help? What help?"
"Before that, I want to tell you something. Can you hear me for a second?" I ask.
Dylan nods. "Always."
I smile. Then Dylan and I sit together on the sofa. Dylan lies casually on my lap, and I gently stroke his hair.
"I'm ready now. Tell me." Dylan and I smile, looking into each other's eyes. I take a deep breath before speaking.
"Actually, I'm not the person you think I am. I'm a bad person. I come from a family full of poverty. I'm just Dad's stepchild. My biological father doesn't acknowledge me as his child. My mom asked for a divorce because she had been suffering with my biological father for too long. After my mom divorced, she met my dad at her workplace. The same factory we went to before."
"At first, my mom was happy, but only with love. You know that love can't fill our stomachs. Dad had too many debts. He took my mom's salary, pawned her jewellery, didn't provide for my mom at all. The situation has continued until now, Dylan. I know how my mom feels. She's just an ordinary woman. She also wants to be like everyone else. To live comfortably, go on vacations, buy what she wants. Unfortunately, she can't have all that with Dad. For more than a decade, from when I was a kid until now, our family's situation has never changed. Everything in the house is in debt. Dad took out a car loan, but then he took us to California. He deliberately ran away from paying off the debt." I hold back tears.
"Do you believe me if I say that my family has absolutely no savings? Whenever my siblings and I saved, Dad would use that money when he was in need. Imagine, even to eat daily, Dad borrowed from his friends. In Dad's language, making money meant borrowing. He preferred borrowing rather than working hard to earn money. It was easier, he said." I laugh bitterly as I reminisce.
"My siblings and I never got what we wanted. I went to university because of an education loan. When I think back, I feel heartbroken. For over a decade, why didn't Dad even try to make our family better? His actions pushed mom further away from him until there was no more love left for him." Tears finally spill from my eyes. Dylan gets up from lying down and wipes my tears with his fingers.
"You must think I'm materialistic, right? You must think I prioritize money over love, don't you? I don't blame you for thinking that way. From the beginning, I actually hoped that I could just live alone with my mom. But when they got married, I was just a clueless little kid. I couldn't stop her. Now, when I return to the past, I want to change the future. I don't want mom and Dad to get married. But then, I realize that Dad also went through his difficult times. He also fought for us. I feel guilty trying to change their fate."
"It's fine. Not your fault. You're still young. It's normal if you feel that way. Just... remember that there's no perfect human in this world. You're not a bad person, Hanna. You're just overwhelmed with your life. I understand. Whatever you want to do, I'm on your side, Hanna." Dylan kisses my forehead. Hearing his words, I hug Dylan and cry on his chest uncontrollably. At that moment, for the first time, I feel incredibly relieved because I finally can let out everything that has been bottled up inside me for so long.