I am a canary, attracting both the school bully and the top student, who compete for my affection and jealousy. Outsiders envy and resent me, saying I am living a glamorous life, soaring to new heights like a phoenix. They don't know that a bird in a cage only longs for freedom. Under the guise of love, the two have imprisoned me for years; all I see are iron bars, shackles, and the bruises covering my body. When I open my eyes again, I find myself back to the time when these two fools didn't even know me. Damn it, let this canary be whoever wants to be one.
Chapter 1
I, Allison Barrett, was a well-protected and pampered girl, like a canary. Both Gerard Robertson and Sebastian Robertson, the two influential figures in the school, had a fondness for me and were vying for my attention.
Others were both envious and jealous of me, claiming that I was enjoying an illustrious life and had managed to attach myself to a favorable background.
They didn't know that the canary in the cage only longed for freedom.
For years, these two have imprisoned me in the name of love, my world reduced to iron bars, shackles, and bruises.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back to a time when they didn't know me yet. Great! Anyone who wanted this life could take it.
1.
The dark waves crashed against the rocks, each impact so powerful it seemed capable of shattering the stones.
An unbelievable thought emerged in my mind all of a sudden.
How wonderful it would be if these waves could wash away the two men standing before me.
"Allison, won't you think of your mother?"
As of now, Gerard still chose to threaten me by taking my mother as leverage.
The sea wind tousled my hair chaotically. I was crying and laughing simultaneously, presenting an appearance as if I were a lunatic. "My mother has been dead for a long time. How much longer do you expect to threaten me by taking advantage of her?"
I had been confined in this place for a decade. My mother died searching for me long ago.
"Could death be more dreadful than this life?"
I no longer wanted to see them. Without hesitation, I leapt, and the massive waves swallowed me whole.
Yet, I felt no pain at all, closed my eyes and let myself be released.
2.
"Allison, Allison."
In a daze, I seemed to hear my mother's voice. I must be dying.
Gentle hands brushed my forehead, accompanied by urgent calls. I struggled to open my eyes.
My consciousness was not fully awake, but when I saw the familiar face, my body took action on its own. I couldn't help but embrace her and weep.
Whether it is a dream or an illusion. Allow me to embrace her once more.
However, the tactile sensation of the embrace was so authentic that it seemed impossible to be false, making me reluctant to let go.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you feeling unwell?"
My mother wiped away my tears, looking at me with concern.
I didn't care if it was reality or a dream; I wished to stay here forever.
It took me half a month to accept the fact that I had been reborn and I had returned to my former life once again.
Now, there was no Sebastian, no Gerard, and most importantly, my mother and brother were still alive...
In this lifetime, I supposed I could lead a tranquil and blissful life if I merely refrained from having any intersection with them.
In the previous life, both I and Sebastian were chosen as outstanding freshmen to deliver speeches on the stage, and since then we had had an intersection.
This time, I planned to feign illness and refuse to go on stage.
3.
The boy on the stage, wearing a plain white shirt, managed to win the hearts of many girls with his outstanding appearance and cool and unearthly aura.
In the previous life, I was one of them.
But now, I looked at him coldly, feeling nothing but disgust.
Later, when signing up for the club, I carefully checked the member list and was relieved not to find his name.
With a changed mindset in this life, I no longer held grudges and even became friends with roommates I had clashed with before.
Attending classes, participating in club activities, and going out with roommates on weekends, I was immensely grateful for the chance to enjoy life again.
People around me said I was bright and optimistic, like a ray of sunshine.
One day, during a club activity, the president was late.
When he finally arrived, he was accompanied by a boy.
After apologizing for his tardiness, the president introduced the boy.
"This is our new member, Sebastian Robertson. Let's all get along well."
"He's so handsome," my roommate whispered, tugging at my sleeve.
I pretended not to hear, feeling a chill run through me.
Why? Why is it still impossible to break away from him? I thought.
The president asked Sebastian to sit down. We arranged the chairs in a circle, and there was only one empty seat left beside me, except for the president's position.
Sebastian glanced over and walked towards me.
I clenched my fists, trying to stay calm.
Allison, you had been reborn. He didn't know you now. I thought to myself.
Fortunately, after sitting beside me, Sebastian didn't look at me.
I took a deep breath and slowly released my fingers that had gone numb and were no longer sensitive.
The group began discussing roles for the new script.
"Allison, your voice is lovely. Could you do the narration?"
At this, everyone looked at me.
I was aware of the glance cast by Sebastian. Hurriedly, I coughed several times and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. I have caught a cold recently."
Hearing me say this, the president did not insist. As the discussion continued, others' attention shifted away from me, but the gaze of Sebastian occasionally fell on me, carrying an inexplicable emotion.
I endured all this with all my might. It was not until I returned to my dormitory that I lost my strength and slumped onto the chair. I had a persistent high fever that night.
My dreams were filled with memories of being imprisoned In the previous life.
After my several attempts of escape, the two finally lost their patience.
They placed a collar around my neck and began to rear me as if I were a brute.
4.
I was contemplating withdrawing from the drama club, but the president contacted me first. He believed I was still the best fit for the narration and sent me the script, saying I could join if my voice recovered, or not if it didn't.
Knowing the president had sent the script, I hurried downstairs to avoid keeping him waiting.
But it wasn't the president standing there.
Sebastian, in a simple T-shirt, drew the attention of many just by standing there.
"Are you Allison?"
I nodded, taking the script he handed me. But he didn't let go.
I tugged, but it wouldn't budge, so I frowned and looked up at him, only to realize that he had been staring at me the whole time.
The gaze that once seemed so full of affection now felt sticky and nauseating, leaving a sense of uneasiness as if a snake slithering over my skin.
I forced a smile and thanked him. Only then did Sebastian smile slightly and release the script.
I wanted to avoid further contact with him and turned to head back upstairs. Yet I caught sight of a person not far away.
Just one glance, and I felt like I was facing my worst nightmare.
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