Three Days Left

When I was deep in love, I traded fifty years of my lifespan to save my girlfriend. Seven years later, on our wedding day, the System notified me that I only had three days left to live. I called my girlfriend, hoping she wouldn’t be late so I could have closure. Then, a phone began ringing behind me. I turned around to see her dressed in a white wedding dress, though it wasn’t the one I had chosen for her. She was holding my younger brother’s hand, and with her head hung low, she said sheepishly, “Henry is terminally ill and doesn’t have much time left. His only wish is to get married. Can you compromise and let him have this wedding?” My father chimed in, “An older brother should always accommodate his younger brother. It’s only right.” My mother knelt before me, begging, “Your brother is dying! Please, I’m begging you as your mother.” I saw the triumphant smirk in my brother’s eyes, but no one else in the room seemed to notice. Instead, everyone scrambled to speak up on his behalf. I smiled faintly. I no longer wanted this closure. “Alright,” I said. “He can have the wedding.” And he could have her, too. My girlfriend happily wrapped her arms around my neck. “I knew you were the kindest and most generous person! Don’t worry, this is just a game to fulfill his wish. I’ll make it up to you with a wedding every year from now on.” Unfortunately, I only had three days left. There would be no “from now on.” Chapter 1 Kind and generous? I looked at the scene in front of me where I had personally handed my own girlfriend over to another man. She was right. I was indeed kind. Seeing her in her wedding dress and beaming with joy right now, who would’ve thought that seven years ago, Ava Dewan was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and was told by her doctors that she didn’t have much time left. Back then, she wasn’t glowing like she was now. After a long fight against her illness, she had lost all her hair, her face was completely drained of color, and she didn’t even have the strength left to live. I was only eighteen at the time—young, impulsive, and blinded by love. I happened to be bound to a System, so I traded fifty years of my lifespan to save Ava. I thought we would be high school sweethearts and eventually get married. Yet in the end, she was getting married to someone else. In the hall, the priest stood at the end of the aisle. At the door, photos of Ava and Henry Jones on vacation together—skiing, by the beach, and even watching the sunrise together—were displayed. Once, when I asked Ava to go on a vacation with me, she had said impatiently, “You know I’m a low-energy person. All I want is to lie down and go nowhere. Can you stop making things difficult for me?” But what about now? She claimed over and over that she was someone with low energy, yet she had been on over a hundred vacations with Henry, taking photos that now filled an entire wall. As it turned out, her energy was low only when she was with me. With the person she truly loved, she had endless energy. I randomly found a seat in a corner and sat down. Looking closer, I finally noticed our pre-wedding photos had been replaced with pre-wedding photos of Ava and Henry. Even the invitation cards on the chairs had their names printed on them. It meant she had only asked me about it earlier out of formality. They had already prepared the wedding photos and invitation cards, so even if I hadn’t given up my spot, this wedding would’ve never been mine. I couldn’t bear listening to the people around talking about how they were a match made in heaven, so I returned backstage again. My aunt asked curiously, “I seem to remember Ava and Finn being a couple. Why is she marrying Henry instead?” Mom patted Ava’s hand, smiling radiantly. “It’s all the same. She’ll still be our wonderful daughter-in-law.” My aunt said, “True, we’re all family, so there’s no difference. Henry has been more sensible than Finn since he was little. Finn was raised by his grandparents, and they’ve spoiled him rotten. He's always arguing, fighting over things, and kicking up a fuss.” Chapter 2 The other relatives joined in, agreeing with my aunt. “Finn might be better at his studies, but he’s just a nerd with a terrible heart. He doesn’t respect us at all! Henry is much better. Ever since he was young, he’s been obedient and thoughtful. Getting married to him is truly your good fortune.” Because I was never the favorite, everything I did growing up was wrong in their eyes. However, I had long gotten used to their favoritism. I looked toward Ava. If this were in the past and Ava heard someone speak ill of me, she would’ve been the first to jump in and defend me, insisting that I was the best person in the entire world. Yet at this moment, Ava merely smiled without saying a word, as if agreeing with them. Time really was cruel. It didn’t just take away a person’s life; it also took away the love that once belonged to them. Noticing that I was there, Ava came over to me while the others were chatting away. “This is just an act to fulfill Henry’s final wish,” she said. “Don’t overthink it.” I caught sight of a red mark on her neck, one that even her foundation couldn’t fully cover up. Was that part of fulfilling his dream, too? I couldn’t bring myself to smile. Seeing that I was still unhappy, she took my hand and tried to reassure me. “Alright, stop feeling down. In the future, I will give you a grander wedding than this one.” I stared at the three-day countdown ticking away right in front of my eyes. Unfortunately, I no longer had a future. “Ava, the wedding is about to start!” Ava had no more time to bother with me. She got ready to start the ceremony. As for me, I prepared to leave, but Henry spotted me in an instant. “Finn, where are you going? Since this wedding was put together so hastily, I couldn’t invite a lot of my friends. I want you to be my groomsman.” I snapped my head up toward him. He had stolen my fiancée, and now he wanted me to be his groomsman? I stayed silent, and they all knew that this was my way of refusing. Mom’s face immediately turned grim. “Henry wants you to be part of his big day! You should be happy for him. Don’t be such a partypooper.” Dad slammed his hand on the table. “Your brother is getting married! Do you really have to make a scene, you ungrateful child?” The other relatives chimed in one after another to persuade me as well. It turned out that for someone unloved, even refusing to serve as a groomsman for the man marrying your girlfriend would turn you into everyone’s target. Just as I was about to refuse once more, Ava pulled at my arm. “Enough. It’s supposed to be a happy day. You shouldn’t make everyone upset.” I stared at her blankly, feeling a dull, aching pain in my chest as though a piece of my heart had been ripped out. Even she was protecting Henry. To think she would force me to be Henry’s groomsman for his sake! “Fine.” In that case, I would do this for her one last time. Henry’s childhood friend led me over to change into the groomsman suit. As we got to the clothing rack, he stuck out his foot to trip me. Unprepared, I crashed into the rack and fell hard to the floor. The sharp edge of the rack scraped across my lower leg, leaving blood pooling across the floor. Ava panicked instantly. Holding up her wedding dress, she ran straight toward me. “Finn, are you okay?” Seeing this, Henry grew displeased. He deliberately stepped in front of Ava, looking hurt. He said, “Finn, if you didn’t want to be my groomsman, you could’ve just said so. Why did you have to go out of your way to sabotage this? I don’t have long to live, and all I wanted was a perfect wedding. Can’t you go along with such a small request? You even scared us with that fake blood bag.” Ava stopped in her tracks. She didn’t come over to check my wound at all, only scowling in anger as she snapped, “Finn, I never knew you were so petty and vindictive! You’re way out of line. Get the hell out!” Once upon a time, even if I had just accidentally scratched myself, she would be so terribly worried that she would rush to call emergency services for me. Chapter 3 Back then, I even teased her for being overly anxious. “If we don’t treat a minor scratch like this quickly, it’s going to heal on its own!” Now, blood pooled all over the floor. Yet, she trusted Henry and suspected that I was just faking my injury. Everyone surrounded Ava and Henry as they walked away, and the crowd quickly dispersed. I, on the other hand, was left alone, forced to witness them get married. The wound on my leg was still bleeding, but I could no longer feel the pain. No matter how great the physical pain was, it was nothing compared to the heartbreak I felt at that moment. I went to the hospital alone to get stitches and have the wound dressed. The nurse asked me, “Where is your family?” They were all busy with my brother’s and my girlfriend’s wedding. I gave a bitter smile. “I don’t have a family.” I didn’t have one before, I didn’t have one now, and I wouldn’t have one in the future. The nurse gave me a sympathetic look. After getting my injection, I dragged my injured leg back home. As soon as I opened the door, a brightly lit house greeted me. Ava was in the middle of unpacking Henry’s luggage. Seeing me return, she paused what she was doing and came to take off my coat. “By the way, there’s something I need to tell you. Henry is going to move in and stay with us for a while.” Henry smiled and said, “Ava miraculously recovered from her cancer, so I thought I’d move in and catch whatever good luck she has. Maybe I’ll miraculously recover one day, too. Ava even gave me the master bedroom. You’re okay with that, aren’t you, Finn?” Ava shook her head and chuckled. “For the sake of your health, of course he’s okay with it.” Watching them go back and forth, trying to get Henry to stay, I scoffed. Good luck? Ava’s recovery was traded for fifty years of my life, and I had traded it for her to marry someone else seven years later, bring him into our home, and move him into the master bedroom. I ignored them, dragging my injured leg as I limped toward the bedroom. When Ava saw that, a flicker of anxiety flashed in her eyes. “What’s wrong with your leg?” Looking hurt, Henry said, “Finn, if you don’t want me to stay, just say so. Why do you have to pretend to be injured again? Do you really despise me that much? If so, I’ll leave.” Ava fell for Henry’s words yet again. Angry, she snapped, “Finn! Henry is your brother. How could you be so evil?” I didn’t even bother to defend myself. “Let him stay. He can stay as long as he wants.” Ava paused, her expression softening a little. “Now that’s more like it. I’ll sleep in the guest room with you.” I shook my head. “You don’t have to. How could you not sleep with your husband on your wedding night?” With that, I walked into the guest room and shut the door behind me. Furious, Ava pounded violently on the door. “And here I thought you had learned to be sensible! What kind of fuss are you kicking up now?” Henry comforted her, “Forget it. That’s just his temper. He’ll be fine once he cools off on his own.” Early the next morning, I got out of bed and saw Ava preparing breakfast for Henry. When it came to my turn, it was just a plate of leftovers. Ava said sarcastically, “Since someone has such a big temper, he can have these leftovers.” I remained silent, but as my gaze swept over Henry eating at the table, I suddenly froze. The necklace with a four-leaf clover charm he was wearing was something Ava had specifically gotten for me. It was supposed to be my good luck charm. “That’s mine. Give it back to me!” Henry pouted. “I just thought it looked nice, so I put it on for a bit. I’m sorry. I’ll return it to you right now.” Although he said that, he didn’t make a single move to take it off. Ava immediately grew annoyed. “It’s just a necklace. Do you really have to fight him over it?” I whipped my head toward her and asked, “Have you forgotten what this necklace means?” Ava raised an eyebrow. “No matter what it means, Henry doesn’t have many days left to live. You shouldn’t be fighting with him over this!” Chapter 4 She had forgotten that she was the one who had begged for it to give me luck. I forced a bitter smile. “What if I’m dying too?” Ava panicked instantly. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?” I was about to tell her that I only had two days left to live. However, Henry beat me to it. “Finn, just because everyone is caring for me since I’m sick doesn’t mean you can pretend to be sick too. It makes everyone worry. Besides, pretending to be sick works once or twice, but three times is too much. We aren’t fools who fall for your tricks every single day.” My focus was entirely on Henry, and by the time I realized what was happening, Ava’s palm had struck my cheek hard. Pain spread across my face, and my ears rang. However, the physical pain was nothing compared to what she said next. “Finn, you’ve gone too far! You’d wish death upon yourself to win my favor? Fine! Go ahead and die then! It’d be better if you were dead anyway. I’m sick of being with someone as twisted as you for all these years. I’m done. When you die, I’ll just move on to someone else!” I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and said, “Alright. Then I wish you two a long and happy life together.” Furious, Ava knocked over the leftover food she had brought for me, spilling it all over the floor. “Fine! Don’t eat it. You can die right now! Once you’re dead, I’ll celebrate your death with a bang!” Henry pretended to comfort her. “Ava, don’t say things you don’t mean out of anger!” Then, he pushed a plate of shrimp toast toward me. “Don’t make Ava upset, Finn. Come on, eat your breakfast.” I shook my head. “I’m allergic to seafood.” Henry let out a sneer. “Allergy? That’s just an excuse for being a picky eater. You’ve been a picky eater ever since you were little, and that’s why you have such poor health.” Hearing that, Ava raised an eyebrow. “If he tells you to eat it, eat it. Save us from watching you pretend to be sick all day.” When I refused to eat it, Ava made Henry pin me down while she stuffed the entire plate of food down my throat. Before long, red rashes broke out all over my body, and my breathing became excruciatingly labored. I collapsed onto the floor as my consciousness slowly faded away. … When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. The small hospital room was packed with people. My parents, along with aunts, uncles, and various relatives, had all gathered inside. Ava hung her head low. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your allergy was so severe.” Mom pulled Ava aside and said, “Finn, the doctor said Henry can be saved. As long as you donate your bone marrow to him for a transplant, he will live.” Only then did it click as to why so many people had come today. They wanted my bone marrow. I looked at Henry and his perfect complexion. He looked far healthier than I did. He didn’t look at all like someone with a serious illness. This terminal illness of his was clearly faked. “I won’t do it.” Dad roared at me, calling me an unfilial son, while Mom sobbed hysterically. “Must you insist on killing your own brother?” Everyone pointed their fingers at me and lectured me, as if refusal alone made me Henry’s killer. However, I was already used to it, and I no longer cared. As long as I didn’t sign the consent form, they couldn’t force me to do it. Ava, who had been pushed aside earlier, pushed her way back through the crowd. “Mom, if Finn doesn’t want to do it, don’t make him. It’s his decision to make, so please stop forcing him.” I stared at Ava in shock. It felt as if the girl who used to protect me had finally returned. As long as she stood by my side, I didn’t care what anyone else around us said. Ava argued fiercely with my family on my behalf, and when she couldn’t convince them, she quietly snuck me out of the hospital. Chapter 5 On the way home, Ava pulled the car over in a quiet, secluded area. “You barely ate anything earlier,” she said. “I made this chicken soup beforehand. Have some to fill your stomach. Once you feel a little better, I’ll make you your favorite roast chicken.” My eyes watered as I said, “Let’s not wait for later. Let’s do it today. I’m fine.” I was about to die. I wouldn’t be able to have it later on. Ava paused for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Have some soup first, and I’ll make it for you when we get back tonight.” I downed the still-warm soup in one gulp. Even though it was just chicken soup, it warmed my heart. Once I was done, I looked at Ava, intending to say my final goodbyes. However, a sudden bout of dizziness hit me. It felt like the ground was crashing down on me, and I lost consciousness once more. In a daze, the strong stench of disinfectant filled my nostrils again. Was I in the hospital again? Had my health deteriorated to such a dire state? Just as the thought crossed my mind, I suddenly heard Henry’s voice nearby. “Ava, your idea was great,” Henry said. “If we asked Finn for it, he might not have agreed. But by pretending to side with him and slipping him that drug, you managed to get him onto the operating table without a hitch.” Ava sounded a bit anxious. “This hospital you found doesn’t look very legitimate. Nothing bad will happen, right?” Henry sighed. “It really isn’t legitimate, but because Finn refused to sign the consent form, a regular hospital wouldn’t perform the procedure. Ava, you don’t want me to die either, do you? But don’t worry. The doctors in this hospital are very skilled. They will definitely cure me and make sure Finn is okay.” Only then did Ava let out a sigh of relief. Then, I felt a kiss fall softly upon my forehead. Ava offered a guilty promise. “I’m sorry, Finn. I hate making you suffer like this, but there was no other choice. Once you’re out of surgery, I swear I’ll spend all the years ahead making it up to you.” So her sudden change of heart had all been an illusion. She had only done this to drag me onto the operating table to save Henry’s life. A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye, and as I was wheeled into the operating room, the drug’s effects gradually began to fade. In the operating room, only Henry and the corrupt doctor were there, so Henry didn’t bother keeping up his act anymore. He gloated triumphantly, “Finn, I faked having a terminal illness. Not only am I not sick, but I’m perfectly healthy. I just wanted to teach you a lesson this time. Remember, stay away from Ava. Otherwise, next time you won’t just be tormented—you’ll lose your life.” Henry traced the scalpel along my body, ensuring I would suffer maximum pain without taking my life. Little did they know I only had ten seconds left to live. Ten, nine, eight… As the countdown ticked away, I could feel my life slipping away. At the final moment before I ceased to exist, a final System notification popped up. [Dear Host, your life has reached its end. We will find an opportunity to inform your lover of your noble sacrifice of giving up fifty years of your life to save her.] Once, I was terrified that she would be heartbroken if she found out. But now, as death took me, I cared for nothing. I simply let everything fade into nothingness. Three, two, one! The countdown before my eyes hit zero. At the same moment, a beeping sound came from the operating room, and the ECG flatlined instantly.