Returner Fantasy

February 29, 2040

Today is his 32nd birthday, yet Jeff doesn't feel delighted about it.

Aside from the fact that his age is already out of the numbers of the calendar, Jeff wasn't satisfied with his life.

He has a job. He can provide for his parents and support his brothers if necessary. But Jeff is missing something with his life and he wasn't even sure what is it.

Is it love?... Since Jeff hasn't had any serious relationship with any girl so far.

Is it thrill and excitement?... Since every day feels monotonous with nothing new or out of the ordinary happening.

Is it freedom?... Since Jeff is already tired as fuck of being a good person in front of other people, to please everyone, both his co-workers, employees, and clients, and wears a mask of a fake smile in his everyday life.

Whatever it is, Jeff knows that he is not the only one who's dissatisfied with his life.

Jeff's childhood friend, whom he accidentally met early this morning and greeted him with a happy birthday, had a much harder situation compared to him.

She got pregnant before entering college, only to have a miscarriage because her body was too young to bear a child. She then suffers a complication which results in her being unable to bear a child anymore. To add to her injury, her boyfriend, who's the father of her deceased child, left her for someone else after learning about her situation.

She's living a normal life but she has chosen to live alone because of her insecurity about being unable to bear a child.

Jeff's first love, who sent a message to him greeting him a happy birthday, is now a NEET and has trauma and fear of men.

She was used and thrown repeatedly like an overused rag by all the men she had a relationship with during college. She was sexually abused by all of her boyfriends, which ruined her future as she wasn't able to graduate.

If only Jeff chose a different path from the start, then he would have a better job where he would be more satisfied.

If only Jeff confessed his love to his first love, then his first love wouldn't be sexually abused. She would be able to graduate college and have a bright future.

If only Jeff hadn't ignored his feelings for his childhood friend, then his childhood friend wouldn't have had an early pregnancy and would still have been able to bear a child.

If only Jeff hadn't suppressed his desire, then he would have had a more thrilling and exciting life.

.

.

.

On the night of Jeff's 32nd birthday, his friends arrived to celebrate.

But as they all get drunk, what is supposed to be a celebration becomes a gathering for confession of all of their regrets in life.

As Jeff confesses all of his if only, his friends do the same.

...If only I hadn't cheated with my girlfriend during college, then maybe we would still be together...

...If only I hadn't gotten obsessed with that girl, then maybe my girlfriend wouldn't have left me...

...If only I didn't didn't lose to my desire then I wouldn't be fired at my job...

...If only I didn't get drunk that night, then I wouldn't ruined my life....

...If only I could focus on my studies, then I could graduate like all of you...

...If only I didn't meet them...

...If only...

That night, Jeff listened to all of their regrets.

It's not like it's already too late for Jeff and his friends to have a more satisfying life. 32 years old is still young and they can definitely try to do better.

Like Jeff's childhood friend. If she couldn't find a partner that would accept her, then Jeff wouldn't mind marrying her.

Like Jeff's first love. Jeff wouldn't mind devoting his life to helping her cure her trauma and fear of men.

Jeff could even quit his job and use his savings to start something new like a business that he would be more satisfied with.

In fact, why won't he do all of it?

He's going to propose to his childhood friend, he's going to help his first love recover, and he's gonna quit his fucking job and start a new life together with his childhood friend and first love.

Jeff would do all of that the next morning once he wakes up after getting drunk together with his friends.

However, if he had a chance to change everything that has already happened...

...If he could save not only himself but his childhood friend, his first love, and all of his friends from their pain and suffering...

...And if he could have something like those magical Systems so he could have the power to fight against fate...

...Then he would take it all and return to the past to change their future.

That's his wish for his 32nd birthday.