Our house finally got central air. Coming home for summer break, I thought I was going to be living the high life, chilling in the cool air. Instead, my pregnant sister-in-law, Jessica, decided the A/C compressor—the massive outdoor unit that blasts hot air—should be installed inside my bedroom. When I refused to sleep in there, she burst into tears, threatening to abort the baby if I didn't suck it up. To calm her down, my brother beat the hell out of me and locked me in that room. Trapped in a sauna of exhaust heat, I died of heatstroke. Then, I opened my eyes. I was standing at the front door, luggage in hand. Summer break had just started. I had died, and now I was back. In my past life, my brother locked me in that oven of a room just to placate his drama-queen wife. God gave me a second chance, and there was no way I was making the same mistake twice. Honestly, if I had rebooted just an hour earlier, I would’ve ghosted this toxic family immediately. But here I was, crossing the threshold. Jessica waddled over, rubbing her belly, a fake-sweet smile plastered on her face. "Nora! Look, we finally got A/C! But we didn't have space for the external unit outside, so we had to mount it in your room. You don't mind, right?" In my last life, I exploded immediately. "It's ninety degrees out! You guys are going to blast the A/C all night. How am I supposed to sleep with a machine pumping hot exhaust into my room?" That was all it took. Jessica’s eyes went red instantly. "Why can't you sleep? Everyone else sacrifices, why are you so special? I was trying to be considerate, but you’re so ungrateful. You're breaking my heart!" When I threatened to tear the unit down or leave, she went nuclear. She started punching her own stomach. "If you leave, I'll kill this baby! I swear to God! Why can't you just listen to me? I'm carrying the Chen family heir! Everyone has to listen to me!" My parents and brother swarmed her like bees. "It's okay, honey, don't cry! The baby!" "Nora, are you crazy? Just sleep in the room! Why are you upsetting her? The baby is innocent!" "Yeah, Nora, don't be a bitch. Make your sister-in-law happy." Looking at the four of them, I realized I was the outsider. "I'm not doing it. Why don't you sleep in there?" I’d screamed. Jessica wailed. My brother threw a punch. Then another. When I woke up, the door was locked. The compressor roared like a jet engine, the temperature climbing past 110 degrees. I pounded on the door until I passed out and died. But this time? I knew better. Getting angry solves nothing. Honey catches more flies than vinegar. "Oh my god, Jess, you are so thoughtful!" I clasped my hands together, looking at her with pure adoration. "You remembered that I have poor circulation and get cold easily? Installing the heat-exhaust in my room so I stay toasty? Wow. We are so lucky to have you." Jessica froze, her script completely broken. Her five-year-old nephew, Tyler, who was visiting, looked confused. "Auntie Nora, do you really like being hot? Summer sucks without A/C." I patted his head. "Oh, Auntie freezes easily, Tyler." I turned back to Jessica, laying it on thick. "I'll sleep there tonight. It's going to be so cozy. I'll really cherish this gift." "You're amazing, Jess. I get migraines from cold air. You’re practically psychic." Jessica scratched her head, flustered. "Oh... well, yeah. I just... sensed it." Nobody is immune to flattery. I ran to the kitchen and gushed to my mom about how considerate Jessica was. Mom was thrilled. "You're finally growing up. You get a drumstick tonight!" Usually, chicken drumsticks were reserved for my brother, the Golden Child. Jessica got them once she got pregnant. I got scraps. Praising the dictator works wonders. After all, she was carrying the "Royal Heir." Jessica was glued to a TikTok livestream sale. Tyler was watching TV. Mom was cooking. Dad and my brother, Kyle, weren't home yet. Perfect timing. I dragged my broken suitcase loudly to my room—clack, clack, clack. I left it at the door, snuck into my parents' room, and swiped the A/C remote. Then I went into Kyle and Jessica's room and stole theirs too. I crouched by my suitcase, pretending to unpack, and buried the remotes deep inside the lining. When Dad and Kyle got home, I turned the charm up to eleven. "Kyle! The installation looks pro! You're gonna be a dad soon, you're basically winning at life." "Dad, you look ten years younger. No wrinkles at all. Very distinguished." "Mom, this food smells insane. I love you so much." "And Jess... how are you pregnant and still looking like a model? I'm jealous. And the baby is so quiet, such a good kid already." The atmosphere at dinner was euphoric. They were eating up the compliments. I kept checking my phone, typing furiously. "Nora!" Dad slammed his hand on the table. "No phones at the dinner table. Where are your manners?" Kyle didn't even look up from his own phone. I feigned panic. "Sorry, Dad! It's just... the University called. They have an emergency placement program for seniors. If I accept this internship now, I'm guaranteed a full-time position next year." I lowered my voice conspiratorially. "The benefits are insane. Paid internship now, but once I sign the full contract? The company provides a subsidized apartment. And after five years? A company car. A Tesla, apparently." "There are only five spots. They need me back immediately, but... ugh, I just got home. I want to spend time with you guys." At the mention of a free apartment and a Tesla, Kyle dropped his phone. Dad, Mom, and Jessica’s eyes practically glowed in the dark. "You idiot!" Mom cried. "We can hang out later! You can't let someone else steal that spot!" Dad nodded sagely. "Nora, listen to me. This is a solid career move. Go. Send your internship salary to me; I'll save it for your... uh, dowry." "Sis, you have to go," Kyle said, drooling metaphorically. "When you get that apartment, we can come visit. Make us look good." The abacus beads were clicking loudly in their heads. They were already dividing up my imaginary assets. Kyle narrowed his eyes. "You aren't lying, are you?" Silence fell over the table. I made a hurt face. "Kyle, how could you think that? Look at the group chat." I shoved my phone in his face. I’d set this up hours ago—paid a few friends in a group chat to stage a fake conversation about the "Tesla Internship." "See? I don't even have a driver's license. I was going to say, if I get the car, I’d just give it to you." Kyle scanned the chat. He stopped reading after "give the car to you." "Go," he said. "You better keep your word." I scarfed down two drumsticks, grabbed my suitcase, and bolted. On the way out, pretending to look for the front door key, I pocketed the key to my bedroom. The same key Kyle had used to lock me in to die. I bought the first high-speed train ticket out of there. I was just stepping off the train when Mom called. "You little ungrateful brat! Did you take the A/C remotes?! Just because Jessica wanted you to sleep in the warm room, you sabotage us? She was doing it for your own good! Bring them back right now before I beat you black and blue!" Took them long enough to notice. Too bad I was already 300 miles away. "Mom? What are you talking about? Why would I take the remotes? I told you, I'm anemic! I wanted to sleep in that hot room. If it wasn't for this job, I'd be basking in the heat right now." "Check under the sofa. Or the bed." "Mom, you're accusing me? I'm heartbroken. I'll turn around right now. You can search me. I'll just forfeit the internship. Who cares about the Tesla, right?" Mom panicked. "No! No, don't come back! We'll look again. Do not lose that job, Nora. The whole family is counting on you." She paused. "Is the Tesla thing real?" "Of course! The car and the apartment... I don't need them. They're for you guys. You raised me, it's payback time." "Good, good. Go work. We'll find the remotes." "Hey Mom... Tyler was playing in the bedrooms earlier. You don't think he hid them as a prank? I mean, kids, right?" I added casually. "Oh, never mind, don't ask him. Jess would get upset." Jess treated Tyler like a little prince. If anyone accused him, she'd threaten to abort the baby again. I just wanted to plant a seed of chaos. Besides, that kid was a monster. In my last life, while Kyle was beating me, Tyler kicked me and laughed, yelling at me to die. I hung up and tossed the remotes into a recycling bin at the station. Good luck finding them. Kyle had spent his life savings on those two units. He was broke. My parents were cheap. They wouldn't buy universal remotes until they were 100% sure the originals were gone. And the heatwave was starting tomorrow. I contacted my old boss from a previous summer job. She ran a logistics company in the city. "Need a hand this summer?" "Always," she said. The temperature back home hit 104°F. Mom called. "Nora, come home." "Why?" "Your sister-in-law is hysterical. She says if you don't come back, she's flushing the baby. You have to come home." "I can't. No time off." "Tell your boss it's a family emergency." "I'm in the probation period, Mom. If I leave, I lose the Tesla." "But Jess..." Jess screeched in the background. "I don't care! What kind of crappy company is this?! Make her come back! I need to see her! If she doesn't sleep in that room tonight, I'm killing myself and the baby! You're all murderers!" Her voice was so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. "See?" Mom said weakly. "Just come back for a day." They must have bought new remotes. Jess’s obsession with me sleeping in that room was psychotic. It wasn't about the room; it was about control. She needed to assert dominance. If I went back, I’d end up dead again. "Hey! You!" A sharp voice cut in. It was my boss, Ms. Vance. I had briefed her on my family situation beforehand. She was a legend. "Who said you could take personal calls? Get back to work! You think we pay you to chat? You want that bonus? You want the housing? Earn it!" "If I catch you slacking again, you're fired!" I hung up immediately. "Thanks, Ms. Vance." She flipped her hair. "Anytime, kid." I texted Mom: Mom, I'm hiding in the bathroom. The boss is a tyrant. One mistake and I'm out. Tell Jess to chill. I'll visit when I get the full-time offer. Gotta go. Silence for days. I thought I was safe. Then the police showed up at my rental. "Are you Nora Chen? Your mother reported you missing. She was worried sick." My blood ran cold. I looked past the officer. Mom was standing there, looking like a martyr. "Mom? I texted you. Why the police?" "We haven't talked in days! I took the train all the way here alone! My phone ran out of credit! I was scared!" The cop lectured me on taking care of my elderly mother and left. Mom grabbed my arm. "Well? Are you going to invite me in?" I had no choice. I took her to my apartment. It was a simple two-bedroom place Ms. Vance let me rent cheaply because it was usually empty. "The company lets me stay here," I lied. "If I break anything, I'm fired." "Relax, I'm your mother." She looked around, calculating. "Two bedrooms. Nice." "I have to work, Mom. Why didn't you just stay with Jess?" "I missed you."
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