Chapter 32 - Different This Time
Reset 2 moved faster.
Not because I rushed it.
Because I already knew which mistakes were not worth repeating.
Pricing?
Fixed.
Order tracking?
Fixed.
Supplier verification?
Done properly from the start.
Margins?
Actual margins.
No—
bahala na, baka okay na 'to.
No printer purchases because I felt ambitious.
No hiring because I remembered needing people later.
Current demand first.
Current numbers.
Current life.
That rule stayed.
The strangest part was how much easier everything felt once I stopped treating memory like instructions.
I knew what had worked before.
I also knew this timeline did not owe me the same results.
So I rebuilt the printing business—
but not Reset 1 exactly.
Some customers returned.
Some did not.
Different referrals appeared.
One supplier I remembered being reliable was suddenly terrible.
Another I'd barely used before turned out better.
Good.
Proof.
Memory was still not prophecy.
Apparently I needed that lesson in every life.
Within months, the business was stable.
Not huge.
Not impressive.
Profitable.
Organized.
Livable.
Enough.
I hired earlier than Original Life—
but not earlier than current demand justified.
And no—
I did not search Facebook for Abigail.
I thought about it.
Several times.
Then stopped.
Abigail from Reset 1 had been Abigail because of everything that happened in that life.
Finding her early and dropping her into a role because I knew what she could become felt—
wrong.
People were not save files.
So I let the current business hire current people.
If our paths crossed again—
good.
If not—
that would hurt.
Still right.
Jane and Chloe were easier.
Not because I knew them better.
Because they were already part of my life.
So this time—
I stopped disappearing before anyone had to complain about it.
Coffee?
Game.
Dinner?
Game.
Mall?
Game.
Random—
labas?
Also game.
Not every time.
I had work.
They had work.
People had lives.
But enough.
Consistent.
One afternoon, the three of us were walking through the mall when Jane looked at me.
"You're weird."
I stared.
"Thank you."
"No, seriously."
Chloe nodded.
"Different."
Dangerous.
"How?"
Jane thought.
"Available."
I laughed.
"That sounds insulting."
"It is."
Chloe:
"Before, parang kailangan appointment."
"Excuse me?"
Jane:
"Now, pag sinabi naming coffee, minsan yes ka agad."
"Maybe I matured."
Both of them looked at me.
Then started laughing.
I hated them.
The old jokes came back too.
Not all.
Not yet.
The type analysis didn't exist in this life.
Celeste had not been audited.
Jane had no reason to say—
excellent nose.
Good.
One less thing to suffer through.
For now.
Celeste and I still knew each other from college.
Same history.
Same flowers.
Same almost.
Same—
not quite.
But this Celeste had not built a tutorial center.
Had not sent me decades of—
not flirting
—and—
unless.
She was just Celeste.
Current Celeste.
Still teaching.
Still pretty.
Still polished.
Still dangerous.
Classic.
We started chatting again naturally.
Nothing dramatic.
A reaction.
A reply.
Then occasional conversation.
Work.
College memories.
Teaching complaints.
One evening, she sent—
you look better lately
I stared.
There.
Potential flirting.
Reset 2 policy activated.
I typed—
are you flirting with me
Three dots.
Then—
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I waited.
celeste
what
yes or no
Pause.
grabe ka
accurate information please
Another pause.
Then—
maybe
I stared.
No.
Unacceptable.
that's not an answer
lia ??
don't flirt with me unless you actually like me
Three dots.
Longer this time.
Then—
oh
There.
Good.
Let the system work.
A minute later—
okay
Then—
i like you
I froze.
Well.
Fuck.
Apparently policy enforcement had consequences.
I stared at the message.
Then another came.
not like marry me tomorrow
Good clarification.
Then—
but yes. i still find you attractive. i still like talking to you. and yes i was flirting
I sat back.
Oh.
Very clear.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
I typed—
thank you
Celeste:
THANK YOU???
I laughed.
for clarifying
parang nag fill out ako ng form
verified intent
lia
Then—
so?
There.
My turn.
I thought about it.
Did I like Celeste?
Yes.
Attractive?
Obviously.
Interested?
Maybe.
Enough to explore?
Actually—
yes.
So I typed—
i'm open to a date
Pause.
Then—
WHAT
I smiled.
you heard me
i did not expect that
then don't flirt recklessly
Celeste:
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Then—
coffee?
sure
date?
I appreciated that.
yes
Good.
Clear.
No ambiguity.
No twenty-year compliance case.
Progress.
We went out once.
Coffee.
Then dinner.
Not same day.
Different days.
Both good.
Celeste was still Celeste.
Sharp.
Funny.
Direct when forced.
Still somehow capable of making me feel like I was being evaluated too.
Fair.
I liked her.
But—
I also noticed something important.
The second date did not automatically make me want exclusivity.
Good.
Reset 2 goal was not—
find first available woman and merge.
It was—
actually date.
Learn.
Participate.
So after the second date, when Celeste asked—
"Are you dating other people?"
I answered—
"Not yet."
She stared.
"Not yet?"
"I'm open to it."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Okay."
"You?"
"Also open."
"Good."
She smiled.
"Very mature."
"Thank you."
"Not compliment."
"Still taking it."
Classic.
A few weeks later, I went to a small business event.
Nothing glamorous.
Local founders.
Marketing people.
Suppliers.
Some small online sellers.
I mostly went because one client invited me.
And because Reset 2 Rule #1 said—
actually live.
Networking counted.
Apparently.
That was where I met Celine Torres.
Twenty-four.
Brand and marketing specialist.
Very pretty.
Very social.
Very aware of both facts.
Dangerous combination.
She sat beside me during one session because the other seat was taken.
We talked.
Then kept talking after the session ended.
Branding.
Customer behavior.
Packaging.
Online selling.
She was smart.
Quick.
And—
flirting.
Definitely.
I thought.
Maybe.
No.
Verify.
She smiled at me.
"You always this serious?"
"No."
"Good. I was worried."
"Why?"
"Because I was trying to flirt."
I paused.
Oh.
That was efficient.
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Actually?"
Celine laughed.
"Actually."
I nodded.
"Good."
She stared.
"Good?"
"Yes."
"That's your response?"
"I appreciate clarity."
She laughed harder.
Then leaned slightly closer.
"Okay. Clarifying further—I think you're attractive."
"Thank you."
"And interesting."
"Thank you."
"And I want your number."
There.
Beautiful.
Documentation.
I gave it.
Before she walked away, she asked—
"Free Friday?"
"Dinner?"
"If you're asking me out."
I smiled.
"I am."
"Then yes."
Simple.
No interpretation.
No guessing.
No emotional archaeology.
Excellent.
That night, Jane messaged.
how was event
I replied—
fine
Then—
got a date
Pause.
Then—
WHAT
I smiled.
Chloe appeared in the group chat almost immediately.
what happened
Jane:
LIA HAS A DATE
Chloe:
???
I stared.
why are we announcing this
Jane:
because this is news
Chloe:
with who
celine
Jane:
who is celine
marketing
Chloe:
pretty?
I paused.
Then laughed.
Not yet.
No type joke.
But apparently the instinct existed naturally.
yes
Jane:
very?
yes
Chloe:
interesting
I closed my eyes.
There she was.
Some things survived timelines without explanation.
Jane messaged privately.
wait
what
is this your first date
I stared.
Technically—
no.
Celeste.
Oops.
no
Pause.
Then—
LIA
I laughed.
what
WHO ELSE
I considered lying.
No need.
celeste
Long pause.
Then—
CELESTE FROM COLLEGE???
yes
YOU WENT ON A DATE WITH CELESTE
two
Another pause.
Then—
TWO???
I smiled.
yes
Jane:
what is happening to you
I thought about dying at fifty-six.
Resetting.
Waking single.
Again.
Then—
personal development
Jane replied:
scary
Fair.
Friday came.
Celine chose the restaurant.
Good food.
Easy conversation.
No awkwardness.
She flirted openly.
I verified nothing.
Already documented.
Growth.
At one point, she smiled and said—
"You're quieter than I expected."
"Why?"
"You text like someone who owns five companies."
"I don't."
"Yet?"
I stared.
Dangerous woman.
"Maybe."
She laughed.
"See?"
After dinner, she asked—
"Second date?"
Direct.
I liked that.
"Yes."
"Good."
Then—
"Just so we're clear, I'm dating casually."
I almost smiled.
Perfect.
"Same."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"Problem?"
"No."
Then she smiled.
"Actually, better."
There.
Healthy.
Transparent.
No accidental exclusivity.
No guessing.
Wonderful.
On the way home, I opened my notebook.
Reset 2.
Romance rules.
Then added—
DATA POINT: CLEAR INTENT IS NICE.
Pause.
Then—
DATA POINT 2: CLEAR INTENT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN COMPATIBILITY. KEEP DATING.
Good.
Then—
because I knew myself—
DO NOT TURN THIS INTO PROCUREMENT.
I stared at that line.
Fair.
My phone buzzed.
Celine.
had fun
I smiled.
same
Then—
still flirting, by the way
I laughed.
verified
Then Celeste messaged separately.
free next week?
I stared.
Oh.
Right.
Pokemon acquired.
No.
Chicks.
God help me.