JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
    <li><a href="#">1</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">2</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">3</a></li>
</ul>

JavaScript

var lastClicked = null;

$('ul li').click(function() {
    if (lastClicked) {
        lastClicked.html($('<a />').attr('href', '#').text(lastClicked.text()));
    }
    lastClicked = $(this).text($(this).text());
});