Chapter 3Future Me Saves My Life

That afternoon, as soon as the final bell rang, I had a strange feeling that something was going to happen. So, I urged Sarah to pack up so we could head home.

Sarah, Kayden, and I were the only people left in the classroom. Just as Sarah and I were about to leave, Kayden called after her. "W-Wait."

Sarah turned around. "What is it, Kayden?"

Kayden had delicate features, with a few stray strands of hair falling across his brows and eyes. Clutching his financial-aid application, he timidly said, "There are a few parts that I'm not quite sure of. Could you help me take a look?"

Sarah agreed immediately.

"You can head home without me, Elliot. This seems urgent. Since he mustered up the courage to ask, it's only right for me to help him out."

"Sarah—"

Suddenly growing anxious, I tried to stop her. But before I could say anything else, she walked back into the classroom with Kayden. The pair sat side by side at one of the desks and started to speak in low voices.

Whatever it was, surely it could wait until tomorrow?

Feeling reluctant to leave, I stood there and stared at her. This was the first time she ever asked me to go home by myself.

At some point, my future self appeared in midair again. He said, "See? He's already here. From this moment onward, your relationship with Sarah will be tested every day. Just give up. You can't win against him."

I gritted my teeth and snarled, "Get lost. She's just fulfilling her responsibilities as the class president. She's too kindhearted for her own good. She treats everyone well. That's how I know I chose the right partner."

"Suit yourself."

The man's lips curved up into a mocking smile before he vanished without a trace.

…

It took Sarah and Kayden an entire week to fill out the application.

Every afternoon after school, Sarah stayed behind to help him. They got along really well.

Kayden had a quiet resilience about him. Despite his difficult circumstances, he still seemed gentle and innocent.

Sarah felt drawn to him. On more than one occasion, she told me, "Meeting Kayden made me realize that there are many people out there who have it so much harder than we do."

When I tried to tell her about the latest movies, or the art exhibition happening that weekend, she always seemed unenthusiastic.

"Those are such trivial things, Elliot. We should pay more attention to the hardships people are facing in the real world. Kayden can barely afford to eat, and his family is struggling to get by. I'm not in the mood to visit an art exhibition."

Every time, she somehow found a way to steer the conversation back to how pitiful Kayden's situation was and how hard his life had been.

She made it seem like living a comfortable life was a sin. It was as though failing to actively sympathize with Kayden's suffering made me coldhearted and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people.

Eventually, I started to question myself.

Was I too spoiled? Was I being childish? Was I truly not kindhearted enough?

One night, I hid beneath my blanket and quietly wiped away my tears. Some time later, my future self appeared at the foot of my bed.

"Stop making excuses for her, Elliot. She's manipulating you. She's using your sense of morality against you," he exclaimed.

After a pause, he added, "Little by little, she's tearing down your self-esteem so you'll start believing you're not worthy of someone as virtuous as her."

I clamped my hands over my ears and didn't dare to look at him.

"I don't believe you! Sarah isn't that kind of person!" I cried. "We've known each other for ten years. How could I possibly come second to a man she's only known for half a month?"

I wanted to prove him wrong.

Sarah used to only have eyes for me, and I wanted to get that version of her back.

…

That weekend, the school organized a hiking trip in the countryside.

I got up earlier than usual and made Sarah's favorite sandwich. I thought that as long as Kayden wasn't around, things would go back to the way they used to be. However, once I arrived at the meet-up point, my heart sank.

Kayden was there too.

Sarah was crouched in front of him, casually tying his shoelaces. The gesture came so naturally to her, and the pair looked incredibly intimate.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. Making my way over to them, I asked, "Have you had breakfast, Sarah? I made you a sandwich."

Sarah got to her feet and dusted her hands. "Oh, not yet."

Then, she took the sandwich from me and handed it to Kayden.

"Kayden hasn't had breakfast. He's prone to low blood sugar. He should have it instead."