I practically ran out of the school building. It was only after I rushed into the car waiting to take me home that my racing heart gradually calmed down.

My phone started buzzing in my pocket. It was a call from my sister, Judith Hooper.

Judith's bright, eager voice rang through the phone. "Natty! How's it going? Have you considered what I told you last time?

"Your grades are so good. It'd be such a waste to stay in the country and study that lousy finance major. Come to Norell and study media instead. Just think of it as keeping me company. What do you say?"

As I held my phone, the image of Mom's old box came to mind. It was neatly filled with records of the brave work she had done as a journalist.

When I was little, I loved flipping through those notebooks and believed that Mom was the bravest person in the world.

Influenced by her, I fell in love with journalism and resolved to study media. But because Zachary wanted to study finance at Prestwick University, I changed my own academic plans just to stay by his side.

I interrupted her relentless persuasion. "Judy."

My voice was still hoarse, but it rang unusually clear. "I've made my decision. I'm going to Norell."

The other end of the line fell silent. After several seconds, Judith asked in disbelief, "Really? Are you sure? What about Zachary? Can you really leave him?"

Zachary?

I lowered my gaze to the empty water bottle in my hand and suddenly recalled what had happened earlier that morning during recess.

My throat had felt unbearably dry, but the water dispenser at school was broken, so I couldn't get any water.

Yet I saw Zachary carefully pass his water bottle to Vivian and say softly, "Drink slowly. It's hot."

At the time, I had been preoccupied with reviewing the mistakes I had made in my exercises and hadn't given Zachary and Vivian a second thought.

Now, that image overlapped with the memory of the young man who had always noticed my needs first and immediately stood up to get me water. The care that had once been mine alone was now for someone else.

I spoke into the phone, my voice soft but resolute. "He likes someone, so I won't get in the way."

After saying that, I ended the call and shoved the empty bottle into my backpack.

When I got home, I told Mom and Dad about my plans to study abroad. They were overjoyed at the news and immediately began making arrangements for my departure. They then told me that with my grades, I could start studying abroad as soon as I graduated from high school.

There were three months left until graduation.

I suddenly felt a weight lift off my chest. In just three months, Zachary and I would have nothing to do with each other anymore.

The next day, I woke up early, deliberately avoiding the time Zachary would usually come by to pick me up for school.

By the time he entered the classroom, I had already begun previewing today's lessons.

Vivian followed him in, munching on my favorite cinnamon roll.

As Zachary and I locked eyes, he looked a bit awkward and explained, "I heard from your driver that you came early. I was planning to bring it over for you, but Viv was hungry."

I calmly lowered my head again and flipped through my book. "It's fine."

He walked over quietly. "Don't be upset over this. Do you want me to go and get you another one?"

He still thought that I was the hot-tempered girl from before, but I had already lived an entire lifetime.

I simply shook my head. "I'm not angry."

It was just a cinnamon roll. I could buy plenty for myself. With that thought, I took out the cinnamon roll I had kept untouched in my drawer and ate it right in front of him.

Vivian, who had been standing behind him with a hint of smugness, froze for a moment.

Seeing me do that, Zachary let out a small sigh of relief. "Looks like I won't need to bring you cinnamon rolls anymore."

As he spoke, he pulled out a notebook from his backpack. "You've been struggling in math lately. I stayed up late organizing the key points for you. Here, take a look."

Zachary's notes were far more detailed than before, organized so clearly that even a fool could follow them. He had probably done it out of guilt.

I handed the notebook to Vivian and smiled gently. "I think you could use this more than I do."

Vivian's eyes were red-rimmed. "Natalie, are you trying to provoke me? I know that I'm not as good at math as you are, and I also know that Zach has always made math notes for you. Are you handing me these notes in front of him because you're upset that we have feelings for each other?"

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. I hadn't expected her to break down so quickly.

Zachary stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Vivian, trying to comfort her.

"I know that you're mad, but please don't make things difficult for Viv. She's physically weak and can't handle this," he said.

I almost laughed. How had I never noticed how blind Zachary could be before?

Vivian tugged at him and shook her head repeatedly. "Don't argue with Natalie because of me. This is indeed my fault. Maybe my own insecurities made me misunderstand her."

Zachary frowned. Before he could speak, I decisively spoke up. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I didn't realize that it would hurt you."

Zachary was stunned. Even Vivian opened her mouth, only to swallow the rest of her words. She clearly hadn't expected me to say that.

I looked at Zachary and pressed the notebook into his hand. "From now on, don't come looking for me all the time. I don't want Vivian to feel uncomfortable."

After saying that, I returned to my seat and immersed myself in my studies again.

Zachary remained standing there, unable to recover from the shock for a long while.

Perhaps my words had some effect, for Zachary stopped seeking me out.

But that only lasted for a few days. After that, he insisted on handing me his notes and would sometimes stubbornly stay behind to walk me through exercise questions.

"Aren't you going to Prestwick University with me to study finance? You're still not very good at math."

For once, I didn't argue back. After all, in his eyes, I was still that girl who followed him without hesitation no matter what he did.

Perhaps in this new life, even if we couldn't be husband and wife, we could still be friends.

Yet whenever I grew tired from studying and looked up, I caught Vivian glaring at me.

One month before the SATs, I walked out of the school gates and headed to the bookstore across the street to buy some reference books.

Zachary rushed toward me, holding Vivian in his arms. Her face was pale, and her clothes were stained with blood.

Before I could react, he had already blocked my path. "Natalie Hooper!"

His voice was heavy with suppressed fury. "Do you really hate her so much that you hired someone to beat her up outside the school?"

I froze and looked at Vivian in his arms. Her eyes brimmed with tears. One side of her face was swollen, and her gaze was filled with fear as she looked at me.

I frowned, a wave of absurdity washing over me.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said.

"You have no idea?"

Zachary let out a cold laugh. Some students nearby began turning to look at us.

"When those girls slapped her, they clearly said that Ms. Hooper told them to teach her a lesson. Who else would resort to such dirty tricks if not you? So your good temper was just an act after all," he said.

I looked at Vivian as she sobbed. "Natalie, I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have taken Zach from you."

As she spoke, her body trembled even more violently.

I looked at Zachary and said calmly, "I didn't do it. I wouldn't stoop to using such methods."

"Where's the proof? Who would believe you?" Zachary asked.

He wouldn't listen to my explanation at all. Vivian's tears and accusations had completely clouded his judgment.

He paused for a moment, as if making up his mind. Then he spoke slowly, his tone icy. "Viv, hit her back, just like they did to you."

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I stared at Zachary in disbelief. I couldn't believe he was asking Vivian to hit me. Growing up, not even my parents had ever hit me.

Vivian seemed startled as well. She shook her head frantically. "I can't do that, Zach. How could I—"

"Go!" he shouted.

He gently pushed Vivian in front of me, then grabbed my arms tightly. "She owes you this. As long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you again."

More and more students gathered around, their whispers like the buzzing of mosquitoes.

Under everyone's gaze, Vivian appeared even more helpless and fragile. She looked at me, her tears flowing harder. Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it.

She finally seemed to make up her mind. She closed her eyes and swung her hand with force.

A sharp slap rang out, and a burning pain spread across my face. She didn't hold back, hitting me hard enough to make my ears ring.

I tried to struggle, only to be met with Zachary's painful grip as a warning. But when he saw blood running from my nose, he froze for a moment. He seemed surprised by just how strong Vivian was, and his gaze flickered briefly.

Yet when he saw Vivian collapse onto the ground, shaking uncontrollably after hitting me, he immediately released me.

He held her tightly in his arms. "It's alright now."

He looked at me. "If you apologize properly right now, I'm still willing to tutor you. We can still go to Prestwick University together. Haven't you always wanted us to move out? By that time, we could even buy a house near campus—"

I looked at Zachary and suddenly laughed. "Prestwick University? You can go there with Vivian. I won't be going."