Incessant

In my previous life, I worked myself to the bone after I started going out with Hazel, all to make more money. Hazel said she'd put in the application for me, but it failed. She then tried to convince me not to repeat the year, citing that the higher-ups were particular about this.

I bought her story. Eventually, I wanted to apply for the entrance exam for adults, but she said it was useless. I went for it anyway.

However, my alarm bell didn't ring on the day of the exam, and I was late. I demanded to know if Hazel was the one who turned the alarm off.

Innocently, she said it was, since she didn't want the alarm to interrupt my sleep. Rage filled my head, and I started trembling. Hazel hugged me. "Let's get married, Michael. I'll love you forever, with or without the degree."

I hugged her back and cried my eyes out. There was no way I would happily accept this result, not when I'd worked my ass off for it.

Down the line, Hazel told me she botched up her project and incurred a ton of debt, and she couldn't pay it off. I was drowning in love back then, so I worked three jobs just to help her out. Four jobs if I could make it sometimes.

Now that I think about it, she probably only married me just to keep me in check, just in case I got in the way of Josiah's future.

I got back to the classroom, packed my stuff, and left school. Once I was home, my deskmate texted me. "Hazel's looking for you everywhere."

I texted him back, though I didn't really remember what I replied. 'She still won't give up,' I thought.

My parents were working in another state. When they found out what my results were, they sent me money and ordered a cake for me. "We can't come back now, but we promise we'll be there next month."

I could understand where they came from. They were construction site workers, and one day of absence meant less or no food on the table.

There were two more days until the application deadline.

I was in no hurry to fill in the forms, but someone was.

…

That night, I went out for a stroll, and I ran into Hazel. She smiled at me. "Oh, Michael. What are the odds?"

"I thought you lived in westside?"

That did not faze Hazel. "I have something to do here. Where are you going? I can come with you."

Icily, I shot back, "No, and stay away from me."

Hazel froze, and she put on a mask of hurt. "D-Do you hate me?"

I glared at her. "Try going to the depths of hatred, then go lower. You'll see my hatred for you there. Stay. Away. From. Me."

Hazel nearly choked on herself. She probably couldn't understand why my hatred for her ran so deep, given that she was the school's madonna and a very popular person.

I'd have stabbed her and watched her bleed to her death right there and then, but murder was a crime, and that was the only thing stopping me.

"At least give me a reason for your hate," she said softly, her eyes still glued to me.

Yes, Hazel was beautiful. There was a reason I fell for her in my past life.

Then, suddenly, a voice from afar spoke. "Hazel? I wasn't expecting you here." Josiah ran up to her and grabbed her arm.

I could see Hazel stiffening up for a moment. This was my first time seeing Josiah up close. This was the person who stole my future in my past life.

"Who are you?" Josiah looked at me warily.

I put on a smile. "Michael Marineson. I'm Hazel's schoolmate."

Josiah was a little shocked. "I thought you said you were getting me snacks?"

Oh, so this was really a chance encounter. Hazel didn't react weirdly after that. "Slipped my mind. Just go home. I have something to settle here."

Josiah raised his voice, "What's that supposed to mean, Hazel?"

Hazel pushed Josiah away. I had no idea what she said to him, but then she came back. "That's my mother's friend's son, Michael."

I asked, "And you're telling me… why?"

Hazel's tone turned serious. "Because I like you, and I don't want you to take anything the wrong way."

Ew. I wanted to hurl. This again? Frigidly, I answered, "But I don't like you. You disgust me."

Hazel clenched her fists. "What did I do wrong?"

I stared at her intently. "Your face. That's what's wrong with you."

'And your personality,' I added in my head.

Hazel opened her mouth, but I wasn't going to waste my time arguing with her, so I kept moving forward.

Behind me, Hazel shouted, "I won't give up, Michael!"

I sneered silently. 'Only two more days left. Let's see what you can do about it,' I mused. I would only hand in my application right before the window closed. They would never get the chance to steal my spot.

Gathering

When I got home from school the next day, I found a mountain of roses sitting right outside the entrance. Hazel was in the corridor, lithe and graceful as usual. Her eyes were glued to me. "I know that confession came out of nowhere yesterday, so I want to do it right this time around."

I icily answered, "You can be as serious as you want, my answer remains the same. I will never fall for you."

"Who do you like, then? Is there anyone prettier than I am?" Hazel asked, a little hurried.

I took my keys out, ready to go into the house, but she stopped me. "Michael, I really do like you. I'd love to go to the University of Law, just like you."

I gave her a weird look. No, I never told her I was going to study law or anything. Still, I smiled. "Sorry, but you scored too low for law. Give up on your dreams and die, you moron."

Calmly, Hazel said, "Can you at least be nicer, Michael?"

I looked at her in dead silence.

She continued, "If you're going to study law, you should fill in your application now."

I was seized by an urge to play her like a fiddle. "No, I'd rather work with tractors."

Ah, I saw it, Hazel. That vein in your forehead? It throbbed. I flung the door open, went inside, and slammed it shut in Hazel's face. It almost smashed her nose in.

…

The next day, my phone was bombarded with a ton of texts. The whole school knew their madonna confessed to me. The one who spread that nugget of information? Hazel, of course.

Our homeroom called me tons of times, but I didn't take even a single call. And then he called again. I picked it up, and before I could say anything, he started, "You're a great boy, Michael. I don't mind you dating Hazel."

He didn't mind me dating her either in my past life. The difference was, I was happy that my homeroom didn't mind me dating his daughter, despite my never getting into any university.

"My daughter has been working hard to be a brilliant lawyer. I hope you'll stand with her?"

A smirk curled my lips, and something gleamed in my eyes. "Of course."

Our homeroom teacher froze, but then he spoke again, and I heard that subtle joy in his voice. "That's wonderful news."

I hung up, and it took my everything not to laugh my socks off. Yes, I just changed my mind. I thought playing them like a fiddle would be a lot of fun. This time, I would make sure Josiah never got into university. After all, if I took myself out of the picture but not the root, someone else would be taking the fall.

When Hazel found out I accepted her confession, she came to me as fast as she could. The moment she met me, she asked, "Did you fill in your application?"

"Not yet. I'll do it tomorrow."

Hazel heaved a sigh of relief. "Want to go on a date? My friend's throwing a gathering."

I nodded. "Sure."

She looked at me, still a little miffed. She had no idea why I changed so much, but I didn't care. I wasn't the one running out of time; she was.

We got to the gathering, and Josiah was there. He shot me a baleful glare the moment he saw me. I shot back, "What happened to your eye, Josiah? Got an infection?"

"What?" Josiah was stunned.

"Keep staring at me and I'll blind you," I said.

Josiah rocketed up from his seat, but Hazel pushed him down. "Grow up, Josiah."

His eyes went red with rage. "You're taking that attitude with me, Hazel?"

Out of nowhere, I slapped Josiah, and everyone froze for a moment.

Josiah covered his cheek, and the look on Hazel's face changed.

"Did you just hit me, Michael?"