---
At the school's main gate, Farid was standing in a posture that couldn't be ignored.
The gentle sunlight reflected off his neatly groomed hair, and his upright stance made him look like a fashion model who had just stepped out of a classical painting.
Some female students whispered in awe, while others didn't even dare lift their eyes from his dazzling appearance.
It looked as if the whole place had paused just to admire him.
But all that shine shattered the moment he saw what was waiting for him:
Lavinia.
She was dragging her feet across the ground like a seventy-year-old woman, her face dripping with sweat, and her hair a mess after the exhausting P.E. class.
The contrast between her worn-out, wobbling state and his regal, polished appearance was striking.
Farid lifted his hand lightly and gestured toward her with a confident smile, causing everyone's attention to swing her way all at once.
Her face trembled, and her expression shrank as if she had swallowed something bitter.
And when she finally reached him, he couldn't hold back his provoking remark:
— "What's with that disgusting expression on your face?"
Lavinia let out a sharp sigh as she raised her eyes to him:
— "Can't you see I don't even want to look at you?"
He chuckled lightly and blew a strand of hair back:
— "My God, who wouldn't want to see someone as handsome as me? People here would kill just to get one of my smiles."
Then he began showing off in front of her with exaggerated movements, as if he were standing on a fashion runway.
Lavinia nearly lost her temper, but she held herself together and said coolly:
— "Are you sure you came to school just to watch me? I'm not convinced… maybe you came just to flirt."
Farid laughed an arrogant laugh and raised his chin high:
— "I'm so handsome that every eye follows me. It's not my fault. It's a gift, understand?"
Her eyes rolled in annoyance, and she said:
— "Fine, fine… I'm leaving."
---
But Farid caught up to her, walking with long, confident strides, then suddenly said:
— "By the way… how are things going with your future?"
She stopped, turned toward him with a confident smile:
— "A lot has happened. I even changed who will die… I'm confident in myself now."
He was taken aback by the strength in her tone, but stayed silent, staring at her face as the sunlight reflected on it.
She gave a sideways smile and added:
— "Ah, I forgot… why did you make that album in the first place?"
His body stiffened.
He wasn't prepared for that question.
He lifted his head to the sky as if searching for an escape there, then said in a low voice:
— "I made it… for someone."
She stepped closer lightly, looked directly into his eyes, and asked:
— "And who is that person?"
He tensed up, feeling a strange heat creeping up his neck, then raised his hand and lightly slapped her cheek, saying awkwardly:
— "What's it to you?"
Lavinia screamed as she held her cheek:
— "Aaah! Damn you! That hurts!"
Some students passing by laughed, while she struggled to restrain her anger.
As they walked,
they passed by a couple holding hands, laughing in harmony.
Farid's eyes lingered on them for a moment longer than necessary. Lavinia raised a brow mockingly and said:
— "I remember that boy… he's Rocky's friend, old man… why are you staring!?"
He replied:
— "You idiot, stop babbling!"
Lavinia cackled mischievously:
— "I didn't expect you to be a pervert… thinking of dating a girl decades younger than you?"
He reached his hand toward her neck lightly and whispered:
— "Stop babbling… or I'll choke you right now."
— "Old man! How old are you anyway?"
He raised his shoulders carelessly and said:
— "Three centuries."
She gasped and jumped back:
— "Whaaaat?! You're older than my great-great-great-grandfather! Did you witness wars? Or were you there when countries were founded?!"
He dragged his hand down his face in annoyance:
— "Yes, yes… I witnessed everything. Just shut up."
The two continued walking amid their comedic argument.
Until a speeding car almost hit Lavinia as she turned back.
Luckily for her, Farid was faster than lightning. He yanked her violently into his chest and shouted angrily:
— "Are you blind? Can't you see in front of you?!"
She froze for a moment in his arms, sweat dripping down her forehead as she whispered:
— "I… I'm sorry."
He let go of her abruptly and kept walking with a grim face, while she placed a hand over her heart, realizing she had been one second away from disaster.
---
Lavinia returned home exhausted, stumbling between the walls as if she were a warrior who had just come from battle. Her mother welcomed her with a smile:
— "Mikel is back. He's in your room, waiting for you."
Her eyes widened in horror.
She crept up the stairs slowly, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
She opened the door very quietly… and the moment she walked in, she froze.
Mikel was sitting on her bed, opening the new photo album.
Her face paled, as if her end was near. Even though she knew he couldn't see the future-related photos, the mere fact that he had the album in his hands terrified her.
He lifted his head toward her slowly and said:
— "Why were you hiding this from me?"
She stepped forward slowly, her legs shaking:
— "Umm… what do you mean?"
He shut the album with a light slap against his palm and said sternly:
— "The photos."
Her forehead grew even more sweaty, and she responded quickly:
— "C-Can you see them?!"
He stood up suddenly, a sly smile forming on his lips.
He grabbed the album and tapped her on the forehead with it lightly:
— "Where did our childhood photos go? Did you lose them and hide it from me?"
She froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief before laughing nervously:
— "Oh thank goodness… don't worry, that old album is still here. This one is just new."
He eyed her suspiciously:
— "And why did you buy a new one?"
— "Haaah? What a strange question. To put my new photos in it, obviously."
He reached out his hand to take the album:
— "Then I'll keep it."
She shouted as she snatched the album back:
— "Nooo! This one is mine!"
He gave her an innocent smile and tilted his head like a small child:
— "Can't you give your childhood friend at least one album? For our friendship… please."
He kept staring at her with those innocent eyes until she almost gave in.
But she clutched the album tightly with both hands and started pushing him out of the room:
— "Get out of my room right now!"
He stopped at the door, turned to her, and said calmly:
— "Wait, I have something to say."
She raised an eyebrow cautiously:
— "What now?"
He smiled widely, his voice carrying a confidence she wasn't used to:
— "I have an important match on Tuesday. I want you to come and cheer for me."
She froze for a moment, then stepped back while saying:
— "Ah… a match? Fine… I'll come. But don't expect me to shout your name… that gives me chills."
He chuckled lightly:
— "It's enough that you'll be there. I'm looking forward to it."
Then he left the room with light steps.
Lavinia collapsed to the floor afterward, exhausted, pressing the album to her chest as she whispered:
— "My God… it really was a long day."