Chapter 1
Chapter 1
After the SATs, all the guys at school were finally letting loose, slipping love letters to their crushes left and
right.
But the biggest drama? Campus heartthrob Declan Hayes was FINALLY gonna confess to Nina Sterling, his childhood best friend he’d been pining after for years.
Nina stood by the classroom’s back door, cheeks flushed pink, fingers just about to touch that powder–blue love letter when–WHAM–some dude in a sharp suit burst in and tore the damn thing to shreds.
He claimed to be twenty–eight–year–old Declan, time–traveled from ten years in the future.
“Don’t confess to Nina. She’s not your true love,” he said, grabbing eighteen–year–old Declan and pointing toward the corner where a girl in a faded uniform sat. “See Ruby Sullivan over there? In ten years, you’ll
love her like CRAZY–obsessed, desperate, totally gone. Since you’re destined to be with her anyway, why
waste the next decade?”
Eighteen–year–old Declan just stared at him like he’d lost his mind, yanking his arm free. “You’re INSANE!
Nina’s the only girl I’ll ever love!”
But the confession never happened.
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan stuck around, claiming he was gonna help his younger self “see the truth.”
Gradually, Nina noticed Declan… changing.
When Ruby tripped and fell, he’d immediately rush over to carry her to the hospital, completely forgetting
Nina had been waiting for him at the amusement park for a whole HOUR.
During group dinners, he’d instinctively remember Ruby disliked almonds and pick them out of the cashew
chicken for Nina–totally forgetting Nina was the one with the nut allergy.
On rainy days, his umbrella always went to Ruby first, even when Nina was standing right next to him getting soaked.
These tiny betrayals cut into Nina like a dull blade, slowly dragging her heart into a bottomless pit.
Until the day they had to submit their college applications.
“Nina, I’m sorry,” Declan said, eyes shifty, unable to meet her gaze. “I can’t go to Princeton with you
anymore. The new AI program at Metro University is a better fit for me.”
Nina’s heart turned to ice.
16:53
Boyfriend vs. Future Boyfriend–Pick Your Fighter!
Chapter 1
She knew exactly what this meant. Metro University—the only school Ruby’s barely passing grades could get
her into.
He grabbed her hand, voice taking on that familiar wheedling tone: “Come with me to Metro University? We can still be together. You’ve always had your way before–just let me have this ONE thing, okay? I promise I’ll listen to you for the rest of our lives.”
Those words stabbed into Nina’s heart like needles.
She silently pulled her hand back and nodded.
But then she secretly rushed to prepare all her materials and applied for an offer from a top foreign university.
Declan, if your love isn’t exclusive anymore, then I don’t want it.
The day her acceptance letter arrived, Nina felt strangely calm.
She dug out that huge storage box filled with everything Declan had given her over the years-
Childish crayon drawings, limited–edition sneakers, a necklace engraved with their initials, thick stacks of movie tickets, notes he’d stayed up all night organizing for her…
She’d once treasured every single item. Now she carried the box downstairs to the dumpster and threw it all away without hesitation.
Just as she turned around, she spotted two figures arguing in the distance.
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan in his crisp suit was gripping his younger self’s wrist with desperate force.
Teen Declan looked tall and lean in his white shirt that billowed in the wind, his gorgeous face twisted with anger. “LET GO!”
“Why do you keep going to see her?” twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s voice was strained. “You should be with Ruby right now! She’s the one you truly love!”
“BULLSHIT!” The teen jerked his hand free, rebellious fire in his eyes. “Nina’s the only girl I like! Can you just DISAPPEAR already, you psycho?”
“Oh really?” Twenty–eight–year–old Declan laughed coldly, voice sharp as a blade. “Then why did you throw away your future and Princeton just for Ruby?!”
Teen Declan’s face went stiff, voice even colder: “Who says I did it for HER!”
– Fighter!
Chapter 1
Nina didn’t want to watch this ridiculous fight anymore and started to leave, but Declan spotted her immediately and rushed over, grabbing her wrist, his voice instantly turning soft.
“Nina, remember how you wanted to see that new romance movie? I already got tickets–let’s go together,
okay?”
“No.” Nina’s voice was completely flat.
Declan’s smile froze for a second before he softened his voice again: “Still mad about me changing my college plans? You already agreed to come to Metro University with me. That program really does have great prospects–just this once, let me have my way, okay? I’ll listen to you forever after this.”
When he talked like that, his eyes would droop slightly–that vulnerable look Nina could never resist.
Before, one look like that and she’d agree to anything.
But now, she just felt numb.
Before she could answer, Declan was already half–forcing her toward his new sports car, with twenty–eight–year–old Declan climbing into the back seat, his expression dark.
As the car started, the cramped space felt suffocating.
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan glanced around the interior and suddenly spoke up: “This car’s new, right? You should replace that starry night air freshener Nina likes–Ruby can’t stand it. She prefers fruity scents. And swap out those strawberry milk boxes in the glove compartment too. Ruby’s lactose intolerant–keep some crackers instead.”
Declan’s knuckles went white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Will you STOP? I’m telling you for the LAST TIME–I only like Nina! There’s NO WAY I’d ever like that Ruby Sullivan!”
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan acted like he hadn’t heard the outburst. “Really? But later you’ll love her so deep it gets into your bones. You’ll drink yourself into the hospital for her, wait outside her building all night, even-”
He kept listing crazy things “future him” had supposedly done for Ruby.
Nina sat in the passenger seat as each word hit her like an ice pick straight to the heart, the pain almost suffocating.
She stared out the window at the blurring streetscape, everything looking fuzzy.
Soon, they reached the movie theater: Declan bought a huge bucket of popcorn–caramel flavor, her favorite–and shoved it into her arms. During the movie, he’d lean over wanting to whisper commentary like always. The screen’s glow hit his handsome profile, highlighting those ridiculously long eyelashes.
2.0%
Chapter 1
Nina found herself getting lost in the sight, memories flooding back against her will~
At three, he’d climbed into her bed with his little pillow, saying in his baby voice: “Mommy says boys should sleep with their wives.”
At seven, he’d fought the fat kid from next door to get back her hair clip, coming home with a black eye and
a cracked clip he treated like treasure.
At twelve, when she was hospitalized with a fever, he’d skipped class to come see her, eyes red as he pressed against her bedside: “Nina, don’t scare me like that.”
At fifteen, when puppy love hit, he’d written her clumsy love letters full of spelling mistakes but covered with carefully drawn hearts.
She couldn’t understand how this boy who’d carved her into his very soul could possibly fall for some plain–Jane Ruby Sullivan in ten years, loving her with such desperate obsession.
But everything that had been happening lately made it impossible not to believe.
Just then, Declan’s phone started buzzing like crazy, Ruby’s name flashing on the screen.
He glanced at it and hung up immediately.
The phone rang again insistently. He hung up again.
After this happened God knows how many times, twenty–eight–year–old Declan suddenly grabbed his wrist, voice frantic: “What’s today’s date?”
“The 10th. So what?” Declan snapped impatiently.
‘ANSWER THE PHONE! Now!” Twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s voice carried unprecedented panic. “It’s today! Ruby’s gonna get harassed by some thugs and jump from a second–story window trying to escape! She’ll break her leg and be stuck in the hospital for a month! You have to go!”
Declan’s brow furrowed: “What are you talking about? Even if something did happen, it’s got nothing to do with me! She’s barely even a classmate!”
‘You’ll regret it if you don’t go! You’ll hate yourself FOREVER!” twenty–eight–year–old Declan was practically growling.
Declan laughed coldly, voice firm as steel: “The only thing I’d regret is abandoning Nina here by herself!”
With that, he put his phone on silent and flipped it face–down on his seat.
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan stared at him for several seconds, his expression unreadable, then finally urned to leave: “Fine! If you won’t go, I WILL!”
3.0%
Chapter 1
Then he stormed out of the theater entrance.
The movie kept playing, but Nina could tell Declan’s mind was completely elsewhere.
He grew restless, fingers drumming unconsciously on the armrest, eyes constantly flicking toward that face–down phone as the screen kept lighting up silently.
Finally, after yet another silent flash, he shot to his feet, voice rushed and guilty as he lied: “Nina, I… I forgot to buy you a Coke! Wait here, I’ll be right back!”
With that, he couldn’t even look her in the eyes as he grabbed his phone and practically ran out of the
theater.
Nina watched his retreating figure–almost running now–and felt her heart sink deeper and deeper, all the way to the bottom of an icy ocean.
She had a strong feeling he wouldn’t be coming back.
Sure enough, minutes later, her phone buzzed-
A video from twenty–eight–year–old Declan.
Chapter 2
