Chapter 3

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.