Chapter 2

Harvey was confused until he noticed his phone lying on the desk behind Taylor, its screen already unlocked.

He immediately realized Taylor had gone through it.

On her birthday the previous year, he'd prepared 18 presents for her. He'd proudly arranged them in front of her before holding up his phone with a grin.

"Taylor, these 18 gifts are to make up for the 18 birthdays I wasn't there to celebrate with you. I've even changed my phone password to your birthday. From now on, I want to spend every birthday for the rest of my life with you!"

He had never imagined that Taylor would actually go through his phone.

A flicker of displeasure crossed his mind at the invasion of his privacy, but before he could say anything, Jacob stormed over, his eyes red with anger.

"Harvey, I know you don't like me, but no matter how much you hate me, you shouldn't contact the admissions office at Briarford University and spread lies about me just to keep them from admitting me!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Harvey asked, completely baffled. "They called me because—"

Before he could finish, the surrounding students began shouting over him.

"Harvey, drop the act! We already know everything. You found out that Briarford University's admissions office had contacted Taylor before the entrance exam and agreed to admit both her and Jacob. You got jealous, so you sent them a letter reporting Jacob and making up lies about him, didn't you?"

"Exactly! But what you didn't expect was that Taylor would score among the top 20 students in the state. Curwell University's admissions office contacted her, too, and she's already agreed to attend Curwell University with Jacob!"

"That's right! They're a perfect match, practically made for each other. There's no way a useless loser like you, who can't even get decent grades, could come between them!"

Only then did Harvey understand what had happened.

Apparently, after reconsidering the matter, Briarford University had decided it couldn't make an exception and admit Jacob just for Taylor's sake. Somehow, however, rumors had started circulating that Harvey was responsible for the decision, prompting Taylor to go through his phone in search of evidence.

The call from Briarford University's admissions office had become the so-called evidence against him.

Harvey opened his mouth to explain, but Taylor cut him off, her voice cold and distant.

"Harvey, don't you dare contact anyone at Curwell University. If you do, don't expect me to show you any mercy."

Her words silenced him, leaving every explanation he'd been about to make stuck in his throat.

His gaze flickered, but after a moment of silence, he finally lowered his head and replied, "Okay."

Explanations were only worth giving to people who mattered to you.

But now that he no longer cared, there was nothing left to explain.

Harvey's reaction caught Taylor slightly off guard. She had expected him to deny everything, get angry, or come up with some excuse, just as he always had. Instead, he didn't say a word.

An inexplicable sense of unease crept over her, but before she could figure out why, a teacher walked into the classroom and called everyone outside to take their graduation photos.

After the photos were taken, Taylor was immediately surrounded by a crowd of boys, all eager to get their hands on her school badge.

It was a tradition at Crestling High School. Supposedly, if a girl gave her school badge to the boy she liked on graduation day, they would stay together forever and never be separated.

But to everyone's surprise, Harvey, who had once been the most persistent in pursuing Taylor, didn't join the crowd this time. Instead, he simply stood where he was and opened his palm.

A delicate bracelet lay in his hand. It was the only keepsake his mother had left him.

"Mom," he whispered. "Can you see this? I'm going to your alma mater soon."

His mother had been an outstanding graduate of Harcox University. But after falling in love with his father, she'd given up her career to become a full-time housewife. In the end, all her sacrifices had been repaid with his father's betrayal and her tragic death.

Now, Harvey was determined to fulfill the dream his mother had never gotten the chance to pursue.

Just as Harvey was silently making that vow to himself, a girl's hand suddenly appeared in front of him. A cool sensation brushed against his palm as a silver school badge dropped into it.

Harvey froze and looked up, only to find Taylor standing right in front of him, her beautiful face just inches away.

"Here. This is for you," she said softly.

Harvey glanced at the now-empty spot on her uniform where her school badge had been pinned, then looked back at her in confusion.

"For me?"

Taylor awkwardly turned her face away, the tips of her ears turning a faint shade of red.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I did promise you, after all."

Only then did Harvey remember.

Two months before the college entrance exam, on the anniversary of his mother's death, Harvey had been unable to leave school to visit her grave. Overwhelmed by grief, he headed to the basketball court and threw himself into the game, shooting basket after basket as if trying to work through his pain.

He hadn't expected to run into Taylor, who was just returning from the library.

She noticed that his clothes were completely soaked with sweat, yet he kept shooting with an almost frantic intensity. She stopped in her tracks.

"Harvey, what are you doing?"

For once, Harvey didn't answer. He simply kept shooting until his body finally gave out and he collapsed onto the court.

Only then did Taylor panic and rush over to him.

"Harvey! What the hell is wrong with you now?"

But Harvey struggled back to his feet, determined to keep going. Taylor grabbed him, finally losing her patience.

"Harvey! If you stop right now, I'll grant you one wish!"

That finally made him pause. He looked up at her.

"I can ask for anything?"

Taylor let out a helpless sigh. "Anything you want, as long as you stop torturing yourself."

Only then did Harvey break into a sudden smile. "Then I want your school badge on graduation day."

He'd never expected her to actually remember that.

Harvey stared at the school badge resting in his palm, lost in thought. He didn't even notice the dark look that crossed Jacob's face as he watched the exchange.

The next moment, Jacob let out a bitter laugh.

"Harvey, I admit defeat. You win. I'll go run 20 laps around the track right now."

He turned to leave, but Taylor caught his arm.

Her brows furrowed. "Jacob, what are you doing?"

Jacob lowered his voice. "Last night, Harvey challenged me to a bet. We wagered on who you'd give your school badge to today. The loser would have to run 20 laps around the track."

Harvey stared at Jacob in disbelief. "Jacob, what the hell are you talking about? When did I ever make a bet with you?"

Jacob, however, put on a wounded expression.

"Harvey, you were the one who suggested it. How can you deny it now? I never wanted to make a bet with you in the first place, but you threatened to shave off all my hair if I refused. I was scared and had no choice but to agree.

"But don't worry, Harvey. I always keep my word. It's only 20 laps. I'll do it."

He turned to leave again, but Taylor stopped him once more.

She looked up at Harvey, her voice turning ice-cold. "Harvey, did you do this on purpose?"