Chapter 2

When Selena returned, she was holding a transparent file folder.

As I got a good look at what was inside it, my eyes widened.

It was my SAT admission ticket.

A few days ago, Selena had told me that she was worried about me losing it, so she had volunteered to keep it for me.

At the time, I had marveled at how thoughtful she was, but now, my heart skipped a beat in my chest.

"Selena, give my admission ticket back to me!"

I struggled to get out of the bed, but with my leg stuck in a cast, even the slightest movement was enough for a cold sweat to break out on my back.

Selena stood before me, her expression calm and even tinged with a hint of confusion.

"Caleb, did you not understand what I said just now?" Shaking the file folder at me, she went on, "Only if you don't sit for your SAT will Aaron be able to take his in peace. In that case, what do you need this for?"

My entire body trembled, though I wasn't sure if it was from rage or pain.

"Selena, give it back to me… Please…" I had never spoken in such a humble tone before as I begged her, "I promise that I'll go far away after the exam. I won't return to the Lindt family or be an eyesore for you all anymore, okay?"

Selena's figure was bathed in light and shadow as she stood there. For a brief moment, a complex look flashed across her eyes.

"Caleb, what's the point of this?"

Taking a lighter from her pocket, she began playing with it by flicking the lid open and closed, a soft clicking accompanying every motion.

"Aaron told me just now that he dreamed you had come to the exam venue to kick up a fuss. That scared him so much that he couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. What if you go to the venue and agitate him so much that he can't even step foot inside?"

A small flame burst to life above the lighter before extinguishing.

"Be good, okay? Don't make things difficult for me."

I stared at the lighter, feeling as though a hand was squeezing my heart tightly.

"No!"

A burst of energy shot through me, and I somehow managed to roll off the bed. Despite the agony coming from my leg, I crawled toward her as quickly as I could.

At that moment, the room door abruptly flew open before Aaron Lindt rushed inside.

His face was pale, and he had a dazed look as he grabbed Selena's arm.

"Selena, is it because I'm just that useless? I get the feeling that Caleb hates me…"

His movement jarred Selena's hand, and in the next second, the lighter's flame was licking at the admission ticket.

The fire spread incredibly quickly. In the blink of an eye, only a pile of ashes remained.

Selena was momentarily stunned, only able to stare at the ashes on the floor. Then, she lifted her head to look at me. She had only meant to threaten me with burning the admission ticket; she hadn't meant to actually go through with it.

"Caleb, I didn't mean to—"

"If Caleb hates me that much, I'll just give him the spot of the city's top scorer!" Aaron interrupted her, his voice shaking slightly. "I'll give Mom and Dad back to him too! I'll just go die! My dying will solve everything!"

He moved as if to bash his head against the wall, and Selena hastily stopped him.

"Aaron, stop that!"

An overwhelming wave of rage surged through me, thoroughly burning away all sense of reason.

"Aaron Lindt, you crazy asshole!" I roared while pushing myself off the floor and to my feet.

When Selena saw that, her gaze instantly turned frosty. She instinctively reached out to shove me hard, the force sending me crashing into the bed.

As I fell backward, the back of my head slammed against the edge of the metallic bed frame, causing black spots to dance in my vision and a sweet, coppery taste to fill my mouth.

"Caleb!" A hint of panic threaded Selena's voice as she took a step toward me.

"Selena…"

Aaron tugged at her sleeve from behind, his face deathly pale and his body swaying slightly, as though he were about to fall over at any moment.

However, with Selena's back turned to him, he shot me an evil smile.

Selena halted in her tracks to look back at the visibly shaken Aaron. Immediately, her panic vanished, and when she turned back to me, it had changed into revulsion.

"Must you be like this? Will you only be satisfied once you've made a huge mess of things?"

I coughed, blood dribbling from my lips. I was unable to speak, nor did I want to.

Beside Selena, Aaron was still putting on an act, panting as he said in a strained voice, "Selena, let's go. I don't want to stay here any longer. I'm so scared…"

Selena didn't bother sparing me another glance, instead taking Aaron's arm and leaving the room with him.