5

The following day, Trevis instructed me not to wander and left.

I followed his instructions and continued collecting recyclables near our neighborhood to earn some money.

When Trevis returned, he was wearing clean white clothes with "Hotel Service Staff" written on the back.

I had a vague feeling that he had started working.

Soon, he received his wages and took me to various important places, including the police station, schools, and government offices.

People said Trevis was helping me with ID registration and school enrollment.

This process turned out to be quite tedious, with Trevis working hard during the day and running errands all over town.

Yet, he always made sure to check on me before resting, ensuring I was asleep and safe.

A month later, all the elementary and middle schools in the city were gearing up for the new school year.

On that particular day, Trevis opted not to wear his work uniform. Instead, he dressed in his everyday attire, a crisp white T-shirt paired with jeans, presenting himself as a tall, well-groomed young man.

He took my hand and accompanied me to school, assuring me, "I'll be here to pick you up later, Kathryn."

I nodded in acknowledgment but couldn't resist asking, "Trevis, aren't you going to school too?"

Considering the timing of the school year's start, it seemed natural for him to be attending school as well.

His expression briefly stiffened, but he quickly flashed a reassuring smile and replied, "Once I drop you off, I'll head to school for my own registration."

My jaw dropped in surprise, and I blurted out, "Wow, Harvard is way closer to our place than I thought!"

No need to travel across states, it's right here in the city.

He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

As he turned away, I called out to him from behind, shouting loudly, "Trevis, you need to study hard, and so will I!"

He paused for a moment, waved without turning back, and left.

For quite some time, I was under the sway of this illusion.

Until...

A girl barged into our house.