Strangers in a Second

While we were eating barbecue, my childhood friend suddenly asked, "The deadline to submit your college applications is tomorrow. You still haven't noticed that someone changed your choices, have you?" I stared at her, completely confused. My buddy snorted with laughter. "Amelia and I made a bet on what day you'd figure out that we changed your Northriver University application to Southbridge University. But you're too slow and haven't noticed. Go change it back already, or you and Amelia are going to end up in a long-distance relationship." I looked down at the chicken wing in my hand, losing my appetite all of a sudden. My buddy and Amelia were two of the most talked-about students at school, trading the top spot after every exam. Even when I gave it everything I had, the best I could do was rank fiftieth. So they started tutoring me together to help improve my ranking, but neither of them was willing to admit the other knew better. "Amelia, your methods are so outdated. Colin can't even catch up. I'll bet he won't even stay in the top fifty this time." "I'll bet he'll make the top thirty. Whoever loses buys dinner for a month." Eventually, my tutoring sessions had turned into debates between the two of them. I didn't learn a thing and dropped all the way to one hundredth. Then, when we'd planned a trip together, I overheard them making another bet. "I canceled Colin's plane ticket. I bet he still hasn't noticed," my buddy declared confidently. "If he does notice, you have to do my homework for a month." In the end, I had no choice but to buy another ticket and watch helplessly as the two of them boarded the same flight. Now, they'd moved their little game to my college applications. But I had no intention of changing my application. Southbridge University was fine. As long as it meant staying far away from them, I was fine with anything. Chapter 1 The Bet "Neither of us guessed the exact date Colin would notice his college choices had been changed, but I was the closest." My buddy, Caleb Sterling, smugly patted Amelia Blackwood on the shoulder. "So, you still lost. You have to be my servant for two months. Hurry up and feed me some beef." Amelia gritted her teeth. "The rules clearly said you had to guess the exact date to win. You're cheating. I won't argue with a sore loser like you, though. I'll let you win this time." She looked thoroughly indignant, yet she obediently cut the steak into small pieces and held one of them up to Caleb's mouth. Then, she turned to me and explained, "I'm just honoring the bet. Don't read too much into it. Do you want some? I'll cut some for you, too." Amelia hated it when anyone broke the rules, no exceptions. Before the SATs, she'd set a study goal for me—two hours of tutoring every day. Once, I had such bad stomach pain that I couldn't even get out of bed and asked for ten minutes off. Her expression darkened immediately. "Don't start backing down every time something minor happens. How are you supposed to get into the same college as me if you're like this? Endure the pain. Otherwise, I'm never tutoring you again." I'd been hurt by that for a long time. I thought she simply didn't care about me. Now, I was seeing with my own eyes that she'd make an exception for Caleb. A fine, persistent ache spread through my chest. I tightened my grip on the barbecue skewer and shook my head. "No, thanks. I don't like beef." "You used to love beef, didn't you? Why are you—" I cut her off. "Caleb is the one who likes it." The atmosphere fell silent for two seconds. Amelia opened her mouth awkwardly as if she wanted to say something, then closed it again. … After we finished eating, Caleb suggested going for a walk together. Halfway there, I crouched down to tie my shoelace. When I looked up again, Amelia and Caleb were already ten yards ahead. They chatted and laughed as they walked, without either of them looking back to make sure I was following. The knot of frustration in my chest tightened. Ever since I was little, my mind had a tendency to wander, making it hard for me to stay focused on anything. Walking was no different. I was always a step or two slower than everyone else. Amelia used to deliberately slow down for me, glancing back every so often to make sure I was still beside her. Sometimes, when my shoelaces came undone, she'd even kneel down and tie them for me herself. Whenever someone called me her burden, she'd always defend me. "Colin isn't a burden. He's just curious, and other things tend to catch his attention." But somewhere along the way, whenever she and Caleb got together, they would talk nonstop, arguing and bickering. They'd get so engrossed that they often forgot about me. Watching them disappear farther and farther ahead, for the first time, I chose not to follow. Instead, I pulled out my phone and opened WhatsApp. Amelia had created a small group chat for our tutoring sessions, but after the SATs, I accidentally lost access to my account and couldn't log in. I only got it back three days ago. They hadn't kicked my old account out of the group, but they hadn't added my new account either. For the past three days, I watched them chat from morning until night. Most of it was just them bantering and trading barbs, but something about it had always felt off to me. … Ten minutes ago, Caleb had sent a message in the group. "Let's pretend we left Colin behind and not respond to him. Let's see if he gets so worked up he cries." "No. He's terrified of walking alone at night. We can't leave him behind." Amelia refused. He sounded impatient. "You're my servant right now. Whatever I tell you to do, you do it." She replied with nothing but a string of ellipses, but she didn't stop him again. I'd grown used to bets like this. Every time, they revolved around me, turning my pain into their entertainment. I knew they were hiding somewhere, waiting to watch me make a fool of myself. But I wasn't going to play along anymore. I didn't send them a single message. Instead, I hailed a cab and went straight home. Chapter 2 A Habit of Choosing Him Half an hour later, Amelia called me. Her voice was full of concern. "Colin, where did you go? We've been looking everywhere for you." I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my voice flat. "I went home." Irritation crept into Amelia's voice. "Why didn't you tell us you were going home? Do you have any idea how worried Caleb and I were about you?" Caleb immediately chimed in, complaining, "Colin, why are you being so childish? You went home and stretched out in bed while we were outside getting eaten alive by mosquitoes." I could only laugh. "You two left me behind. Why can't I go home?" "When did we ever leave you behind—" I cut them off. "I saw the messages in the WhatsApp group. You deliberately left me behind while I was tying my shoes just to see if I'd cry when I couldn't find you." There was a brief silence on the other end. I thought they'd at least feel guilty. Instead, Amelia turned the accusation back on me. "Your account was restored, so why didn't you tell us? Was lying to us fun? Caleb was just joking around with you. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" She had forgotten something. When we were kids, she once took me to a night bazaar. We got separated along the way, and I nearly got kidnapped. I only escaped because the adults found me in time. I had been trembling with fear, while Amelia stood beside me sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Colin. It's all my fault. I'm the one who put you in danger. I swear I'll never leave you alone again. I'll never let you lose me again." She knew better than anyone that what happened that night had left me afraid of the dark. And yet, just to make Caleb happy, she had used me as the stakes in a bet. When I objected, somehow I was the one in the wrong. … The next day, Amelia and Caleb knocked on my door. The moment they came inside, Caleb lowered his head and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, Colin. I was wrong. I shouldn't have played a joke like that on you." Amelia stepped in front of him, taking all the blame herself. "It was my fault. I should've stopped him instead of going along with it and scaring you. If you want to hit someone or yell at someone, take it out on me." Once upon a time, she had protected me just like this. When my mother beat me with a feather duster because I'd done poorly on an exam, Amelia would rush over and shield me with her own body. When some troublemaking students at school gave me a hard time, she would rush over and chase them away. I once asked her why she was always so good to me. She would smile and say, "Because you're the most important person in my life. Of course I'm going to protect you. You're the only one I'll protect." Amelia held up a slice of mango cake and waved it awkwardly in front of me, trying to win me over. "I bought this little cake just for you. Can you stop being mad at us?" I shook my head. "I don't want it." Amelia frowned. "Colin, we've already apologized. You need to know when to let it go." I sighed. "I'm allergic to mango." She paused, embarrassment flashing across her face. "Sorry. I always lose my bets with Caleb, so I have to buy him a slice of mango cake every time. I guess I'm just used to it." She was used to it? Ever since I was little, even the slightest amount of mango would make it hard for me to breathe. She knew that better than anyone. In the end, that knowledge still couldn't outweigh her habit of putting Caleb first. Before I could say anything, my mother came up behind me and smacked me hard on the back of the head. "She went out of her way to buy that for you. One bite isn't going to kill you. Have you even thought about who got you into Northriver University? Instead of being grateful to Amelia, you're giving her a hard time." I rubbed the spot where she'd hit me, saying nothing. My parents were always busy with work and rarely spent much time with me, so we weren't as close as other parents and children. My mother thought I was a bad kid because I wasn't good at school, so she instinctively took Amelia and Caleb's side because they were both top students. Just like earlier, she was willing to make me give in just to keep Amelia happy. But she didn't know that her beloved Amelia and Caleb had personally changed my college choices, replacing Northriver University with Southbridge University. And today was the deadline to finalize our college applications. Chapter 3 The Day I Stopped Waiting For years, I would do anything my parents asked just to get their attention, and they would praise me without hesitation. "Colin, you're all grown up now and know how to behave." "You're such a good boy. We're so proud of you." Every time I heard those words, my starved heart would warm. But now, I didn't want to keep hurting myself for the sake of that pitiful little bit of love. I looked at them expressionlessly and answered, "I said I'm not eating it. If you want some, be my guest." With that, I turned and went into my room. "Colin, is that the way to talk to your mother? Think you can talk back to me now?" "That boy is getting more rebellious by the day. There's nothing likable about him anymore." Their remarks followed me from behind. I leaned against the door, feeling tears prick at my eyes, but I held them back. … In the class group chat, the class president had invited everyone to get together for a farewell dinner. I had barely stepped out of the house when Amelia blocked my path. Her eyes were slightly red, making her look like a wounded puppy. "Colin, it's been five whole days. You won't talk to me or even see me. Do you not want me anymore? Even if you're mad, you can't give me the silent treatment like this. It's going to hurt our relationship." Looking at her pitiful expression, I felt my resolve soften. I couldn't bring myself to say anything cold to her, so I let her take my hand and lead me to the car. We went to the place where everyone was meeting. At one point, I stepped outside to take a phone call. When I came back, my classmates were playing a game of "Never Have I Ever." Somehow, Amelia and Caleb had ended up sitting together, bickering as usual. A sour feeling settled in my chest, but I said nothing and found a seat. The next round began. The class president held up a finger and said, "After the SATs, my crush finally fell for me too." Everyone lowered their fingers, except for Amelia and me. All eyes turned toward us, followed by a chorus of teasing. I looked at Amelia and remembered all the little ways we had cherished each other over the years. Warmth spread through my chest. Everyone knew we were childhood sweethearts. I had always been the little shadow she couldn't shake off. And Amelia had always protected me, putting me first. From the moment I first realized what it meant to have a crush, I had loved her with all my heart. After the SATs, she confessed her feelings to me, and we naturally became a couple. A nosy classmate looked at me and asked, "Neither of you put your fingers down. Don't tell me it was a mutual crush?" I nodded, tacitly admitting it. Someone suddenly shouted, "No way. Wasn't Amelia's crush Caleb? She just admitted they're dating." The moment those words were spoken, everyone fell silent. I stared at Amelia and Caleb in shock. They were sitting close together, and his cheeks were flushed. As for her, she made no attempt to explain. "Quit gossiping. Let's start the next round." It was essentially an admission that what our classmate had just said was true. The way everyone looked at me changed, and they began whispering among themselves. Humiliation washed over me in an instant. I got up and left the private room. I had barely made it a few steps outside when Amelia grabbed my hand from behind. "Listen to me. It's not what you think. A girl who'd confessed to Caleb before was harassing him, so I told her we were dating to get her to leave." "That girl is gone now. So, why didn't you explain?" "Caleb felt like it would be embarrassing for him." Amelia sounded helpless. Suddenly, I felt exhausted and pulled my hand free. "Amelia, let's break up." Amelia's expression changed. She tried to stop me, but her phone rang. The moment she saw Caleb's name on the screen, she hurriedly answered. The next second, she said anxiously, "Caleb hurt his knee. I'm going to check on him. Just get a ride home for now. I'll explain everything to you later." With that, she stopped paying any attention to me and turned to leave. I watched her walk away and smiled bitterly to myself. Chapter 4 The Last Straw I never got an explanation from Amelia. Instead, I started seeing her all over Caleb's social media. She took Caleb to an amusement park to ride roller coasters. She took him to the zoo to see the giraffes. The two of them even went to see the latest romance movie. In every post, Caleb mentioned the same words—little servant. It was his silent way of staking his claim. I didn't react and quietly packed my bags. Before the SATs, I'd set myself a goal. If I did well, I'd reward myself with a trip to Evermont. I did exceptionally well, which meant I'd reached my goal. … However, when I got to the airport, I saw two familiar faces—Amelia and Caleb. Amelia looked awkward, staring at me as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. In the end, Caleb spoke first. "Colin, don't get the wrong idea. My parents gave me some money to travel, and I didn't want to go alone, so I brought Amelia with me. Besides, she's my servant now." Amelia had Caleb's black backpack slung over her shoulder, his black suitcase in her hand, and one of his usual massagers hanging around her neck. She handled his things with the practiced ease of a girlfriend carrying her boyfriend's stuff. I said nothing and went through the ticket check. Seeing how calmly I reacted, Amelia looked a little panicked. Unfortunately, we were all headed to the same place—Evermont. I didn't want to get too involved with them, so I kept to myself and did my own thing. However, Amelia kept finding excuses to appear in front of me. She'd bring me a coconut, offer to put sunscreen on me, or volunteer to snap my picture. No matter how hard I tried to get rid of her, she wouldn't go away. … On the day we were supposed to head home, my luggage suddenly disappeared. Amelia and Caleb both acted frantic, tirelessly helping me look for it. For some reason, I felt a little warmth in my chest. Then, I heard their voices around the corner. Amelia looked upset as she urged Caleb to hurry. "It's been five hours already. The joke has gone far enough. Give Colin his things back." I was stunned. So, they were the ones who had hidden my luggage. Caleb shook his head. "No. Colin relies on us for everything. It's about time he learned to take care of himself." She frowned. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm staying in the same place as Colin. I can take care of him." He was getting impatient. "You're still my servant. Keep resisting me, and we're going to have a problem. Let's bet on how long it takes Colin to realize his luggage is in the public restroom on the first floor." A sharp pain went through me. They had actually hidden my things in a place like that. I turned around and went to look. Sure enough, I found my luggage sitting on a toilet lid in the public restroom. After checking to make sure nothing was missing, I left Evermont on my own. … Yet, as soon as I got home, my mother started yelling at me. "How could you come home without saying a word? Do you have any idea how worried Amelia was? She even called me. How did I end up with a son who causes so much trouble? Amelia and Caleb must have the worst luck having to deal with you." My father chimed in with his own complaints. I said nothing. I went inside and started unpacking. … The day my college acceptance letter arrived, I didn't tell anyone. I took my suitcase to the airport. Just before I boarded the plane, Amelia texted me. "You've gotten your acceptance letter, right? We can be together again. Where are you now? I have a surprise for you." I didn't reply. I deleted her contact and blocked her. From now on, anyone and anything that made me unhappy would be gone from my life for good.