As Leo walked through the school gates, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He used to hate this place—and truth be told, he still did. But there was something about it that tugged at his heartstrings. The creaky lockers, the scuffed floors, the faint smell of chalk and teenage sweat, the petty fights, the cringeworthy love confessions, and the wannabe gangsters... somehow, it all felt comforting.
Walking down the hallway, Leo remembered why he had never liked school. His social life? Practically nonexistent. Leo was what most kids at school were: trash—a loner, with few friends, a geek, really. It wasn't that he was stupid or dour (he had plenty of those traits too), but he preferred to keep his distance. His antisocial tendencies stemmed from boredom, apathy, and a desire to avoid unnecessary drama.
"Ugh, whatever... mwehehe, the important part is I'm gonna be filthy rich real soon!" Leo smiled to himself, still buzzing with the idea of accumulating Bitcoin in this timeline.
He got some strange looks from a nearby pair of students, who whispered:
"I don't like that dude, what's with him?"
"Bro's getting possessed or something."
But Leo didn't care. Today was his last day here—his final chance to change the course of his life. He sank into his usual seat in the back right corner of the classroom, plopping down into the rickety chair with a strange sagacity. His eyes flicked over to Fred, his desk mate—a gangly kid with perpetually messy hair and shirts that never quite fit right. Fred wasn't exactly Mr. Popularity, but he had a strange charm that was hard to dislike. They connected over anime and often traded dumb jokes in class.
Fred's doodles in his notebook were on pause when Leo took his seat. His pencil froze mid-air. His eyes widened as if he had just seen a ghost.
"Dude... what the hell's wrong with you?" Fred blurted, gesturing at Leo. "You look... I don't know, happy? Refreshed? Or kinda sus?"
Leo leaned back in his chair with a strange smile. "What do you mean? I'm the same as always."
Fred snorted. "Hell nah, bro. You always have this negative energy. You hardly talk, never smile—awkward as hell. Yesterday, someone sneezed too loud and you remember you were pissed. Today, you're glowing like you just got reincarnated."
Leo laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. At least for once, he wasn't annoyed by Fred's bluntness. It reminded him of simpler times—times that had long disappeared in his former life.
"Well," Leo said, lowering his voice so others couldn't hear, "let's just say... I'm about to get rich."
"Rich? Rich like a monkey?" Fred raised an eyebrow. "How? Are you starting your own business or something? Or—wait—are you finally professing your undying love for Liana?! GODDAMN!"
Leo froze for a moment, his heart racing at the mention of her name. Did Fred somehow sense how special Liana was to him? No way. They hadn't even had a proper conversation yet. He shook it off and laughed it off.
"W-What? Who?" Leo feigned ignorance, trying to sound nonchalant. "Nah, bruh, I can't even talk to girls. I mean, really... I found a way to make some bank."
Fred leaned in, intrigued. "A 'way,' huh? Spill it. What's your genius plan?"
Leo hesitated. How much should he reveal? Telling Fred that he was a covert time traveler from a dark alternate reality probably wasn't going to go well. Instead, he went vague—vague enough to quell Fred's curiosity and not sound like a raving lunatic.
"I was thinking... I'm going to invest in crypto. You know, Bitcoin?" Leo said nonchalantly, feeling the waters. "Or stocks. Maybe both. There's going to be a big opportunity soon."
Fred blinked, obviously dubious. "The hell's 'crypto'? Stocks? Dude, when did you become Warren Buffett? You made a comment last week that money was useless if you didn't get to exchange it for instant noodles."
Leo shrugged with a smirk. "I've seen the light."
Fred folded his arms in disbelief. "Whatever. But if you squander all your savings, don't come crying to me."
They both laughed, and for a moment, Leo felt normal. Like any other teenager worrying about exams, relationships, and their uncertain futures. It was... refreshing.
Fred hesitated, reached for his phone, and showed Leo a screenshot of a forum post. "Hey, check this out. That manga we were waiting for? New season's confirmed. And now, next year, there's going to be an anime adaptation. 'At long last, we see best girl animated!'"
Leo nodded eagerly; he was actually excited. Anime had long been one of the few things that made him happy—even at his lowest points. "Yeah, I heard! Not bad... not bad at all."
The conversation flowed naturally from there. They grumbled about cliffhangers, argued over character arcs, and speculated about plot twists. For a moment, Leo forgot his mission, his past, all the baggage on his back.
He was just another boy, lost in a made-up world.
Eventually, the conversation turned more personal. Fred let out an exaggerated sigh and rested his chin on his hand. "Man, I'm sick of being by myself."
Leo grinned. "Speak for yourself. I'm fine going solo. Less drama, more freedom."
"Sure, sure," Fred teased. "But deep down, even you gotta admit you get lonely sometimes. Someone to share your highs and lows... You can't deny it."
Leo hesitated, his eyes drifting to Liana. Was Fred right? Had loneliness pushed him to make wrong decisions in his previous life? He pushed the thought aside and jumped back into the conversation.
"Whatever," Leo muttered. "So, what are your plans after graduation?"
Fred shrugged. "Probably college. My parents are pushing me to major in business or accounting, but to be honest? I'd rather do graphic design. What about you?"
Leo paused, considering his response. This was his chance to make amends—to avoid the path that led him to that garbage life.
"I'm thinking about starting my own business," Leo said confidently. "Something tech-related. Or maybe investing early. Whatever it is, I'm done wasting time."
Fred whistled, impressed. "Damn, ambitious. Guess you're really doing this?"
Leo smirked. "Of course, brother."
When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Leo stood, feeling a little taller. Talking with Fred reminded him of the simplicity of being a young adult, friendships, dreams, and infinite possibilities. And even though he knew he couldn't afford to take his eyes off the prize, he also knew that reconnecting with people might be just what saved him from repeating his past mistakes.
Little did he know these small moments of connection would shape his future more than he could ever imagine.
During lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with the usual cacophony of students chatting, laughing, and scrambling for snacks. Leo stood in line, holding a tray while unconsciously scanning the room. His eyes landed on Liana again—she sat alone at a corner table, head propped on one hand as she stared blankly ahead. Her sandwich lay untouched on the plate before her.
A tightness gripped Leo's chest. He remembered this moment vividly from his original timeline. This was the day before everything started to fall apart for her—the beginning of her downward spiral. It wasn't just teenage angst; something deeper was weighing on her mind. But back then, Leo hadn't cared enough to notice or intervene. Now was different. Seeing her like this stirred emotions he thought were long buried... guilt, regret, and an overwhelming urge to fix what he couldn't save before.
He grabbed a random drink and snack from the counter without really looking, paid quickly, and started walking towards her table. Each step felt heavier than the last, his nerves frayed with uncertainty. What if she brushed him off? What if he came across as creepy or desperate? Still, he pressed on. If there was even a sliver of hope to change her fate—and his own—he had to try. Leo refused to go back to that shitty life.
"Liana," Leo said softly, stopping beside her table. His voice was hesitant, uncertain, yet laced with newfound confidence.
Liana looked up, startled. For a moment, her wide eyes locked onto Leo's, and he could see a faint flicker of surprise and curiosity. She blinked, breaking eye contact, and frowned slightly.
"Uh... hi??" she replied, her voice cautious, almost wary. "What do you need, Leo?"
Leo hesitated, gripping the edge of his tray tighter. He pulled out the chair opposite Liana and sat down without waiting for permission. "You look... not okay," he stated bluntly, setting his tray aside. "You're sitting here alone, staring at your food like it insulted you. Are you alright?"
Liana raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by his forwardness. "Why do you care?" she asked flatly, her tone laced with skepticism. "Since when does Leo care about other people?"
Her words stung, but Leo forced
himself to remain calm. She wasn't wrong—at least, not entirely. In his past life, he had been indifferent, selfish, and disconnected. But that wasn't who he wanted to be anymore.
"Fair point," he conceded, leaning back in his chair. "But let's just say I'm trying to... turn over a new leaf, okay? So, what's wrong, Liana?"
For a moment, Liana just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, her shoulders slumped, and she sighed. "It's nothing. Just… tired, I guess."
Leo tilted his head, studying her closely. Her face was pale, her lips pressed into a thin line. There were dark circles under her eyes, barely concealed by makeup. Whatever "tired" meant to her, it wasn't just physical exhaustion.
"Yeah, I believe you're just tired," Leo deadpanned, "Like I'm secretly your future husband... But seriously, what's up? Just tell me, I won't judge."
That elicited a tiny, fleeting smile. "Okay, fine. Maybe there are a few things on my mind. But it's not something you can help with anyway, Leo."
"Try me," Leo challenged, leaning forward slightly. His gaze softened, becoming less confrontational and more sincere. "Look, I know we're not exactly close, but... I've seen your work. You're talented. And you don't deserve to be sitting here looking like you lost a major bet."
This time, Liana's smile lingered a bit longer. "You've seen my work?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah. That mural outside the auditorium? Pretty sure that was yours. It's good. Really good."
A faint blush crept up her cheeks, and she looked away. "Thanks. Most people don't even notice it."
"Well, they have poor taste and are idiots," Leo said firmly, making Liana look back at him, surprised. "Anyway, enough about art. Tell me what's bothering you. Or at least tell me why you hate that sandwich so much."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "It's not the sandwich, Leo. It's... more complicated."
Leo leaned back again, giving her space. "Complicated is my specialty. Go on, lay it on me."
At first, Liana hesitated, picking at the crust of her sandwich. But as Leo waited patiently, neither judging nor pressuring, she began to talk. Vague at first—comments about feeling trapped, overwhelmed by expectations, unsure about her future. Gradually, however, she opened up more.
"My parents..." she started hesitantly, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear. "They're in trouble. Big trouble. They owe money to... these people. Dangerous people. And they keep pressuring us to pay, but we can't. We just don't have it anymore."
Leo's heart sank. He knew exactly who "these people" were. In his original timeline, he'd worked for them—or rather, alongside them—as an enforcer. They were unforgiving; they didn't negotiate. If a debt wasn't paid, the consequences were swift and brutal.
"I see," he said quietly, his jaw tightening. "How much do they owe?"
Liana hesitated, then whispered, "A lot. More than we could ever have. Every time they call, I feel like I'm suffocating. Like there's no way out."
Leo clenched his fists under the table, anger simmering inside him—not at her, but at the system that had destroyed so many lives, including hers and, ultimately, his own. He couldn't let history repeat itself. Not this time.
"Don't worry," he said firmly, meeting her gaze. "I'll help you."
"Are you serious?" Liana asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Why would you even bother helping me? We're not really friends."
"BECAUSE I LIKE YOU!!!" Leo suddenly blurted out, cutting her off. The words tumbled out, and his face instantly flushed, but he pressed on boldly. "I've always liked you from afar, but I was too scared to admit it. And now, seeing you like this... I can't just sit back and do nothing."
Liana's jaw dropped. "Wait, WHAT?!"
Leo felt a surge of self-loathing at how cliché the words sounded. But, desperate times called for desperate measures, right? Besides, it wasn't entirely untrue—he had liked her, albeit silently, back in their school days.
"I know this sounds crazy," he said quickly, waving his hands defensively. "But I'm serious. I want to help you because... I care about you. A lot."
Liana stared at him, her eyes wide, face flushed. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Instead, she just gaped at him, her expression a mixture of shock, confusion, and perhaps, a tiny hint of being flattered.
"A-Are you serious right now??" she finally managed, her voice shaky. "Three years?? And you never said anything???"
Leo sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, uh... I guess I suck at the whole 'talking to girls' thing. But hey, better late than never, right?"
"No... No," Liana shook her head, still trying to process his confession. "This is insane. You hate talking to people, you're antisocial, you're... aghhh, you barely even acknowledged my existence. And now you're telling me you've had a crush on me this whole time?"
Leo chuckled nervously. "Pretty much. I know it's weird, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to... I was just scared of rejection... The point is, let me help you."
Liana looked at him, her brow furrowed in thought for a long moment. Finally, she let out a breath, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Fine. Okay. But if this is some kind of joke, I swear I will ruin your life. And rip your face off... and I'll answer your feelings later," she finished, a faint blush returning.
"Not a prank," Leo said, his tone flat, deadly serious. "I promise."