The sound of my steps echoed in my ears. With each step, memories coursed through my head. Nostalgia washed over me, as if I could still hear the rustling and bustling of my schoolmates in the corridors, as if I could still hear teachers yelling at students for making too much noise...

Unfortunately, the building was empty.

The building was abandoned. It was no longer my school. It had been shut down due to a tragedy — a huge fire broke out and injured many. I’ve heard that some even died.

As I walked further into the building, every memory came flooding back. I stopped near a particular room — my old classroom. I still remembered my seat — fourth seat of the second row.

It’s been almost five years since I left my hometown — Bridgedale Town.

It was a small town with only a few schools and colleges. I left Bridgedale when I was sixteen. Now, after five years, I’m back to meet my mom.

So many things have changed since then — my parents got divorced, I moved to Westlyn City with my dad, my brother moved out... Life seemed to be in grayscale.

As I walked further, my head filled with thoughts of a certain person — Kai Ryder.

My childhood friend, and my biggest crush.

Though honestly, I still feel the same way about him.

I wonder what he’s been up to these days... Is he still single? Probably not. Given his looks, he’s probably dating some blonde chick. I wonder what he’s doing in college… Knowing him, it’s probably something related to computers. That guy was neck-deep into tech.

One thing I deeply regret is not telling him how I felt about him... Just a small confession that I liked him — no expectations, no drama.

But unfortunately, I didn’t.

Well, I was going to, but then we had that stupid fight and stopped talking.

I did try to reconcile, but I had no contact information. His old number was no longer in service. I even visited his house — but no one lived there anymore.

It’s like he vanished into thin air...

My feet carried me out of the abandoned building. That’s when I spotted her —

Miss Larinson, my math teacher.

“Good evening, Miss Larinson. How are you?”

She squinted her eyes, as if trying to recognize me.

“I’m Zoey... Zoey James. You used to teach me math.”

“Ah, Zoey! Karl James’s daughter! You've grown so much!” she said as her memory clicked into place.

“So, what are you up to these days?” she asked.

“Enrolled in medical school.”

“That’s quite something. I heard you moved to Westlyn?”

“Ah, yeah... I have. Miss Larinson, do you have any contact information for Kai Ryder?”

“Kai Ryder of Class 10—A?”

“Yes…”

“Oh dear, didn’t you hear about the tragedy?”

“You mean the fire breakout?”

“Yeah… poor lad passed away during that incident.”

That one sentence had my whole world crashing down.

My eyes were immediately filled with tears.

“You… didn’t know about it?”

I shook my head.

She sighed and gave me his parents’ number.

I took the number and rushed home, fresh tears streaming down my eyes. I couldn’t believe it… I couldn’t digest his death at all.

I reached home and stared at my phone’s screen. My teary eyes looked at the number… I couldn’t bring myself to press the call button.

I threw my phone on the bed and buried my face into the pillow, as it got soaked with tears.

Through my tears, I wished only one thing…

“If I could go back in time… I’d confess my love to him.”

“Oii, wake up! It’s already 7:30! Don’t you wanna go to school!?”

I heard a childish voice yell at me. In response, I just groaned.

“Dad! She’s not waking up!”

I opened my eyes slightly and saw my brother walking out of my room.

Eh… Zane came? Wasn’t he in Crestwick…? He arrived so soon? Without any phone call?

Wait—Dad’s here too? Didn’t he say he wasn’t interested in meeting Mom…?

I sat up on the bed and rubbed my eyes. Just then, my dad walked in.

“Zoey, are you sick?” he asked while checking my forehead.

“Your temperature is normal. Is this another one of your tactics to miss school?”

I stared at my dad in awe.

“Woah—Dad! You dyed your hair! Finally! Oh wait—didn’t you say you weren’t interested in meeting Mom?”

“What are you babbling about? It’s nearly 8! Don’t you wanna go to school?”

“I’m on my vacation, Dad! You’re so forgetful these days, you should get it checked.”

He raised an eyebrow at me as if to say ‘Are you serious right now?’

But of course, I never take the hint.

“Oh, and you know Kai! You know what happened to him—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Zane walked in and my jaw dropped.

“YOU’VE SHRUNK!”

“Huh?” He looked at me like I was a patient from an asylum.

“Dad! Do you see?? He looks like he’s 12!”

“Because I am 12!”

“EHH!? YOUR VOICE! It sounds childish!”

“Because I am a child!”

“Zoey, what kind of act are you putting up to skip classes?” my dad asked sternly.

“She’s probably been bitten by a mad dog,” my brother commented.

“It’s supposed to be my vacation…!”

“What kind of school gives a vacation in the middle of the academic year?” Dad asked, giving me a ‘you’re a lost cause’ look.

I sat on the bed, holding my head.

“You’ve probably seen some weird dream. Now get ready. You’re getting late.”

I sighed and asked,

“What’s the date today…?”

“It’s 7th August,” Zane said.

“Year??”

“2017.”

I’ve gone back five years in time…

Is this a dream? Or is this real...? It seems too real to be a dream.

“Zoey, you’re still sitting?? Get ready!”

I got off the bed and finally put in the effort to get ready. I was brushing my hair when I heard him… yelling my name.

“ZOEY!”

Wait—he’s alive! He’s actually alive!

Act normal! Act normal! Act normal!

“Are you deaf?? Reply to him!” my brother yelled, and the hairbrush I was holding slipped from my hand and fell to the floor.

Can’t you stay quiet for a moment!? I’m here trying to process things!

“ZOEY! ARE YOU READY?!”

Kai yelled again. His voice was enough to send chills down my spine.

“Yeah! Coming!”

I immediately walked out with my school bag.

I finally looked at him.

He was looking at me as if I had just escaped from a zoo.

“Um… are you gonna come to school without your shoes and socks?

Oh, and one side of your hair is brushed and the other is… not.”

My face immediately burned with embarrassment.

I didn’t say a word—I just ran back inside.

“There’s something wrong with her head today,” my brother complained to him.

“Clearly. Did she, like, hit her head somewhere?” he asked in a teasing manner.

“I CAN STILL HEAR YOU GUYS!”

To which both he and Zane burst out laughing.

Wow… is this the guy I like?? I really need to reconsider my feelings.

I finally walked out—this time my hair was properly brushed, and I definitely wore shoes and socks.

I was speed-walking while Kai kept yelling at me to slow down.

Well, of course I didn’t. I was way too embarrassed to even look at him.

Just then, as I was about to bump into someone, I felt someone yank me by the arm.

I found myself pressed against someone’s chest.

When I looked up—it was Kai.

His perfectly symmetrical eyes were looking right at me.

My cheeks started heating up. My head was spinning.

He was saying something, probably lecturing me, but I was too lost to even hear him talk.

“Zoey!”

“Ah—yeah…”

“Are you even listening!?”

“I… I am..! We’re getting late, and we should get going!”

I pushed him away and ran.

Gosh! Why does he have to be so... stupidly handsome…

I couldn’t even focus.

I reached school, panting.

As if my day couldn’t get any worse, I stepped on shit.

Great! Seriously, great!

I had to physically stop myself from gagging as I made my way to the bathroom to wash off my shoe.

After I was done washing it, I realized I now had to spend the whole day in a wet shoe and a half-wet sock.

Worst day of my life.

I walked out of the bathroom, and there he was—looking at me with a half-concerned, half-teasing expression.

“What?” I broke the ice.

“Something is seriously wrong with your head today,” he said.

As if you’d believe me if I told you I time-traveled.

“Did a mad dog bite you?” he teased.

I rolled my eyes, and we made our way toward the classroom.

Thank God I remembered my seat—otherwise, I’d have made my day even worse.

As soon as I sat down, the teacher arrived.

Miss Patrixson, my biology teacher.

God, I hated her so much. She always picked on me!

“Okay class, take out your textbooks,” she announced.

I opened my bag and skimmed through it.

Wait—Class 7th!?

OH SHIT!

I accidentally brought my brother’s bag instead of mine!

How can I be so dumb!?

“Zoey! Where’s your book?” Miss Patrixson asked.

“Um… book… that… uh…”

“Stand up first! Don’t you have the common sense to stand up while talking to your teachers!?”

Of course she had to lecture me.

I kept my head down as I stood up.

“So, you didn’t bring your textbook?” Her tone was sharp.

“Yes… Miss Patrixson…”

“Get out of my class. Now!”

I made my way toward the door when she entered—my number one rival: Tasha.

Dressed in her usual tee and jeans, her perfectly styled blonde hair bounced with every step, and she smelled like fresh roses. Of course.

Everyone liked her.

She was like a living, breathing Barbie doll.

“Miss Patrixson, do you have an extra chalk?” she asked sweetly.

Even her voice sounded like she was auditioning for a spot in a girl band. Ugh.

Meanwhile, I looked like a soaked chihuahua.