Early the next morning, I had just woken up when my best friend, Simon Reese, called me.

His voice crackled with excitement.

“Dom! Huge news! Did you hear? Yesterday, Ella and Benedict both missed the exam!

“Word is, Ella went back home to get Benedict's admission ticket, and they got stuck in traffic on the way back.

“In the end, neither of them made it into the exam hall—it even made the local news.”

I was silent for a moment, then replied calmly, “I know. I was there.”

“What!” Simon exclaimed. “You didn’t try to stop her?

“I heard the homeroom teacher nearly exploded when he found out.

“He was counting on you and Ella to get into WIT or other top universities and make the school proud. Now it’s probably just you…”

Simon was still the passionate eighteen-year-old boy I remembered, but I was no longer the same eighteen-year-old I once was.

In my past life, hearing news like that would’ve made me frantic with worry over Ella.

But in this life, I had no desire to entangle myself with her anymore.

“I didn’t stop her. It was her choice. She’ll bear the consequences. It has nothing to do with me,” I said quietly.

“Oh, and by the way, I broke up with her. She agreed.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Clearly, Simon hadn’t expected that.

“You broke up?” he finally asked.

“Yeah.”

He took a moment to collect himself. “Well… It’s a little sudden, but I get it.

“Ella was acting strange. I mean, this is SAT we’re talking about, and she ditched it for Benedict?

“It’s just…something about it doesn’t sit right with me. I can’t explain it.”

I couldn’t blame Simon for finding it strange.

The truth was, Ella had simply worn her mask too well.

Even as her husband in my previous life, I never saw the true feelings she had buried deep in her heart.

But it didn’t matter anymore. From now on, I only have to look out for myself.

As for Ella, I was curious to see whether she could still have everything go her way in this life.

…

At the class reunion, Ella walked into the private event hall with Benedict.

The two of them sat down on the sofa and got rather intimate.

Everyone around us was eager to see the drama unfold as they looked at me, then back at the two of them.

Someone finally broke the silence and asked, “Ella, we heard you and Benedict are planning to take a gap year?”

Benedict nodded as he leaned proudly into her embrace.

“Ella went all the way home to get my admission ticket,” he declared loudly.

“We missed the exam, sure—but it showed me her true heart.

“We’re together now, and next year, we’ll go to the same university.

“We’ve got it all planned. After graduation, we’ll get married and have babies. Life’s going to be sweet from here on out.”

Ella beamed with pride.

“It’s never too late for school, but miss the chance at love, and it may never come again.

“Besides, I'm sure I’ll get into WIT next year just the same.”

Benedict raised his eyebrows smugly, then tilted his head and kissed Ella on the lips.

“Woooooo!”

A chorus of cheers erupted from the boys in the room.

Amid the noise, Simon glanced at me, trying to read my expression.

He leaned in cautiously and murmured, “Hey man, don’t take it too hard, okay?

“Ella said she liked you not long ago, and now she’s already moved on? Honestly, breaking up with her was the right call.”

I turned my head and gently patted Simon’s back.

“Don’t worry,” I said with a calm smile. “I’m not upset.”

I met Ella in our second year of high school. We were in the same class.

And we were both straight-A students — I ranked first, she was second.

The teacher intentionally seated us together so we could support each other academically.

Over time, we grew closer. We talked about everything.

Even during breaks, we would discuss assignments together, often drawing teasing whistles from some of the girls in class.

Whenever that happened, Ella’s ears would turn red as she whispered an apology to me.

I would just lower my head, too shy to meet her eyes.

Until one day, after school, she confessed her feelings.

Back then, she was tall, fair-skinned, a top student, and clearly bound for WIT.

I truly believed I was the male lead in a campus romance, and that she was the girl fate had chosen for me.

No one could’ve predicted it would all come to a brutal halt ten years later, on that rainy night.

Simon tried again to comfort me as I remained silent.

“Ella may look good on the outside, but deep down she’s just a two-faced hag.

“And don’t even get me started on Benedict. He flirts with girls at school and hangs out with thugs.

“If his family didn’t have money, the school would’ve chucked him out ages ago.

“Honestly, neither of them are any good. This won’t last.”

I let out a soft laugh and slung an arm around Simon’s shoulder.

“Relax, man. I really don’t care anymore. I’m happy for them. Truly. I hope they stay together forever.”

When the results came out, I quickly applied for WIT.

In my previous life, I had originally wanted to major in Computer Science, but Ella persuaded me to pick Civil Engineering instead.

Once I started my freshman year, I quickly realized I didn’t like Civil Engineering at all.

I forced myself to grind through the coursework, pulling countless all-nighters for an entire year.

Eventually, in my sophomore year, I successfully switched to Computer Science.

This time, without Ella’s interference, I chose Computer Science at WIT right from the start.

After submitting my university applications, Simon called and invited me out for drinks at the mall.

As luck would have it, just as our drinks arrived, we ran into Ella and Benedict.

Benedict slung his arm proudly around Ella’s shoulder and sat down at our table.

“Well, look who it is! You guys here for drinks too?” he asked casually.

“I envy single guys like you, still free to hang out with your buddies.

“My girlfriend clings to me every day, I can’t even get a moment to myself.”

Ella smiled sweetly and replied, “Well, it’s your fault for being so handsome. I can’t help wanting to be with you every day.”

Benedict grinned smugly, leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek.

Simon grimaced and shot me a look of disgust.

I glanced at him, but felt nothing.

After getting his fill of affection, Benedict turned to me. “Aren’t you worried about feeling lonely in college all by yourself?

“Too bad Ella can’t go with you. She’s going to take a gap year with me.”

I smiled faintly and said nothing.

Simon couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Yeah, definitely lonely. Dom got into Computer Science at WIT, not exactly something everyone can manage.

“By the way, you two are taking a gap and retaking the SAT exams, right? So what are you doing out here, eating and drinking like it’s a holiday?

“If it were me, I’d be panicking. I’d be preparing for the tests in advance.”

Benedict’s face turned bright red as he pointed a shaky finger at Simon.

Ella frowned and looked straight at me.

“You applied for Computer Science?” she asked sharply.

“That’s such an unpopular major. Didn’t I tell you to go for Civil Engineering?

“Civil’s the future. Pick the wrong major, and even a WIT degree won’t help you find a good job.”

Benedict lit up at her words and leaned in excitedly. “Is that true?”

Ella nodded, putting on a knowing, self-important look.

“WIT’s Computer Science program isn’t as good as Civil Engineering from a third-tier university.

“Looks like a pretty grim future for Dominic…”

Simon’s face turned red with anger.

He wanted to speak up, but wasn’t sure if what Ella said was true. All he could do was glance at me anxiously.

I met Ella’s gaze.

“Since when do you care? Just drop the act, will you?” I said coolly.

“Jealousy won't change my WIT acceptance letter.

“So tell me—where exactly did you get in again?”

Ella choked at my words, her face flushing with anger.

“What’s so hard about getting into WIT? I just didn’t want to go!

“I’ll just take a gap year and retake the exams. I bet I can make it.”

Benedict puffed up and glared at me arrogantly.

“Yeah! What’s so great about WIT, anyway?”

I nodded. “You’re right. It’s not that big a deal.

“But just a reminder, don’t forget your admission ticket next year. Otherwise, you’ll be retaking it. Again.”

Then I grabbed Simon and left.

…

A couple of weeks later, my university admission letter arrived.

My father, a man rarely moved by emotion, teared up the moment he saw the header.

My mother, overwhelmed with pride, snapped over a dozen photos and posted them all to her social media feed.

“Once you get to university, study hard, Dominic,” she said. “You’ve got to show them how capable you are.”

I nodded. The truth was, I had already bought a stack of books and planned to dive into them before the semester began.

The earlier I prepared, the more capable I’d be of seizing opportunities when they came.

A few days later, Simon and I attended a banquet where classmates, teachers, and parents gathered under one roof.

Our homeroom teacher grabbed my arm and led me up to the stage, his voice full of emotion.

“This is Dominic Benson, the pride of our school and soon-to-be student at Whitmore Institute of Technology. Let’s all give him a round of applause!”

The room erupted into thunderous roars.

But just as the applause faded, a quiet complaint rang clear in everyone’s ears:

“If only our daughter had stayed with him, then maybe she would’ve gotten into WIT too.”

The room fell silent instantly as all eyes turned toward the source of the voice. Then came the quiet ripple of whispers spreading through the crowd.

I looked more closely and to my surprise, it was Ella’s mother, Vanessa Simpson.

Both of Ella’s parents were teachers, known for their strict, effective parenting. They likely never imagined that their daughter would act so recklessly.

Suddenly, Benedict’s mother, Maria Casper, rushed forward, her voice sharp and shrill.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Maria demanded. She had one hand planted firmly on her hip, while the other jabbed at Vanessa’s face.

Startled, Vanessa stepped back a few paces.

Her husband, Harry Simpson, caught her and held her steady, then turned to Maria.

“Did Vanessa say anything untrue? If your son hadn’t pressured Ella to go back for Benedict’s exam pass, she wouldn’t have missed it!”

“What do you mean Benedict pressured her? Your daughter practically threw herself at my son!” Maria barked, her jewelry jingling from head to toe.

“Even if she missed the exam, she brought it on herself!”

Just then, Benedict’s father, Lee Casper, stepped forward with a sneer. “And here I was wondering who was talking. Turns out it’s just a broke little schoolteacher.

“If you apologize now, we might still consider keeping you as our future in-laws.

“But if you keep running your mouth like this, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

Harry was an honest man long respected in the school community, and had never encountered anything like this.

Stunned and speechless, he fumbled for words.

With trembling hands, he pulled Ella closer.

“Ella…tell us the truth. Did Benedict force you to get his admission ticket? Is that why you missed your exams?”