Shylie couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise. Homemade food. It was a luxury she hadn't tasted much in her past life.
"I don't owe you anything," she said, but took the box anyway.
The warmth of it felt oddly comforting in her hands.
Darren leaned back, watching her with a look of curiosity that bordered on something deeper. "You're not like the others, Shylie," he said, his voice quiet. "You look through the noise like you've already been through hell."
Shylie said nothing, choosing to remain silent. If only he knew the real hell she'd been through.
That Afternoon: The Result of the Battle
The hallway buzzed with excitement as the midterm rankings were posted. Students huddled around the bulletin board, pointing and gossiping as they read the names.
GPA Ranking:
Shylie Reed (Junior)
Leah Carter (Senior)
Darren Tan (Senior)
The reactions were a mixture of shock and awe.
"Shylie's beating seniors?"
"Who even is she?"
"Leah's perfect record is broken."
Leah, always so confident and poised, felt her façade crack. Her fingers tightened into fists, her smile faltering as her flawless reign came to an end.
The Spring Showcase: Where It All Changes
Later, during the school assembly, Principal Carver made the announcement everyone had been waiting for.
"This year's Spring Showcase will feature our top students, showcasing their talents and projects," he said. "We expect nothing less than excellence."
Shylie's heart didn't race. She was calm. This was just another challenge. In her past life, piano had been her escape, her solace. Now, it was a weapon. A way to prove her dominance.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Shylie was handed a form by her homeroom teacher.
"You've been recommended to skip 11th grade," the teacher said, her voice low, "pending your performance at the showcase and an interview."
Shylie felt a rush of triumph, but she kept her face neutral. This was what she had been working for. One step closer to her goal.
"One more thing," the teacher continued, lowering her voice further. "You'll be paired with a senior for the upcoming school project... Darren Tan."
Shylie's eyes widened just a fraction as she glanced at the paper.
Soon, she'd be sitting beside Darren, as his equal.
The game had only just begun.
📍 Saturday – Tan Family Residence
The taxi coasted to a halt in front of the grand Tan estate.
Shylie stepped out, her fingers curling around the worn strap of her satchel. Inside were neatly printed project notes, handwritten outlines, and a stack of articles clipped from scientific journals. No laptops. No digital tools. Just ink, memory, and a mind that had seen decades ahead of its time.
The mansion loomed above her. Elegant. Imposing. The kind of wealth that whispered rather than shouted.
She rang the doorbell once.
The door opened almost immediately.
"You came," Darren said, his smile mixed with relief. "Thought you'd ghost me."
"Tempting," Shylie replied coolly as she stepped inside. "But I'm too professional for that."
He laughed, brushing a hand through his hair. "Still scary honest."
The foyer was warm and bathed in golden sunlight. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the marble floors in a soft glow. The scent of lilies and lemon polish lingered in the air—a sharp contrast to the musty, cold detachment of her childhood home.
"Come on," Darren said, leading her deeper into the house.
"My parents want to meet you."
The Living Room
Darren's parents were just as she remembered—kind, soft-spoken, and warm in a way her own family had never been.
"You're even more impressive than Darren let on," his mother said, offering tea in delicate porcelain cups. "He doesn't usually bring classmates over."
"Especially girls," his father added with a wink.
Darren groaned. "Can we not?"
Shylie smiled politely but kept her distance. This wasn't a social visit. She wasn't here for their approval. She was here for something—or rather, someone—else.
The Kitchen Island
They spread their papers across the kitchen's granite countertop. The project: an environmental tech proposal.
Future challenges, alternative energy models, climate solutions that wouldn't exist for another twenty years.
Shylie took the lead, her handwriting neat, her explanations clear, and her confidence unshakable.
"You talk like a CEO," Darren remarked, leaning back with a grin.
"Maybe I was one," she murmured under her breath, catching herself. "In another life."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Before Darren could press further, a deep voice interrupted.
"Darren."
Shylie's heart skipped a beat.
Elias Tan
He stepped into the room like a shadow, a tall, clean-cut figure colder than the autumn wind. Even in his own home, Elias wore a pressed shirt and dark slacks, his posture perfect and eyes razor-sharp.
Darren stood quickly. "Uncle—this is Shylie. We're working on a school project."
"I can see that," Elias said, his eyes now fixed on Shylie. "You didn't mention bringing strangers into the house."
The word "stranger" hung in the air like a quiet challenge.
Shylie didn't flinch. "Mr. Tan. I'm not here for small talk. I came to work."
Elias's gaze narrowed slightly. "Business. At your age?"
"Age is irrelevant," she replied smoothly. "Capability isn't."
A pause. A flicker of something behind his eyes, interest, maybe. Curiosity, certainly.
"Darren. Tell the chef to prepare something. I'll be joining you."
Darren blinked. "Wait—you're staying?"
Elias's eyes never left Shylie. "Today's discussion just became interesting."
Dinner
The dinner table was elegant, but the atmosphere was charged with quiet tension. Elias sat across from Shylie, asking pointed questions, some practical, others strategic.
She answered each one with unflinching poise. No embellishments. No attempts to impress. Just precision.
"You've done your homework," he said, his voice cool.
"I've lived through it," she replied, before catching herself. "I mean—I've studied the trends."
Elias's eyes narrowed. "You speak like someone who's already seen the future."
She didn't respond. Because, in a way, she already had.
That Night
As she slipped on her coat by the front door, Darren walked her out.
"He never stays for dinner," he muttered, shaking his head.
"You seriously threw him off."
"I wasn't trying to."
"That's what makes it worse," Darren said with a grin. "You didn't even flinch."
Shylie gave a faint smile. "You don't survive without learning to face worse."
As she stepped outside, she glanced back at the house.
Upstairs, behind one of the windows, a silhouette stood watching.
Elias.
Their lives had crossed. And whether he realized it or not, he was already part of her future.