He Ran to Save Her from Being Erased, Not Knowing He Erased Himself from Me Chapter 10

He Ran to Save Her from Being Erased, Not Knowing He Erased Himself from Me Chapter 10

The storm washed everything clean overnight. The morning smelled like fresh earth.

Hailey came over while I was eating breakfast. She grabbed my milk without asking.

“Elara, I’m so uncomfortable. I have to live with Sierra now. My parents went back to the office. I feel like

crawling out of my skin.”

At her house, it was just her, Nolan, and Sierra.

“My parents cut off his credit cards. But he has his own savings, and he’s stubborn. He said if we kick Sierra

out, he’ll leave too and never come back.” Hailey kept venting.

I almost laughed. What a loyal idiot.

“Elara, I can’t take it anymore. I need to get out. Let’s go to our university’s anniversary celebration.

Tomorrow.” Hailey suggested.

I blinked. The anniversary?

Right. My university was having its big celebration soon. Alumni could go back.

Hailey was also an alumna, just a few years behind me.

“Why the sudden interest?” I asked.

Hailey shrugged. “The school called my brother this morning to invite him. He’s going to give a speech. He’s

one of the Westbrook Twin Stars, you know.”

“Why didn’t they invite me? I’m successful too. I make three thousand a month.”

She was mocking herself. She only made three thousand on paper. Her actual allowance was a hundred

thousand.

I laughed, but my memory got fuzzy.

Westbrook had twin stars?

I only remembered one star.

His name was Julian Cross.

Julian was the brightest star Westbrook had ever seen.

In my college years, Julian’s “feats” were legendary.

Like taking 29 classes in one semester and getting top marks in 21 of them.

Or winning first prize in the National Undergraduate Physics Competition.

Or earning Westbrook’s first ever top award in the International Mathematical Modeling Contest.

The list went on.

He left a lasting impression on me.

Then I heard he went abroad, recruited by top universities. He was probably living overseas now.

“What are you thinking about? Are we going to the celebration or not? It’ll be fun to see old friends.” Hailey

was excited.

I didn’t really want to go. Nolan was invited, and I didn’t want to see him.

But then I thought, why should I avoid him? He meant nothing to me.

Just some random guy.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

We went.

On the day of the celebration, we had already eaten our way across campus.

Full and happy, we ran to Westbrook Grand Hall.

That was where the celebration was being held. It was big and bright, with seats and a stage.

I heard there would be a dance after the speeches.

Outside the hall, there were two banners.

One of Nolan. One of Julian.

Nolan was impressive enough. His resume was incredible, and with his family backing him, he donated every

year. It made sense they invited him.

Julian was more mysterious. There had been no news of him for years.

From his banner, I learned he was a professor at Standford University. The youngest professor in Standford’s

history.

“That’s so cool. Standford is top tier. Julian really is one of the Twin Stars. No one since his class has gotten

this kind of recognition.”

Hailey was in awe. She snapped photos with her phone. “And he’s so hot. Look at that suit. Look at the

composed, distant expression.”

I made a face. Hailey was too much of a fangirl.

I shook my head and pulled her into the hall.

The place was full of alumni. Some I recognized.

We exchanged pleasantries, and the celebration began.

The president and other leaders spoke, then invited Nolan to give his speech.

He looked annoyingly handsome, like some fallen angel. The crowd cheered when he walked on stage.

“My brother is pretty amazing. He’s just an idiot,” Hailey said.

I didn’t respond.

After Nolan’s speech, Julian took the stage.

He got less applause. Not because he was less accomplished, but because he had always been aloof, keeping to himself. People respected him from afar but didn’t know him.

He was like a mythical creature. Everyone knew he existed, but no one got close.

I studied him.

His handsomeness was different from Nolan’s. Nolan was a fallen angel. Julian was something quieter, like

a stag deep in the mist.

The kind you’d have to venture deep into the woods to find.