On Graduation Day, I Received a Cry for Help from Ten Years Ahead Chapter 01

On Graduation Day, I Received a Cry for Help from Ten Years Ahead Chapter 01

On the day of my college graduation, Ethan Walker had just slipped an engagement ring onto my finger when my phone buzzed. A new email appeared on the screen. The sender claimed she was writing to me from ten years in the future.

I stared at that line for several seconds, half skeptical and half unsettled, before typing back.

“Will Ethan and I be happy? And Sophia? Will she still be my best friend?”

The reply came almost at once.

“Ethan and Sophia have been together behind your back for a year. More than one person knows. Sophia has posted plenty of suggestive pictures online, and everyone in the Walker family circle thinks I know about it. Even my own mother assumes I am looking the other way.”

Another message followed.

“After we got married, he gave me only $200 a month for living expenses, while quietly sending Sophia $20,000 again and again.”

“I lost three children. Every time, it had something to do with them pretending to be sick, lying to me, or delaying my treatment.”

“I only found out the truth on the day they celebrated ten years together.”

The last message was short.

“Please don’t marry him. The doctor says I have only one month left.”

The screen went dark. The ring dug into my finger while the graduation crowd cheered for Ethan and me. Ethan noticed me staring at my phone and leaned closer.

“What’s got you so focused?”

I turned the screen facedown and slipped the phone into my pocket.

“Nothing. An internship offer.”

He did not seem surprised. He reached out and ruffled my hair.

“That’s what I get for dating an overachiever. Offers are still coming in on graduation day. Too bad they’re late. We already agreed, remember? After graduation, we’re joining the same company.”

I forced a smile and said nothing. Those emails kept turning over in my head until the world seemed to tilt. Just then, Sophia Bennett ran over with a bouquet in her arms, the hem of her white dress flicking in a bright arc over the grass.

“Come on. Let’s take graduation pictures.”

She hooked her arm through mine, then turned to Ethan.

“Fine, you can be our photographer. But if the pictures are bad, dinner’s on you, and I get to hit you for ruining my good side.”

She lifted a fist at him. They always bickered like that when they saw each other. I used to laugh and steer the conversation away. This time, I stayed quiet. I wanted to see what Ethan would do.

A low laugh slipped out of Ethan’s throat. He caught Sophia by the wrist and let the words drag.

“Yeah? I’d like to see you try.”

The tips of Sophia’s ears went red. She quickly yanked her hand free and raised her voice.

“Keep your hands off me, Ethan. Liv, let’s go.”

On the way to the academic building for photos, I said I needed the restroom. Before I went back out, I stopped just inside the door and heard Sophia speaking outside.

“Ethan, that ten-carat diamond you bought me is blinding. I love it so much. Why didn’t you get one for Liv too? We’re best friends. We could have matching rings.”

Liv was me, standing behind the restroom door and listening. The engagement ring on my hand was not ten carats. It was not even a real diamond.

Ethan chuckled under his breath.

“Come on, did you forget? In front of her, I’ve been pretending I’m just some ordinary college kid scraping by on scholarships and part-time jobs. My family doesn’t want me revealing that I’m the Walker heir while I’m still in college.”

He paused, and his voice softened.

“Besides, this one was custom-made for you. No one else gets the same ring.”

I looked down at the plain ring on my finger. After a long moment, I took a slow breath, made sure they could hear my footsteps, and walked out. The second Ethan heard me, he pulled his arm away from Sophia’s shoulders.

“Let’s go. We’ll take the pictures, then head to dinner.”

That night, to celebrate graduation, we went to a private-room karaoke bar in Koreatown. Not long after we sat down, another email from ten years later appeared.

“Don’t just listen to what they say. Watch what they do.”

At first, I did not understand. Then someone suggested Truth or Dare.

Ethan drew a dare. He had to pick up the second person on his left, carry that person across the dance floor, then slow dance with them for one song. Ethan’s left side was me. My left side was Sophia. Everyone in the room turned toward us, waiting for a scene to break out.

Sophia frowned.

“This game is so stupid. It even gives you an excuse to touch me. Liv, don’t worry. I won’t let him get away with it.”

Ethan glanced at me, his tone easy.

“It’s just a game. Don’t read into it.”

Then he walked over and lifted Sophia into his arms. They were pressed far too close as he carried her across the dance floor. During the slow dance, Sophia kept one arm looped around his neck, her fingers almost buried in the hair at his nape.

When the song ended, Ethan joked that Sophia was too heavy and that he had sweated through his shirt, so he needed to wash up. I saw the red along the edge of his ear. Sophia stood too, frowning as if offended.

“Please. I’m the one who should be grossed out. Liv, I’m going to wash my hands. I just touched a disgusting man.”

They left the room one after the other without even needing to discuss it. The email appeared again.

“Later, I found his journal. That was how I learned why they took so long to come back after the graduation dinner. They had gone to the private room at the end of the hall.”

I made an excuse and said I needed the restroom. The friends around us stopped me and told me to wait until Ethan and Sophia came back. They said it was not safe for me to go out alone. I gave them a small, strained smile.

“Actually, I don’t feel well. I think I’ll head home first. When they come back, please tell them for me.”

The moment I said that, several people visibly relaxed. I made my way to the private room at the end of the hall, keeping my footsteps light. Music thudded through the door, heavy enough to press against my chest. Through the crack, I saw two familiar figures tangled together inside.

Sophia tipped her face up and kissed Ethan first. Ethan cupped the back of her head instead of pushing her away, then deepened the kiss. They murmured things only the two of them could understand. I opened my phone camera and recorded everything. Then I turned and left.

When I stepped outside, my mother sent me a message. A few days earlier, she had happily told me she would book the flights for our graduation trip. I still had not received any confirmation, and I had assumed she was waiting for seats to open. But her message was only a few lines.

“For the graduation trip, I only managed to book tickets for me, Ethan, and Sophia. I couldn’t get yours.”

“Keep checking the airline yourself. Maybe someone will cancel.”

“If that doesn’t work, just take a different flight.”