A Call from the Future Begged Me Not to Apply to Harvard Chapter 01

A Call from the Future Begged Me Not to Apply to Harvard Chapter 01

My name is Emily Harper.

The day I was finalizing my college applications, I got a call from an unknown number.

“Don’t go to Harvard. Your boyfriend has connections there, and he’ll steal your research to boost your best friend’s academic profile.”

“You’ll be accused of plagiarism, expelled, and even sent to prison.”

“Go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor instead. It may rank below Harvard overall, but your program will become number one in the country.”

“Who is this?” I asked warily.

The line went dead.

A message from Mark Sherman popped up on WhatsApp.

“Babe, I know it’s summer break, but don’t slack off on your research project.”

“I dreamed last night that your computer crashed and you lost everything. Why don’t you send me a copy so I can back it up for you?”

Remembering the caller’s warning, I felt a chill run down my spine.

I immediately tightened my computer’s security.

I stared at “Harvard University” on my screen. My finger hovered over the mouse.

While I hesitated, my best friend, Samantha Moore, called.

“Emily, you’re definitely applying to Harvard, right? I’m sticking with you in college.”

“Of course I’m applying to Harvard,” I said, forcing my voice to stay light. “I don’t want us to be apart either.”

—

Sam’s excited voice came through the speaker.

“Meet me at our usual spot. We’re celebrating another four years together!”

Her tone was so familiar and warm that I almost convinced myself the earlier call was just in my head.

I agreed quietly and headed to The Daily Grind Cafe, though the call still nagged at me.

The moment I sat down, Sam grabbed my hand.

“How’s the research project going? You look worn out.”

Her concern seemed real.

I just couldn’t tell whether she cared about me or only about my project.

“It’s almost done. I just need to proofread it.”

My phone suddenly blared an alert.

[Intrusion attempt blocked.]

Someone was trying to hack my computer.

“What was that alert? It sounded scary,” Sam said, leaning in.

I switched my phone to vibrate and fumbled to lock the screen, but she had already seen the words on it.

“Just an alarm. I actually need to go.”

Sam grabbed my arm, exactly as I had expected. “You just got here. I’m not letting you leave.”

My phone kept vibrating against my thigh. I glanced down and saw the blocked-attempt log still refreshing, but my security was holding.

The buzzing finally stopped.

Sam waved toward the entrance.

“Mark! Over here.”

She let go of me and slid into the seat across from me. “What a coincidence. Mark’s here too.”

I nodded stiffly and scooted in.

Mark sat down right next to Sam.

That’s when I noticed it.

Our seating arrangement had shifted without me realizing.

At first, I sat next to Sam. Mark sat across from me.

Then Mark started sitting across from Sam.

Eventually, every time we met, they’d end up next to each other. I’d end up alone on the other side.

I’d trusted them so completely that I never once questioned it.

Mark leaned close to Sam. His lips barely moved.

I read his lips: *Her computer’s protected. I’ll find another way.*

Sam’s eyes flickered with disappointment.

Mark finally turned to me, like he’d just noticed I was there.

“Emily, send me your research project files. I’ll keep a backup.”

“What if your laptop crashes? All your work would be gone.”

I took a sip of coffee. “That’s what cloud storage is for.”

“Cloud accounts get hacked too. I’m just giving you another layer of protection.”

Ignoring him, I asked, “So you’re going to Key West?”

Mark froze.

“Me? Alone? No way.”