1: Love Beyond Time (2)

Part 2: Falling in Love

Seth

A few months had passed since I returned to the past. Everything had been going great. I still couldn't quite grasp how or why I was given this second chance, but I no longer dwelled on it. All that mattered was that I now had the opportunity to change Ivan's fate—to save him from the tragedy that once awaited him.

Over the past few months, I had spent most of my time with Ivan, especially at school. I often visited his place to study and to check on him, making sure he was doing okay. This was my way of creating memories with him—memories we never got the chance to make before his sudden death in our past lives. But this time, I wouldn't let history repeat itself. No matter what, I would change his fate.

"Seth." Ivan suddenly called out.

"Ah… yeah?" I replied, snapping out of my thoughts as I realized I had been staring at him a little too intently.

He raised an eyebrow. "You weren't even listening, were you?"

I let out an awkward smile. "Sorry about that." I admitted.

He sighed, leaning back slightly. "Is something wrong?" His voice carried a hint of concern. He must have noticed that something had been weighing on me for a while now. But I didn't want him to worry, so I quickly brushed it off.

"Nothing's wrong." I said casually. "I'm just enjoying hanging out with you." I added with a playful grin.

Ivan didn't laugh. Instead, he gave me a pointed look, clearly not buying my excuse.

I sighed in defeat. "Alright, fine. It's just schoolwork stressing me out." I admitted, which wasn't entirely a lie—I had been struggling with my studies even now.

He didn't say anything right away. Instead, he stood up and walked out of the room without a word. I blinked, confused about where he was going. Moments later, he returned, carrying a tray with snacks and a steaming cup of tea.

"I'm not sure if you even like tea, but it's all we have at home right now." he muttered, setting everything down in front of me. I couldn't help but smile. Ivan wasn't the overly expressive type, but in his own way, he always showed he cared.

"Tea helps clear your mind," Ivan said as he poured me a cup with steady hands.

I watched him, smiling at the simple but thoughtful gesture. Without thinking, I reached out and took his hand, holding it firmly.

"Seth!" he exclaimed, clearly startled. His usual composed expression faltered, and I couldn't help but grin as a faint blush crept onto his face.

"Sit beside me this time," I said, releasing his hand.

He hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck, then let out a small chuckle before finally sitting next to me. That moment, we simply enjoyed each other's company, setting aside any worries about what the future might bring.

Each day, each moment—I made sure to make the most of it. I seized every opportunity I had missed in my past life, and it turned out to be an incredible experience.

One of those moments was when I found myself standing on stage, singing in front of the entire school during an event. The thunderous applause and warm support from everyone caught me off guard. Back then, I had never mustered the courage to share my talent, but this time, I finally did. And it felt amazing.

Beyond that, I pushed myself academically, determined to do better this time around. Ivan took on the role of my tutor, and while he was strict—sometimes scolding me when I got distracted—his method worked. He made sure I understood everything, and because of him, studying wasn't as unbearable as it used to be.

For a while, it felt like everything was falling into place, like I had truly changed the course of fate. But just as I started to believe things would be different this time, the moment I had dreaded most came rushing in faster than I could have ever prepared for.

"Next month will be our field trip! Is everyone excited?" our homeroom teacher announced, writing the exact date on the board.

The moment those words left her mouth, a sharp pain shot through my chest. My mind clouded with memories I had tried so hard to push away. My hands clenched into fists under the desk as my breathing became uneven. I couldn't focus on anything else, my thoughts drowning out the teacher's voice.

Then, a light tap on my shoulder pulled me back to reality. I turned to see Ivan, his brows slightly furrowed in concern.

"Seth, are you okay?" he asked softly.

I met his gaze, and a wave of nausea washed over me. That face—it was the same one I had seen covered in blood after the accident. The horrifying image burned itself into my mind: Ivan slumped over, his head stained red, the vehicle that was supposed to take us home wrecked beyond recognition after losing control and crashing.

My chest tightened. My vision blurred. My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

"Seth!" Ivan's voice rang in my ears, but it was distant, muffled—like he was calling from another world.

Then, everything faded to black.

**********

"Where… am I?" I muttered, my eyes slowly adjusting to the bright white ceiling above me. As I tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through my head, making me instinctively press a hand against my temple.

"Seth, take it easy!" Ivan's firm yet gentle voice cut through the haze as he rushed to my side. Before I could protest, he carefully supported me, guiding me to sit on the edge of the bed.

"You suddenly collapsed in class." he explained, his expression serious but calm. "The teacher asked me to bring you to the infirmary." His steady presence grounded me, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

"I'm sorry for making you worry," I murmured, still feeling the lingering ache in my head.

Ivan let out a small breath, shaking his head. "It's fine," he said, though his voice wavered slightly. "But you nearly gave our teacher a heart attack when you collapsed like that." He tried to add some lightness to the situation with a short chuckle, but there was something else in his expression—something deeper.

Before I could respond, he continued, "Your parents will be here soon. The school nurse said you should go home and rest."

"But I can't afford to miss class," I argued, trying to sit up properly.

Ivan's expression hardened as he met my eyes. "Seth, your health comes first," he said, his voice firmer than I had ever heard before.

A shiver ran down my spine as I saw something in his gaze—an intensity I had never seen before, not even in our past life. And then, to my shock, tears welled up in his eyes. The moment one slipped down his cheek, something inside me snapped.

Without thinking, I reached out, gripping his arms and pulling him into a tight embrace. His body tensed for a moment before he slowly melted into the hug, his fingers clenching the fabric of my shirt as he buried his face against my chest.

"I was scared," he admitted in a quiet, broken whisper.

I held him closer, feeling his quiet sobs against me. This was new—something that had never happened before. And yet, in this moment, all I could focus on was the warmth of his presence, the weight of his emotions pressing against me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, gently running my hand along his back in a soothing motion. In that moment, I hated myself for making him cry. I had been so consumed by my fears of the future that I failed to see what was right in front of me. But could anyone blame me?

All I wanted was for him to live—to make it past the accident that had taken him away in our past life. I wanted to see him smile every day, to understand him better, to know every little thing about him. And if it meant doing everything in my power to protect him, then so be it.

We stayed like that for a while, neither of us moving until the nurse returned with my parents. She advised them to take me home for the day and let me rest, which is how I ended up leaving school much earlier than usual.

My parents were understandably worried, but I reassured them, saying it was just exhaustion from schoolwork and the upcoming final exams after the field trip. Eventually, I managed to ease their concerns, and they let me rest.

By the time I woke up, it was already two in the afternoon.

I received a flood of messages from my friends and even our homeroom teacher, all checking in to see if I was alright. I reassured them that I had rested well after going home.

Of course, I also sent a message to Ivan—I knew I must have given him quite a scare. He replied, saying he was at the café with the others as usual. That made me smile. It was good to know that even without me there, he was spending time with them.

Since I had already gotten plenty of rest, I figured there was no harm in joining them for a little while. After getting permission from my parents, I headed out.

On my way to the café, I spotted the gentleman—the owner of the café we always went to—sitting on a bench in a nearby park. He seemed completely at ease, simply watching the people around him and letting the breeze pass by. As I walked toward him, each step felt strangely heavy, as if the air around us carried an unseen weight.

Without looking up, he spoke. "You're here at last." His voice was calm, as if he had been expecting me. Then, he gestured to the empty space beside him. "Come. Sit with me," he said. "I'll answer the questions you've been longing to ask."

I quickly took a seat beside him, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and unease.

"There's no need to be nervous," he said with a warm, knowing smile.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself before finally asking the question that had been weighing on my mind for so long. "Why did you give me that old pocket watch?"

He turned his gaze toward me for a brief moment before smiling once again. "Every person deserves a second chance—to rewrite the regrets they carry, to change the things they once wished they could." His voice was calm, yet there was a depth to his words that made them feel even more significant. "I simply gave you that chance."

I remained silent, absorbing his words as he continued. "Isn't it wonderful? To finally do the things you never had the opportunity to in the past? To live without the weight of 'what-ifs'?" His eyes held a certain wisdom, as if he had seen countless souls walk down the path of regret. "I've watched many people spend their lives chasing perfection, striving to be the best at everything they do. Yet, in the end, so few of them find happiness in their achievements. They lose sight of what truly matters."

His words settled heavily in my chest, and as he turned to look at me once more, his expression softened. "Tell me, are you satisfied with what you've done so far?"

I paused, letting the question sink in. My mind drifted through the past few months—the moments I had shared with Ivan, the laughter, the simple joys of living life without hesitation. After being given this second chance, I had found happiness in ways I never thought possible.

A small, genuine smile formed on my lips. "Yes," I answered, my voice steady and certain.

"But there's still something you need to do, isn't there?" he said, finishing the thought that had lingered unspoken in my mind.

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could, he continued, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of something deeper—something I couldn't quite place.

"I may not be able to tell you what should or shouldn't be done," he murmured, "but I can offer you a word of advice." He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "Everything you do will alter the present, but it will never erase what has already happened."

My heart skipped a beat. "You mean—" I started, but my words trailed off.

"You'll understand when the time comes," he said, his expression unreadable, though there was a light smile on his lips—one that carried both reassurance and a quiet weight.

I wanted to press further, to ask him more—what he truly meant, what consequences my actions might have—but before I could speak again, a familiar voice called my name from the distance. My head snapped toward the sound, and when I turned back, the man was already rising from the bench.

"Looks like your friends are here," he said, his tone almost amused. "We'll meet again someday."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving me sitting there with even more questions swirling in my mind.

Before I had the chance to gather my thoughts, I felt a presence approaching fast.

"Seth! What are you doing here?!" James' voice rang out first, filled with both relief and frustration.

I barely had time to react before the rest of my friends surrounded me. Ivan was at the front, his sharp gaze scanning me up and down, as if checking to see if I was alright.

"Seriously, man, you just collapsed earlier! And now you're out here like nothing happened?" James scolded; arms crossed.

Travis chimed in, shaking his head. "You scared the hell out of everyone today, and now we find you lost in thought in the middle of a park? What are you, the protagonist of some drama series?"

I let out a nervous chuckle, but before I could say anything, Ivan suddenly stepped forward. He didn't say a word, but the way his eyes locked onto mine told me he wasn't just mildly concerned—he was worried.

"Are you really feeling, okay?" he asked, his voice quieter than the others, but his concern was the loudest of all. I smiled, pushing aside the lingering thoughts of my conversation with the cafe owner. "Yeah, I'm fine," I assured them. "I just needed some fresh air, that's all."

That didn't seem to satisfy Ivan, but before he could push further, James huffed. "Fine or not, you're coming with us. No more wandering off like that, got it?"

I laughed a little, shaking my head. "Alright, alright, let's go."

As we walked toward the cafe together, their voices filled the air—James complaining, Travis joking around, and Ivan quietly glancing at me every now and then, as if he still wasn't convinced.

And despite the unanswered questions still lingering in my mind, in that moment, surrounded by them, I felt a warmth in my chest.

A second chance. A chance to do things right.

No matter what the future held, I wouldn't waste it.