-Five Years Ago-
Lori Chen.
Lori Chen..
Lori─
"Hi, I'm Lori Chen."
Trevor looked at the person standing before him with her hand stretched out towards him. He looked at the hand for a few moments before he looked back at his books, flipping to the next page and continuing his assigned readings.
"I know you saw me," he heard her say.
"So what?" he replied, not looking up to meet her eyes. He heard a soft laugh before he saw her sitting across from him in the corner of his eye. She didn't say anything as he continued to look at the textbook, reading and occasionally taking notes.
"Don't you know who I am?" she asked him.
"Should I?"
"Should I?" she imitated his words. When Trevor could no longer hold in his annoyance, he slammed his pen on the textbook before finally looking at her.
"Look, if you don't have anything to say, I'd appreciate it if you left me alone." 547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kk215MGKL
He didn't say anything else as he continued to look at her, expecting her to leave. But she just sat there and continued to look at him as if she hadn't done anything wrong. And at that moment, he decided to just leave before he said or did something which he would regret.
He angrily packed his books into his bag and when he draped the strap of his backpack on his shoulder, she spoke.
"So the rumors are true."
He ignored her words and began to walk away, not wanting to bother with her anymore.
"You're just as rude as they say. I guess being at the top of the class really gets to your head, eh?"
When he heard that, he felt his free hand balling into a fist before he turned around, immediately surprised by how close she was to him. He looked her directly in the eyes as she looked back at him with a smirk.
"If you don't have anything important to talk to me about, then leave me alone. Please," he pleaded. She continued to look at him for a few seconds before she offered her hand to him again. He looked at her hand before looking back at her again.
"What do you want?"
"What do you say we work together?" she asked. He looked at her for several moments, trying to figure out whether she was joking or not. And when he couldn't figure it out, he laughed.
"And why would I do that?" he asked her. She simply smiled as she folded her arms, walking around him only to return to where she had been standing before.
"Just imagine, the two top students working together. How much more can we accomplish?" she asked. He couldn't help but to laugh again.
"The two top students? Last time I checked you were just three spots away from last."
Her smile immediately disappeared.
"That's not my point."
"Then say something that makes sense and stop wasting my time," he said to her. He saw her visibly swallow before she spoke.
"I need your help. Like you said, I'm a few spots away from being last and I can't get kicked out, not now," she said, looking away from him. He felt his eyebrow lift slightly as his interest was peaked.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0kqBz3FXE
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I can't tell you now, just help me. Please." She looked at him again.
Trevor remained silent for a few moments as he studied her face, trying to decipher her objective for asking him for help.
"What's in it for me?" he asked at last.
"Does that mean you'll help me?" she asked, a hopeful expression crossing her face.
"I didn't say that, just answer my question," he told her, adjusting his bag as it began to feel heavy.
"I'll do anything, just say the word," she said. He looked at her again but got no reaction from her. He shook his head and began to walk away from her.
"Hey aren't you going to help me?" she asked, jogging to meet up with him.
"Why should I when I don't get anything in return?"
"What do you mean? Didn't you hear what I said?"
"That's not a concrete reward."
She held onto his arm and forced him to stop walking. He turned towards her slightly.
"Okay, what do you want then?" she asked.
He thought about his father and how he had to do everything that he could to find a job as soon as he finished. He looked at her and smiled slightly.
"Find me a job."
"What? How am I supposed to do that?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I don't know, you figure it out." He turned away from her and shrugged her off his arm before he took several steps, saying,
"Being the daughter of a hospital director should help."
Although he needed a job as soon as possible, he had said it as a joke. Which is why he was surprised when she appeared in front of him again, offering her hand.
"Deal," she said.
He looked at her, his surprise visible on his face.
"Seriously?" he asked. She nodded her head and placed her offered hand closer to him. Reluctantly, he put out his hand and slowly shook hers. 547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLw6hmAQHi
"Deal."
-
-Present-
Trevor sat at his desk a few hours after speaking with Dan, eyes glued to the resume which had the name Lori Chen. He ran a hand through his hair as he continued to wonder whether it was the same Lori Chen that he knew. As he read the resume again, and saw the name of the school which he had attended, he began to think that it was most likely the Lori that he knew.
"But why?" he asked to no one.
Suddenly, his door opened before the sound of someone walking filled the room. He looked up to find Dan smiling at him.
"What's going on?" Trevor asked. Dan turned towards the door and gestured for someone to enter as he said,
"You can come in."
And as soon as he finished speaking, the one and only Lori whom he knew, walked into the room with a large smile.
"This is your new assistant, Lori Chen. Lori, this is Trevor."
"It's very nice to meet you," she said to Trevor and as soon as their eyes met, she appeared to freeze.
"I'll leave you two to get to know each other," Dan said as he walked towards the door.
"Welcome to the team, Lori." She broke out of the trance that she had been in to turn towards him and nodded rigidly.
"Thank you."
After that, Dan left the room and closed the door behind him. Lori turned to face Trevor once the door closed.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCOCcZON5y
"We meet again," he heard her say. But he couldn't find any words to say as all he could do was look at her speechless.
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