Chapter 6

A few days later, Selene received a certificate sent to her from a charity. Her secondhand objects, as well as the emerald pendant, had been sold for five million. All the proceeds had been donated to disadvantaged children living in rural areas. The funds were used to build schools, purchase furniture, and help with subsidising their school fees. Selene was pleased by this result. At least her unwanted objects could be sold off to provide actual assistance to impoverished children. It was better than having a meaningless emerald pendant. When Selene went for her morning jog, she ran into Quentin, whose hand was still wrapped in a sling. But that did not hinder his swift actions. Like a cheetah, he pounced on the criminal and tackled him to the ground. However, the criminal pulled out a dagger and slashed it at Quentin's neck. His only arm had been occupied with holding the criminal down, so he couldn't block the dagger's attack. As the blade was about to pierce through the artery in Quentin's neck, Selene sprang into action and stomped on the criminal's arm. The blade clattered onto the ground. Quentin looked back, appraising her. "You're good at combat." "Thanks for the praise." The criminal was apprehended by the other policemen speeding onto the scene and bundled into the police car. Quentin swept the dust off himself and struggled to his feet. "Miss Thurman, I saved you the last time, so this time you saved me. We're on equal footing now." Selene nodded and asked, "Mr. Lancaster, are you always ready to sacrifice yourself every time you go on your missions? Aren't you afraid of death at all?" "I am." Quentin laughed. "But… I have my reasons to become a policeman." "To serve our people?" Quentin's lips quirked up knowingly. "That's one of the reasons." "What are the other reasons?" "I want to protect the girl I like." Selene was surprised. She hadn't figured that would be his reason. "Your girlfriend?" "Not yet." "A secret crush?" "Yeah." Selene said, "Can you tell me her name? Perhaps I can make it happen in our next lives." Quentin was around her age. If she went back in time 13 years and enrolled in the police academy, she would probably be classmates with Quentin, and the girl he liked would be in their immediate vicinity. Then, she would be able to help Quentin with his secret crush. Quentin looked up. "Our next life?" "Just tell me her name. I have my ways." Quentin smiled down at her. "It's alright. She's got a handsome, loaded husband in this life who treats her like a princess. She would do better in her next life if she got back together with him. At least, it would be better than getting with me." For some reason, Selene felt like Quentin's gaze was clouded with a deep sadness and a sense of desperate longing. There was something Selene had picked up, but she couldn't put her finger on what exactly it was. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was the man from the secondhand shop. "Miss Thurman, we have sold the objects you passed to us, but there's a picture and a letter that we can't sell, so we've sent them back to you. "Alright, thanks." Selene headed to the post office to pick them up. The photo was her graduation photo. There had been eight classes in her graduating cohort. It was a huge picture. It had been a while, so she'd forgotten the names of a lot of her coursemates. Charlie was there, too, but he had been standing in the last row, away from her. There was another boy beside her. She couldn't recall him, but he looked somewhat familiar. She turned to the back of the picture and looked for their corresponding names. The boy beside her was… Quentin! Was he her high school classmate? Selene hurriedly pulled out the letter. It had been written on a light blue piece of paper. There were only four words written. It read, "Selene, I like you." Quentin signed it. Selene couldn't make sense of it for a long time. The girl Quentin liked had married a handsome, loaded man. People thought he spoiled her silly… So this was it. This was it! "Miss Thurman." Someone called her name from behind. Selene turned around to see the man and woman she'd met at the Wishing Stall. The man said, "Your ten days are up. Are you sure you'd like to sacrifice all your memories with Charlie and go back in time to thirteen years ago?" Holding the letter against her heart, Selene nodded. "Yes." "Alright. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. I'll take your memories away and send you back…" "What about the version of me who continues to exist in this life?" "I'll create a death scene and make sure you disappear." Nodding, Selene closed her eyes and said, "I'm ready. Let's begin." … "Selene, Charlie's playing basketball at the basketball court. All the girls have gone to watch. Aren't you going?" When Selene opened her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of her high school classroom. Her deskmate, Talia, was yanking at her sleeves. "Come on, Selene. If we're late, the competition will be over." Selene understood. She'd gone back in time! But… "Who's Charlie?" "What's wrong with you? He's the most handsome boy in our year! Weren't the two of you on good terms with each other? I thought you liked him." Selene said disdainfully, "I don't know him." "Even if you didn't know him, there's no need to be so harsh, is there?" Selene was taken aback. Right, she didn't know Charlie, but why did she feel so much hatred when his name was mentioned? "Right, Selene. I heard you were cornered by bullies a few days ago. Are you alright?" "I'm fine. I remember someone saved me." "I know. It was Quentin!" Talia giggled and said, "He's handsome, too, but a different sort of handsome. He's bright and confident. But, Charlie has more fans than him." Quentin had saved her 13 years ago? That must have been why he said he'd become a policeman to protect the girl he liked… Selene rushed out of the classroom while Talia screamed after her, "Where are you going, Selene? Are you going to see Charlie? Wait for me, we can go together…" As Selene ran, she smiled and replied, "I'm going to find Quentin."