After quickly grabbing a pack of the most common brands, I headed straight into the bathroom.
I didn’t expect to run into someone familiar on my way out—Chris Foster, my former squad leader.
He paused mid-step when he saw me, surprise flashing across his face before softening into recognition.
"Samantha Green?" he said, brow lifting. "I was just wondering why I didn’t see you on the bus. I—"
“Chris, did you bring your phone?” I interrupted, urgency tightening my voice.
He blinked, thrown off, then patted his pockets hurriedly.
“Ah… no. I left it on the bus. Want me to run back and get it?”
A wave of disappointment rippled through me, but before I could respond, the driver appeared behind us.
“What’s all this chatter about?” he asked sharply. “It’s hot out, and there are still people waiting in the bus.”
My back stiffened. I bit my lip and turned toward him with a small, nervous smile.
“My parents forgot to give me living expenses. I don’t have enough money to pay for what I bought… I was hoping to borrow a classmate’s phone to call my mom.”
“Really?” The driver eyed me like a hawk. “Your parents forgot something that important?”
I lowered my gaze. “They… had a fight this morning.”
The driver blinked. “A fight? On a day like this?”
I let my eyes redden, playing the part of the tearful daughter just well enough.
“My mom’s not well. She didn’t want me to go to university. She kept saying strange things—like she’d been reborn and if I went to school, I’d die miserably. She tried to stop me from leaving.”
Chris’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a handful of bills, stuffing them into my hand.
“It’s okay, Samantha,” he said firmly. “Take this for now. If you need more, just come find me later.”
Before I could say thank you, someone outside the shop called his name, telling him to hurry up and get on the bus.
He gave me a quick grin and jogged off, tossing his backpack over one shoulder.
“See you at Yale University!”
I stood frozen for a moment, watching his energetic figure disappear. My throat tightened.
Will I even make it to Yale University this time around…?
When I finally turned, the driver’s face was unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“I’m really sorry for all the trouble today,” I said softly. “Let me buy you a bottle of water.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You just borrowed money from someone else, and now you’re playing generous? Not worried about having nothing left at school?”
I smiled faintly. “One bottle of water won’t bankrupt me.”
He gave a short laugh and grabbed a cold soda from the fridge, cracking it open and downing half the bottle in one long gulp.
I quietly grabbed another bottle and handed it to him. “Just in case.”
When we returned to the bus, the girls immediately began complaining.
“What was that about? You locked the doors! We couldn’t even get off to buy water.”
The driver chuckled and pulled a box of bottled water from under the seat.
“Sorry about that—I didn’t expect to take so long. I just didn’t want anyone wandering off.”
He turned to me. “Come on, girl, help me pass them out.”
I bent down to grab a few bottles—then suddenly clutched my stomach, gasping softly.
The driver stiffened. He hurried over and crouched beside me.
“What’s wrong? Are you alright?”
“My stomach hurts,” I whispered, eyes clenched shut. “Bad cramps…”
Seeing I could barely stay upright, he quickly helped me back to my seat.
“I’ll get you some hot water,” he said, already turning for the door. Before stepping out, he told the girl in the front row, “Pass the water around, will you?”
As soon as he left, the girl reached into the box.
I sat up slightly and looked at her. My voice was quiet but firm.
“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.”
The girls exchanged puzzled glances.
“Why not?” one of them asked.
I didn’t answer. I simply stared at the clock on the front monitor, the numbers ticking forward.
Whether they listened to me or not… wasn’t up to me anymore.
