Text From the Future: Dump Your Girlfriend

A new app has recently gone viral online, called "Talk to Your Future Self". Minutes before my SAT, I decide to give it a try—mostly because everyone else is doing it. I type, "Dear Future Me, did I end up marrying Winona Lane?" The screen flickers, and a second later, a text from an unknown number appears. "Yes. You did. The wedding is spectacular." My heart pounds. I tighten my grip on my phone and immediately type another question. "Was Benjamin Scott my best man? He's my best friend!" The reply comes almost instantly. "Yes. But he isn't just your best man. He's also the man who spends your wedding night with your wife." The smile vanishes from my face. Another message appears. "You never have to deliberately lower your grades or sacrifice your future just to stay with her. She intentionally fails her exam so she can apply to the same college as Benjamin—the guy who is always at the bottom of the class." My fingers tighten around the phone. "She asks you to give up your dream school for her. Not because she can't bear to be apart from you, but because she doesn't want Benjamin to feel inferior to you just because you do better than he does." Just then, the warning bell rings, signaling that it's time to enter the exam room. But my entire body has gone cold, and I can't move. Then another message appears. It's the final one, also the one that shatters everything I think I know. "If you don't believe me, go to the motel behind the school after the exam. You'll see the truth for yourself." Chapter 1 The proctor entered the classroom and instructed everyone to turn in their phones. Numbly, I powered mine off and slipped it into the storage pouch at the front of the room. When I returned to my seat, the exam papers were handed out. Rows of black text filled the pages, but I couldn't focus on a single word. My mind kept replaying those messages. Just last night, Winona Lane, my girlfriend, had held my hand and looked at me with unmistakable affection. "Hector, I feel awful today. There's no way I'm getting into a top university." She had looked me straight in the eyes before continuing, "Could you ruin your exam tomorrow? That way, you, me, and Benjamin can all stay here and attend the local state university together. We'll never have to be apart." Then she added, almost like a promise, "If you stay here and go to the local state university with me, I swear I'll spend the rest of my life loving only you." At the time, I thought her request was ridiculous. But after more than ten years together, I couldn't bring myself to say no. For her, I was willing to give up the school I'd dreamed of attending. I was willing to sacrifice my future just to stay by her side. But now, those messages were telling me something I had never imagined. Winona had failed her math exam because of Benjamin. And suddenly, I couldn't tell which hurt more—the future I'd been willing to give up for her, or the reason she'd asked me to give it up in the first place. Benjamin Scott was my best friend. He was tall and skinny, easygoing and carefree, and absolutely terrible at school. Winona was always telling me that his family was struggling financially, that he'd had a rough life, and that I needed to look out for him. But now, for the first time, I couldn't help but wonder if the two of them had been hiding something from me all along. "The exam has begun. Please manage your time carefully." The proctor's voice snapped me back to reality. I looked at the screen, my mind racing. If I ruined my exam, I would be giving Winona exactly what she wanted. I'd stay behind and attend a local state university with her. We'd be together, just like she'd asked. What if those messages were fake? If I scored well and everything turned out to be a misunderstanding, the worst that could happen was that I'd have to apologize to Winona. But what if they were true? Was I really willing to throw away all the hard work for a woman who had betrayed me? No. That was my answer. I took a deep breath. My expression hardened, and my hand steadied. I gave the exam everything I had. The answers I had planned to leave completely blank quickly filled from top to bottom. I answered every question without hesitation. Finally, the bell rang across campus. The exam was over. Cheers erupted outside the building. Some students tore up their textbooks and threw the pages into the air. Others hugged each other, laughing and crying after months of pressure. I retrieved my phone. The moment I turned it on, two messages appeared, one right after the other. The first was from Winona. "Babe, how did it go? My mom decided to take me back to my hometown to visit my grandma, so I can't celebrate with you and Benjamin tonight. XOXO! I'll make it up to you next time!" I stared at the message for a moment. Then I opened the second one. It was from Benjamin. "Hector, my stomach is killing me. I think my gastritis is acting up again, so I went home to lie down. We were supposed to celebrate with barbecue tonight, too. Ugh. You and Winona go ahead without me. Don't worry about me." I read both messages again, my grip tightening around the phone. Something about them felt wrong. They were both giving me a reason why they couldn't meet me tonight. And according to those messages from my future self, I already knew exactly where they were supposed to be. If it hadn't been for that mysterious text message, I probably would have gone straight to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for Benjamin. After that, I would have checked on Winona and reminded her to be careful on her way home. Instead, I slipped away from the celebrating students and left the school grounds alone. I headed toward the street behind the school. The wind rushed past my ears as I walked faster and faster. My heart hammered in my chest, but beneath the panic was a cold determination. I had to know the truth. I had to see it for myself. The hallway of the budget motel reeked of cheap air freshener. The worn carpet muffled my footsteps as I made my way down the dim corridor. Following the directions from the mysterious messages, I stopped in front of a room. There were voices coming from inside, and I recognized them. Chapter 2 "Winona…" Benjamin's voice drifted through the door, low and intimate in a way I had never heard before. Then I heard Winona's breathless voice. "Benjamin, you're so much better than Hector. He's always been so stiff and boring…" I stood frozen outside the door. It felt as though every drop of blood in my body had turned to ice. The sounds inside grew louder. I could even hear the bed creaking. Benjamin let out a quiet laugh. "Winona, Hector intentionally failed his exam for you today. Aren't we being a little cruel to him?" Winona laughed softly. "I need Hector. I can't live without him, and he has to be my husband." Then she continued, her voice almost casual, "But Benjamin, only you can give me this kind of excitement. Hector is too proper. He's always acting like some kind of saint. Even holding hands has to be serious with him. He could never be as carefree as you." Benjamin scoffed. "Then why did you ask him to give up Kingswell University and stay here with you?" "That's different." There was no hesitation in Winona's voice. "He loves me too much and can't live without me. What would he do if I weren't around to keep an eye on him?" "So that's it?" Benjamin asked. "You only want me because I give you something he can't?" "Not just that…" Winona's voice softened. "My heart belongs to you, too." The voices behind the door continued. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. I welcomed the pain, for it was the only thing keeping me grounded. Winona sounded like a stranger. And for the first time, I wondered if I had ever truly known her at all. She was a few months older than me, but ever since we were kids, she had followed me everywhere. Whenever the adults teased her, calling her my future bride, she would happily play along. "Of course! Hector's going to marry me someday!" Back then, I had believed her. And somehow, Winona had been there through nearly every important moment of the first half of my life. Then, in high school, Benjamin came into our lives. He and Winona clashed from the moment they met. Benjamin couldn't stand seeing me upset, and whenever Winona showed up, the two of them would inevitably start arguing like sworn enemies. I was always caught in the middle, trying to keep the peace. After all, they were the two people I trusted most. Before long, the three of us became inseparable. Winona and Benjamin still bickered whenever they were together, constantly competing for my attention, but somehow, I found those days incredibly happy. On my 18th birthday, Winona and I officially started dating. We promised each other that we'd attend the same university. Surrounded by our friends and family, we endured endless teasing and congratulations as we excitedly planned our future together. Everything seemed too perfect to be real. But around that same time, Benjamin began to fall apart. As his best friend, I stayed by his side as much as I could. I was so focused on helping him that I ended up neglecting Winona, even though we'd just started dating. Looking back now, I realized I had ignored every forced smile Benjamin gave me. My thoughts snapped back to the present. A wave of nausea suddenly rose in my stomach. Without making a sound, I turned and walked away. The moment I stepped outside the motel, the sunlight was so bright that I had to squint. Still, I didn't let myself show a single sign of weakness. From that day forward, Hector Hamilton—the man who had once been willing to throw away his entire future for Winona—was gone. When I got home, I went straight into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Cold water hit my face as I tried to force down the anger burning inside me. Just then, the phone on the counter lit up again. Another message from the same unknown number appeared. "If you hadn't gone to that motel today and discovered the truth, then exactly seven years from now would have been your wedding night." I dried my hands and stared blankly at the screen. Another message appeared. "That night, you rented out the largest hotel in Kingswell for your wedding. But before the ceremony was even over, Winona received a call telling her that Benjamin had been seriously injured in a fight and was being treated at the hospital." The messages kept coming, each one revealing another piece of the future I had narrowly escaped. "Winona completely lost control. She pushed past you and ran out before the ceremony was finished. She abandoned you at your own wedding and turned you into a laughingstock among Kingswell's elite. "She stayed by Benjamin's bedside all night. When he finally woke up, he told her that he had lost everything. Winona was devastated for him. Later, the two of them went to a motel near the hospital, where they betrayed you again." My fingers slowly tightened around the phone. Then another message appeared. "Afterward, you confronted her. But she didn't show the slightest bit of guilt. "Instead, she said, 'Hector, you're already my husband. You have everything. Benjamin has nothing. I'm all he has left. I was only trying to comfort him. You're a grown man. Do you really have to be this unreasonable?'" Chapter 3 As I stared at the words on the screen, a cold, bitter sense of absurdity washed over me. Had I followed the original timeline and obediently turned in a blank exam, staying in my hometown with them, I wouldn't have merely thrown away the grades I'd worked so hard for or my chance to attend one of the country's top universities. I would have become nothing more than a source of support—and a stepping stone—for their twisted relationship. They would have drained every last bit of value from me, and I would have spent the rest of my life trapped in their cruel little joke. The absurdity of it all was almost too much to bear. Memories from the past came rushing back like a tide, dragging every detail I'd deliberately ignored to the surface. Now, each one felt like a knife twisting in my mind. The way Winona had always looked at Benjamin, her gaze lingering on him with an intensity I'd never questioned. The way she seemed to come alive whenever he was around. And all those times I'd stood there like a complete fool, watching them bicker and compete for my attention, never once realizing what had really been happening between them. I'd been blind to it all until today. Today, I saw the truth with my own eyes. I tossed the towel aside and walked out of the bathroom. I'd had enough. That evening, Winona called me. She sounded tired. "Babe, I just got back to my hometown. I'm exhausted." After a brief pause, she added, "Oh, you still haven't answered my question. You really did leave the exam blank, right? Don't worry. Even if we both got low scores, we can still go to the same college." Her concern sounded sweet, but I could hear the lie beneath it. A wave of disgust washed over me, yet my voice remained calm. "Of course I left it blank. I didn't write a single answer. I did it for us." After we hung up, I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. My face was completely expressionless. Then, slowly, I smiled a cold, knowing smile. … The two weeks before the SAT results were released were usually the most carefree days of a high school senior's life. Winona spent those days pestering me, insisting that I keep my promise to take a graduation trip to Westland with her. "Hector, we're about to start college. This will be our first real trip as adults." Her voice message was gentle and full of anticipation. "I've already planned everything. We'll go see Lake Aurelia and drive along Highland Pass. I'll take tons and tons of pictures of you." A faint sense of mockery stirred inside me. I simply replied, "Okay." It was time to put an end to this relationship once and for all—and I decided to use this opportunity to do exactly that. On the day of our departure, I arrived at the airport terminal on time, dragging my suitcase behind me. From a distance, I spotted Winona immediately. Benjamin was standing beside her, dressed casually for the trip. The moment he saw me approaching, he walked over and casually reached out to pat me on the shoulder. "Hector, you're finally here! Winona said it'd be more fun with more people, so she invited me along. You don't mind an extra person coming with us, do you?" I stepped aside, avoiding his hand. "I don't mind," I said flatly. "Let's go check in." At the self-service kiosk, Winona pulled out her ID and quickly printed two boarding passes. One was hers, and the other had Benjamin's name on it. I stood beside them and tried to check myself in, but a message appeared on the screen. "No reservation found for this passenger." I turned to Winona and asked calmly, "Where's my ticket?" Winona froze for a moment before smacking her forehead. "Benjamin! Didn't I ask you to send Hector's information to the travel agent the other day so we could book all the tickets together? You forgot?" Benjamin immediately frowned, looking offended. "Seriously, Winona? You made a mistake, and now you're blaming me?" "Didn't I tell you?" he continued. "Hector usually upgrades whenever he flies. I was worried he'd complain about how cramped an economy seat was, so I didn't want to book one without asking him first." Chapter 4 "Are you seriously blaming me right now?" Winona snapped at Benjamin before turning to me with a helpless look. "Hector, we're about to go through security. If we cancel the tickets now, we'll lose money on the cancellation fees." She sighed and reached for my suitcase. "I have an idea. Just look up the next flight to Westvale on your phone and book it. Benjamin and I will fly ahead, check into the hotel, and wait for you there. Okay?" I stared at her, and suddenly, the whole situation struck me as absurd. I wasn't even angry. "Don't worry about it." I stepped away from her outstretched hand. Winona froze. "What do you mean?" An announcement came over the speakers, calling passengers to board. Winona immediately grew anxious. She glanced toward the gate, then back at me. "Hector, stop sulking. Just book the next flight. When you get there, I'll buy you that collectible figure you've always wanted. Consider it an apology." Before I could respond, she seemed to realize they were running out of time. She grabbed Benjamin by the wrist. "Benjamin, come on! We're going to be late." And just like that, she hurried toward the gate with him, leaving me behind. Benjamin glanced back at me. For a split second, I caught a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by an apologetic expression. "Sorry, Hector. I'll give her a good scolding on the plane for you. We'll be waiting for you in the Westland!" I thought I would react the way I always had. Maybe I'd swallow my feelings and put up with them to keep the peace. Or maybe I'd spite myself by booking the next flight and chasing after them. But as I stood there watching them hurry off together, eager to leave me behind, something inside me had changed. I felt nothing. I turned around, walked out of the terminal, hailed a cab, and went straight home. … Over the next few days, Winona bombarded my phone with messages. At first, she demanded an explanation. "Hector, what the hell is going on with you? The next flight landed hours ago. Where are you?" Then came the apologies. "Babe, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone at the airport. Please come, okay? Even Benjamin says it's no fun without you." Finally, her patience ran out. "Hector Hamilton, enough is enough! I'm always the one who has to make things right between us. Fine. Don't come. Just don't regret it later!" I read every message but replied to none of them. I simply muted her conversation. On the day the SAT results were released, and students began submitting their applications, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Winona stood there holding an expensive gift box. She shoved it into my arms with a confident smile on her face. "Hector, I'm sure you've calmed down by now. I've ignored you for more than two weeks, after all. I hope you've learned your lesson." She paused, then continued as if she were doing me a favor. "Your score should be enough to get you into the local university I told you about. And since you left your exam blank for my sake, I'll be generous and forgive you for all that unreasonable behavior." She gave me a satisfied smile. "Now hurry up and submit your application. That way, the three of us can still go to the same college and stay together." Without waiting for my response, she walked into the living room and started chatting casually, as though nothing had happened. "You have no idea how beautiful Westland was. We had so much fun. Too bad you didn't come. Benjamin had the time of his life. He said the barbecue there was amazing. And he even bought this really nice hat—" By the third sentence, she had somehow brought the conversation back to Benjamin. I stared at her as she rambled on, barely pausing for breath. For some reason, I suddenly found her unbearably irritating. "Winona." I cut her off coldly. "Actually, I think you and Benjamin are perfect for each other." Her voice died instantly, and a flicker of panic crossed her face. "Hector, don't say things like that just because you're angry! We're going to get married!" Then she looked at me, disappointment written all over her face. "And if Benjamin heard you say something like that, he'd start talking about keeping his distance from me again. Then everyone would end up upset." "Is that so?" I stared straight at her, each word deliberate. "Because after the SATs, the two of you seemed pretty close at that motel." The moment the words left my mouth, her entire body went rigid.