Chapter 3

Finally, school started.

High school coursework was ridiculously easy for me.

I began planning my second "chance encounter" with Jade.

During the long weekend in October, I found temporary work doing facility maintenance at an ice hockey rink.

On the third morning, Jade came to practice.

I watched silently from the sidelines.

When she finished a round of practice and was resting, I walked by with a mop and said casually, as if to myself:

"If you could curl your wrist inward just a bit more when passing, the trajectory would be trickier."

Jade whipped around.

Though I couldn't see her eyes clearly behind her visor, I could feel her surprise.

"It's you? You know hockey?"

I didn't really know anything about it---she'd told me herself in our past life.

I looked confused:

"A little bit, I guess... Have we met before?"

Jade took off her helmet, surprise lighting up her eyes.

I showed appropriate realization:

"Oh! You're the person from the cemetery!"

At noon, we ate together in the break area.

"You look pretty young. Why are you working here?"

"Shh, don't let the manager hear. I put down an older age on my ID."

"Do you need money badly?"

"After my dad died, Mom took the insurance payout and left with my brother. I have to earn my own living expenses."

Jade was silent for a moment.

"This afternoon during practice, would you be willing to be my temporary training partner?"

I looked hesitant:

"But I still need to clean the locker rooms..."

"I'll pay you a thousand dollars an hour."

"No problem, boss!"

Jade burst out laughing and nearly choked.

After afternoon practice ended, Jade wanted to invite me to dinner.

Just as I was about to accept, I glimpsed Mason peeking around outside the rink's glass doors.

"Next time! I need to get back to work."

When settling payment, we naturally exchanged contact information.

Back at my temporary residence, a message from Jade popped up.

[Did you get home safe?]

I couldn't help but smile, but only replied with one word: [Yeah.]