18 Again

A past rekindled

Nathan stood frozen in front of the mirror, still coming to terms with the incredible reality unfolding before him. Eighteen again, back in his childhood room. The Infinity System’s panel floated in the air before him, the stats staring back like a challenge.

But even as his mind raced with thoughts of power, money, and second chances, another memory surfaced, tugging at his heart—Rose Paloma.

He hadn’t thought about Rose in years. In his previous life, their brief relationship had been more of a painful memory buried beneath layers of regret and shame. But now, standing in his teenage body, it all came rushing back.

Rose had been one of the brightest students at Riverside National University. She was smart, confident, and beautiful—the kind of girl who turned heads when she walked into a room.

Nathan had admired her from afar for a long time, but he never thought he stood a chance with someone like her. He was the quiet guy, the one who spent more time playing games at the computer shop than attending classes.

Yet somehow, for reasons he still didn’t fully understand, Rose had agreed to date him.

Their relationship wasn’t what most people would call official. Nathan had been too shy, too unsure of himself to ever fully commit. They barely spoke, and when they did, the conversations were awkward, full of long silences. Nathan often skipped classes, leaving Rose to wonder where he had gone. It wasn’t long before things fell apart. After about two months, Rose stopped talking to him altogether. One day, Nathan found out she had a new boyfriend from another section. She never gave him an explanation for the breakup, and Nathan, being too shy and too prideful, never asked.

It wasn’t until much later, when Rose was just a distant memory, that Nathan realized how much he regretted not taking things seriously. He had liked her—really liked her—but he had let his insecurities get in the way. And now, here he was, back in the past, staring at his younger self in the mirror, and Rose was still out there somewhere, living her life, probably not thinking about him at all.

“I can change it,” Nathan thought, his heart racing at the idea. “I can make it right this time.”

But then doubt crept in. What if he made the same mistakes again? What if he screwed it all up like before? The Infinity System gave him power, sure, but it couldn’t change who he was deep down—a guy who was too scared to face his problems, too afraid to take risks.

He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. “No,” he muttered. “I won’t be that person again. This time, I’ll do better. With everything.”

---

Later that morning, Nathan found himself walking through the familiar gates of Riverside National University. The sun was bright, casting long shadows on the schoolyard as students milled about, chatting, laughing, and making their way to class. Nathan’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked around, the memories flooding back with every step.

The last time he had walked these halls, he had been a failure in the making. A kid who barely paid attention in class, skipping out whenever he felt like it. But now, with the Infinity System behind him, everything felt different. He wasn’t the same person anymore—or at least, he didn’t have to be.

As he passed groups of students, his eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a face that had haunted his memories. And then, he saw her.

Rose Paloma.

She was sitting at one of the benches near the main building, chatting with a group of friends. She looked just like he remembered—bright-eyed, smiling, her long black hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. She wore her uniform neatly, the school emblem stitched proudly on her chest. Nathan felt a knot tighten in his stomach.

Seeing her again, alive and full of life, was surreal. She hadn’t changed at all, and yet, everything between them had been different. The last time they had spoken, she had ended things without so much as a reason, leaving Nathan to wallow in confusion and regret. But now, looking at her, all those old feelings came rushing back.

“She hasn’t even met her new boyfriend yet,” Nathan realized, remembering how quickly she had moved on after breaking up with him. “I could stop it. I could… fix everything.”

But could he really? Did he have the courage to approach her, to make things right this time?

Nathan’s thoughts swirled as he approached the bench where Rose sat, her laughter floating through the air as she chatted with her friends. His heart raced, mind running through every possible scenario. The last time he had talked to her like this, things hadn’t gone well. But now, standing in his eighteen-year-old body, knowing what he knew, he couldn’t afford to mess up again.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his own insecurities. His legs felt heavy, like they might give out at any moment, but he forced himself to keep walking. Each step brought him closer, and the closer he got, the more real the memories of their relationship became.

Finally, he was close enough to speak. His mouth went dry, and for a second, he was just that same awkward, shy person, unsure of how to approach a girl like Rose.

“Hey, Rose,” he called out, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Rose looked up, her eyes meeting his. A flash of surprise crossed her face, and for a moment, Nathan could see her trying to place him.

“Nathan?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling the old nerves flare up. “I was wondering if we could talk for a minute.”

Rose raised an eyebrow and glanced at her friends, who had fallen quiet, before standing up. “Sure,” she replied, her tone cautious. “What’s up?”

Nathan’s heart thudded in his chest. This was his chance.

“I just… I wanted to apologize,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For how things ended between us. I know I wasn’t a good boyfriend, and I didn’t treat you the way I should have. I was shy, I made a lot of mistakes, and I regret that.”

Rose’s expression softened as she looked at him. “Nathan, that was a long time ago,” she said, her voice gentle, but there was still a hint of surprise in her eyes. “You don’t have to—”

“I do,” Nathan cut her off, meeting her gaze with newfound confidence. “I’ve changed. And I just… I want to start over. If you’d let me.”

Rose blinked, clearly caught off guard by his sudden burst of confidence. For a moment, she just stood there, her eyes searching his, as if trying to figure out what had brought on this unexpected change.

Nathan’s heart sank as he stood before Rose, waiting for her response. He had hoped for a second chance, but deep down, he knew something had changed between them—something beyond his control.

Rose looked at him for a long moment, her expression softening but not in the way Nathan had hoped. “Nathan,” she began slowly, choosing her words carefully, “I don’t think it’s going to work between us.”

Nathan’s chest tightened. “Why?” he asked, though part of him already knew the answer.

Rose sighed, glancing away for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “You’re a good guy, Nathan. But… I’ve realized something over the past few months. We’re just different. You don’t come from the same background as I do, and I need something more.”

Nathan felt a pang of hurt as her words sank in. He knew she wasn’t talking about personality differences. It wasn’t about his grades or even his habit of cutting classes. It was about his family, his life, the things he's planning to change.

“You mean I’m not… rich enough,” Nathan said quietly, more a statement than a question.

Rose hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes. “It’s not just about money,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction. “I just don’t see a future for us.”

Nathan swallowed hard, the pain of rejection washing over him. He had always known, deep down, that this might happen—that his lack of wealth, his ordinary life, would eventually come between them. And now, it had.

“I understand,” he said, forcing a smile despite the ache in his chest. “Thanks for being honest.”

Rose nodded, offering him a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Nathan.”

He nodded, unable to say more. As Rose turned and walked away, Nathan was left standing there, his mind racing. This time, he wasn’t just dealing with teenage heartache. This was a harsh reminder of the world he lived in—a world where money and status mattered more than feelings.

But as painful as it was, Nathan also realized something else: this was exactly why he had the Infinity System. He had been given a chance, not just to fix his mistakes, but to rise above the limitations that had held him back in his past life.

He wasn’t going to let this be the end. If money was what it took to be taken seriously, then the Infinity System would make sure he had more than enough to change his future.

Nathan clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. This time, things would be different.