Part 3: Changing the Past
Seth
The bus rumbled gently as it navigated the winding countryside roads, the lively chatter of my classmates creating a buzz of excitement in the air. Seated by the window, I watched the scenery blur past in streaks of green and gold. My fingers drummed absently against my thigh, the uneven rhythm a telltale sign of the nerves I struggled to conceal beneath a composed facade.
Ivan sat beside me, leaning back in his seat with his earphones in, eyes closed. A faint smile tugged at his lips, as if he was completely at ease. I wished I could feel the same.
We hadn't talked much since the trip started. Normally, our silences were comfortable—after all, we had been best friends for years. But today, it felt different. He looked so relaxed, so unaware of the weight pressing down on my chest. I stole a glance at him from the corner of my eye, a tight knot forming in my stomach.
I couldn't stop the memories from creeping in. The twisted metal. The shattering glass. The way Ivan had looked at me in those final moments—confused, scared, and so utterly alone. My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms as I forced my gaze back to the window.
This wasn't that day.
Ivan was alive. Right here. Breathing, smiling. And I would do whatever it took to keep it that way.
"Hey." His voice cut through the storm in my head. I turned to find him watching me, one eyebrow raised. "You good? You've been all quiet and… tense."
I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, just tired. Didn't sleep much last night."
Ivan studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering as if he could see through the lie. Then, with a shrug, he leaned back again. "You overthink too much, man. Relax. It's just a field trip."
Just a field trip.
I nodded, swallowing hard, but the weight in my chest refused to lift. Because I knew the truth—this wasn't our first trip. And last time, it had ended with Ivan's death.
Not this time. Not again.
The field trip passed by in a whirlwind of colors, laughter, and the lightness that came with escaping the usual routine of school life. Ivan and I stuck together, just like always. While our classmates broke off into their own groups, some exploring the outdoor market and others wandering the nearby hills, I hardly noticed. The noise, the movement, the sea of unfamiliar faces—it all faded into the background. In that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us, lost in our own little world.
We strolled through the winding rows of stalls, the air thick with the scent of grilled food and spices. Ivan's eyes darted between trinkets and souvenirs, his grin widening every time he found something amusing or absurdly overpriced. That grin—it was enough. Enough to tell me he was enjoying himself, as if the past had never happened.
We haggled with a vendor over a pair of hand-carved figurines, laughing at our terrible attempts at bargaining. Ivan insisted he was getting the best deal, while I was sure we were getting scammed. "Man, these would probably cost half as much back home," he joked, shaking his head.
"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" I countered, watching as he handed over the money anyway, a satisfied look on his face.
Later, we ended up sharing an oversized pretzel, struggling to tear it apart without making a mess. "We should've just brought our own snacks," Ivan mumbled through a mouthful, crumbs dusting his shirt. "But hey, this isn't so bad." I chuckled, shaking my head. Typical Ivan. Always making the best out of whatever situation we were in. My gaze drifted away from the food stalls, scanning the booths lined with handmade crafts and keepsakes.
For some reason, my heart had been racing ever since we stepped off the bus. Maybe it was the nagging unease that had been haunting me all day, or maybe it was something else entirely. Either way, I couldn't shake the need to do something special for him. Something that would make today unforgettable. Something to anchor him here, to this moment—alive, safe, and right beside me where he belonged.
As Ivan turned to examine a delicate piece of handcrafted jewelry at one of the booths, I took a small step back, slipping away unnoticed. My fingers drifted over the smooth wooden counter, skimming across an array of polished trinkets and rings laid out beneath the warm glow of the overhead lights.
Then, my hand paused.
Two simple silver rings sat among the clutter—unassuming, yet perfect in their quiet elegance. A lump formed in my throat as I stared at them, my heart hammering against my ribs. I hesitated only for a moment before reaching out and picking them up, rolling the cool metal between my fingers.
One for me. One for Ivan.
I wasn't sure what drove me to buy them, only that I needed to. Maybe it was just a small, insignificant keepsake, or maybe it was something more—a promise to myself that I wouldn't let the past repeat. A symbol of something unspoken, something that tethered him to this moment, to the present, to me.
The vendor wrapped them quickly, and I slipped the second ring into my pocket, its weight grounding me. Taking a steadying breath, I turned back toward Ivan, who was already watching me with mild curiosity.
"What'd you get?" he asked, his usual teasing grin in place.
I held up a small keychain I had grabbed in a rush—a simple souvenir, nothing too flashy. "Just something to remember the trip," I said with a shrug, forcing my expression into something casual.
Ivan raised an eyebrow but didn't push. He just nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Nice. Guess we'll have matching junk to throw in our drawers later."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, guess so."
But inside, my fingers curled around the ring still hidden in my pocket, its metal cool against my skin. It steadied my breathing, a quiet reminder—this wasn't the past. This was now. Ivan was here, beside me, alive. And I would do whatever it took to keep it that way.
As the sun dipped lower, the golden light stretched across the sky, signaling the end of our trip. The laughter and excitement from earlier had started to fade, replaced by the quiet realization that it was time to go back.
In the distance, our classmates were gathering, their voices growing louder as they headed for the bus. My chest tightened. This was the moment I had been dreading—the moment everything had gone wrong before.
I glanced at Ivan. His usual carefree expression was gone, replaced by a more serious look. He let out a small sigh, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets before turning to me.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
I felt the weight of the rings in my pocket, a quiet reminder of the promise I had made to myself. My stomach was tight, but not with fear—just something different, something warm.
I nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
Walking side by side toward the bus, I ran my fingers over the cool metal in my pocket. Today had been perfect. Now, I just had to make sure it stayed that way.
**********
The bus slowed as it pulled into a small gas station, the engine humming softly before sputtering to a stop near the pump. Outside, the dim glow of flickering overhead lights barely cut through the darkness, casting long, shifting shadows across the pavement. The station itself looked quiet, almost abandoned, with only a few other cars parked nearby.
Inside the bus, the energy from earlier had faded. Some students were still chatting in hushed voices, but most had already dozed off, their heads resting against windows or slumped onto their seatmates. The exhaustion of the long day had finally settled in.
I shifted in my seat, glancing around. The low murmur of voices mixed with the occasional snore, creating a strange sense of calm. But I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine. Something about stopping here, in the middle of nowhere, made my chest feel tight.
I stayed in my seat, my gaze fixed on the window. The gas station lights flickered against the glass, but I wasn't really seeing them. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts I couldn't shake.
Beside me, Ivan had fallen asleep, his head resting against my shoulder. His slow, steady breathing was a small comfort, grounding me in the moment. I resisted the urge to move, not wanting to wake him.
Still, the unease from earlier clung to me. My fingers absentmindedly tugged at the fabric of my jeans, a restless habit I couldn't control. I wanted to believe that everything was okay—that this time, nothing would go wrong. But the knot in my stomach wouldn't go away.
The stop felt like it stretched on forever, each passing second feeding my anxiety. Finally, the driver returned, and the bus rumbled back to life. The engine's steady purr filled the silence as we pulled out of the lot and back onto the open road. I exhaled slowly, watching the dark highway stretch ahead. Just a little longer, and we'd be home.
The steady hum of the bus and the gentle rocking had lulled almost everyone into a deep sleep. The air was thick with exhaustion, the earlier excitement of the trip now reduced to soft breathing and the occasional quiet rustle of someone shifting in their seat.
But I couldn't sleep.
My eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, watching as the headlights carved a path through the darkness. My body was tense, coiled like a spring, as if bracing for something unseen. The anxiety I had been trying to suppress all day refused to fade.
Beside me, Ivan stirred slightly in his sleep, his head pressing more firmly against my shoulder. Even now, he looked so at peace, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. A faint smile tugged at my lips despite the gnawing fear creeping up my spine.
Then it happened.
The bus jolted violently to one side. My heart slammed against my ribs as startled gasps and muffled cries erupted around me.
The driver cursed, gripping the wheel tight, but the vehicle swerved wildly, tires screeching against the asphalt. The sickening sensation of losing control sent a wave of panic through me. My hands clenched into fists, my breath coming short and sharp.
Then I saw it—the road's edge, far too close.
"Ivan!" I yelled, my instincts kicking in. Without thinking, I grabbed him and yanked him away from the window, just as the bus lurched again.
Everything tilted.
A deafening crunch split the night as the bus slammed into the embankment. My body snapped backward, the impact rattling my bones. My shoulder slammed into the seat, pain exploding through my side, but I barely noticed.
All I could focus on was Ivan.
I twisted mid-fall, wrapping my arms around him, shielding him as best as I could. The force of the crash sent us both sprawling, my back hitting something hard and unyielding. A sharp, searing pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to let go.
The world was spinning, the sounds of metal groaning and panicked voices blending into a chaotic blur. The scent of burning rubber and something acrid filled the air.
But none of it mattered.
I tightened my grip on Ivan, my pulse hammering in my ears.
Not again. I won't let it happen again.
The world around me blurred, the sounds of crashing metal and panicked voices fading into a heavy silence. My body ached everywhere, and the sharp scent of smoke and blood filled the air.
I tried to move, but pain shot through my side, pinning me in place. The bus's engine sputtered weakly in the background, the only sound breaking the stillness.
Beside me, Ivan groaned and stirred. Relief washed over me—he was alive.
"Seth! Oh my God, Seth!" His voice was shaking as he grabbed my shoulders, his eyes wide with fear.
I forced a weak smile. "I'm fine," I murmured. "Just… glad you're safe."
Ivan's hands trembled as he pressed against my side, trying to stop the bleeding. "No, don't say that. You're going to be fine. Stay with me, okay? Seth, please!"
His voice was breaking, but my body was giving up. My eyelids felt heavier by the second. I wanted to stay awake, to hold onto this moment, but everything was slipping away.
"Ivan…" I whispered.
And then, everything went dark.