Julian strolled down the street, a wide grin stretching across his face as he admired his brand-new phone. It was sleek, fast, and had all the latest features—definitely a worthy upgrade. The seller at the store had been helpful, ensuring his contacts and messages were transferred seamlessly. With his frequently used apps already installed, there was no hassle in switching devices.
He had decided to take a different route home that day—a scenic detour through an open space lined with trees. The place was unfamiliar, but the peaceful ambiance made it worth exploring. As he walked, he tested his GPS, making sure he wouldn't get lost. It wasn't a shortcut, but the fresh air and the rustling of leaves provided a refreshing change from the usual crowded streets.
Just as he was admiring the view, something came hurtling down from the sky.
Thud!
"Ow! What the—?!" Julian yelped, rubbing his head as he looked around, startled. His gaze shot upward, scanning the sky, then darted around the empty surroundings. There was no one in sight. No rooftops nearby. No open windows from where something could have fallen.
His eyes landed on the object that had hit him. A smartwatch.
Frowning, he picked it up. The design was simple—too plain, almost outdated. It didn’t look like anything valuable, yet there was something oddly intriguing about it. Concerned that it might belong to someone, he quickly snapped a picture and posted it on social media under "Lost and Found." If someone claimed it, great. If not… well, he'd figure out what to do with it later.
For now, he slipped it into his pocket and continued walking home.
That night, Julian barely spared the watch a second glance. He placed it on his desk before eagerly returning to his new phone. He spent hours installing more apps, scrolling through social media, blasting music through the speakers, and testing the screen’s resolution with a movie. The excitement of having a new device kept him entertained until exhaustion finally pulled him to bed.
The next day, after a long shift at his job as a call center agent in Albay, Philippines, Julian was looking forward to one thing—milk tea. It had become his small escape after work, a routine that made the day a little better.
He had already ordered two drinks, one for himself and one for his girlfriend, Camille. But when she arrived, there was something different about her. She hesitated before sitting down, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her bag.
Julian felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
"Julian," she started softly, eyes cast downward. "I'm really sorry, but… I think we should break up."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. His mind went blank for a moment.
"…What?" He forced out a small, disbelieving chuckle. "Wait, is this a joke?"
She shook her head, biting her lip. "It’s not. You’re a great guy, but… I need someone who has a stable job, someone who can offer security in the long run. You’re still figuring things out, and I just… I don’t think we’re heading in the same direction anymore."
Julian clenched his jaw, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. He wanted to argue, to tell her that he was trying, that he had dreams, that he wasn’t just some aimless guy. But he saw it in her eyes—she had already made up her mind.
A bitter smile formed on his lips. "So… that’s it? After everything?"
"I’m sorry," she whispered, standing up.
He watched her walk away, the second milk tea still untouched on the table.
Julian exhaled shakily, feeling a hollowness settle in his chest. He grabbed the drink meant for her, took a sip, and let the sweetness contrast the bitterness creeping into his heart.
The walk home felt longer than usual. The streets were the same, the lights still flickering, the night breeze still cool against his skin—but everything felt off. Duller. Quieter.
He had imagined a hundred different futures with Camille—now, they all crumbled into nothing.
By the time he got home, fatigue weighed heavily on him. Without turning on the lights, he tossed his keys onto the table and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was a mess, replaying the breakup over and over again.
A faint glow caught his eye.
Julian’s gaze drifted toward the table, where the smartwatch sat, its screen pulsing with a rhythmic light. Almost like it was waiting for something—or someone.
Frowning, he sat up. He had almost forgotten about it. Had it been doing this the whole time?
Curious, he picked up his phone and checked the social media post he had made about the lost and found. No responses. Not a single comment or message. It had been almost a day now, and yet, no one seemed to be looking for it.
He sighed, leaning back against his chair. His thoughts wandered to Camille, to their conversation, to the way she had walked away without looking back. The weight of it settled in his chest again, an ache he couldn’t quite shake off.
Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention back to the smartwatch.
It had a sleek yet unremarkable design—too plain for something so futuristic-looking. There were no visible brand markings, no flashy logos, nothing to indicate where it came from. He rotated it in his hands, searching for a power button, but there was none.
Strange.
With no other option, he tapped the screen.
The display flickered to life, revealing a simple digital clock. Julian instinctively checked his phone—it was perfectly synchronized, down to the second. Odd.
Swiping across the screen, he found only two options: Time and Distance.
Nothing else. No settings, no menus, no fancy smartwatch features. Just two basic functions.
He clicked on Distance, expecting a detailed fitness tracker, but all it displayed was a distance meter.
Distance: 0.00 km
No heart rate monitor. No step counter. Just a plain distance tracker.
He frowned, tapping the screen again. A new message popped up:
Pair with phone needed.
Julian hesitated.
Something about this watch felt… off. It wasn’t like any smartwatch he had seen before. And yet, despite its simplicity, it drew him in, like it was waiting for him to do something.
Maybe he should just ignore it. Maybe it wasn’t worth the trouble.
But…
He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just an ordinary watch.
Without thinking much, he reached for his phone.
And tapped Pair.
The screen of the smartwatch pulsed—just once.
Then, everything went dark.