Way to Prove a Time Traveller
Winter remembers everything all too well.
Back when she still hadn't traveled in time, there was this news report that exposed a particular organization which had been conducting a number of double-dealing raffles and lotteries to deceive their customers. The grand prizes were proven to be legit, but the process of drawing the tickets was not.
"All those pieces of paper that had the numbers of the rewards on them - they were separated from the rest of those that were misses. They rigged the raffle to make sure no one was going to win them, so everyone had only been throwing away their money for nothing," Winter explained, catching him off guard even more.
"So, that's what it is. How does the cheat exactly work?" Marcellus asked - his curiosity completely piqued.
"The grand prize tickets were stuck on the top - right beside the hole of the barrel. No one would find it."
"And how in the world did you know all of this?"
That was the question she had been waiting for.
By showing him what happened back there, she got her hands on a strong piece of evidence. He could do all the background-check he wanted on her, but he would never be able to learn about this one unless she told it herself. This was also the only thing she could come up with to prove herself - and with this, she hoped that he would believe her.
Composing herself, she then halted on her tracks and took a breath, which made him pause as well.
"The reason why I kept following you around, how I knew your weaknesses and what your office looked like, and what was it that made me aware of the deception that was happening back there..." Winter trailed off and braced herself for the revelation, feeling her heart rate pick up pace in each passing second.
"I know them all and much, much more because I'm from the future."
Silence.
Marcellus responded with nothing but silence.
For a second there, she thought that he would laugh at her or talk her out of it, but he only remained quiet and did not make a move. She probably looked demented by saying something so implausible that it was almost preposterous, and she understood if he would not believe her right away.
In fact, she already prepared herself for his possible reactions.
But, at the very least, he should still say something - he really shouldn't embarrass a girl like this.
"H-Hey, I'm not lying, okay? It's the truth..." Winter continued while fiddling with her fingers, acting all timid out of nowhere.
"Oh, and about that raffle. Before I went back in time, I learned about their fraudulent organization from the news. They would be busted out a week from now. That's why I decided to say nothing and keep this to ourselves in the meantime. I wouldn't want to steal the spotlight from those who would discover it."
Even then, Marcellus did not respond.
He only turned around and started walking ahead of her. She fell despondent at that, slackening a little from the loss of hope. It seems like he can't find it in himself to believe her, after all - and that's even the best shot she could give. She no longer knows how to convince him.
With those in mind, she could only sigh in defeat.
"What are you still stalling around there for...?" Marcellus called out to Winter all of the sudden, grabbing her attention again and taking her aback.
"Let's head back to my office."