Taylor's my fan?
Luke was stunned. Not just because she would become a global superstar someday, but because he was also one of her fans.
In the future he came from, when he was stuck in bed during those painful, endless days, her songs had been one of the few things that comforted him.
His favorite was "All Too Well," which, to many Swifties, is the definitive Taylor Swift song.
That song shaped the way he understood love. It made him realize something important — that at its core, every relationship is about mutual need.
Sure, attraction usually starts it all — that spark, that heart-fluttering moment when you can't see anything else clearly. But passion fades, and when it does, both people have to face the truth: are their needs actually compatible?
In All Too Well, the scarf becomes a symbol of that early purity — maybe the most famous scarf in pop music history.
Who says only cultures use objects to express emotion?
When the passion burns out, you're left with the test of compatibility — can you accept each other's flaws and still offer what the other person truly needs?
In the song, the guy is immature and hypocritical. He talks like he rejects toxic masculinity, yet he still behaves like a controlling man who doesn't even realize it.
Then there's that unforgettable line:
"I'll get older, but your lovers stay my age."
Brutal. Honest. Perfectly delivered.
No one stays eighteen forever — but there's always someone who is.
It cuts straight to the truth: he only wanted a young, pretty woman as an accessory.
If Leonardo DiCaprio ever heard that lyric, he'd probably give it a thumbs-up.
Men like that never experience the kind of deep, mutual trust that makes two people feel truly safe together — that unbeatable sense of emotional security.
Because only sincerity earns sincerity in return.
It amazed Luke that a twenty-two-year-old could write something that raw and wise. Taylor Swift wasn't just talented — she was precociously self-aware, far beyond her age.
So yes, meeting her today — even a much younger version of her — was a delight. Being each other's fan was a funny, heartwarming twist of fate.
He smiled as he signed her notebook:
"Taylor, I hope you own the whole world in the days ahead. — Luke."
He handed it back to her. "Well then, guess this is goodbye."
"Wait," Taylor called out. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"…What?"
"If you don't, maybe you could consider me."
Luke nearly laughed. "Kid, if you're playing make-believe, find someone your age, okay?"
"I don't like those immature boys," she said with a confident toss of her blonde hair. "You're more interesting. And don't treat me like a kid — I'm not that young!"
He chuckled. "Maybe not, but I'm sorry. There's someone I already like."
"The girl who shared a blanket with you, right? She's pretty, and yeah, she's got long legs, but I'm not bad either. Give me a few years — I won't lose to her."
He looked down at the tiny 5'1" Taylor and couldn't help smiling.
She wasn't wrong — in a few years, she'd shoot up to nearly 5'11", tall, radiant, and stunning.
But that wasn't why he was turning her down.
He admired the future Taylor — the world-famous performer shining on stage — not the teenage girl in front of him now.
Right now, she was just… fun. Cute, even. But that was all.
"Everyone has their own destiny," he said gently. "The right person will appear at the right time."
"I think your timing's pretty good," she quipped. "Okay, new question — would you mind having more than one girlfriend?"
He sighed, about to refuse again, but she pressed on.
"Just hear me out! Think about ten, twenty years from now. You're married to that girl. The marriage is… stable but boring. She nags, you feel trapped. Then you start wondering — what if you'd chosen differently? Would life be better? Happier?"
She pointed to herself. "I could be one of those women you look back on and think, 'What if?'"
"You might imagine that if you'd been with me, things could've turned out better. You'll regret never taking that chance."
"But right now," she continued, "you could give your future self some peace of mind. You could try — maybe you'll find I'm nothing special, just as ordinary and annoying as anyone else. Then you won't feel like you missed out."
"Or maybe," she said with a grin, "you'll find that being with me is amazing — that your whole life could've been different."
"No matter what happens, you'll have one less regret. Win-win, right? I'm even letting you two-time. It's a great deal!"
She looked up at him with that hopeful sparkle in her eyes.
Luke laughed. "Nice try. But I've seen Before Sunrise. Don't try to trap me with movie quotes."
He thought to himself, Seriously, kid, maybe skip the romance flicks for a while.
"Ugh! That's not the point!" she protested. "The point is, what I said makes sense!"
No, it didn't. Not even close.
She had no idea that twenty years later, Yuffie wouldn't turn into some nagging wife. She'd still be dazzling — the kind of woman who could light up a room, forever someone's dream girl.
If they ended up together, there would be no loss of passion.
And Taylor — well, she'd never guess that Luke had literally come from the future. He already knew what his biggest regret would be.
As for Taylor herself, he knew her personality inside out. As a true Swiftie, he understood her better than she knew.
There was no way she'd genuinely fall for a guy she just met — let alone tolerate someone two-timing.
He was certain that if he accepted her little "offer," she'd instantly lose whatever interest she'd had in him.
Guys like that? She'd despise them — and maybe even write a scathing breakup song later, roasting him line by line.
What she was doing now was basically testing him. If he took the bait, he'd fail.
And honestly, Luke respected that. Before you pour your heart into someone, you should make sure they're worth it.
"The real lesson," he said finally, "is this — don't chase after someone who doesn't belong to you. Whether you're a guy or a girl, don't be a simp."
"A… what?" she blinked.
"Doesn't matter. Anyway, I wish you luck — hope you meet the right person someday."
Taylor crossed her arms, smiling stubbornly. "Too late. I already kind of like you."
And just like that, it hit him — by refusing her, he'd passed her test.
As a fan, he knew exactly how persistent Taylor could be once she decided on something. Her determination could move mountains.
But before he could say anything else, a golden message flashed before his eyes:
[Mission Update]Helping Taylor Swift avoid major pitfalls on her growth path is your duty as a true fan. Rewards will be issued based on effort and sincerity.
The system again! Once more, it was offering him a hefty reward — for doing something he already wanted to do anyway.