Triangles & Threes

Desmond tells Widmore he didn't finish University because he had to take care of his 3 brothers.

The antique shop lady, Mrs. Hawkings mentions Desmond has spent 3 years on the island.

MS. HAWKING: Well, I know your name as well as I know that you that don't ask Penny to marry you. In fact, you break her heart. Well, breaking her heart is, of course, what drives you in a few short years from now to enter that sailing race -- to prove her father wrong -- which brings you to the island where you spend the next 3 years of your life entering numbers into the computer until you are forced to turn that failsafe key. And if you don't do those things, Desmond David Hume, every single one of us is dead. So give me that sodding ring.