For a while after that, I avoided Leo altogether.His constant hovering grated on my nerves.Even on New Year’s Eve, when I heard that Paul and Sandra were planning to spend the holiday with my family, I made up an excuse and left early. I didn’t even stay for dinner.It wasn’t until after dark that Mom called, saying the Cullens had gone home and told me to come back.What I didn’t expect was to find Leo waiting outside my apartment complex.He sat crouched on the curb in the biting cold, arms wrapped around himself. His face was raw from the wind, and his lips were cracked at the corners.When he saw me, he stood up unsteadily.“Will you have dinner with me, Naomi? Just this once. After this, I won’t bother you again.”I hesitated for a long time, but eventually agreed.He took me to a small eatery we used to love.It was New Year’s Eve, so I hadn’t expected it to still be open.As soon as I sat down, the owner hurried out with plate after plate of snacks, quickly filling
After that day, I took the initiative to cut off all contact with Leo.I got a new SIM card and told very few people about it.Apart from my parents, only Kitty had my new number.Once I enrolled in the top university in Ceres, my academic life gradually became demanding.Occasionally, during chats with my parents, I learned that after I rejected him, Leo had given up on retaking the entrance exams.Instead, he enrolled in some vocational college, though I’d long forgotten its name.One day, Kitty and I happened to be discussing Leo when she sneered and said, “Betty went to that school, too.”I nodded in quiet understanding.“Leo and you were never a match, Naomi. Don’t you dare fall for his sweet talk and go back to him!”I smiled calmly. Of course, I would never go back.Right after hanging up the call, my dormmate, Elsa Snowden, pulled me up to get ready for a dinner gathering.“You have to come this time! The guys specifically asked if our campus goddess could make it!”
I deliberately moved the four-figure price tag to allow her a glimpse.Betty’s face instantly shifted.Still unwilling to concede, she bit her lip and snapped at me through clenched teeth.“So what if you’ve got a bit of filthy money? Big deal!”I tilted my chin up and nodded.“Yes, exactly. I’ve got money, so what about it?”Between school rewards and pocket money from my parents and relatives, I had managed to save quite a bit.Right then and there, I bought the very perfume Betty had wanted but couldn’t pay for.I gave it a light spray and turned to her with a mocking smile.“My my… It does smell quite nice. I have to give it to you, Betty. What you lack in character, you sure make up for in taste. Too bad you can’t afford it.”The words hit her hard, and she nearly exploded with rage.She turned and started yelling at Leo.“Look at her, Leo! She can afford all this, so why can’t you buy them for me?”His face darkened immediately.Surrounded by the curious stares of o
I was just about to head home when a familiar voice called out behind me.I turned to see Leo sprinting toward me.He stopped and grabbed my arm. “Stay back and repeat the year with me, Naomi. This time, I’m sure I’ll make it into university!” he demanded as if it were the most natural thing to say to someone.I let out a cold laugh.As I studied him, I couldn’t help but think how cursed I must have been to end up with someone like him.Still, I didn’t show the slightest trace of displeasure. Instead, I nodded and looked him straight in the eye.“I got into the best university in the country this time. As long as I enroll, the school will award me a scholarship of 100,000 dollars. If you want me to give that up, then you’ll have to make up for it—every penny of it.”Leo froze.A shadow fell across his face. A hundred thousand dollars wasn’t a small amount. None of our families were wealthy, and there was no way they could throw money around like that.So instead, he grew a
Leo froze as soon as the words left my mouth. He was stunned to his core.After all these years, that must’ve been the fiercest comeback I’d ever dared to throw at him.He clenched his jaw and nodded in anger, glaring at me as if I’d offended his very being.“If you won’t buy me breakfast, how am I supposed to focus on studying and get into university?“I’ve been starving all morning—how am I supposed to concentrate on anything?”It was almost funny—he remembered what I’d said once.Leo was always lazy.He’d rather sleep ten extra minutes than wake up early to eat.Back then, I used to coddle him—buying breakfast and bringing it right to him.I’d tell him that no one could study properly on an empty stomach.Looking back now, I couldn’t help but think what a fool I was.I said nothing. I couldn’t even be bothered to argue with him anymore.But he kept staring at me so intently that a strange realization dawned on me.This boy I now wanted so badly to avoid, to stay far, fa
Silence crashed over the classroom as everyone’s eyes darted between me and Leo.His face flushed red, and his eyes widened with rage.He stormed toward me in a fury—but just then, the teacher walked in. He had no choice but to swallow his anger and return to his seat.Halfway through the lesson, Leo made up an excuse to go to the restroom—and slipped out with Betty.I turned my head slightly, watching as their figures disappeared down the hallway.Then I quickly looked away.This time, I had no intention of telling the teacher.They often used that trick to skip class.I remembered the first time I caught Leo doing it—I had reported him to the teacher right away.That night, he cursed me out so viciously I could hardly speak.He called me spiteful and accused me of meddling in his business. He also accused me of being a tattletale.He had stood there and watched while Betty humiliated me.She’d burned a lock of my hair with a lighter as she laughed brightly with Leo beside