Chapter 4

Elaine's eyes darted away. She cleared her throat awkwardly. "I was really thirsty, okay? So, I took a sip first."

As she spoke, the blush on her cheeks deepened. The crowd fell silent.

Someone nearby finally could not hold back and muttered, "Seriously? She's confessing with half a cup of leftover milkshake? That's so cheap."

Elaine's face stiffened. One of her friends quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Oh, what do you guys know? This is Elaine's way of being romantic! It's basically an indirect kiss. Elaine is such a genius!"

"Exactly! An indirect kiss! That is so romantic!"

A chill crept into my heart.

Elaine was already furious and embarrassed by her friends' teasing. She reached out to shove one of the girls, but something suddenly slipped from her pocket and hit the concrete with a sharp thud.

It was a delicate black velvet box. The lid popped open, revealing a limited-edition men's watch inside, its metal surface gleaming in the sunlight.

Everyone's eyes lit up, and the crowd immediately started cheering again.

"Holy crap! Elaine, so the milkshake was just a cover?"

"I knew it! There's no way Elaine would be that cheap. This must be the real gift she bought for her confession! Hurry up and put it on Jordan!"

A flash of panic crossed Elaine's eyes. She dropped into a crouch as if she had been shocked by electricity, quickly snatched up the black box, and squeezed it tightly in her hand.

"What are you guys cheering about? Who said this was for him? It's for Lawrence!"

Elaine stubbornly lifted her chin and glanced at me. "Jordan is going to Westbridge University, and he's studying physics. He's stiff as a board and has no personality. Does he even deserve to wear a watch like this?

"I bought this for Lawrence! He is staying here and going to Apex University. He's studying art history, he's handsome, and he has style. Someone like him is the only person worthy of something this nice!"

Lawrence's sour expression instantly brightened. He lowered his head slightly and gave Elaine a soft, warm look.

Meanwhile, everyone around us turned toward me. Their eyes were filled with sympathy, amusement, and the excitement of watching a good show.

I stood there, staring at Elaine's face. She was trying so hard to hide something that her expression had become almost twisted.

What exactly had I been expecting? That something beautiful could somehow grow out of a garbage can?

To protect her pathetic pride, she could trample my dignity into the dirt without a second thought.

Was saying she liked me really that difficult?

Suddenly, I felt completely at peace. I let out a self-mocking laugh and tossed the bag containing the half-finished milkshake straight into the trash can beside me. The cup hit the bottom, splashing the contents everywhere.

"You were right. I do not deserve it." With that, I turned and started to leave.

"Jordan, stop right there!"

The moment Elaine saw me walking away, she completely lost her temper. She rushed after me and blocked my path.

"What is with that attitude? Don't think you are so amazing just because you got into Westbridge University!" Her voice was full of anger and frustration. "With a boring, stiff personality like yours, no one will look out for you over there. People are going to walk all over you. You might even stay single until graduation!

"And once you can't handle it anymore, it'll be too late to come running back to me! I'm telling you, while you still have the chance, hurry up and change your choice back to Apex University."

"You're going to look out for me?" I stopped walking and looked straight down into her eyes. My gaze was calm, almost cold.

"Of course. If it were not for me during these past three years of high school..."

I did not wait for her to finish. Instead, I reached behind me, yanked open the heavy zipper of my backpack, and dumped the thick stack of papers inside onto the ground.

The sound of paper scattering across the pavement rang out clearly through the crowded school entrance.

The crowd erupted into a buzz.

A few boys who had no idea what was happening started whispering to each other.

"What is all that? There are so many papers. Could they be love letters Jordan wrote? Is he about to confess to Elaine?"

The moment Elaine heard that, the anger on her face eased, and a smug little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She bent down to gather the papers scattered around her feet, but the moment she looked closely at one of them, she suddenly went still.

It was as if she had been struck by lightning. Elaine stared at the paper in disbelief, utterly stunned.