Chapter 3

When it came time to move my suitcases, I didn't ask anyone for help. I had three bags, so I made three trips, dragging them downstairs one at a time before hauling all of them to the shipping center outside the school gates.

By the time I finished, the handles had left dark purple marks around my fingers, and my arms ached from the strain.

After filling out the shipping forms to have everything sent to Westbridge University, I shook out my sore arms and headed to the bar where our graduation party was being held that night.

Nathaniel was sitting in the middle of the couch with Olivia pressed close beside him. She peeled a banana and casually held it up to his mouth. He tilted his head toward her and took a bite, a lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

I quietly took a seat at the far end of the couch, keeping my distance.

The bruises around my palms still throbbed from dragging my luggage, while the dull ache in my lower abdomen came and went in waves, a lingering reminder that I was still recovering from the stomach flu.

"Evelyn, you're late! You have to drink!" Our class PE representative spotted me almost immediately and grabbed an ice-cold beer, setting it down in front of me. "You know the rules. Finish the whole bottle."

I quickly waved my hands. "I can't drink."

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Before anyone could say anything, Nathaniel frowned and reached for the bottle. "She can't have alcohol. I'll drink it for her."

A faint warmth spread through my chest. He had done the same thing at our freshman orientation party. Back then, he had stepped in front of me and told everyone that his girl never needed to drink just to please anyone.

But Olivia suddenly caught his wrist. "Nathaniel, that's favoritism."

She turned to me with a bright smile. "Eve, it's our graduation party. Everyone's following the rules. You can't ruin the mood for everyone just because you don't want to drink."

Ethan immediately chimed in, "Exactly, Nathaniel. Why are you so protective of her? Anyone who didn't know better might think something is going on between you two."

Nathaniel glanced at Olivia, then at the classmates teasing him. After a brief hesitation, he slowly pulled his hand back. "She's right. We're here to have fun, so we should all follow the rules."

He looked at me and added, "Evelyn, a little alcohol isn't going to kill you. Don't ruin everyone's night."

My stomach twisted painfully.

I reached into my bag, took out a painkiller, and swallowed it before picking up the beer. Then, I forced myself to drink until the bottle was completely empty.

Nathaniel's brows drew together as he watched me. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but before he could, Olivia held out a piece of watermelon. "Nathaniel, have some fruit. It'll help with the alcohol."

His attention shifted to her almost immediately, and he took the watermelon from her without another word.

The others soon started another round of Truth or Dare. When it was Olivia's turn, she chose Truth.

One of the girls sitting beside her called out, "What's your biggest regret from the past four years of college?"

Olivia bit her lip and casually glanced at Nathaniel before answering.

"My biggest regret…" She paused for effect. "Probably not meeting the right person at the right time."

The room immediately erupted into louder teasing.

"What do you mean you didn't meet the right person at the right time? Nathaniel practically does everything you ask!"

"You two are perfect for each other. Handsome guy, beautiful girl—it's a match made in heaven."

Then, someone suddenly asked, "So, what does Evelyn count as?"

The laughter died down for a moment before whispers began spreading through the room.

"The other woman, obviously."

"Look at her. She looks so awful. She's probably just jealous that Olivia has Nathaniel."

"And Olivia treats her like her best friend. Evelyn's always throwing herself at Nathaniel anyway."

Olivia covered her mouth as she laughed, then glanced lightly in my direction. "Stop saying things like that. Look, you're making Eve uncomfortable."

Every word felt like a needle stabbing into my ears.

I looked at Nathaniel, waiting for him to say something—anything.

We had been secretly dating for three years. He had never allowed me to make our relationship public, always insisting that he was keeping it a secret to protect me.

Yet now, as everyone in the room trampled me with their words, he sat there in silence. I waited for him to set the record straight. Even a single sentence would have been enough. Instead, Nathaniel looked away and said casually, "We're just friends. They're only joking around."

Slowly, I loosened the fingers I had been gripping against the seam of my pants.

Suddenly, Olivia stood up and declared, "You know what? Truth is too boring. I take it back. I want to switch to Dare."

The PE rep whistled. "Alright, then. Choose someone of the opposite sex and pretend to be a couple for two months!"

Without hesitation, Olivia walked over to Nathaniel and leaned toward him with a playful smile. "Nathaniel, are you brave enough to accept the challenge?"

Nathaniel looked directly at her. "What's there to be afraid of?"

The room instantly erupted.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Olivia blushed as she slowly leaned in.

Nathaniel didn't pull away. Instead, he stood up, slipped an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer. Under the shifting party lights, their lips met as the room filled with cheers.

I just sat there and watched them. Strangely, the cramping in my lower abdomen suddenly felt insignificant compared to the dull ache spreading through my chest.

I quietly stood up and pushed open the door, leaving the noise behind me.

As I walked away, I could still hear my classmates whispering.

"Why did she leave so fast? Don't tell me she's secretly in love with Nathaniel and got jealous."

"Her? Please! It'd be a miracle if Nathaniel would even look at her twice."