Lahat ng Kabanata ng Last-Minute Betrayal: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

I didn’t go straight home.If I went back now, my parents would start asking why I had turned in my papers so early.And if my dad found out that Jason Turner had held onto my exam ticket and ID outside the hall, he would have marched straight to the Turner house demanding an explanation.Too much trouble either way.Besides, I had already secured an Early Admission spot at Harvard University. Today’s college entrance exam was just a formality.Since Jason could calculate even our eighteen-year-long friendship for Summer, I realized that today I had finally seen his true colors.I turned and walked into a café across from the exam hall, planning to sit there for a while.I’d head home after the exam ended, pretending I had taken it like everyone else.About fifteen minutes before the last subject was scheduled, two familiar figures emerged from the school gate.Jason and Summer had already turned in their papers.Hand in hand, they looked completely at ease, smiling as if nothing could

I stared at the familiar profile pictures, reading their venomous comments line by line.Throughout high school, I had mostly kept to myself, focusing on my studies rather than their little social circles.In their eyes, Jason was the charming, wealthy class heartthrob. Summer was the gentle, beautiful class beauty. Naturally, they were meant to be together.And I, Emily, Jason’s childhood friend, was just the clingy, annoying third wheel.Jason seized the moment to smooth things over.[Everyone calm down. Emily isn’t in a good mood today. Skipping the exam is already a big blow for her.][Emily, you should still come to the dinner tomorrow. Relax a little. I’ll figure something out about repeating a year for you.]What a devoted and magnanimous childhood friend.On the surface, he seemed to be mediating, but in reality, he was casually cementing the idea that I had “skipped the exam.”I watched one flattering message after another praising Jason and putting me down, and felt a wave of

On my phone screen was the electronic acceptance letter for the Physics Talent Program, issued by Harvard University.It clearly displayed my information and the official digital seal.Jason froze for a moment.“Harvard… Early Admission?”Standing next to him, Summer forced a small, tense smile.“Aunt… did you… send the wrong image?“Early Admission spots at Harvard are extremely rare, and applicants have to pass multiple rounds of written and interview tests.“Emily… she usually excels, but how could she quietly...”“Why couldn’t she?” Dad interrupted coldly.“Emily has been in the top three of her grade in every major exam throughout high school. Getting an Early Admission spot is hardly surprising.”Jason’s eyes flicked, as if he understood, and then he suddenly smiled.“Uncle, I know Emily didn’t finish her last exam. As parents, you must feel awkward about it. You wanted to save her some face. We get that.“But really, there’s no need to make up stories about it, right?”He glance

Someone had posted a screenshot of Summer’s announcement in the group chat, along with a “shipping” sticker.[Jason is awesome, Summer is awesome, Cornell couple alert! So enviable!][This is skillfully putting someone in their place. Not like some people who bomb the exam, disappear, and even fake an admission letter. Now that the results are out, I bet they can’t even say a word!][I bet someone’s hiding under the covers crying right now. Repeating a year isn’t fun, haha.]I scrolled past expressionlessly and left the group again.Then a message from my homeroom teacher popped up.[Emily, where have you been these past two weeks?][Tomorrow night is our class Teacher Appreciation Banquet. The teacher has something important to say. You have to be there.]I typed a quick reply.My homeroom teacher had been a great mentor. Throughout high school, he had stood up to school pressures to give me the freedom to focus on physics competitions. Without him, I wouldn’t have secured the Early A

Jason’s eyes instantly reddened as he jumped to his feet.“Emily…“You… you already had Early Admission? You took the college entrance exam just to accompany me?”I didn’t look at him.“I… I didn’t know…” Jason stammered, taking a step forward.“I thought you just had good grades. Repeating a year wouldn’t be a big deal…”Watching him like this, heartbreak written all over his face, I felt nothing but disgust.I poured myself another glass of wine, raising it toward the classmates who had just mocked me but now looked like they wished they could sink through the floor.“Cheers to all of you. Wishing you all a bright future and peace on your own paths.”I set the glass down and, with Jason’s reddened eyes and Summer’s pale face behind me, turned and walked away.After the Teacher Appreciation Banquet, I completely cut off contact with my high school classmates.There were still more than two weeks before I had to report to Harvard University.The next day, my phone buzzed with a text fr