Chapter 3 · My Boyfirend Kissed His Friend, So Did I

Ferris fixed me with an intense, silent stare, saying nothing.

I got the hint, cleared my throat, and came up with the perfect excuse.

"I saw you working earlier. If you're busy tonight, I won't keep you—" I said.

"Not busy," Ferris replied, cool as ever.

"Huh?" I blinked, totally thrown off.

Then I remembered all the gossip on campus—Ferris came from money, and there was always a crowd of girls around him.

I tried again. "It's pretty late. Won't your girlfriend start blowing up your phone to check where you are? I really shouldn't get in the way—"

"I don't have a girlfriend," Ferris said, cutting me off.

My words died in my throat again.

Ferris gave me a deep, teasing look, a slow smile tugging at his lips.

"Besides, my family's in business. You made that nasty oath tonight. What if I really end up broke for the rest of my life?" he teased.

Seeing me speechless, Ferris moved closer.

His gaze burned into me, like he could see right through me.

"Virginia, what are you so afraid of?" he asked.

"It's just a photo at the hotel. What do you think I'd do to you? Or is it..."

He paused, his voice slow and deliberate. "Or is it you who's got plans for me?"

All those steamy, wild dreams I'd had about him came rushing back to me.

I shivered, suddenly feeling nervous and exposed.

"W-What are you even saying?!" I blurted out, flustered.

Just then, my phone blew up with notifications from the group chat.

Halbert had just posted a photo.

In the picture, he and Holly were snuggled up together on a huge bed in a fancy hotel, looking all cozy and close.

He even tagged me on purpose.

[We took ours. Your turn with Ferris?]

When I didn't reply right away, Halbert messaged again, sounding all smug: [Virginia, if you really can't get the shot, no big deal.

[Just head home and lock up. Don't wait for me. I'll just spend the night with Holly—since we've already paid for the hotel room anyway.]

I honestly had no idea how I ended up at the hotel.

I guess I just let my anger take the wheel and acted on impulse.

When I finally snapped out of it, I was already standing outside the hotel suite with Ferris.

I stared at the suite, completely floored—it looked just like the ones I'd fantasized about in my dreams.

Ferris took off his jacket and turned to face me.

"Why are you just standing there like a statue? Aren't we here to take a photo?" Ferris teased.

"Oh, okay," I mumbled.

I finally snapped out of it, still a bit out of it.

I pulled Ferris onto the bed, found the perfect angle, snapped a pic, and sent it straight to the group chat.

The group chat instantly blew up.

[Damn, they actually did it!]

[Wasn't Virginia supposed to be super picky about relationships? If they really hooked up tonight, Halbert's gonna get played hard.]

[Probably just took a photo, right? What else could've happened?]

[Yeah, like Ferris would ever go for her.]

Just as I was about to reply in the group chat, my phone started ringing.

Halbert was blowing up my phone, totally freaking out.

He went off on me the moment I answered.

"Wow, Virginia, you've really got some nerve now," Halbert snapped.

"Get out of that hotel, now!" He was practically spitting fire.

Holly's voice was shaky and on the verge of tears, full of guilt.

"This is all my fault. I'm always so reckless with these dares, I never know when to quit, and now look what I've caused," she sniffled. "Should I just say sorry to Virginia in the group chat?"

"Why are you apologizing? This isn't your fault. She brought this on herself," Halbert shot back.

He gave a cold chuckle as he spoke.

"Besides, it's not the first time she's acted like this. Last time we went hiking, she got all mad and I just ignored her. She came back with her tail between her legs," Halbert said with a smirk.

"I wanna see how long she can keep acting all tough this time," he sneered.

Last time, a bunch of us went for a night hike.

Halfway through, I ended up twisting my ankle.

I was just about to tell Halbert, but Holly got in first.

She suddenly cried out "ouch" and dropped right in the middle of the trail, totally stealing the spotlight.

When Halbert rushed over, she bit her lip and put on a brave face as she got up.

"It's nothing, I just twisted my ankle. I can handle it," Holly said, putting on a brave face.

But Halbert didn't even hesitate. With nothing but worry in his eyes, he picked her up bridal style.

My eyes stung with tears as I watched from behind.

"Halbert, I twisted my ankle too..." I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Halbert just frowned at me, not saying a word.

But when he met my eyes, he suddenly caught on and shot me a playful grin.

"Stop it, Virginia. I know you're jealous. But we're on the mountain and it's not safe for Holly. I'll take her to the hospital first; you can head down on your own later," he said.

Chapter 3

Ferris fixed me with an intense, silent stare, saying nothing.

I got the hint, cleared my throat, and came up with the perfect excuse.

"I saw you working earlier. If you're busy tonight, I won't keep you—" I said.

"Not busy," Ferris replied, cool as ever.

"Huh?" I blinked, totally thrown off.

Then I remembered all the gossip on campus—Ferris came from money, and there was always a crowd of girls around him.

I tried again. "It's pretty late. Won't your girlfriend start blowing up your phone to check where you are? I really shouldn't get in the way—"

"I don't have a girlfriend," Ferris said, cutting me off.

My words died in my throat again.

Ferris gave me a deep, teasing look, a slow smile tugging at his lips.

"Besides, my family's in business. You made that nasty oath tonight. What if I really end up broke for the rest of my life?" he teased.

Seeing me speechless, Ferris moved closer.

His gaze burned into me, like he could see right through me.

"Virginia, what are you so afraid of?" he asked.

"It's just a photo at the hotel. What do you think I'd do to you? Or is it..."

He paused, his voice slow and deliberate. "Or is it you who's got plans for me?"

All those steamy, wild dreams I'd had about him came rushing back to me.

I shivered, suddenly feeling nervous and exposed.

"W-What are you even saying?!" I blurted out, flustered.

Just then, my phone blew up with notifications from the group chat.

Halbert had just posted a photo.

In the picture, he and Holly were snuggled up together on a huge bed in a fancy hotel, looking all cozy and close.

He even tagged me on purpose.

[We took ours. Your turn with Ferris?]

When I didn't reply right away, Halbert messaged again, sounding all smug: [Virginia, if you really can't get the shot, no big deal.

[Just head home and lock up. Don't wait for me. I'll just spend the night with Holly—since we've already paid for the hotel room anyway.]

I honestly had no idea how I ended up at the hotel.

I guess I just let my anger take the wheel and acted on impulse.

When I finally snapped out of it, I was already standing outside the hotel suite with Ferris.

I stared at the suite, completely floored—it looked just like the ones I'd fantasized about in my dreams.

Ferris took off his jacket and turned to face me.

"Why are you just standing there like a statue? Aren't we here to take a photo?" Ferris teased.

"Oh, okay," I mumbled.

I finally snapped out of it, still a bit out of it.

I pulled Ferris onto the bed, found the perfect angle, snapped a pic, and sent it straight to the group chat.

The group chat instantly blew up.

[Damn, they actually did it!]

[Wasn't Virginia supposed to be super picky about relationships? If they really hooked up tonight, Halbert's gonna get played hard.]

[Probably just took a photo, right? What else could've happened?]

[Yeah, like Ferris would ever go for her.]

Just as I was about to reply in the group chat, my phone started ringing.

Halbert was blowing up my phone, totally freaking out.

He went off on me the moment I answered.

"Wow, Virginia, you've really got some nerve now," Halbert snapped.

"Get out of that hotel, now!" He was practically spitting fire.

Holly's voice was shaky and on the verge of tears, full of guilt.

"This is all my fault. I'm always so reckless with these dares, I never know when to quit, and now look what I've caused," she sniffled. "Should I just say sorry to Virginia in the group chat?"

"Why are you apologizing? This isn't your fault. She brought this on herself," Halbert shot back.

He gave a cold chuckle as he spoke.

"Besides, it's not the first time she's acted like this. Last time we went hiking, she got all mad and I just ignored her. She came back with her tail between her legs," Halbert said with a smirk.

"I wanna see how long she can keep acting all tough this time," he sneered.

Last time, a bunch of us went for a night hike.

Halfway through, I ended up twisting my ankle.

I was just about to tell Halbert, but Holly got in first.

She suddenly cried out "ouch" and dropped right in the middle of the trail, totally stealing the spotlight.

When Halbert rushed over, she bit her lip and put on a brave face as she got up.

"It's nothing, I just twisted my ankle. I can handle it," Holly said, putting on a brave face.

But Halbert didn't even hesitate. With nothing but worry in his eyes, he picked her up bridal style.

My eyes stung with tears as I watched from behind.

"Halbert, I twisted my ankle too..." I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Halbert just frowned at me, not saying a word.

But when he met my eyes, he suddenly caught on and shot me a playful grin.

"Stop it, Virginia. I know you're jealous. But we're on the mountain and it's not safe for Holly. I'll take her to the hospital first; you can head down on your own later," he said.