Chapter 5

The next day, when we were getting ready to leave, a typhoon hit and the airport shut down all flights.

When I got the cancellation text, I was stunned.

We'd waited until the last minute before school started to head to the capital and completely forgot it was typhoon season.

Lily showed up at our door with an invitation. "We're throwing Michael's send-off party tomorrow—you have to come."

They lived right across the hall, and after all these years, my parents and Michael's dad even had work connections, so refusing was basically impossible.

"Olivia, you have to come too. You and Michael are both perfect scorers. All the big shots from the education department will be there. It's a great chance to make connections," Lily added.

I wanted to say no, but Mom grabbed my hand. "Yeah, we'll go."

After she closed the door, Mom looked at me. "No matter what happened, you two have been friends for years. It's just dinner. You'll both be at the same university soon, and if things get awkward, people might think you're still hung up on him."

I nodded. "Fine."

Michael's acceptance letter was arriving tomorrow. No way I was missing that show.

Brian and Ethan had already had their send-off parties, and their parents hung massive banners for them.

[Congratulations to our son Brian for getting into Vanderly University!]

[Congratulations to our son Ethan for getting into Vanderly University!]

Those banners were still up around the neighborhood.

Everyone was snapping pics with them—our neighborhood had already sent four kids to Vanderly University.

The housing prices were definitely about to skyrocket.

When Michael's family threw their send-off party, they took it to another level—six massive banners plastered all over the neighborhood.

At the restaurant entrance, they handed out goodie bags stamped with "Perfect SAT Scorer: Michael Summers."

Everyone scrambled to grab one, hoping to soak up some of that star student luck.

When I showed up, Lily was clutching the acceptance letter from the post office, clearly saving it for someone special.

She said she'd let the education department director do the big reveal—having the director personally open the top student's acceptance letter would be the party's highlight.

My parents and I grabbed a corner table, but other parents still came over and struck up conversations with my folks.

Left alone, I sat there bored, playing a match-three game on my phone.

"Are you avoiding me?"

I heard that familiar voice, but didn't look up from my game.

"Olivia, come on, why are you so mad? I didn't do anything to you. And Emily and I—it's not what you think. We were just friends at first, just... you know..."

He trailed off, losing his nerve.

I sneered, "Whatever you two are, it's got nothing to do with me. But calling yourselves 'friends'? That's rich. Even legendary friends don't share a bed.

"Not my business anyway—I just think it's hilarious."

Michael's face darkened. "Can you stop it? Just because we made you sit farther away when we were picking colleges? You didn't even say anything before you left. We finished our game, and you were gone—do you know how freaked out we were?"

I said flatly, "You guys played games till morning, huh?"

So they only remembered her after gaming all night?

He froze.

Michael sounded defeated. "Don't be mad. We'll be at the same college soon—I'll take care of you."

I glared at him. "Who needs your care? Get lost!"

Michael jumped up, fuming. "Olivia, you're insane! When we're at the same college, don't even think about begging me for help!"

"Olivia, you got Michael all worked up again?" Brian and Ethan suddenly popped up.

They both frowned at me. "Is this all because of Emily?"

"Come on, if you really like Michael, why freeze him out? You're not half as cute as Emily!"

"Yeah, Emily would never play those mind games."

I rolled my eyes. I must've been so clueless back then.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" Emily burst through the doorway, instantly hooking her arms around Brian and Ethan and squeezing between them.

Her curves caught their attention, and her perfume made their heads spin. With those soft arms draped over their shoulders, Brian and Ethan couldn't help feeling jealous of Michael.

After all, she only saw Brian and Ethan as her friends.

Michael, though? He was her boyfriend—the real deal.

So Brian and Ethan could only ever be backup—always there for her.

Brian gave her a fond look. "No worries. Let's sit over there. There's a show coming up, and that spot's got the best view."

Ethan laughed. "You get the best seat—right in the middle."

"Awesome, thanks," Emily said playfully, pulling her arms back and turning to Michael. "Come on, baby. Let's go."

She shot me a smug look, but I didn't even glance at any of them.

She was feeling incredibly proud, convinced I must be losing my mind with jealousy—after all, those three used to be my childhood friends, and now they were all giving me the cold shoulder.

Michael glared at me. "Olivia, just wait—one day you'll come begging for my help, and when that happens, don't expect me to go easy on you."

Then they just turned and walked off.

My old classmates started filtering in, and my table filled with people my parents knew.

They started asking about me, and my parents played it cool, modestly sharing the details.

Just then, Brian and Ethan's parents showed up, each holding their kid's acceptance letter.

Everyone was waiting to open them together. Plenty of reporters were there too—gotta get that camera time, after all.

Brian and Ethan introduced Emily to their parents, saying she was like their little sister and swearing they'd always look out for her.

Seeing how much their sons liked her, the parents went along and started chatting with Emily.

Her sweet talk had them all cracking up.

She even took couldn't help taking a few shots at me, calling me a bookworm while she was the life of the party—fun and outgoing.