Chapter 1
After the SATs, Remy told me he'd blown his score and asked me to apply to a smaller college in Chicago with him. I lied to my parents, saying I mistakenly submitted the wrong college preference. But at the party, he wrapped his arm around the prom queen and made an announcement.
"Alessandra and I both got into the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, it's the only prestigious university there."
A classmate asked, "What about Luisa?"
Remy looked at me with a teasing smile. "Luisa, I was just joking. You didn't take it seriously, did you?"
"You want to go to the same school as me? Just retake the exams; you're the academic star after all."
Later, when he didn’t see me in the summer prep class, he got anxious. "Luisa, you’re not interested in going to the same school as me anymore?"
---
The day I received my acceptance letter, Remy called me specifically.
"Are you coming to the dinner party tonight? I've got a surprise to share with you. You're coming, right?"
A warmth spread through my heart. "Yeah, shall we go together?"
I couldn't help but hope he might confess at the party. After all, everyone always thought we'd end up together since we were childhood friends. For three years, we worked hard to get into the same school, and it seemed like everyone was rooting for us.
Dinner was set for 7 p.m., but I arrived at the meeting spot by 6:40. I watched the clock anxiously until it struck 7:20. Remy's voice echoed outside the private dining room.
I stood up instinctively from the corner, only to freeze when I saw him walk in holding Alessandra's hand. My thigh pressed against the edge of the chair, my body slightly awkward, but no one noticed me. At the door, Remy laughed, carefree and cheerful. "Sorry for being late, I had to give someone a ride."
Some people chuckled suggestively, while others glanced curiously at me. He carried on, unfazed, smiling brightly as he wrapped his arm around Alessandra. "Perfect, everyone's here. I have an announcement."
"Alessandra and I both got into the University of Virginia."
Upon hearing this, my heart felt like it was being squeezed mercilessly, the pain making it hard to breathe. I tried to catch my breath amidst the cheers and excitement but couldn't. The atmosphere in the room was overwhelmingly lively.
Everyone exclaimed, "Never thought you'd make it to UVA! You always seemed so relaxed."
"Yeah, we always thought you either slept or played basketball. But you did it; you chased love all the way to success."
Remy sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Alessandra said she likes guys with good grades, so I had to step up to win her over."
A friend close to me asked, "What about Luisa?"
"Weren't you two planning to go to the same school?"
Remy glanced at me with a playful smirk, eyes full of mischief. "Luisa, I was just messing around. You didn't take it seriously, did you?"
"You want to go to the same school? Just retake the exams; you're the top student, after all."
Holding back the bitterness rising in my throat, I sipped some sparkling water and managed a smile. "I didn't."
I wanted to say I didn't take it seriously, but my voice betrayed me. I finished the rest of the water, trying not to look pathetic.
My ears felt like they were underwater, muffling everything around me. Someone seemed uncomfortable with the situation and murmured, "That's a rough joke. What if she took it seriously?"
Remy brushed it off, returning to his laid-back demeanor. "We've known each other forever. She'll be fine."
"Besides, I believe in Luisa. You'll nail a retake, won't you?" He winked at me.
My breathing became heavy and uneven as his figure blurred in my sight. For the rest of the karaoke session, I found an excuse to leave.
But Remy stopped me at the hotel entrance.
He called my name several times, but I ignored him until he quickly blocked my path. "Luisa, what's up tonight? You didn’t even respond to Alessandra."
"I specifically ordered cheese puffs for you, and you didn't eat any."
I wanted to scream at him, to ask why he would make such a joke, if he had any idea that I'd taken it seriously. If he had any idea... how much I liked him.
But the look he gave me tonight, with Alessandra by his side, made my resolve crumble. After all, we were just neighbors, childhood friends. He never said I had to go with him; it was my mistake to take his casual words to heart.
It was always one-sided.
I looked down, avoiding his gaze. "I don’t feel well."
Remy chuckled. "Are you upset about the school? Or are you really not feeling well?"
I stayed silent.
He sighed. "But you can’t ignore Alessandra. She kept telling me she's worried you don’t like her, and now she’s upset because you wouldn’t talk to her."
I looked up at him. "So what? Do I not have the right to feel unwell? Must I engage with her?"
My words were sharp, my chest heaving with emotion.
His brows furrowed in dissatisfaction. "Luisa, what's going on?"
After a moment, his expression softened, and he pointed at me with a grin. "Oh, I get it. You really applied to a school in Chicago, didn't you?"
I stayed silent. The bond we've had since we were little made him read me like an open book.
His laugh grew. "I knew you'd stick with me. Can't believe you bought it."
"Why not retake and join us in Virginia as our junior? You definitely can do it. You scored high enough for Chicago's top universities; a retake won't be a problem."
I forced back my tears. "Go comfort Alessandra. I'm heading home."
Chapter 2
Remy was insistent, pulling me back. "Luisa, just go have a quick word with Alessandra, then you can leave."
I tried to shake him off a couple of times but was pulled back into the private room.
"Alessandra, I brought Luisa back. She wasn't feeling well earlier and wants to apologize."
Alessandra smiled with a slightly flushed face. "It's alright, Luisa. If you're not feeling well, you should rest."
Remy gave my shoulder a gentle nudge, leaning in to whisper urgently, "Come on, say something."
My thoughts were a tangled mess, and his insistent prodding only irritated me more. I pinched him sharply to get free, then turned and walked out.
"Luisa!" Remy called after me.
With a hint of tears in her voice, Alessandra asked, "Remy, does Luisa dislike me?"
It seemed like Remy said something to comfort her, then he caught up with me and grabbed my arm again, sounding a bit frustrated, "Luisa, Alessandra finally agreed to be with me. Why are you being like this?"
He frowned, looking upset. "Come back and apologize to Alessandra."
"It's just a university admission, is it worth all this fuss?"
I stopped and looked at him. He hesitated, and I asked, "If I apologize, will you let me go?"
He didn't respond, so I went over to Alessandra, gave a slight nod, and said, "I wasn't feeling well tonight and missed what you said. I'm sorry. Congratulations to you both. Goodbye."
Returning to Remy, I asked without expression, "Are we done here?"
His demeanor softened a bit, as if realizing something was off, and he spoke gently, "Can I take you home? I'll have someone keep Alessandra company. You seem..."
"No need," I interrupted.
Suddenly, the whole situation seemed less dire.
At least the university agreed to waive all tuition fees and offered me a $10,000 scholarship annually.
This lesson is one I won't forget.
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