SAT was just two weeks away.
We had practice tests almost every day.
The atmosphere was tense.
Our homeroom teacher changed the last self–study period to free time.
Maddie leaned toward me:
“After SAT, I’ll be separated from my crush.”
“This isn’t SAT season–it’s the end of unrequited love season.”
I recalled passing by the playground once when she pointed out a boy to me, calling him her crush.
He wore glasses with lenses as thick as beer bottles and always had his nose in a book.
Maddie had run to bring him water, but he’d just glanced at her and said:
“Give it up, Madison. I won’t date someone who’s failing like you.”
I was about to comfort Maddie, but she said:
“That’s my cold, brilliant scholar! So harsh, but I love it.”
Me:
Maddie’s judgment seemed seriously impaired.
“Lily, do you want to date anyone?”
Dating?
My pen froze mid–stroke.
I felt someone’s breath on my neck.
They seemed to be waiting for my answer too.
1 shook my head.
“Dating is less productive than doing another practice test.”
Late that night, Chase texted me:
Chapter 3
“Practice tests, practice tests. That’s all you think about.”
“Am I not better looking? Do practice tests have abs like mine?”
Attached was a photo of his dripping wet abs–his pale stomach displayed clearly defined muscles.
Followed by three messages that were quickly deleted.
Me: ???
The next day after school, Chase cornered me in a small alley.
“Lily.”
‘Let’s talk after SAT.”
‘About what?”
He cocked his head, leaning in to stare directly at me:
‘Dating.”
So he really did like me.
I pressed my lips together.
‘No.”
‘Why not?”
‘You only scored three points on your essay.”
He scratched his head, looking genuinely dejected:
‘What does that have to do with anything?”
The tall boy with his perfect jawline looked down at me.
I smirked:
“If you score at least average on tomorrow’s practice essay, then maybe.”
Chase gritted his teeth:
“Fine.”
My phone started vibrating in my pocket.
I took it out, accidentally answering it.
Ethan’s voice came through the speaker:
“Lily.”
“Pack your things. You’re coming back to West High tomorrow.”
His tone was condescending, as if I should gratefully rush back at his command.
I was completely confused.
Just as I was about to hang up, someone spoke near my hearing aid:
“Babe, you need to close your eyes when we kiss.”
“And don’t answer calls from random guys.”
On the other end, Ethan’s voice filled with anger:
“Who is that?”
“Lily, come back before I change my mind.”
I looked up at Chase’s rebellious face, offering no explanation:
“No. I’m doing fine at Lincoln.”
Ethan laughed bitterly:
‘Lily, now isn’t the time to be stubborn.”
‘Do you really plan to stay at that place until SAT?”
‘Wasn’t your dream to get into an Ivy League school?”
So he knew my dream was to attend Harvard or Yale.
He knew Lincoln High’s educational resources were poor.
But why should I care? He made me transfer away in humiliation.
And now, with SAT approaching, he wanted me back.
I simply hung up the phone and blocked his number.
When Ethan tried calling back, he found that he had been blocked by Lily.
For over three months, he hadn’t seen her.
When he forgot breakfast, no one prepared it for him–he constantly felt something was off.
Chapter 3
Even when he was with Vanessa, he’d often look back.
But he could no longer see the figure that had always followed behind him.
He figured he was just unaccustomed to suddenly separating from someone he’d grown up with, so he didn’t think too deeply
about it.
But every night when he returned home, he’d stand beneath Lily’s window, only feeling at ease after seeing her light turn on.
She was just being stubborn.
Lincoln High’s schedule started later than West High’s. In three months, he hadn’t once run into Lily.
But recalling the male voice he’d just heard, he felt uneasy.
Then he thought, Lily loves me.
That’s why when he confessed to her, she’d blushed and nodded yes.
They’d grown up together. He knew Lily–modest and conservative. How could she possibly date someone at a place like Lincoln High, let alone kiss someone?
She must have put someone up to saying that—to make him jealous.
Thinking this, he felt slightly relieved.
But he still walked to Lily’s house, only feeling reassured after seeing movement behind the curtains.
After the practice test ended, Chase cornered me in the equipment room.
‘Average score,” he announced.
I had seen it.
‘Only after SAT,” I insisted.
‘No dating before then.”
SAT was right around the corner.
He nodded in agreement.
For the next stretch of time, we studied harder and longer.
Chase stopped seeking me out.
But every morning, a bottle of milk appeared on my desk.
Every evening, he followed at a distance as I walked home.
Chapter S
Finally, SAT arrived.
After returning home from the exam hall, I recalculated my answers.
Once I felt confident about my performance, I slept for three straight days.
Except for washing up and eating, I spent all my time sleeping.
My parents were busy with the company and didn’t stop me. They just left me some money to manage on my own.
When I went downstairs to the supermarket, Chase was standing there.
Hearing footsteps, he looked at me with burning eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
He stepped forward. Sunlight fell on him, making him especially radiant.
“Coming to date my girlfriend.”
