Chapter 3The Boy Who Chose Wrong

From that day on, Holden stopped walking to school with me.

Even on campus, he avoided me.

I could feel he hated the rumors.

But today, I only came to tell him something important.

According to the adoption agreement, the guardianship ended when I turned eighteen.

After graduation, I would leave the Sterling family.

Mrs. Sterling felt that since we grew up together, we shouldn't lose touch. She wanted us to go to the same college, to support each other.

But...

If Holden didn't want that, then fine.

I heard Chloe giggle.

"Come on, show some respect to the class beauty!"

"So, Holden, I want to go to North State University. Want to come with me?"

Holden twirled his pen.

He looked up nonchalantly and smiled.

"Sure."

"You like it there? Then I'll apply there too."

A hand squeezed my heart. Acidic pain spread through my chest.

I looked up, blinking hard to hold back tears.

That's when the text appeared floating in the air.

[Comments]

User1: Ugh, typical second male lead behavior. Talking trash again. So annoying.

User2: Exactly. He's been secretly in love with the heroine since childhood but acts like a jerk to distance himself.

User3: Saying he's going with the transfer student? He's just saying that for Luna to hear!

User4: Why does the heroine have to follow them? Can this guy just exit the story already?

User5: It sucks that the real male lead is at South U. Luna won't meet him until after graduation...

User6: Ahhh Luna, stop coaxing him! Go to South U!

User7: The male lead is handsome, smart, and a total simp for her! Six-pack abs under that white shirt... a total dreamboat!

...

"South U?"

I froze when I saw the comment.

I didn't care about "male leads" or whatever.

But South U had the best program for the major I wanted!

It fit my career plans perfectly.

In fact, the summer of freshman year, I mentioned South U to Holden.

Back then, we weren't distant. Walking home, we dreamed about the future together.

"South U?"

I remembered Holden frowning, looking at me.

He hesitated, then ruffled my hair.

"Nah, Luna."

"South U is in the south. It's humid and hot. I hate that weather."

"Plus, Archer got into South U this year. I don't want to be his junior."

"Let's..."

"Let's go north. How about North State? It's just as prestigious."