Chapter 3The Girl Who Kept Her Ticket

I didn't go back to school, but Bella made sure to update me on their situation.

In a karaoke room, the whole class was celebrating a "Prez-free" pre-exam party.

Carter had his arm around Bella's shoulder, grinning as he interrogated the Arts rep:

"Letting Bella take the tickets today, was that to show Sam who's boss? Speak!"

The room erupted in cheers.

In front of everyone, Carter tore my admission ticket into pieces, smiling at Bella.

"Believe me now? Princess?"

"Carter's the man!"

"Carter and Bella, power couple!"

Beer sprayed into the air. Amidst the cheers, a voice message from Bella popped up on my phone:

"Oops, sorry. I was just joking. I didn't think he'd actually tear up your ticket just to prove he doesn't care about you~"

I forwarded the video to Carter.

He replied the next day, after his hangover cleared.

"Oh, drank too much last night. Forgot to tell you. Go get a replacement."

I gripped my phone.

"Carter, if I hadn't messaged you, were you going to wait until the exam started to tell me?"

He choked, then got annoyed. "Can you stop being so jealous?"

He hung up.

I used to want to take the exams mainly to go to the same college as Carter.

But not anymore.

I dialed my aunt's number at the Research Institute.

"Auntie, I finished the code for the project. I accept the offer. I'll join the Institute early."

"Oh my god, Sam! You finally agreed! What about your little boyfriend? Is he coming to the capital too?"

I shook my head.

"We're done."

My aunt's institute had some coding problems that only I could solve. With my memories from my past life, the project was a breeze.

Without the pressure of exams, I focused on packing for the capital.

But the day before the exam, my classmates started spamming me.

"Prez? Where's the study guide you promised?"

"Exams are tomorrow!"

"Are you for real? I need to sleep by ten!"

They were frantic.

But when I begged them to study before, they had scoffed:

"Trying to get attention because Bella is the favorite now?"

"Lol, your guide is for dogs."

I replied in the main group chat:

[No guide. You're on your own.]

The group exploded.

"What do you mean! You said you'd do it!"

"I haven't studied at all waiting for this! You did this on purpose!"

"Fine, fine! We apologize for liking Bella more. Just send the guide!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Who said my guide was for dogs? Since you don't trust me, why didn't you study?

"Idiots who can't take responsibility for themselves deserve to fail!"

I had never been this blunt. The class lost their minds.

Just as I was about to turn off my phone, Bella sent a zip file to the group.

[Even though I'm not as smart as the Prez, I organized some practice questions. Hope it helps~]

I opened it.

Every single question perfectly avoided the actual exam topics.

But the class was ecstatic.

[Bella is the best! Keeping our tickets AND helping us study. Unlike a certain useless president.]

[Lol, besides being jealous, what can she do?]

A notification popped up—

I had been kicked from the group chat.

I wasn't angry at all.

They probably hadn't noticed yet.

During their little party, several admission tickets had slipped out of Bella's bag and into the trash can.