But for Aurora, her friendship with Rickey was something sacred, not to be misunderstood or tarnished.
Clenching her fists, she spoke firmly. âRickey and I are just friends. I already have someone I like, and itâs not him.â Her words left everyone stunned.
The colorful lights from the karaoke machine flickered across their faces, but Aurora wasnât looking at them. In her mindâs eye, she saw Dunn.
She thought of the boy whose photos had adorned the notice board for years.
She remembered him offering her a handkerchief under the flowering tree.
Her feelings for Dunn were untainted, the truest affection her eighteen-year-old heart could offer.
Addieâs eyes narrowed with displeasure as she noticed everyoneâs attention was drawn to Aurora. âOh, by the way, my boyfriend sings really well!â
But her words fell flat. No one cared. Instead, the group clustered around Aurora with questions.
âAurora, whoâs the lucky guy?â
âIs he from our class?â
âHave we met him before?â
Addie, relegated to an even darker corner than when she first arrived, felt her frustration bubble over.
She glared daggers at Aurora, who was blushing under the attention but smiling shyly. In a last-ditch effort to redirect the room, Addie leaned closer to her boyfriend, whispering something hurriedly in his ear.
Aurora didnât get along with Addie. Naturally, the class split into their usual friend groups.
Addieâs boyfriend took the microphone and sang a few songs. She hadnât exaggeratedâhe was not only good-looking but also had an impressive voice. The row of classmates watching him sing seemed thoroughly entertained, and Addie basked in their admiration with a smug expression.
Meanwhile, Aurora was playing cards with a smaller group on the other side of the room. Her luck wasnât great tonightâshe lost five rounds in a row.
When Rickeyâs name popped up on her phone, Conroy happened to stroll over. Handing her cards to him, Aurora excused herself from the group and stepped out of the private room.
G3t th3 l3g1t v3rs10n 0n g4ln0v3ls.c0m Unbeknownst to her, Addie had been keeping an eye on her all evening. As Aurora left, Addie gave her boyfriend a sly wink. Moments later, he put down the microphone, muttering a quick excuse, and followed after Aurora.
Aurora walked to a quieter corner of the venue, checking the time before answering her phone. She knew Rickey would just be waking up.
âOut having fun? Whyâd you take so long to pick up?â
âHowâd you know I was out having fun?â
âItâs in the group chat.â Rickey sat at the dining table. His breakfast spread was as neat as it was uninvitingâfried eggs, toast, and a glass of milk sat next to a folded newspaper and his tablet.
Morning sunshine spilled through the window, but he wasnât in the mood to appreciate it. His body still ached from years of over-partying, and now, being forced to wake early for classes only added to his irritation.
The thought of Aurora out socializing while he was stuck in his routine filled him with a strange mix of frustration and envy.
âDo you even know what time it is over here? Whatâs the point of hanging out with those people?â Rickeyâs voice carried a hint of exasperation. âArenât they just cozying up to you because they think youâre heading to Dugruayae University?â
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