Chapter 2

The dorm door was half-open. When Erin pushed her suitcase inside, Sophia was sitting on the lower bunk by the window.

She was hugging a giant pink plushie, swinging her legs.

"Erin, you're back."

She pointed to the upper bunk near the bathroom door.

"Can we switch?"

Her roommate, organizing things nearby, paused and looked uncomfortable.

Sophia smiled sweetly. "Erin's the sweetest. Of course she'll say yes, right?"

Erin looked at her luggage piled haphazardly by the door—things she'd folded and packed carefully before coming.

She forced a smile. "No, I don't want to."

Sophia's smile froze. Before she could respond, Luke walked in carrying two bags of snacks and caught Erin's reply.

He set the snacks on the table. "Sophia's particular about where she sleeps. Do you have to make a big deal out of this?"

Kyle followed Luke in.

He was holding a small night-light and walked straight to the window, plugging it into the outlet by Sophia's bed.

"Sophia's afraid of the dark. This spot's closer to the light anyway, and it'll be easier for you if you need to get up at night."

Erin stood by the door, her voice quiet. "I'm afraid of the dark too."

Kyle's hand paused on the plug, then he chuckled.

"You've always been brave. You'd light a candle and do your homework during blackouts. Don't be dramatic."

Her heart sank.

She wasn't never afraid of the dark—she'd just learned too early not to trouble anyone. That was why they assumed she didn't need light.

That night, at the freshman welcome dinner, Kyle texted her saying he wanted to make it up to her.

She stared at the address on her screen, hesitated for a long time, and went.

When she pushed open the private room door, it was already full.

The only empty seat was in the far corner, right under the air conditioning vent.

Kyle and Luke sat on either side of Sophia.

"Erin, sit down—we've been waiting for you."

Sophia suddenly clapped her hands and suggested they play Truth or Dare.

"Let's warm up before the food comes."

The bottle spun a few times and stopped pointing at her.

Sophia's eyes sparkled.

"Erin, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Sophia propped her chin up, her voice soft but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You've liked Kyle since freshman year. If he doesn't like you back, would you feel humiliated?"

The room went dead silent. A few seconds later, it exploded with laughter.

Kyle frowned slightly, but he didn't look at Erin. Instead, he turned to Sophia. "Don't ask it that bluntly."

For a moment, she found it absurd and laughable.

She'd been stupid to believe Kyle's so-called apology.

She slowly stood up. "I'm not playing."

Sophia's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Is Erin mad? I was just trying to help everyone get closer."

Luke ripped off his gloves and slammed them on the table.

"Erin, can you stop making everyone uncomfortable for once?"

Kyle lowered his voice too.

"This is Sophia's first time at one of our school dinners. Cut her some slack."

Looking at the two of them, she suddenly understood a simple truth.

When it came down to her and Sophia, the one who always had to give in would always be her.

So there was no point staying.

Without a word, she opened her email.

At the very top was the final confirmation notice for a full scholarship from an overseas polytechnic university—sent three days ago.

She clicked the admission link.

In the confirmation box, she typed her name and hit accept.

The screen instantly redirected, initiating the final activation process for her overseas enrollment.