Right before the last full-length practice exam ahead of the SAT, my boyfriend, Blake Romero, who had always ranked in the top ten, somehow ended up with a score of zero.

His eyes were red as he clung to me, his voice shaking while he said he had developed severe test anxiety.

"Samantha, there's no way I'll get in this year. Can you stay back and retake the year with me? I can't do this without you."

Looking at how pale he was, I almost gave in.

On my way to the school clinic to grab him some meds to calm his nerves, I accidentally overheard him talking to a girl from a poor family.

"Blake, what if Samantha finds out you're lying to her?"

His voice turned soft, almost indulgent.

"Relax. She loves me so much that she would give up anything for me. Even if she finds out, so what? Besides, her family's loaded. Losing a year won't matter to her. Arrington University only has two spots this year. As long as Samantha doesn't take the exam, those spots are ours."

Standing outside the door, I felt as if I had just had a bucket of ice poured over me.

So this was his plan! He was willing to ruin my future just to clear the way for the girl he really cared about.

What he didn't realize was that Arrington University had only ever been my backup, something I chose just to stay by his side.

Without him dragging me down, I could aim for something better.

I leaned against the cold wall, memories from the past three years flashing through my mind like a film reel.

Back in freshman year, Blake Romero had sat next to me in class.

I was known around school as the untouchable top student. He, on the other hand, was just average.

During a school hiking trip in the second half of sophomore year, I got lost in the woods.

Blake was the one who found me, drenched in sweat, the soles of his shoes worn thin from running around.

He pulled me into his arms, his voice trembling as he said, "Samantha, I was going crazy trying to find you."

He took advantage of that moment alone and told me how he felt.

After spending two years around him, I did have feelings for him, too.

So I made him a deal. If he could get into the same college as me, I would be his girlfriend.

To make that happen, I stayed after school every day to tutor him. With my help, his grades shot up in just a year, landing him steadily in the top ten.

We promised each other we would go to Arrington University together. For him, I even gave up a guaranteed recommendation to a top-tier college. Every night, I stayed up late with him, grinding through practice problems.

But after Maeve Palmer showed up, everything started to shift in subtle ways.

Maeve transferred in a month ago. The moment she walked into class, her looks drew everyone's attention.

The class even voted her as the prettiest girl.

Back then, Blake had complained to me about how shallow everyone was, saying Maeve was nothing but a pretty face.

I never expected that just a month later, he would fall for her. He was even willing to throw my future away for her, at that.

It was the middle of a blazing summer, but all I felt was cold.

"Blake, you're something else. Even someone like Samantha fell right into your hands." Ronny Olson's teasing voice drifted out of the classroom. "You really gonna dump her? She's the top student and quite pretty."

Blake let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with mockery.

"If it weren't for that bet with you guys, I wouldn't have bothered going after someone that boring. All she ever does is study. Being with her is dull as hell! Once I got her, it wasn't even fun anymore. And she's always trying to tutor me. It's annoying."

Ronny burst out laughing. "Still, you pulled it off. Got both the class beauty and the genius."

Blake wrapped an arm around Maeve, looking smug. "Samantha's got the grades and the money. Losing a year won't hurt her. But Maeve doesn't have that luxury. Getting into a good college is her only way out."

I stood outside the door, listening to their unrestrained laughter.

So in his eyes, I was nothing more than a prize he won from a bet.

Well then, why should I slow myself down for him?

He must've forgotten.

In the first place, I was never someone he could reach.

I turned around without a word and tossed the medicine in my hand straight into the trash. Then I headed up to the top floor of the academic building, to the dean's office.

When I knocked and walked in, he was flipping through my file.

"Samantha, just the person I was looking for." He adjusted his glasses, his tone full of approval. "What are your thoughts on the early admission offer from Whitford University?"

"I've made my decision."

I took the pen he handed me.

The metal tip felt cold; colder than my chest.

"I'll sign."

He lit up immediately, standing to shake my hand with both of his.

"Good! That's what I like to hear. I knew you wouldn't gamble with your future. I'll keep this confidential for now. After the exams, we'll make a proper announcement."

I nodded. "Thank you. I'd rather keep it quiet for the time being."

With my competition results and consistently ranking in the top three statewide on every practice test, Whitford University had already reached out to me a long time ago.

But for Blake, I kept putting it off.

He wanted Arrington University. It was the highest he thought he could reach if he pushed himself.

To stay with him, I had been carefully controlling my scores every time. I made sure I was just a few points above him. Close enough to look evenly matched.

I used to think that was the most romantic kind of sacrifice.

Now, it just made me feel like the biggest fool alive.

After leaving the dean's office, I went straight to a café on the back street behind the school to pack up my things.

The private room in the far corner of the second floor was something I had paid for with an entire year of allowance, just so I could tutor Blake there. We had even pinky promised that the space belonged to only the two of us. No one else would ever step inside.

The moment I pushed open that familiar wooden door, what I saw made my stomach turn.

Blake was sitting in my usual seat, a pen in his hand. Maeve was pressed close against him.

Their heads leaned together as they looked at the same workbook, way too close. Her chin was practically resting on his shoulder.

At the sound of the door, they jumped apart like startled animals.

A flicker of panic crossed Blake's face. He shot to his feet, stumbling over his words. "S-Samantha, what are you doing here?"

"I'm not taking the SAT. I came to grab my study materials."

His eyes lit up. "Really? You're staying back a year with me?"

He tried to hold it in, but the corners of his mouth still lifted. Then he forced on a look of guilt and heartbreak.

"You really gave it all up for me?" He stepped forward and reached out, wanting to pull me into a hug. "Don't worry. I'll make it up to you this year. I promise."

I walked straight past him to the table and yanked my materials out from under Maeve's arm.

The movement was too sharp. The pen holder tipped over, pens scattering across the table with a harsh clatter.

Blake flinched, clearly caught off guard. He stood there awkwardly, then reached for my hand.

"Samantha, don't get the wrong idea. Maeve's foundation is weak. The exams are coming up. I was just trying to help."

I pulled my hand away and coldly swept my books and supplies into my backpack.

"No need to explain. I won't be coming back here again."

Maeve stood up slowly, looking fragile and wronged.

"Samantha, I'm sorry. This is my fault."

I didn't even look at her. I just kept packing my things, irritation building in my chest.

Blake hurried over to comfort her, then turned to me. "Don't blame her. I brought her here."

Maeve's gaze lingered on my stack of materials, something sharp flickering in her eyes.

"Samantha… Since you're not taking the exam this year, you won't need these anymore, right? My family can't afford these hardcover prep books. Could you give them to me? You're repeating the year, anyway. You can just buy new ones later."

She said it so naturally, as if everything I owned was already hers.

I looked at that innocent, harmless face of hers and let out a quiet, humorless laugh. I lifted the backpack stuffed with rare prep books and my handwritten notes.

"These are mine. Why should I give them to you?"

Right in front of them, I dumped everything into the trash can, not hesitating for a second.

Maeve's eyes instantly reddened. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she bit her lip, as if she had just been deeply humiliated.

"Samantha… How could you waste things like that? I only wanted to borrow them. If you don't want to give them to me, fine. Why embarrass me like this?"

Blake's expression darkened. He pulled Maeve behind him protectively.

"That's too far! Maeve's family doesn't have much. She just wanted to borrow your books. What gives you the right to treat her like that? You think having money makes you better than everyone? This is ridiculous!"

I looked at the two of them and suddenly felt like the whole thing was a joke.

"Yeah. I've got money, and I do think that makes me better than everyone. You got a problem with that?"

I shot Blake a cold glance.

"If you really think it's a waste, go dig them out of the trash for her."

I turned and walked out without another word. I went straight to the front counter on the first floor and tapped the desk.

"Hi, I'm ending the lease for the private room in the back corner upstairs."

The owner blinked, surprised. "But you paid for the whole year. If you cancel now, the deposit won't be refunded."

I pulled out the spare key and set it lightly on the counter. "That's fine. Keep the deposit. End it today. You can send someone up to clear out the trash."

He looked confused, but still handled the cancellation quickly.

By the time I got home, I hadn't even taken off my shoes when Blake called. The moment I answered, his voice came through, tight with anger.

"Samantha, what's your problem? Throwing your stuff away is one thing, but why did you cancel the room?"

He was breathing hard, as if he had been humiliated.

"Do you know how upset Maeve was when the owner came up and kicked us out? You weren't like this before! When did you get so cold and selfish?"

I held the phone away from my ear until he finished yelling, then said evenly, "Don't you think you're getting something wrong here? I paid for that room. If I want to cancel it, why would I need your permission?"

There was a pause on the other end. His tone softened, slipping back into the way he used to handle me.

"I know you're upset about staying back a year with me, but Maeve didn't do anything wrong. Taking it out on her isn't fair."

I let out a small laugh, my voice flat. "Don't think so highly of yourself."

Before he could respond, I hung up and blocked his number.