"Go find Gordon and tell him you don't want to room with a guy. Ask for a female roommate or a single room, and say you'll cover the difference," Ivan said in a low voice.

He kept his eyes straight ahead and didn't even glance my way.

I was texting my parents to let them know I'd arrived safely.

"Why?" I asked Ivan without even bothering to look up.

"What do you mean, 'why?' You're not single, so how can you room with another guy?"

"And what about you? Are you single?"

Ivan's fingers paused, and he sounded oddly annoyed when he said, "These rules were set from the beginning. All I'm doing is respecting the outcome of the draw."

"Yeah, I'm doing the same thing too," I replied softly.

His brow furrowed. But before he could say anything, I took my key card and turned away.

I'd only taken a few steps when Gordon announced loudly, "Everyone, meet in the media room in half an hour. I already booked it out. Let's take a trip down memory lane and watch the documentary from our freshman year sports day."

Instead of stopping, I just hitched up the strap of my small bag.

They might as well have called the freshman year sports documentary "Ivan's Grand Pursuit of Rebecca".

In the media room, the table was laden with snacks and fruit. The moment Ivan sat down, he placed the strawberries right in front of Rebecca.

The classmate next to him, Ruth Conrad, snickered. "Ivan, here you go playing favorites again. You know Rebecca loves strawberries, so you save the whole plate just for her."

The others joined in the teasing.

Rebecca, shy and embarrassed, pushed the plate toward the center.

"Everyone, please have some. Ivan bought me a lot of strawberries. If it's not enough, I'll have him go back to the room to get more."

But Ivan pulled the plate back, smiling gently. "Yeah, I'll go get more. You eat up first."

With that, he got up and left.

The teasing in the media room instantly hit the roof.

"Rebecca says one word, and Ivan jumps to do it—he's a total henpecked boyfriend."

Rebecca was eating a strawberry with a small smile when she suddenly said, "Candice, I remember you love strawberries too. When Ivan brings them over later, make sure you eat some."

The door opened. Ivan walked in carrying two plates of strawberries and set them both down in front of Rebecca.

He also knew I loved strawberries.

Over the past three years, I'd bought strawberries countless times, and just as many times I'd heard him frown and say, "Don't eat so many. Strawberries are so sweet. You'll break out in pimples again."

I casually picked up an orange and heard Gordon ask me, "Candice, where's Elias?"

Everyone looked over.

I didn't look up as I peeled the orange. "He had something urgent to take care of."

"Looks like you two are a lost cause," Gordon replied, sounding disappointed. "But no worries, the other couple is sure to work out."

Ivan's gaze lingered on me for a moment, then moved away.

"The documentary's starting."

His voice was slightly breathy as he casually handed Rebecca a strawberry, as if it were second nature.

The documentary was two hours long. Everyone was thoroughly entertained. Every time Ivan or Rebecca appeared on screen, they laughed and teased them.

"Ivan's wiping Rebecca's sweat again. She's just running 50 yards, and you're following her closer than the cameraman."

"Look—he's prepared bottled water, a little fan, and even sunscreen for her."

"Rebecca, Ivan chased you so hard back then that the whole school knew about it. How could you possibly hold out and not accept him? You made him stay single for four years, and he was still hung up on you by the time graduation rolled around."

Rebecca looked at Ivan, her eyes growing a bit misty. "I didn't think college relationships would last, so I wanted to wait until after graduation. I never imagined he'd wait for me that long."

One of the guys egged Ivan on. "Ivan, those four years must have been really hard on you, right?"

Ivan gazed back at Rebecca and gave a slight nod. "It was alright."

In just three years lay four years of patience and love.

Sighs of admiration rose around the room. I was the only one laughing inwardly.

How could it be hard on him? After six months of his grand pursuit of Rebecca went nowhere, he'd turned his attention to tennis.

I was the star player of the school tennis team. He'd asked me to be his coach for six months, and by the start of sophomore year, he'd confessed to me.

So, of course it was alright for him. Our relationship might not have been public, but we were happy and having a good time together.

Perhaps I was the only one who felt happy.

Just as I took a bite of the orange, Ruth suddenly pointed at the screen and shouted, "Candice, why was John Hudson holding an umbrella for you? Was he trying to pursue you?"

The topic shifted to me.

I shook my head and replied, "No, he was just being nice."

Ruth pressed on, "Too bad he didn't come today. He was clearly into you. You should consider him. I think you two would make a good couple."

On the other side, Ivan continued pouring water for Rebecca in one smooth motion, acting like he hadn't heard a word we were saying over here.

"No, thanks. I actually have a boyfriend," I said with a faint smile.

Ivan froze abruptly, his hands balling into fists.

I knew him too well—he was afraid I'd blurt something out.

But Ruth grabbed my arm and asked loudly, "Who is it? Is he from our class?"

Dozens of eyes turned my way. I kept my smile unchanged and nodded. "Yup."

The place went wild, and they all demanded to know who my boyfriend was.

Ivan's expression gradually darkened as he started typing away on his phone.

I felt my phone vibrate twice, but I didn't look at it. Instead, I just answered, "He had something going on, so he couldn't come."

There were seven or eight guys who hadn't shown up today.

Gordon looked disappointed. He was about to ask more when Rebecca suddenly yelped. Her cup had tipped over, and water spilled all over her pants.

Ivan quickly grabbed some tissues and wiped her pants.

"Sorry, my hand slipped," Rebecca apologized, her face flushed.

"It's fine. I'll go with you to get change. Don't want you to catch a cold."

Ivan led Rebecca away.

The documentary lost its appeal, and everyone else dispersed.

When I got back to my room, my suitcase was open. Ivan's things had all been taken out.

…

That night, I kept staring at my phone. The unread messages on the screen were still the two sentences he'd sent.

"Don't tell them. Let's not ruin the vibe."

Right. As his girlfriend, I couldn't ruin the flirtatious vibe he had going with Rebecca.

It was just like during the charity sale in sophomore year. Even though I had the highest proceeds, I had to give the award certificate to Rebecca just so I wouldn't overshadow the campus belle.

Or like the tennis tournament in junior year—just because Rebecca had said she'd like to try playing in a match, I had to withdraw so I wouldn't crush her enthusiasm.

For three years, Ivan was good to me. He was there for me through every high and low. Aside from refusing to go public, he did everything a boyfriend was supposed to do.

The only exception was that whenever Rebecca was involved, I was always the one put on the back burner.

…

Dawn came, and my phone had remained silent. I gazed out the window at the rising sun and felt myself growing calmer.

The plan for the day was sightseeing.

Ivan and Rebecca, both wearing red wristbands, stayed together the entire time. He used the camera I'd bought him to take her picture at every viral photo spot and to take selfies with her in front of the landmarks.

While resting by a bridge, everyone asked about my future plans.

"Candice, are you planning to stay in Fayton after graduation or go back to Rosemouth?"

"Back to Rosemouth," I replied flatly.

Ivan twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to Rebecca. Then, his eyes flicked over to me, casual but pointed.

Gordon poked him. "Rebecca, since you're from Fayton, you're definitely staying here, right?"

"Of course she is," Ivan blurted out without a second thought.

Rebecca's eyes sparkled as she quietly pressed herself closer to him.

But the others looked puzzled.

"Candice, don't you already have a job lined up in Fayton? Why would you go back to Rosemouth?"

I smiled and said, "I turned down the job because I wanted to live closer to my parents."

"Really? Is it for your parents or for your boyfriend?"

The whole group crowded around, eager for gossip.

My smile deepened. "Both. My parents hate to see me go, and my boyfriend has also decided to settle down in Rosemouth."

Everyone whooped and pressed me to say who it was, but I just shook my head and refused to say anything more.

At the next scenic spot, Ivan cornered me outside the restroom.

"Did you really turn down the job?"

He was beyond anxious, as he should be.

After all, we'd found that job together. The company had been impressed by my credentials, but my condition for accepting it was that they hire Ivan at the same time.

Now that I had turned down the offer, Ivan couldn't stay either.

I nodded and said evenly, "Yeah. My parents have arranged jobs for us in Rosemouth. Once we're stable, we'll get engaged."

"Candice, who gave you permission to plan my future?" Ivan suddenly erupted with rage.

But then, afraid of being overheard, he suppressed his rage until his face turned ashen.

Ivan stormed off in anger.

The group straggled along, and he pulled Rebecca to walk at the very front. I stayed at the back, making small talk with the others.

It wasn't until dinner that Rebecca said eagerly at the table, "You guys don't know about the Perseid meteor shower? Ivan says there's an observation spot nearby. You could see up to 100 meteors an hour."

Everyone perked up and started making plans to go.

But Gordon clicked his tongue. "Can you all not take a hint? You can watch meteors from the hotel too. Don't go third-wheeling over there."

Realization dawned on everyone at once.

"True. The observation spot has the best view. It should be reserved for the people who need it most."

Ivan served Rebecca some food. He didn't say anything, but the smile on his face said it all.

Rebecca blushed and said, "You guys can come too."

I didn't really like the food here, as everything was heavy on the spices. I took a couple of bites of seafood, and the spices just got lodged in my throat. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't swallow it.

I ended up spitting it out, then got up to look for something bland.

Gordon followed me and said in a low voice, "Candice, I saw on your Instagram the other day that you wanted to go to the observation spot to watch the meteor shower. How about you sit this one out? No need to get in Ivan and Rebecca's way."

"I know," I said with a nod.

"As expected of someone who got top of the class. Hey, here's something you don't know—I was the one who arranged for them to draw the same number."

I nodded again. "I heard you when you told Ivan."

Gordon looked surprised. Just then, a classmate shouted for him from behind, so he turned and went back to join them.

I opened the lid on the tomato soup, right as Ivan walked over to scoop up some pumpkin soup for Rebecca.

"I was out of line today. I shouldn't have lost my temper at you," he said casually. "I get it. You're mad because I'm rooming with Rebecca. But don't worry.

"Last night, she slept in the bed while I slept on the floor. We just talked a little. Us staying together is just part of the game. Nothing's actually going to happen between us."

I ladled out some tomato soup and said, "Okay."

He didn't look up. "Tell your parents we're doing fine in Fayton. There's no need to move back to Rosemouth. Once we're settled in our jobs, we can settle down here."

This time, I didn't respond.

After I'd filled my bowl with tomato soup, I turned to leave.

Ivan suddenly called after me hesitantly, "Candice, Rebecca's really looking forward to the meteor shower tonight. I promised I'd watch it with her. Anyway, the Perseids come every year. I'll watch with you next year."

With my back to him, I pressed my palm flat against the bottom of the bowl. Yet, I couldn't feel any warmth at all.

"Okay," I replied softly.

Ivan let out a breath of relief. As he walked past me, he didn't forget to grab a plate of strawberries for Rebecca.

After dinner, I went back to my room to pack.

I pulled out the outfit I'd planned to wear for the meteor shower and tossed it into the trash bin along with the meteor shower brochure. Then, I zipped my suitcase back up. It was noticeably lighter now.

My flight ticket had been purchased at the last minute, and I was leaving that night.

…

Ten minutes after my plane took off, the Perseid meteor shower streaked across the sky.

Everyone gasped in awe, recording and taking photos.

I took out my phone and saw one unread message.

"Everything's arranged. Your parents have gone to bed. I'll wait for you at the airport."

As the plane climbed steadily, I leaned back against my seat and slowly closed my eyes.

Ivan, there was no next year for us.