My childhood friends switched their university of choice behind my back. Going to the capital, they enrolled in an elite university with an exchange student.

To them, I was just a tool who could not survive without them. That impression lasted until the opening ceremony of an Ivy League university. As the representative of the new students, I stood at the center of the hall. Meanwhile, the youngest PhD advisor in the entire country watched me as he smiled.

Beyond the world of the novel I lived in, the readers’ comments went wild.

[Shouldn’t she be crying back at home? Why is she in an Ivy League university?]

However, the next part was even crazier.

That man actually asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday. He was Professor Samuel Grant, the one who had rejected my four childhood friends from studying under him.

When my childhood friends left me behind to chase after that manipulative witch, they never expected me to cast aside my role as someone running after them. I ended up holding a full-ride scholarship and reached heights they could never touch.

Indeed, Samuel already had a girlfriend—me.

I went on stage to give my speech. Once I was done, I descended at an unhurried pace and walked toward him.

Samuel Grant, my boyfriend, stood there as if he had been waiting for a long time. He reached for my hand, and his palm was warm. His long fingers caused that warmth to crawl up my skin the moment he touched me.

“Good speech, Layla.”

His voice was cool, like a gust of wind blowing through a forest. It allowed my heart to calm down.

“But your skirt’s too short. It’s not suitable for this occasion.” He frowned and removed his blazer before putting it around my shoulders.

The fabric still retained his warmth, and it was mixed with the faint scent of wood. Both of those things enveloped me like a hug.

I tilted my head to look at him. “Don’t you think you’re being too controlling, Samuel?”

He just leaned into my ear and whispered, “I can’t help it. My girlfriend’s too dazzling, and I’m worried that someone will snatch you from my hands.”

His warm breath brushed against my ear and made me shudder as my face burned.

The comments went wild again.

[Aaaahh! He called her by her name! He called her his girlfriend! What kind of novel plot is this?!]

[So, those four idiots gave up on the girl with a full-ride scholarship to an Ivy League university to study in some so-called “elite” university with a manipulative witch? Are they regretting their decision so much that they want to die now?]

[Don’t run your mouth off. They did go to a proper elite university. The point is, the professor they’ve been wanting to study under is the boyfriend of the girl they left behind LMAO!]

[I love this plot twist so much!]

My four childhood friends indeed had no idea.

To them, I was just a lackey with pretty good grades and a walking doormat. They thought I had a hard time moving on with my life without them.

During our final gathering before our SATs, the atmosphere had been pretty lively.

Tyler Thompson had put a hand around my shoulder and ordered, “Just study in a local university, Layla. Don’t bother trying for anything else.”

Noah Winston continued with a smile, “The four of us can take care of you.”

Ethan Howard scoffed. “If you run, I’ll break your legs.”

Mark Steward said nothing and just quietly filled my bowl.

Back then, Rose Blanche had just transferred to our class.

She always appeared timid and idolized my four childhood friends.

While eating, she teared up.

“I’m so jealous of you… I just want to go to the capital and learn how to draw, but I’m scared of going alone…”

Tyler and the others felt their hearts going out to her, and they promised to help her.

I did not think much of it back then and just offered her a few words of comfort.

When our results came out, I applied to a local university, just as I had promised. But I could not contact my friends.

So, my mother asked someone to look into this. Only then did we find out the truth.

The four of them had applied to another university.

They applied to an elite university in the capital to be with Rose.

My mother was so furious that she slammed her palms on the table. “Those lying pieces of trash! The audacity! How could they go behind our backs for a transfer student who had only attended your school for two months?!”

As for me, I sighed in relief. It was as if a stone that had been weighing on my chest for more than ten years was finally removed.

I felt my shoulders getting lighter.

Picking up my phone, I unlocked it.

At the very top of my WhatsApp chat were four familiar profile pictures.

When I asked them about which university they were going to apply to yesterday, they had only sent me emojis to humor me.

I clicked on Tyler’s chat. He was a delinquent who wanted to control everything.

I deleted his contact and the chat.

The chat disappeared, and I felt my world getting quieter.

Noah was a sweet-talking but ruthless gaslighter.

His profile picture was a selfie of him smiling brightly.

I deleted him too.

Meanwhile, Ethan was a stubborn person who got violent whenever things did not go his way.

His profile picture was a backshot of him playing basketball.

I deleted him.

The last was Mark. He knew me the best but was also the quietest.

He never stopped them and never helped me.

I deleted him as well.

Once that was done, I felt as if I had gone scorched earth on my past; I had said goodbye to those ridiculous teenage years of them leading me around by the nose.

Then, I scrolled down to find a number labeled as Professor Grant before calling him.

Samuel answered in an instant.

“Layla.” His voice was cool, like moonlight shining on a swamp. My heart felt at ease the moment I heard him.

I smiled and said jovially, “I got dumped, Samuel.”

He stayed quiet for a while before he chuckled.

“Is that so? Then, I’ll have to congratulate you for finally breaking free of your shackles and regaining your sense of self, Layla.”

This man could always see through me.

“Aren’t you surprised?” I asked.

“Your light should never be smothered by a pile of trash,” he said firmly but gently. “I’ve been waiting for you to push aside all those problems around you, and you did it.”

I felt touched, and my nose stung, but I did not cry.

He was right. They were not worth it.

“So, Miss Top Scorer, when are you coming to the capital? Let your boyfriend treat you to a celebratory meal,” he suddenly said teasingly.

I laughed. “When have I ever said that I’d be your girlfriend?”

“Hmm?” His voice went up in amusement. “Who was the one stammering yesterday into the phone that she’d think about it?”

“You took advantage of me when I was down, Samuel!”

“No. I swept you off your feet at your moment of weakness,” he corrected languidly.

[So, the female lead actually got together with the professor a long time ago? Wait… they’ve been in contact with each other all this while?]

[Swept you off your feet! I love it! Professor Grant, you have so much rizz!]

[Those four idiots thought that the female lead couldn’t live without them. But she hasn’t just broken free of them. She’s even found herself a top-notch boyfriend! This feels great!]

Yes. It felt great, unprecedentedly so.

After hanging up, I looked out at the blue sky.

My new life had just begun.

After the end of the opening ceremony, Samuel held my hand as we walked on the university’s shaded path.

It was the beginning of autumn. The sun shone through the gaps of the leaves like scattered gold.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked me.

“I’m just wondering where I would be right now if I hadn’t met you.”

That was indeed something I had wondered about in the past.

Without Samuel, I might have actually enrolled in that local university because of that ridiculous promise.

Then, I would only be able to watch my childhood friends flirt with Rose in the capital. Meanwhile, I would wither away and be trapped in place.

I would have become the miserable and hateful tool the chat said I would be.

“What nonsense.” Samuel stopped walking and stared at me seriously. “You’re a diamond. Even if you’re covered in dust, you’re still a diamond. Without me, you’d still come around and shine. I was just lucky that I discovered your brilliance before anyone else and took you back home.”

This man could also utter such romantic lines in the most serious voice.

My heart skipped a beat, and the chat went wild again.

[Holy moly! This man is a one-in-a-million! He’s handsome and a sweet talker! I’ll officiate your wedding, so get married already!]

[What on earth are those four idiots thinking? Why are they casting aside such a good girl and being simps for that manipulative witch?]

[It’s human nature to be cheap. We never treasure the things we get easily and only regret it after losing it.]

That was true. They probably thought that I would always wait for them.

Tyler was a manchild, Noah was a sweet talker, Ethan was good at fighting, and Mark was quiet but could always read my thoughts.

I was supposed to be the princess they treasured.

They forbade me from talking to other boys and confiscated love letters given to me. According to them, “children” should not be dating while studying.

They took up all my free time.

I once thought that this was the best friendship in the world.

During my third year in high school, I got a full-ride scholarship to an Ivy League university, and I immediately told them about it.

However, Tyler’s expression sank. “You’re going to the capital and leaving us behind for a stupid scholarship?”

Noah then tried to dissuade me, “Layla, you’re a girl. We’ll be worried if you go so far away.”

Ethan even said, “If you go, we won’t be friends with you anymore!”

I was worried about losing them, so I rejected the Ivy League university’s offer right in front of them.

I then told them that I wanted to take the SATs to be together with them, my friends.

They were so happy that they laughed and cheered. They declared that I was their best friend.

Later on, I learned that it was not because they were worried about me leaving them behind. Instead, they were worried that I would no longer be under their control.

A Layla who no longer needed their protection was worthless to them.

During the holidays before my third year in high school, I had gone behind their backs and registered for a summer prep camp. It was for the country’s top physics competition.

Tyler and the others always thought that it was pointless for a woman to study physics.

To not make it seem like I did not fit in, I hid my passion.

On the last day of the summer, I submitted my test an hour ahead. I was about to leave when a cool voice called out to me, “One moment, Layla York.”

I turned around and saw a man in a white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses.

He was staring at me with profound eyes and holding my test paper.

“How did you come up with the solution for this bonus question?” he asked in awe.

I gave him my answer while stammering.

He remained silent for a long time before smiling. That was the first time I saw him smile, and it was like ice melting.

“You’re talented. You shouldn’t let your talents be buried.”

I learned later that he was the exam setter and judge of the summer camp. He was also the physics department’s youngest PhD advisor in the Ivy League university I was set to attend—Samuel Grant.

I got first place, but I hid my trophy and certificate under my bed; I was worried about Tyler and the others finding it.

Samuel then added my number. He never said much and only occasionally sent me some physics articles.

Whenever I was stressed out from homework, he would send me a picture of the trees in the university and how the sun shone on the paths inside.

Underneath, he would send me these words: [I’ll wait for you.]

He had quietly barged into my life and let me know that my world was not restricted to that small town. My social circle no longer consisted of just those four self-righteous people.

Outside, there was wind, light, and a place I never dared dream of going to in the past.

After my SATs, I refused his help to get into the university and insisted on getting in just like everyone else.

Samuel did not try to dissuade me and just said, “No matter which path you choose, I’ll always side with you. But you must always be in control of your own life.”