Evelyn didn’t bother going to the hospital.
The injury was nothing serious, and it was still cold out in February. With her scarf covering her neck, no one could see anything anyway.
She grabbed a taxi and went straight to campus.
Her first lecture that morning was with Professor Frankie Howard from the Department of Surgery, who hated lateness—one absence cost 50 points, and students needed 60 to pass. So skipping was a no-go.
Good thing she got there just in time.
As soon as she walked in, someone called, “Evelyn! Over here!”
She looked over and saw her best friend, Hannah Spencer.
In her previous life, after Evelyn got kicked out of university and ended up stuck in an accounting job, Hannah had been the only one who stayed by her side, always trying to lift her spirits.
But Evelyn had felt inferior. Watching Hannah graduate and land a job with a global company only made that distance feel bigger. So, she started avoiding Hannah.
Eventually, they drifted apart.
Looking back now, Evelyn felt like a total idiot.
She’d distanced herself from someone who truly had her back and clung to people who didn’t deserve her trust.
Maybe fate had had enough of watching her mess up, and maybe that was why she was given a second chance.
While her thoughts spiraled, Hannah waved a hand in front of Evelyn. “Hello? What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” Evelyn shook her head. Getting emotional wasn’t her thing, so she just grabbed her surgical textbook out of her bag.
The lecture passed quickly. Alice didn’t show, so that meant an automatic fail.
Hannah honestly enjoyed that. She never liked Alice and was convinced that she always targeted Evelyn.
She thought it was unlucky to have a sister like that.
When class ended, Hannah was all smiles. She gave Evelyn a light smack on the shoulder. “Let me buy you pancakes!”
“Sure,” Evelyn replied without hesitation.
They strolled out, chatting and laughing as they headed through the campus garden toward the cafeteria.
The mood was perfect until someone shouted from behind, “Evelyn, wait up!”
Hannah’s smile dropped instantly. She pursed her lips. “Your boyfriend is here. I’ll leave first.”
She didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Seth.
“Wait up, let’s go together,” Evelyn said, holding onto Hannah’s arm.
Hannah hesitated. “You know I’m not comfortable around Seth. It’s awkward. I’ll just meet you at the cafeteria.”
But Evelyn said, “I don’t like him either. It’s fine.”
Hannah’s eyes went wide. “But … he’s your boyfriend.”
Something felt different today. It was like Evelyn had finally come to her senses.
As they talked, Seth had already made his way over.
He wore a white puffer jacket and straight jeans, looking clean and polished. When he smiled, he looked gentle and warm.
That same fake warmth had pulled Evelyn in before.
But now? Not a chance.
He jogged up, a bit out of breath and anxious. “Evelyn, I’ve been searching for you.”
Before she could say anything, he blurted out, “Did you see Alice? I checked your class, but she wasn’t there. People said she skipped. Why would she do that?”
“If you’re that curious, why don’t you just swing by my place and ask her yourself? That’d be way easier,” Evelyn said, smirking.
Seth shook his head. “No, people might get the wrong idea.”
She just gave him a sarcastic look.
Her eyes narrowed, unreadable. “Oh, now you care what people think? Then how come when we were dating, all you ever did was go on and on about Alice? Weren’t you worried people would think you were cheating?”
Her words hit Seth hard like getting smacked in his mind.
He looked up, panic flickering in his face.
But Evelyn stayed cool.
She wasn’t about to let a jerk like him mess with her head.
Why should she stress over someone like that?
Her calmness made Seth pull himself together a bit.
He figured she must’ve heard some dumb gossip and was just upset for no reason. She always cared about him, so there was nothing to worry about.
Thinking that, he threw on a look of disappointment.
He flipped the situation back on her. “Evelyn, even if that’s how you see me, you shouldn’t drag Alice into it. She’s your sister. I’m disappointed in you.”
Before he could even finish, Hannah jumped in, clearly fed up.
She pointed straight at his face. “You’ve got no shame! Who’s being disappointing here? You’re dating Evelyn, but all you ever bring up is Alice! If you’re that obsessed, just break up with Evelyn and go pursue Alice!”
“Stay out of it! It has nothing to do with you!” Seth barked, his embarrassment turning to anger.
The noise pulled in some onlookers, and the stares only made it worse for him.
As the heartthrob in the Department of Literature, he felt such a scene humiliating.
“Evelyn, let’s talk somewhere,” he said, trying to grab her arm.
Evelyn easily dodged him.
She looked calm and chill, like a lazy cat soaking up the sun.
She ignored all the nosy stares around her.
If Seth wanted to talk, this was the perfect place.
“What’s this big secret that you can’t say in public? Or are you just mad because I hit a sore spot, and now you’re embarrassed?”
Seth’s face twisted as he snapped, “Evelyn, don’t push it!”
Push it?
Evelyn almost laughed, her eyes even getting a little watery.
How could someone do something that gross and still act like she was the problem?
He was so shameless.
After that short laugh, she got serious again and raised her voice. “Oh, you think I’m just too much for you, huh?”
“What do you mean?” Seth was confused, but a little panic started showing in his eyes.
He stared at her intensely.
What do you think it means?
Evelyn didn’t even hesitate and spread out her hands. “I’m saying let’s break up. Let’s end it clean.”
What?!
Seth panicked.
How did it go from a simple argument to breaking up? And she was the one calling it off? Why?!
No matter how he tried to figure it out, it just didn’t make sense to him.
As Evelyn turned to walk away, he blocked her way. “Why are you dumping me? At least tell me why!”
Hannah snorted. “Seriously, Seth? Don’t you get what ‘breaking up’ means? Why do you even need a reason? You can finally chase after Alice. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Shut up! I’m not talking to you!” Seth yelled, his face red and tense. He looked kinda scary.
Evelyn shielded Hannah. “Want a reason? Fine! I’ll give you one.”
She walked up and grabbed a guy’s arm passing by. “I don’t like you. I like Philip. Is that reason enough for you?”