Elaine, as promised, arrived at the stadium, ready to play. For the first ti in a while, she felt good—lighter, even. As her eyes landed on Adrian, she couldn't help but smile. It was worth it, she thought. Worth being his friend.
Because of him, she would allow herself to smile today.
Looking around, she realized sothing else—she had people who cared for her. Mary, Ryan, and now Adrian. They weren't just friends; they were her safe space, sothing her own family had never been.
Her family? That was another story. She no longer needed their approval or validation. For once, she could just exist for herself.
And Alexander... Soday, she would forget him too.
Yes, she loved him, but it was painful to rember that he was her sister's fiancé-to-be. They were set to get engaged, then married. There was no place for her in that story.
So why should she create problems for anyone? Instead of dwelling on sothing she could never have, she should focus on making herself better. Stronger. Whole.
As they played, more and more people gathered around, cheering for them. The energy in the stadium was electric, filled with laughter and excitent.
After the ga, Adrian wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked at Elaine with a small smile. "I'm treating you today," he said casually.
Elaine raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Adrian simply shrugged, his smile turning softer. "I just feel like it."
They both left college, heading toward the bustling street lined with food stalls. Elaine's eyes lit up as she took in the variety of sizzling, colorful dishes. She had never tried street food before, and the sight and aroma filled her with excitent.
Adrian observed her reaction, unsure if she would actually enjoy eating from the street vendors. He knew she ca from a wealthy background and assud she preferred fancy restaurants. "Are you sure you want to eat here?" he asked hesitantly. "We can go to a restaurant if you'd prefer."
Elaine shook her head with a small smile. "No, I want to eat here. Those fancy places suffocate ."
Adrian's gaze softened at her words. It wasn't just about food—it was about freedom, about experiencing sothing real. He realized that with him, she could let her guard down. "Alright then," he said, his voice gentle. "Anything you want."
Elaine turned to him with a genuine smile, feeling, for the first ti in a long while, that soone was truly there for her.
Feeling full from all the delicious street food, they made their way back to the college. Elaine walked beside Adrian, feeling more at ease than she had in a long ti. As they talked, she learned that Adrian worked two part-ti jobs—one with a street vendor and another at the cozy café he had taken her to.
She felt a pang of sadness for him. He carried so much responsibility on his shoulders, far more than soone his age should. Yet, he never complained. Instead, he worked hard with quiet determination, never asking for sympathy.
"What do you really want to do in the future?" she asked curiously.
Adrian's eyes held a quiet fire as he answered, "I want to start my own company. I don't want to work under anyone else—I want to build sothing from the ground up."
Elaine listened intently, admiring the certainty in his voice. His vision for business was incredible. He wasn't just dreaming—he had a plan. If anyone had the ability to succeed, it was Adrian.
"I hope you make it happen," she said sincerely. "If you do, I think you might even leave my father behind in the business world."
Adrian smirked. "That's the plan."
Elaine chuckled, but deep down, she truly believed in him. He deserved success, not just for himself but for the people he cared about.
Reviews
All reviews (0)