Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
I took a campus dining hall job just to save up for the brand-new iPhone 16 my first boyfriend had been begging for.
On my twenty-eighth day on the job, I caught him dropping thousands on his "childhood best friend."
Heartbroken, I trudged back to my dorm, only to be startled by my roommate’s ear-splitting shriek.
"What the hell?! Someone on the campus forum is actually thirsting after the dining hall lady’s Snapchat? That's insane!"
I glanced at her screen, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
The person in the photo—bundled up in a ball cap, dark sunglasses, and a giant mask—
Wasn't that literally me?
"Why is this worker dressed like a walking hazmat suit? Is she hiding from the police or just that hideous?"
Hearing my roommate’s confusion, I forced a bitter, hollow smile.
It all started on my third day working the lunch shift, when my boyfriend, Austin, walked up to the counter.
Right beside him was Chloe, his precious "girl best friend."
The second her eyes met mine, she waved with exaggerated sweetness. "Scarlett!"
She dragged Austin straight to my food station.
"Scarlett, Austin and I grab lunch together all the time, so please don't take it the wrong way."
"Can you pile on extra beef for me? Austin says I'm too skinny and don't feel soft enough when he pinches my cheeks."
Her voice dripped with honey, but every word felt like a poisoned needle aimed straight at my chest.
Just as I was about to snap, Austin shot me a glare so icy it froze the air in my lungs.
He pulled Chloe behind him and chuckled dismissively.
"You've got the wrong person, Chloe. Scarlett would never stoop to working in a dining hall. Besides, look at her..."
"She looks like a total slob."
The pure disgust on his face hit me like a bucket of ice water. I stood there, utterly paralyzed.
Chloe shot me a knowing smirk.
She looped her arm through Austin’s and playfully stuck her tongue out.
"Oops, my bad! Scarlett has way too much class to look like a dirty lunch lady."
Swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, I choked out, "If you're not ordering, move aside. There’s a line."
My voice shook uncontrollably.
Chloe rolled her eyes at me. "God, you're so dramatic. Why are you crying over two words?"
"Total mood killer. Austin, let's just eat off-campus!"
Watching their retreating backs, I felt like a vital piece of my heart had been torn right out of my chest.
When my shift finally ended, Austin cornered me by the dark walkway near the dorms.
The moment he opened his mouth, his face was twisted with irritation.
"Can't you at least put on some makeup before stepping outside? You never looked this homeless before we started dating!"
"It's embarrassing having people know you're my girlfriend!"
Tears welled up in my eyes, and my voice cracked.
"Austin, you were the one who chased me! You told me you fell for my soul, not just my looks..."
He stared at me like I was an alien, then let out a scoff. "I was just saying what you wanted to hear. Did you actually buy that?"
"Honestly? I liked you way better when the semester first started."
The boy standing in front of me felt like a complete stranger.
He used to be so different.
During Freshman Orientation Week, wanting to leave a good impression for future scholarship opportunities, I made sure to dress nicely and do my makeup every single morning.
A week later, Austin managed to get my number.
He started bombarding me with sweet texts, showing up after my classes with iced lattes and pastries.
Having zero dating experience, his overwhelming pursuit threw me into complete panic.
To avoid awkwardness, I kept my distance and turned him down repeatedly.
Until the evening I ran into him near the campus alley where I regularly fed stray cats.
He was gently lifting a small kitten with a splint tied to its hind leg out of a pet carrier, placing it tenderly on the grass.
Having rescued strays for years, I could tell in an instant that the poor creature had been abused.
Instinctively, I rushed over. "Did you save him?"
He turned around, momentarily startled, his cheeks turning red as he ruffled his hair nervously.
"I just patched him up at the clinic, but... I don't have enough money for his actual surgery."
Seeing the spark fade from his eyes struck a deep chord inside me.So I asked him to take the kitten to the animal hospital with me right after class, offering to cover the entire vet bill.
I named the little guy Mochi.
During the first few days of recovery, Mochi was terrified and aggressive toward everyone.
The only time he calmed down was when he curled up in my arms and purred himself to sleep.
Austin showed me the scratch marks all over his forearms and laughed it off, calling Mochi an ungrateful little brat.
He never lost his temper once.
That made me believe he was genuinely kind, patient, and grounded.
So on an ordinary weeknight,
when he waited by the lecture hall stairs as usual,
I took the initiative and slipped my hand into his.
"I say yes."
The very next morning, he called me at dawn, rambling about how he hadn't slept a wink from sheer excitement.
"Scarlett, I'm waiting outside your dorm."
My sleepiness vanished instantly. I rushed to wash up, put on light makeup, and dashed downstairs.
He stood beneath the oak tree, holding a massive bouquet of fresh flowers.
He wasn't glued to his phone; his gaze was fixed entirely on the dorm doors.
The aloof look on his face melted into the brightest smile the moment I walked out.
"Everyone says real romance starts with fresh flowers. I didn't want our relationship to feel casual."
"Scarlett, will you be my girlfriend?"
His love had felt so fierce, so honest.
In return, I showed him my truest, most unguarded self.
Yet barely six months later, Austin was an entirely different person.
Seeing my silence, Austin leaned down.
He brushed the tip of his nose against my forehead before pressing a soft kiss there.
"Look, I know you took that crappy job to buy me a birthday gift, but guys have egos, Scarlett."
"If my frat bros see you looking stunning, they'll envy me and praise you. Isn't that a win-win for both of us?"
Seeing the pleading look in his eyes, and desperately wanting this relationship to work, I caved.
From that day on, no matter how exhausted or rushed I was, I never stepped outside without makeup.
Except for these past few days. My cramps were killing me, and I felt completely drained.
So I bundled myself up from head to toe just to avoid bumping into Austin's friends.
I never could have imagined my luck was so terrible that someone would snap a photo of me and post it on the campus forum.
While my roommates were still buzzing about the viral post, Austin’s call came through.
I walked onto the balcony, feeling a nauseating mix of anxiety and faint hope as I picked up.
"Scarlett, what the hell did you promise me the other night?!"
"Do you have any idea how fast that post is trending? My friends are already trying to doxx that lunch lady!"
The sheer fury in his voice sent my stomach plunging straight into an abyss.
I thought he was calling out of jealousy, but clearly, his pathetic social status was all that mattered.
Before I could get a word out, a soft, sugary voice filtered through the speaker.
"Austin, stop yelling at her. I'm sure Scarlett has her reasons."
"Maybe she's just trying to go viral so she can secure the host spot for the Arts Gala next week."
Hearing Chloe’s venomous undertone, I clenched my fists. "Why are you with her again?"
"Austin, I am your girlfriend!"
He answered dismissively, "Call me when you stop embarrassing me."
The line went dead, leaving behind a cold dial tone. Silent tears finally spilled over my cheeks.
Terrified of letting my roommates hear me cry, I bolted into the bathroom.
Afraid of exposing my real account, I created a burner account to message the forum administrator.
“Hi, I'm the student working in the dining hall in that viral photo. Could you please take the post down? It's causing me a lot of stress.”
The admin replied within seconds.
He said the original poster had to be the one to request the takedown.
I asked for the OP’s handle and sent a friend request.
The request sat pending.
Overwhelmed by distress, sharp cramps tore through my lower abdomen in violent waves.
I leaned against the tiled wall, struggling to stand, and dragged myself back to bed after choking down a painkiller.
Pale as a ghost and drenched in a cold sweat,
I curled into a ball beneath the sheets and passed out.
When I woke up, the dorm was pitch black and completely empty. An overwhelming wave of loneliness crushed down on me.
I checked my phone; there was only a single new notification.
It was from the original poster. Just two simple words: “Hello.”“Can you please ask the admin to delete that post?”
The moment I sent it, the screen immediately flashed typing...
I waited for what felt like an eternity before his short reply came through.
“Done. It's deleted.”
I let out a shaky sigh of relief and locked my screen.
He didn't send another text, and I didn't bother asking why he was trying to find the dining hall girl in the first place.
Compared to that stranger, my mind was consumed by Austin. Was any of his love real? How many lies had he fed me?
Still feeling weak from cramps, I clocked out of my shift early and headed back toward the dorms.
And that was when I ran into him and Chloe walking side-by-side along the quad.
"I heard Van Cleef is dropping a new necklace. If you like it, I'll buy it for you."
A few moments later, Chloe checked her phone and threw her arms around his neck in sheer delight.
"You are literally the best! I can't believe you're doing so well lately!"
As far as I knew, Austin came from an average middle-class family. A luxury piece from Van Cleef would cost him several months’ worth of allowance.
I wanted to confront him right then and there, but a sudden distraction cut me off.
Looking at the time, I realized his afternoon lecture was ending in half an hour. I threw my hair up and hurried straight to the humanities hall.
In the sea of dispersing students, I caught sight of them instantly—arms linked near the stairwell landing.
My lips trembled as I called out softly,
"Austin. What are you doing?"
My sudden appearance didn't rattle him in the slightest.
Instead, he tightened his grip around Chloe’s hand. "She twisted her ankle."
"What? Am I not allowed to help a friend now?"
"Then how do you explain promising to buy her a luxury necklace?"
My eyes burned with tears. My chest felt suffocated, aching with every beat.
"Austin, we've been together for six months, and the only thing you've ever given me was that one bouquet of flowers..."
He scowled with deep impatience. "Chloe's birthday is in a few days! We grew up together, what's wrong with a nice gift?"
"Besides, even if I bought you fine jewelry, you never dress up anyway. It'd just be a waste."
My throat closed up so tight I couldn't make a sound. I stared at him in utter disbelief.
I couldn't find a single trace of the boy who had treated me like gold months ago.
Chloe let out a theatrical sigh, feigning sympathy. "Scarlett, I've heard about your little arguments."
"As girls, we really should put in some effort when we go out. We have to consider our boyfriend’s reputation, right?"
"Maybe you just find looking nice too much work. Personally, I could never do that to Austin."
Before I could unleash my rage, Tiffany dashed over from behind and slapped my shoulder.
"Scarlett! The department dean wants you in her office right now! It's about hosting the Arts Gala!"
The second those words dropped, Chloe’s smug grin froze on her face.
Seeing her expression falter, Austin stepped forward aggressively to defend her.
"Scarlett, I don't want my girlfriend parading on stage in front of the whole school."
"Give the host position to Chloe. She's way better suited for it than you."
Tiffany, having zero tolerance for bullshit, exploded on the spot.
"Did you take a brick to the head? It's genuinely shocking that a carbon-based life form can say something that brainless."
I watched Austin’s face turn beet-red with anger, then glanced at Chloe, who was already sniffling to play the victim.
Mimicking her exact saccharine tone, I sneered, "Maybe it's just a matter of basic decency. Personally, I would never try to steal someone else's spot."
"Austin! Look at how she's treating me!"
Chloe stamped her foot, completely dropping her graceful facade, but Austin instinctively pulled her into his arms to shield her.
"Don't cry. She probably just pulled some shady strings."
"I'll go to the dean's office with you right now. You're prettier than her anyway; the MC spot belongs to you."
I pressed my lips together, a deep, bitter chill freezing over my heart.
It wasn't that he cared about his ego.
It was that he had never, not for a single second, cared about me."Austin, do you even remember that I'm your girlfriend?"
His steps paused for only a fraction of a second before he puffed up with self-righteousness. "I'm just stating facts. I'm not going to play favorites just because we're dating."
I let out a dry, bitter laugh, stepping aside to clear their path. "Whatever you say."
Watching their figures blur in the distance, I wiped away a stray tear with a quiet scoff.
Austin, this is the very last tear you'll ever get from me.
When Chloe walked out of the dean's office in tears, I already knew how the conversation had gone down.
The unfortunate part was that Austin was still selected as one of the male co-hosts.
To build chemistry before the showcase, the student council reps organized a mandatory team mixer at a private lounge off-campus.
Shortly after Tiffany and I sat down near the sound and lighting crew, Austin walked in, trailing Chloe behind him.
Tiffany made sure her voice carried across the entire room: "Pretty sure Chloe isn't part of the Gala crew, right?"
Chloe instantly slapped on her most fragile, wounded expression, tugging lightly at Austin's sleeve.
"Maybe I should just leave... It feels like I'm not wanted here."
Austin gripped her hand firmly, glaring at the room.
"She's my plus-one. Anyone disrespecting her is disrespecting me."
The council rep, playing the desperate peacemaker, quickly stepped in with a placating smile.
"Come on, guys, we need team harmony for the show. Let's just keep the peace for my sake."
Just then, the lounge doors swung open, and two guys stepped inside.
One was sharp and striking, the other sunny and bright.
The energetic one caught sight of me, and his eyes went wide.
"Yo, Liam! Isn't that the girl from the—"
The sharper guy cut him off with a lethal glare, and the golden retriever instantly clamped his mouth shut.
I stared at their faces for a long moment, drawing a total blank.
Perhaps sensing my gaze, the guy named Liam suddenly turned his head, his dark eyes locking squarely with mine.
My heart thudded against my ribs as I looked away instantly. God, he looks terrifying.
"Liam, man! Thanks so much for mentoring the crew tonight!"
The council rep gestured toward the VIP center seat, but Liam brushed it off.
"I hate crowds. You guys do your thing; I'll just sit over here."
Without hesitation, he walked straight past everyone, strode right up to my couch, and sat down beside me.
For the next few rounds of drinking games, I sat on pins and needles.
I could physically feel the heat of his intense gaze burning into my side.
During a round of Truth or Dare, Chloe pulled the unlucky card.
Half-buzzed, the crowd cheered and jeered: "Card pass with mouth! No hands! There are tons of hot guys here, pick whoever you want!"
Chloe held the card, biting her lip shyly. "I only really know Austin... so I pick him."
The second those words left her mouth, everyone in the room who knew Austin and I were dating turned their eyes directly onto me.
Even Austin seemed to realize the optics were awful. He leaned toward me, murmuring, "It's just a drinking game. Our lips won't even touch."
In that exact moment, I knew that if I showed even an ounce of protest, he would instantly label me crazy, insecure, and unreasonable.
So I gave him an easy, radiant smile. "Go ahead. I don't mind at all."
Yet the moment they leaned in close, my heart still gave a pathetic, involuntary twist.
His heart had checked out of this relationship long ago. Even without Chloe, there would have been a second girl, and a third.
I thought about how I had stayed up late waiting for his texts, only to receive a cold: “Was gaming, didn't see this. It's late, going to bed.”
I thought about skipping meals and busting my ass at the dining hall to buy him an expensive gift, while he casually dropped thousands to impress someone else.
Since this relationship had lost every shred of meaning, it was time to set myself free.
While I was lost in my spiral, Tiffany suddenly started smacking my arm like a maniac.
"Scarlett! It's your turn! You got Dare!"
I looked down at the coaster. Drawn on it was: Kiss a guy in the room.
The council rep chuckled. "Come on, Scarlett! You've got an unfair advantage here—just kiss your man!"
Chloe's face instantly soured.
As Austin stood up automatically, fixing his collar to walk over to me, I felt that piercing gaze from beside me once again.
Gathering every ounce of courage I had left, I turned my head to face the gorgeous senior next to me.
"Liam... could you help me out?"
In that split second, the air in the lounge seemed to freeze completely solid. All I could hear was the rushing in my ears and the frantic, deafening rhythm of my own heartbeat.
Just as the blood rushed to my cheeks, threatening to burn me alive, the man let out a low, velvety chuckle.
"Of course. My absolute pleasure."
The next second, his warm, intoxicating cedar-and-cologne scent completely consumed my senses.
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Watch & Promotions
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