The moment their lips touched, soft and warm, Holly Larson pulled back slightly—just enough to look into Jason's eyes.
She didn't move far. She lingered there, her breath trembling, gaze locked on him.
This time, Jason didn't hesitate. He leaned in and kissed her again, deeper, firmer.
The world blurred away. For a while, there was nothing but the taste of her lips and the rush of heat running through both of them.
Nobody knew how long the kiss lasted until the sound of a car pulling into the lot broke the moment. A girl stepping out glanced at them, giggling and whispering with her friend. That was enough to snap them back to reality.
"Let's go," Holly said, cheeks flushed despite her usual carefree confidence. She tugged Jason's hand and led him toward campus.
In the financial studies dorm, Quinn was sitting at her desk, textbooks open, quietly reviewing notes. Her two roommates walked in chatting, still buzzing with gossip.
"Quinn, you're not gonna believe this—we just saw Jason walking Holly Larson back to the dorms. I thought he was into you, but I guess not?"
Quinn's breath caught. She wrinkled her nose, irritation bubbling up.
A few days ago, she'd seen Jason's name pop up in the Empire Auto Club group chat about his trip to Miami. Later, she learned Megan had been there too. Anyone with half a brain could put two and two together.
But Jason hadn't made a move on her, so technically it was none of her business. Still, jealousy pinched at her chest.
And now? Now he was with Holly.
The system ticked away in Jason's head, even though he was nowhere near her.
Quinn: Favorability -5.Quinn: Favorability -5.Quinn: Favorability -5.
"This bastard—playing with people's feelings?" Quinn muttered, angry enough to slam her pen down. But a moment later, she forced herself to breathe.
Jason had helped her before, even at the auto show—going out of his way in a way that ended up giving her family's business a massive boost, securing them a larger exhibition booth for free. Their sales had skyrocketed since.
If she was benefiting from his moves, did she really have the right to complain? Jason had never said he was chasing her. He was free to see whoever he wanted. Maybe he and Megan weren't even a real couple yet. Maybe the same with Holly.
The system chimed again.
Quinn: Favorability +15.
Still, a bitter thought lingered. He never asked me what I wanted. Never asked me out. But when I posted on Instagram that I wanted to take a photo, he liked it.
Quinn: Favorability -5.
Back on the boys' side of campus, Jason rubbed his temples when the alerts went off in his head. Favorability bouncing up and down like a stock market chart.
He couldn't help but sigh. "They say women are fickle, but this is ridiculous. I can't keep up."
Finally, Quinn's emotions settled, her favorability stabilizing back at 63.
She touched her cheeks, whispering to herself, "Forget it. Don't think about him anymore."
Just then, her phone buzzed with a new notification. She tapped it open—and froze.
[Ivan]: Quinn, long time no see. I'm in L. A now. Heard you're studying here?
Her heart skipped. Hands trembling, she typed back:
[Quinn]: Jace? Weren't you working in New York.? What brings you to L. A?
Ivan.
The man she'd quietly admired for years, a polished heir with pedigree and presence. She'd first met him by chance at a joint event between schools back in her freshman year. From then on, he had always been the one she measured other men against.
And now, he was back.
At that time, Quinn had been drawn to Ivan's princely aura, and the more she got to know him, the harder it was to stop her heart.
Ivan wasn't just charismatic—he had the grades, the confidence, and the leadership to match. President of the student union, star of the university, he carried himself like someone destined for greatness.
Quinn, like countless other girls, quietly admired him from afar. She even looked for excuses to get closer, but soon learned Ivan already had a girlfriend. Olivia wasn't stunningly beautiful in the conventional sense, but she had a refined temperament, came from a strong family, and was capable in her own right—a perfect match for him.
Quinn swallowed her feelings, never daring to hope for more. She could only watch him sometimes from a distance, as though he were the sun in her college years. Ivan always treated her kindly, more like a younger sister than anything else.
When Ivan graduated and left for bigger opportunities, Quinn slowly moved on as the years passed.
She never expected him to message her out of the blue.
Ivan: "I broke up with Olivia. Didn't want to stay in New York anymore—too many memories. I'm heading to the West Coast to start fresh. Are you free tomorrow? Let's catch up."
Quinn hesitated. This was the man she had secretly loved for years. How could she not feel stirred at the thought of seeing him again?
But she had already let go once. She didn't want to reopen old wounds. And honestly, she had thought Ivan and Olivia were perfect together.
Quinn: "Ivan, Olivia is a good woman. I heard she helped you a lot after graduation. Are you sure you don't want to try again with her?"
Ivan: "We're done. There's no going back. I've already repaid her for all her help. Right now I'm in a bad place… won't you meet me, just as a friend?"
Quinn paused, then agreed. Perhaps meeting him once more could be a way to put her youthful crush completely to rest.
Quinn: "Alright. How far are you from my campus? How about the Morning Brew Café tomorrow?"
Ivan: "Sounds good. But Quinn—you've grown. Choosing morning instead of evening, a café instead of someplace private… you're protecting yourself now."
Quinn blinked. His words were harmless on the surface, but something about them unsettled her. Still, she let it go.
She reached for a glass jar she'd kept tucked away all these years. Inside were a thousand folded paper cranes, each with a little note. Back then, when she knew he already had a girlfriend, she never crossed the line. Her words were only blessings, encouragements, little wishes for his future—and for him and Olivia's happiness together.
She had never given it to him. Now, she decided, she would. Maybe it could remind him of who he used to be.
The next morning, Quinn arrived at Morning Brew Café. Ivan was already there.
Ivan: "Quinn, you're here."
He still looked the same—tall, handsome, refined. And yet, she noticed something missing. The princely aura she once admired so much had faded.
Quinn: "Morning, Ivan."
Ivan: "Quinn, it's been years… you've grown into such a graceful woman."
Once, such praise would have left her blushing. Now, she only smiled faintly.
Quinn: "You flatter me, Ivan."
He was still charming, still eloquent. But Quinn found herself feeling… distant. The spark of admiration wasn't there anymore.
So she pulled the glass jar from her bag and set it before him.
Quinn: "I made these years ago. A thousand paper cranes. I hope they remind you of who you are, remind you to fight again. And maybe… one day, you and Olivia can find your way back to each other."
Ivan froze, visibly shaken. How could she see through him so easily? He thought he looked fine, put-together. But Quinn had noticed the hollowness he tried to hide.
Ivan: "Thank you, Quinn. Really. I'll treasure these cranes for the rest of my life."
Just then, the café door banged open. A graceful but sharp-looking middle-aged woman stormed in. Without a word, she grabbed two coffees from the counter—one splashed straight across Ivan's face, the other across Quinn's hair.
Woman: "Treasure it for life? My ass! My family spends money to support you, and this is what you do? Sneaking around with some college girl?"
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