Chapter 42: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up," Mike Carter said eagerly.

"Meet me at the school field," Sophia Rivers replied. Her house wasn't far from the school, making it a convenient meeting spot.

For many girls, school is a sacred place of romance, where memories of young love are born.

Mike quickly arrived at the school field, and shortly after, Sophia appeared. She was wearing a short skirt that accentuated her figure, her long legs wrapped in sheer white stockings that enhanced her graceful beauty. The moment Sophia stepped onto the field, she became its focal point. Many of the boys running laps stopped in their tracks, captivated by her presence.

Sophia walked over to Mike and smiled sweetly, her youthful energy radiating. "I've heard everything. Thank you, Mike. Without you, I don't know what my family would've done."

Before Sophia left her house, the Rivers family, especially Richard Rivers, had urged her to pass a gift to Mike as a token of gratitude and, if possible, find out more about his background. To them, Mike was an enigma.

But Sophia hadn't brought any gift. To her, she was the best gift Mike could ever receive. Moreover, she didn't care about Mike's mysterious background.

Seeing Sophia, Mike felt a rush of excitement.

"So, what's this gift you mentioned?" Mike asked, his nervousness betraying his inexperience.

"Close your eyes," Sophia said, her voice playful and bright.

Mike closed his eyes, anticipating what was coming. Based on countless TV dramas, he expected a kiss—a scene brimming with romance.

He couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed, hoping that Sophia might be bold enough to do more than just a kiss tonight.

But much to his surprise, several moments passed, and nothing happened. Sophia hadn't kissed him.

"Are you done?" Mike asked, unable to hide his curiosity. "Sophia, did you bail on me?"

"Don't open your eyes!" Sophia commanded firmly as Mike's eyelids began to lift slightly.

Through a small gap, Mike saw Sophia fiddling with something in her delicate, white hands. When she finally finished, she held out a small, carefully folded paper star.

"Here, it's for you," Sophia said, her tone expectant.

Mike stared at the tiny star, speechless.

All this anticipation—for this?

Disappointment swirled in his chest. He had been prepared to sacrifice his early bedtime for this moment.

Seeing Mike's hesitation and lack of enthusiasm, Sophia pouted and rolled her eyes playfully. "Mike, what's that supposed to mean? I stayed up all night making this for you, and you don't even like it?"

"No, no!" Mike quickly took the star from her hands. "It's beautiful."

"But… Sophia, is this really the gift you meant?"

"Of course!" Sophia retorted, her voice tinged with indignation. "What else did you expect?"

Mike's gaze drifted across the field to a nearby hotel visible beyond the campus. Its glowing sign was a popular landmark for couples.

His eyes lingered a moment too long, and Sophia caught him looking.

She puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance. "Mike, are you expecting me to buy you that building?"

Mike chuckled awkwardly. "Not at all."

Mike stared at the small, intricately folded paper star in his hand. It was delicate, a masterpiece of tiny creases and sharp edges, yet something about it left him feeling strangely unsettled. His fingers traced the folds slowly, almost as if trying to feel some deeper meaning, but the weight of expectation he'd carried in his chest seemed to evaporate as quickly as it had formed.

It wasn't about the star itself. It was about the person who had given it to him. And in that moment, as he held the little paper star, Mike realized that sometimes, the most meaningful things come in the simplest of forms. His heart, still a little heavy with uncertainty, now felt lighter, as if the star itself had unlocked a part of him he hadn't even known was closed. He wasn't disappointed anymore. He was... content.

He knew Sophia's innocence stemmed from her inexperience in relationships. Compared to Jessica Lee, Sophia's naïve charm was refreshing.

After walking together on the field for a while, they parted ways. Mike decided to return to the dormitory. He remembered that he hadn't yet repaid Kenneth Brooks the money he owed—an issue that Chris Miller had recently weaponized against him.

Arriving at the dorm, Mike found the door closed, though the lights inside were on. Kenneth sat in the hallway, wearing headphones and reading.

"What's going on?" Mike asked, puzzled.

Kenneth, startled, quickly removed his headphones. "Oh, Mike, I'm just doing some prep for the Level Six English test."

But before Kenneth could continue, a muffled, sultry voice emerged from inside the room.

Mike's ears perked up. That unmistakable sound…

"What the hell?" Mike muttered under his breath.

Kenneth noticed his reaction and quickly interjected. "Don't overthink it. It's… it's nothing."

Mike wasn't convinced. That sound was all too familiar to any man.

"Who's in there?" Mike asked pointedly.

Kenneth hesitated, avoiding eye contact. "Does it matter? Hey, why are you back so late? Do you need money? I can spot you some if you're short."

Mike's heart clenched. Kenneth's generosity was unwavering, even if it meant going without himself. This loyalty, this brotherhood—Mike didn't take it lightly.

The noises from the room stopped abruptly, replaced by the sound of water running. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Elliot York in a bathrobe. He looked smug, his disdain for Mike evident.

"Oh, look who's here," Elliot sneered. "The broke loser graces us with his presence."

Elliot York, Mike's another roommate.

Behind him, a girl with a heavily made-up face emerged, draped in a towel. She sidled up to Elliot, her voice dripping with petulance. "Honey, who's this? Another of your dormmates?"

"Yeah, just a pathetic parasite," Elliot replied dismissively. He turned to Kenneth and smirked. "So, still listening to those recordings outside, huh? How's it feel?"

Kenneth's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Mike's fists clenched at his sides. He wouldn't let this insult go unanswered.

"Kenneth," Mike said, his voice steady but firm, "I'm here to pay you back."

Elliot burst out laughing. "You? Pay him back? Don't make me laugh. You can't even afford to feed yourself."

Ignoring Elliot, Mike turned to Kenneth. "You'll get back every cent, plus interest. And as for this asshole—I'll make sure he regrets every word he's said."

Elliot's smug expression faltered. For the first time, he felt a flicker of unease under Mike's piercing gaze.