I went straight to the campus's medical office, where buying medicine was considerably cheaper than outside. Every penny counted, as my parents provided me with tuition and some living expenses, which barely covered meals.

Any additional expenses, especially the part for Evander, required me to work during my spare time, leaving me physically drained. In just a few months, I had noticeably lost weight, and my overall health didn't reflect the vitality I imagined.

After taking a white pill, I caught the shuttle back to the dormitory. Finally lying down, I felt some relief. Drinking wasn't my forte, and the recent binge had taken its toll, prompting my body to revolt. I stared at the ceiling for a while, the medication quickly coaxing me to sleep.

Demi returned in the evening, bursting with excitement as she opened the dorm door. Finding it dark inside, she restrained her enthusiasm not to wake me from my deep slumber. Though I sensed her return, exhaustion kept me from acknowledging her, and I continued to sleep without exchanging greetings.

When I awoke again, it was already morning. I saw two doctors in white coats leaving the dorm. Demi wore a worried expression, noticing me peering towards the door. She was visibly relieved when I lifted my head, exclaiming, "Hey! You're finally awake! I almost raised hell in the medical office, thinking you were in a coma from the medication!"

"Maybe I was just too tired. Thanks," I replied, getting out of bed, thankful I didn't have classes that day.

"You know," she began excitedly, "I wanted to share this news with you last night, but you were out cold. Orion, the team captain, won the league for our campus! And he even broke a record!"

Demi animatedly described Orion's achievement, but her mood suddenly dampened. "But I heard Orion has been in a bad mood since the game ended. I wonder what happened."

My heart fluttered, a little skeptical, but not sure.

I should be thankful that Demi didn't dwell on Orion's personal affairs for too long, she quickly jumped to a new topic, “The campus is having a celebration dinner tonight, so you can get up close and personal with Captain Orion!”

“Do you want to go to that?” I was a little nervous, my mind conjuring up images of Orion madly punching me.

“Of course!” Demi looked at me expectantly, “I'd also like to invite you to accompany me, we're going to be splitting up as teachers soon, we don't design in quite the same style and we may have to part ways soon.”

Although I was defensive, I still felt that Demi was different from Daria, she was a very nice girl.

“Okay, let's go together!” Demi emptied her closet to dress me up.

I was a boring person with a one-dimensional style, and it was hard to find an eye-catching outfit in my closet without paying to rent it.

Demi picked me out a burgundy silk wrap dress with a split that went down to the base of my thighs, and at my insistence, brought me a short black suit in front of me.

“I'd say you actually look better without the jacket!” Demi said seriously.

I wasn't used to this, especially after Evander had betrayed me, and this style was a bit similar to Daria's.

Demi scanned me again and patted my ass in satisfaction, “Okay! Beautiful girl, enjoy the stares tonight!”

I looked at myself in the mirror, my body was voluptuous and shapely, the makeup Demi had put on me suited my face and made me look sophisticated and regal.

“Oh..! Zoe! You'd look even better with this shirt!” Demi saw the kraft bag sitting on my chair. I was a little surprised and tried to reach for the shirt.

But Demi had already unfolded the shirt and draped it over me, she was more than satisfied, “It's perfect, did you go shopping yesterday and buy this new?”

How was I supposed to show that the dress was Orion's?

After some agonizing, I decided not to say anything, the big deal was to take it off when I entered the party place.

But I didn't realize that the weather had changed drastically during the night, and this shirt kept me from being so cold.

There were even more people attending the dinner than there were at the venue, and it was a good thing the campus had chosen an empty camping site where Orion was the center of attention, surrounded by people all the time.

The moment Orion's eyes met mine, we looked at each other and the world around us suddenly went quiet. He took a few steps forward but was pestered by the girls beside him, he pointed his finger towards the lake and said something to me that I didn't hear when it was too noisy around me.

Ask me to wait for him by the lake? I shook my head, laughing at my childish thoughts.

Everyone drinks, dances, gathers together to play multiplayer games, men and women who have fun with each other sit by the lake and flirt, it's not just a celebration, it's a time for everyone to relax.

Demi loved the crowd and I didn't, so I found a remote corner to stay in.

Everyone was so busy meeting and flattering Orion that no one would pay any attention to me, which made me feel relaxed.

I was not able to drink any more alcohol after taking my stomach pills, so I had to go to the barbecue stand and grill some beef to go with my juice drink.

As I was walking towards the lake with my second glass of orange juice, I heard a loud noise from a small tent, two people whose voices were familiar to me.

One was Daria's and the other Evander's.

I didn't have the heart to eavesdrop on what they were saying, but hearing my own name as I passed by forced me to stop.

“We're just having fun, don't take it seriously. It's only cheap bitches like Zoe who would fall for you! Men like you don't deserve me! You can't even afford a necklace!” Daria's tone was filled with disgust.

Evander seemed unsettled as well, “I already broke up with my girlfriend for you! You said you would be with me, what do you want me to do now?” He was a little helpless.

“I never said that.” She replied. “I can choose any man I want, only a man like Orion deserves to be my boyfriend. Look at his sexy muscles and then look at you. Oy, poor guy.”

The zipper of the tent was unzipped and I couldn't get away in time, Daria would look at me with contempt, “Zoe, still thinking about getting back together with Evander?”

“Spending all that money you've earned on your own on men! You're pathetic!” She angrily called me stupid and slammed me out of the way so hard my hands shook a few times, “Ah!”

The juice poured onto my jacket, staining my white shirt with a yellow color.

I wouldn't know how to explain it if Orion saw it.

Without any apology, Daria walked straight away, and Evander stood watching like a dead man.

I gave him a cross look and headed for my original spot with my glass.

“Damn, how is it that I'm so unlucky that everything happens to me?” I shook my shirt and subconsciously looked in Orion's direction.

Just in time to see him get up and seemingly head this way, he slowly made his way this way and was cut off by Daria, who had just walked past.

I grabbed the gap and looked for another place, not sure if it was weakness or not, I didn't dare face Orion.

Daria spoke to Orion with the usual means of mingling with other men, “Orion, may I have a dance?”

Orion's eyes were locked on me before, suddenly the target disappeared and he was pursuing it, looking impatient, “I'm sorry, I think I've got more important things on my mind right now.”

Daria was bold, before it was the inaccessibility of Orion, now that she had a good chance, she certainly wasn't going to let it go, she reached out and touched Orion's abs.

The dinner, the camping, the lake, it must have been enjoyable to make love, Daria was incredibly confident in her body and skills, she even knew more about men than they did.

But the Orion in front of her, even after being teased by her, looked uninterested.

Daria finally sensed Orion's anger and withdrew her hand, “I think I'll be a woman that will please you, I just need time to certify it.”

“You dream.” Orion twisted his head and walked around the side of her.

Of course, all of this was lost on me because I ducked down to a stone bench at the edge of the woods and couldn't care less about the wind here, but it was like Orion had radar on me.

When I saw him approaching, I got up and was about to leave, but he blocked my way, “You're avoiding me?”

I was avoiding him, but I didn't know exactly why, “I'm not. I just wanted to finish my drink and blow off some steam.”

“But it's not the wine you're drinking.” He pointed to the stain on my shirt.”

Damn, I'm really bad at lying.

“This is my shirt?” Orion had a good look in his eyes.

I couldn't argue, “I'm sorry, I just had a little accident and I stained it again, I guess I should pay you for a new one.”

“Why did you leave so suddenly that morning?” Orion took a step forward and I took a step back.

“Well,” I was a little bemused, ”we were just a one night stand and you never see the same girl over and over again. Wouldn't it be easier for you if I did?”

“Is that what you think of me?” Orion asked, a little annoyed in his tone.

“As great as your fucking is, I'm not going to pester you to be my boyfriend. Everyone knows you're a playboy and will have the next girl soon enough.”

“You're different.” Orion seemed sincere.

If he was a normal guy, I'm sure I'd be moved again, but his reputation as a playboy is known to everyone, and a man so exceptional, so tough, is saying I'm not like the others?

Come on, I'm so ordinary, I don't even see what's different about myself. If Evander and Daria were the first prank fate sent me, then Orion's appearance was the second.

If I was after sex, I would have built a friendly relationship with Orion, but I also wanted to find pure love, of which sex was only a part.

Orion cupped my face so that I met his hot eyes, “I want to have a second time with you.”