[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322C9288E-199":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},199,12,"Chapter 12: The Bob Cut He Never Noticed","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He smiled lazily, bright and clean, like the scorching sunset above him. Yet, to him, Eden was nothing more than a ghost—a transparent nothing that didn't exist at all.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On the way back to class that day, Julian Smith mentioned there would be a freshman basketball game on Saturday and invited her to watch. She had wanted to refuse; she didn't understand the game and had zero interest in watching others chase a ball. But when Julian added, \"Lucas is a killer on the court,\" she hesitated. Julian didn't miss the opening and pressed his invitation until she finally caved.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Saturday morning, Eden arrived at the gym immediately after breakfast. The lights were blindingly bright. She found an empty seat in the stands, but before long, Kane Perez—the athlete from Class 10 who had sent her a milk tea earlier—slid into the seat next to her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey, beautiful. Want to grab lunch later? Remember me? I’m Kane from Class 10,\" he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Not interested,\" Eden said, her tone ice-cold.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"A real ice queen, aren't you? Don't be like that. Just a quick lunch. I won't bite.\" As he spoke, he let his hand brush against hers, lingering just a second too long.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden recoiled as if burned, jumping up to find another seat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey!\" Seeing her retreat, Kane stood up to follow her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Eden!\" Julian appeared just in time. He spotted Kane trailing her and stepped between them, pulling Eden behind him. \"Is there a problem, man?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh, got a bodyguard, huh? Should’ve said so,\" Kane sneered, rolling his eyes before walking off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You okay?\" Julian asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden nodded, but her gaze was fixed on the gym entrance. Lucas Powell had just walked in with Molly Lee. Their eyes met for a split second across the court.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden turned her head, breaking the contact. For some reason, she flashed a bright, deliberate smile at Julian. \"Which class are you playing against? Are you ready? You think you can win?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julian froze, clearly unused to this sudden personality shift. Eden wasn't used to it either. But she had to do it. She had to show Lucas.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Eden! Who was that guy? So annoying, the way he wouldn't leave you alone!\" Molly walked over with Lucas, looking concerned.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Kane Perez from Class 10,\" Julian answered for her. \"We went to middle school together. He was a creep then, and he's still a creep now. Don't worry about him; if he bothers you again, just come find me in Class 7.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden offered a polite, distant smile.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Come on, Eden, sit with me!\" Molly grabbed Eden’s arm, then turned to Julian. \"The first match is yours. My brother’s leg injury hasn’t fully healed, so Julian, you’d better protect him out there!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julian scoffed. \"Why don't you do it yourself? We're a player short anyway.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Molly ignored him, dragging Eden toward the bleachers. \"Over the summer, my brother was playing at the gym, and he ran into some players with terrible sportsmanship. He got hurt pretty bad.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"His injury... it hasn't healed?\" the words slipped out before Eden could stop them. She quickly added, \"I have a cousin who plays, he rarely gets hurt.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It would’ve healed if he’d just rested, but he wouldn't listen. He just kept playing. His mom and I, we hate it, but what can you do? He loves it,\" Molly sighed. \"When he sets his mind on something, he doesn't know how to quit.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden’s eyes rested on the boy shooting hoops. She thought of the membership card to the local basketball club in her drawer—the one she never gave him. She had written in the accompanying note: *I’m giving you this, but you have to promise me—no more injuries.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She had brought that card all the way to City Academy, but the chance to give it to him was gone forever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The gym was a chaotic roar of sound. Girls screamed, cheering for their respective classes. Eden shouted for Class 1, but her eyes were disobedient, locking onto Lucas again and again. Was it her eyes that wouldn't listen, or her heart?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The whistle blew. Class 7 had won.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m going to check on my brother. Want to come, Eden?\" Molly asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sure.\" Eden followed her down to the court. As they passed a stack of water bottles, Molly tossed one to Eden. Before she could react, they were in the middle of the crowd.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julian was pulling at his jersey, dripping with sweat, chatting with Lucas. Lucas tilted his head, listening with a faint, subtle smile. His bangs were plastered to his forehead with sweat, and he swept them back with a careless gesture.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Molly ran toward them, but a girl from her class stopped her. \"Molly! My camera's busted, help me look at it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Coming!\" Molly turned and ran off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden stood alone, awkward. She walked over to the two boys, clutching the water bottle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So? We played pretty well, right?\" Julian grinned.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah,\" Eden said, offering a small smile.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Honestly, I'm average. Lucas carried the whole game,\" Julian said, throwing an arm around Lucas's shoulder.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Lucas just laughed—a sound so bright it felt like a needle in Eden's chest. She felt a familiar sting of bitterness and hurriedly looked away. She held the water out toward Julian. \"Do you want some?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julian blinked, surprised. \"For me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden looked up, forcing a natural, warm smile, though her periphery was locked on Lucas’s reaction. \"Yeah.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Thanks,\" Julian took it, then glanced at Lucas. \"Lucas, you thirsty—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Brother! Here!\" Molly came sprinting back, breathless, her hair messy, a bright smile lighting up her face. She held out a bottle. \"That last shot was so cool! You have to teach me sometime. You can't just play with Julian!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Lucas didn't say a word. He took her bottle, cracked it open, and drank half of it in one go.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Stop being jealous!\" Julian laughed. \"You two spend more time together than we do.\" He added teasingly, \"He just doesn't want to play with you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You're trying to annoy me again!\" Molly lunged for his bottle. \"Don't you dare drink that! That was mine!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"This was from Eden, how is it yours?\" Julian argued, shielding the bottle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I gave it to Eden! I don't care, you can't have it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As they bickered, circling Lucas, Eden spoke up. \"I’m heading back to the dorms.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"We’re going out for food, you sure you don't want to come?\" Molly asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No, I'm not that hungry.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Alright then, see you later, Eden!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Bye.\" Eden waved to Molly and Julian. She didn't acknowledge Lucas. As she turned, the smile vanished. *What are you doing, Eden?* she asked herself. *Why force yourself to be this friendly to Julian? Just to make him jealous? Does it even matter?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His eyes were full of another girl. The memories they shared—he didn't remember them. He didn't remember her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back at the dorm, Shelby was cleaning her desk. \"I slept in, missed the game. Did Class 7 win?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah,\" Eden said flatly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Molly went out to celebrate with Lucas again, I assume?\" Shelby asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden didn't answer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She's so carefree,\" Shelby mused. Then she brightened. \"Hey, let's go out. I have a voucher for the salon by the west gate. Free haircut? Come with me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden shook her head, but Shelby insisted, dragging her along.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her mother had been nagging her to cut her hair for years—*it's easier to manage, it saves time for studying.* She had always refused, clutching those long strands like she was holding onto a secret obsession. But in that moment, the decision felt instantaneous. Was it a ritual to cut ties with the past, or just a desperate attempt to catch his eye? She couldn't tell.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Lucas, you're so annoying! Stop pulling my ponytail!*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*I’m going to get it cut, my mom's been begging me to anyway.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Why cut it?* he’d asked, his voice suddenly low. *I like your long hair.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Too bad, I'm doing it!*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I can't believe how good you look with a bob. You're one of those people who looks good in anything,\" Shelby said as they walked back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey, freshman! You cut your hair!\" Two girls from the student council approached them, eyes wide. \"It looks great! Way better than the ponytail. The boys in your class are going to lose their minds!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden laughed shyly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As they walked past a convenience store, she locked eyes with someone walking out—Lucas.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You really are obsessed with that green tea, aren't you?\" Shelby grabbed the bottle from his hand. \"Confiscated.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You don't hold back, do you?\" Lucas said, totally unbothered.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Molly drank my water yesterday. Consider this even,\" Shelby said, taking a sip.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Whatever, settle your debts with her, don't drag me into it,\" Lucas shrugged.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you two talking about me behind my back?\" Molly popped up, bumping into them playfully.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The three of them dissolved into banter and laughter, a tangled, close-knit circle. Eden slowed her pace, lingering in the shadows of the swaying trees. The sunset painted the boy's profile in soft, golden light. He was smiling, clean and bright.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">To him, she was a ghost. A non-entity.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She had cut her hair. People told her she looked beautiful. People wondered why she did it. People talked about her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But he didn't even spare her a glance. Besides that first day in the cafeteria, he hadn't looked at her, hadn't spoken to her. He said he didn't remember the past.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Fine,* she told herself, swallowing the lump in her throat. *If he can forget, so can I.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Be proud, Eden. He doesn't like you? Well, I don't like him either.*\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272926340]