She would never believe the lies he told her again.

Eden Anderson channeled every ounce of her frustration into her studies.

The classroom was a zoo during breaks. Basketballs and paper planes arced over her head, but she remained locked in, her pen flying across the page without a single glance upward.

She loathed Lucas Powell.

That was why she had to be number one. She wouldn't give him a single chance to surpass her.

Yet, despite her grueling effort, the results never truly satisfied her. The words her mother had drummed into her since she was a child clung to her like a witch’s curse.

She was slow.

But she could never let anyone else realize it. If she let her stupidity show, her life would hit a dead end, leaving her nowhere to go.

Because she was Eden Anderson.

Just like the two monthly exams before it, Class 7’s average still trailed behind Class 1’s. Although Eden’s science scores weren't top-tier, her perfect marks in English and Language Arts secured her a spot as the year-grade leader, putting her total score five points ahead of Lucas. Virginia Rogers, the biology teacher, was seething. She despised everyone in Class 1, and Eden, who hogged the spotlight, was at the top of her hit list.

Virginia’s teaching style was a nightmare for everyone, Eden included. She loved to spring surprise questions on students, followed by critiques—most of which were laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.

The worst part was that Virginia loved targeting Eden. Every biology class felt like walking a tightrope; one slip-up, even a minor one, and Virginia would sneer, "Is this really the best a year-grade leader can do?"

Then she would pivot. "Our own Lucas Powell wouldn't make such a rookie mistake. Lucas just isn't focused enough on his studies. If he worked half as hard as Eden, that top ranking wouldn't even be yours to claim."

"She’s mental," Shelby Rivera, who had been assigned to sit next to Eden after midterms, muttered, rolling her eyes. "No wonder you can’t stand Lucas. If I had to listen to her babble about him every day, I’d hate his guts, too."

Eden offered a faint, hollow smile and said nothing.

Everyone assumed the frost between Eden and Lucas was because of Virginia. Only Eden knew the truth.

She didn't hate Lucas because of the teacher. She hated him because he didn't like her.

She hated that he didn't like her, which was why she made him her enemy. It was as simple as that.

"I’m giving her half a semester, max," Shelby said, tapping her pen against her biology textbook with a scowl. "As soon as next semester starts, I’m switching to liberal arts. I’m done with her."

"I’ve been thinking about switching to liberal arts, too," Eden whispered.

Shelby blinked, stunned. "What? You? Switching?"

"Is it that weird?" Eden asked with a smile.

"Virginia would probably die of joy, and our homeroom teacher would have a stroke," Shelby laughed. She went quiet, thoughtful. "You know, you’d be the first STEM-track top student to jump ship. Bold move, Eden. Very rebellious."

Shelby leaned in. "You know, Lucas had you pegged pretty well."

Eden froze. "What did he say about me?"

"I made a bet with him a few days ago," Shelby chuckled. "Betting on whether anyone from our science-heavy classes would switch to liberal arts. He bet that *you* would."

"Why?"

"I asked the same thing. His answer was weird. He said you’d be number one regardless, but if you went to liberal arts—you’d be freer."

Eden’s heart gave a violent jolt.

"I think he just wants you out so he can take the top spot," Shelby said, oblivious. "You really need to think this through, Eden."

Eden nodded as if she were listening, but her mind was miles away.

*Lucas, do you know? Every time I show even a flicker of unhappiness, people ask me, 'Eden, what do you have to be sad about? You have everything. What else could you possibly want?'*

*“Right. You have everything,”* Lucas had said one sunset, walking his bike along the tree-lined path. *“But you want freedom. You’re looking for it.”*

*“But finding it is so hard,”* Eden had whispered, kicking a pebble scorched by the afternoon sun. *“I haven't found it yet.”*

*“It’s not hard. You have me,”* Lucas had promised, his grin as dazzling as the setting sun. *“I’ll help you find it. As long as you need me, I’ll keep looking with you.”*

The image of that boy in the sunset made her head spin.

She would never believe the lies he told her again.

After midterms, registration for the national student subject competitions opened. The preliminary rounds for math and physics were set for late November.

"This adds points to your college application. Prepare properly—don't blow it!" her mother had ordered.

"Give it your all. No mistakes, no screw-ups!" her teacher had insisted.

"You don't need to worry. If you don't make the finals, then none of us should even bother signing up!" her classmates had chimed in.

Every time she heard it, Eden wanted to scream. *Can’t you stop? I know I can’t mess up. Stop reminding me!*

For the week leading up to the test, Eden spent every spare moment preparing, sleeping only three hours a night for five days straight. Then, two days before the exam, her period arrived without warning, pushing her body to its absolute limit.

During the afternoon study hall, Eden slumped over her desk, clutching her stomach.

"You’re going way too hard, Eden. You don't need this," Shelby said.

*Is that true?* Eden wondered, eyes squeezed shut. *Do you even know what my 'ability' actually is? Because even I don't know.*

"Clear your desks. We’re doing a Q&A for the rest of the study hall," Virginia said, her heels clicking as she marched into the room.

"Are you kidding? She’s taking our study hall again?" Shelby groaned.

Eden forced herself upright and pulled out her biology workbook. But she already knew the answers to everything Virginia was going to cover. She pulled out her math competition prep book, hid it under the workbook, and began to study.

The exhaustion was a physical weight. She rested her head on her hand, and within minutes, she drifted off.

"Next problem. Eden, give us the solution."

Eden didn't stir.

"Eden!" Shelby shook her arm.

Eden bolted upright, her brain still foggy.

"What, up all night prepping for your little competition?" Virginia sneered, eyeing her. "Think you can skip my class because you’re a math whiz?"

Virginia pointed to the door. "Since you’re so sleepy, why don't you stand up for the rest of the lesson?"

Eden stood. As she rubbed her eyes, Virginia’s voice turned into a roar. "Stand in the back! You're blocking the view for everyone else!"

"That’s uncalled for, Miss!" a boy shouted from the back.

"Yeah, you’re the one stealing our study time!" another chimed in.

Virginia slammed her ruler against the chalkboard. *Snap. Snap.*

"Does anyone else have an opinion?"

The room fell dead silent. Eden clutched her math book, turned, and walked out the back door, leaning against the cold wall of the hallway.

The winter wind whipped through the corridor, biting and sharp. She shivered, regretting leaving her jacket in her seat. She crossed her arms, rubbing her shoulders to keep warm.

Half the class went by. When the second period bell rang, Eden couldn't stand anymore. She slid down the wall, curling into a small, shivering ball. Her abdomen throbbed; her body felt like ice. With frozen fingers, she tried to continue working on her math problems.

A shadow fell over her.

"G-goddess?"

Eden recognized the boy—Easton Ward from Class 7. He was close with Lucas and Julian, and he’d always been decent to the Class 1 kids. Eden looked up and managed a strained, polite smile.

"It really is you. Why are you..." Easton peered through the back door, saw Virginia inside, and his expression darkened. "Right. She’s giving you hell again."

He noticed her pale, pained expression. "Are you sick? Why don't you go find a place to rest? She won't even notice if you're gone."

"What’s going on?" Julian Smith’s voice cut through the air.

Eden looked up, saw Lucas walking toward her, and instinctively looked away.

"The teacher’s in there, making Eden stand in the hallway! I think she’s not feeling well," Easton said.

"I’m fine," Eden said, forcing a smile at Julian. "I’m really fine. Go back to class."

She felt Lucas’s gaze on her, and she felt suffocated. She turned her head, burying her face in her book.

"Teacher!" Easton suddenly shouted through the door. "Why are you teaching Class 1 when you're supposed to be in our room?"

"Teacher, our class says we have questions you haven't answered! Get back here!"

The voice was cold, sharp, and unmistakably angry. It was Lucas.

Eden’s pen stalled mid-air.

"Yeah, teach! We want answers, too!" Julian joined in.

Moments later, Virginia stormed out, fuming. "What is wrong with you boys? You want the whole building to hear you?"

"Teacher, our class is angry that you’re teaching Class 1," Lucas said, his tone icy. "It’s not fair. Get back to our classroom."

Virginia glared, her jaw tight, before barking, "Fine. Let's go."

Before leaving, she shot a look at Eden. "Stop standing there like a statue. Get back inside!"

Eden looked up and saw Easton and Julian grinning at her. But Lucas, the class president, didn't look back. He kept his head bowed, saying nothing as he absorbed Virginia’s sharp rebuke.

Eden stood up on stiff, aching legs. She watched Lucas’s tall, straight silhouette walk away.

The sunset washed the boy’s back in a warm, golden glow, but the cold hallway wind tugged at his loose white jacket, highlighting how thin his frame looked.

Only when his shadow vanished into the end of the corridor did Eden finally turn away and walk back into the classroom.