The Night Before the Meetup

2

I quietly gulped and began to scrutinize the expert on the lecture stage.

Ian Grayson stood on the stage, speaking with confidence and ease.

He was aloof and distant, his expression serious and unsmiling.

The very definition of handsome and unapproachable.

I silently pictured my boyfriend, who was always so gentle and thoughtful in our chats.

Then it hit me. This was obviously not my boyfriend.

After taking a few deep breaths to compose myself, I began to participate actively in the lecture.

I had to admit, there was something different about a lecture from an expert. I wasn't sure if it was because of his looks, but everyone was listening with rapt attention.

When it was over, I was about to pack my things and head back to the dorm.

But then I got a text from my professor: "Sienna Sinclair, take the materials from Professor Grayson's lecture over to him."

I felt a little exasperated when I saw the text, but it was an assignment from my professor, so I had no choice but to do it quickly.

Carrying the documents, I arrived tentatively at his office door.

After I knocked, a deep voice quickly answered from within. "Come in."

I stepped inside cautiously and stood beside him. Ian Grayson had his head down, looking like he was organizing some files.

Even this close, his face was flawless. He looked even more handsome than when I'd seen him from down in the lecture hall.

'No wonder my online boyfriend used his photos.'

'He really is incredibly handsome, I have to admit.'

Just as I was admiring his god-tier looks, a calm, unhurried voice drifted from beside me.

"Just leave the documents there."

I quickly tore my eyes away, my heart starting to pound.

After setting the documents down, I turned to leave immediately.

When I got back to the classroom, Tina Warren blocked my path, a mocking look on her face. "Weren't you supposed to meet your online boyfriend today? Did you get stood up?"

Tina Warren and I have never gotten along, so I couldn't be bothered to engage with her taunts.

"He was busy, so we rescheduled for another time."

'How did Tina Warren find out I was dating someone online? She really stops at nothing, does she?'

At my answer, Tina Warren suddenly covered her mouth and let out a snicker.

"You really can't see it, can you? I don't know whether to call you naive or just plain stupid."

Her phony smile made me frown involuntarily.

I asked in a cold voice, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tina Warren shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that your online boyfriend did it on purpose. He's probably just ugly and scared to meet you, so he's intentionally blowing you off."

I was rendered speechless by her words.

'This is so damn ridiculous.'

'What the hell does my love life have to do with her?'

"Sometimes things just come up. This event today was pretty last-minute, wasn't it?"

Tina Warren remained smug. "Your online boyfriend isn't a student, is he? He's just some ordinary working stiff. How can you even compare his situation to an event like today's?"

Her smug voice grew increasingly shrill, naturally drawing a crowd of students who stopped to watch.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, my roommate quietly pulled me away.

"Sienna, don't stoop to her level," she said. "She's never liked you anyway. She's just saying all this to get a rise out of you."

I already knew that.

'It's just because I beat her out for the scholarship last semester, isn't it? Was all this really necessary?'

'Just because she's not good enough, she can't let anyone else win?'

My roommate and I had discussed this possibility that morning, but the way she brought it up was completely different from the way Tina Warren was mocking me now...

Tina was clearly just one of those awful people who can't stand to see anyone else doing well.