Lydia!
Why couldn’t she just disappear?
The morning competitions had come and gone. There were still a few matches left in the afternoon, but Lydia couldn’t have cared less. All she wanted was to go home and catch up on some sleep. Of course, Juna wouldn’t let her off the hook that easily. Persistent as ever, she insisted they grab lunch together.
Lydia was still wandering around the Capital College campus, not even reunited with Juna yet, when a group of guys stepped right into her path.
“You’re Lydia, right?”
They looked like nothing but trouble, every one of them. Lydia narrowed her eyes, a chill settling over her face. She didn’t bother answering, just changed direction and tried to walk around them.
The leader blocked her again, eyeing her with an annoying smirk. “Heard you snagged first place in the medical department. Even solved some math problem the math geeks couldn’t handle, right?”
“Move,” Lydia replied, her voice cold and sharp.
“Damn, this girl’s got a mouth. Do you even know who you’re talking to?”
“Yeah, you really want to mess with Alfie? You’re not gonna last in this city if you do,” another guy chimed in, grinning.
Lydia let out a short laugh. “You’re all nothing.”
“You...” The boys were floored by her attitude, completely thrown off.
“What, cat got your tongue? Maybe go back to preschool and learn how to talk to people,” Lydia said, not even trying to hide her disdain.
The group fell silent again. It was like they’d never met a girl who wasn’t scared of them, let alone one who could roast them straight to their faces.
“You’re seriously out of line. Alfie’s family is military, you piss him off and you’re done for!” one of the guys snapped, jabbing a finger at her.
Lydia glanced at the so-called Alfie, her expression amused.
Alfie seemed convinced she was finally intimidated. He crossed his arms, letting out a dismissive snort. “Say sorry now. Maybe I’ll let you off.”
Lydia didn’t even flinch. “Stop blocking my path.”
Truth was, he and Rosie weren’t engaged yet, but today he’d come out just to defend her. This Lydia was really something, always picking on his girl.
Lydia raised an eyebrow. “So Rosie sent you after me?”
Alfie scoffed. “That’s none of your business. I hear you’re pretty good. How about we settle this one-on-one?”
“Not interested.”
“What, you scared?” Alfie wasn’t about to let her walk away. He’d promised Rosie he’d put Lydia in her place today and make her lose.
By now, a ring of students had formed around them, everyone watching.
“Isn’t that Lydia?”
“Yeah, and that’s Alfie Goss. The computer science department’s genius. Rumor is he’s been a computer wiz since he was a kid. He’s even done some secret work for the government. Is he challenging Lydia?”
“Looks like it, but Lydia’s in medicine. Even if she’s a math prodigy, how’s she supposed to go up against Alfie?”

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