She picked up the used tissues, tossing them into a nearby bin, rinsed her hands with the last of the water from the bottle, and slipped back into the car.

During the drive back to school, Sloane was deeply asleep, her steady breathing filling the quiet of the car.

Unsure of what to do, Jeff apologized to Fernanda again, his discomfort evident in every word. He wasn’t accustomed to such awkward moments, and it showed.

As they arrived at the dormitory entrance, Fernanda stepped out of the car and offered Jeff a piece of advice. “Make sure Sloane drinks some water before she crashes. If she doesn’t, she’ll regret it when she wakes up.”

“Got it,” Jeff responded with a nod. “Thanks for the tip.”

With a casual wave, Fernanda continued, “I’ll wash this jacket and bring it back to you.”

“Alright,” Jeff said, his gaze lingering on Fernanda as she walked away. He couldn’t tear his eyes away, the sight of her etched in his mind. Eventually, he turned his focus back to Sloane, still fast asleep. A heavy sigh escaped him.

After taking care of her shirt and Jeff’s jacket, Fernanda tossed them into the dryer.

With the semifinals just a few days away and no classes tomorrow, she finally had the chance to rest.

Just as she began to relax, a new notification caught her attention: a friend request on WhatsApp. Curiosity piqued, she opened it to see a girl with an anime avatar, and the attached message read, “Hi, Fernanda, I’m Evie Harper.”

Without hesitation, Fernanda accepted the request.

Almost immediately, Evie sent a text. “Fernanda, you’re still up?” Their conversation had evolved. At first, Evie’s messages were warm, implying a growing…

The tone between them had shifted after Fernanda’s breakup with Bobby—more casual, less courteous. “Yeah, just got back from dinner. What’s up?” Fernanda replied, her curiosity piqued.

“I wanted to ask if there are any tickets left for your match. I tried to get some on the official site, but they’re all sold out,” Evie said, adding a crying emoji for emphasis.

“How many do you need? I’ve got some internal tickets I can offer,” Fernanda responded.

Evie’s excitement was palpable as she quickly typed, “I need five!” A simple “OK” gesture was all Fernanda needed to send in reply.

For these kinds of events, both organizers and participants received a handful of tickets to distribute. Fernanda still had a few left—ones she hadn’t yet given away.

Although Robert, Michelle, and Erika had come to watch Kevin’s match, they hadn’t used Fernanda’s tickets, leaving them still available. The following day, Fernanda made sure to hand-deliver the tickets to Evie herself.

“Fernanda, you’re the absolute best!” Evie cheered, throwing her arms around Fernanda for an enthusiastic hug. “Front-row seats! This is incredible!”

Evie’s energy was contagious—her vibrant personality could make any situation feel exciting and full of life.

Unable to resist, Fernanda smiled at the sheer joy radiating from her. “You absolutely have to make it to the finals! Give it your all in the semifinals!” Evie encouraged, her fist raised in the air. “I’m bringing everyone I know to cheer you on in the finals!”

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