Her smile was like a soothing balm, gentle and reassuring. The man’s discomfort seemed to melt away, and although a hint of sadness remained, it was no longer awkward. The tension faded, replaced by a sense of calm.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’d like to give you this bouquet, as a gesture of friendship.”

Fernanda’s smile brightened. “I’d be happy to have another friend,” she replied. She gently took the bouquet from him. “These are beautiful. I’ll gladly take them.”

The man flashed a grin, his joy as clear as day.

Fernanda cradled the flowers carefully as she made her way back to her dorm, setting them down on the balcony to let them dry naturally. She had always been fond of dried baby’s breath bouquets. There was something inherently charming about them—something that made them not just decorative but a little piece of art. Once they dried, she could hang them on the wall or pop them into a vase, spray a bit of perfume on them, and voilà—instant decor.

After a refreshing shower, she settled into bed and scrolled through her phone to catch up on the news.

It was the international news she preferred to catch up on at this hour—keeping up with global events was a must for her. The past few days had been quiet, with no major headlines making waves. The stock market was stable, so most of the stories were light, entertainment-driven fluff.

As the minutes passed, her eyelids grew heavier. With a soft yawn, she placed her phone on the nightstand to charge and let herself drift off into a peaceful slumber.

And just like that, the semi-finals crept up on them, landing on July 8th.

Inside the lounge, the guys were lounging on the couch, looking every bit the picture of relaxation.

It wasn’t their turn in the competition yet, so they still had a couple of hours to kill.

Levi stretched out, arms above his head, and let out a long sigh. “After this, it’s back to exam week! This is insane. We’ve been training like machines, and then bam, it’s time to hit the books for exams. But hey, then comes the sweet relief of summer vacation.”

He turned toward Neal. “So, Neal, what’s your plan for the summer vacation?”

Neal, lost in his own world, didn’t seem to hear him. It took a couple of attempts before Levi’s voice finally broke through the haze. “What?”

Levi clicked his tongue, not letting up. “Come on, could you stop staring off into space like that? You’ve definitely got someone on your mind.”

Neal didn’t respond, and that was all the confirmation Levi needed. “You’re in love, aren’t you?” Levi said.

Lately, Neal had been glued to his phone, smiling at it like a fool, hiding it away every time someone walked by.

It could only mean one thing: secret romance.

“Who is it?” Levi prodded eagerly, leaning in like an excited kid. “Someone from the esports world?”

Neal hesitated, his mind scrambling to catch up with the conversation. After a brief pause, he nodded. “Yeah.”

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