In their interactions, she had always been the passive one, bending to Neal’s desires. Her role was simple: adore him and maintain the facade of his online girlfriend.

She would do nothing to unsettle him.

Relieved to see that Bonita wasn’t upset, Sloane exhaled deeply. She considered the possibility that they had misunderstood and that Bonita might have lost interest in Neal.

After all, clinging to a fruitless relationship was exhausting.

Their moment to take the stage was approaching, and a staff member beckoned them forward.

Together, Fernanda, Clement, and Bonita joined the audience.

In the recent match, Kevin and his team had emerged victorious.

This victory set the stage for a potential showdown in the finals—if Neal and his team could clinch a win in their current match. The game kicked off amidst tremendous excitement. Neal’s team squared off against a formidable squad from another school in Esaham. Each member of their team was strikingly handsome, which only heightened their immense popularity.

The stadium was abuzz with an electrifying atmosphere, packed to the gills with eager fans.

“Fernanda, do you think we stand a chance?” Bonita, her nerves frayed, clasped Fernanda’s hand, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“I’m not sure,” Fernanda admitted, shaking her head. “It all hinges on how things unfold.”

On paper, the opposing team was a tough match, having bested Neal’s team earlier in the group stage.

Bonita’s eyes remained fixated on the large screen, her hands clasped over her heart as if to quell its frantic beating, her breath held in suspense.

“Bonita.” Fernanda’s voice broke through, softer this time as she leaned in close.

“Huh?” Bonita tilted her head, bringing her ear closer while her gaze stayed locked on the large screen.

Fernanda’s voice was tinged with suspicion as she leaned in and casually dropped the bombshell. “You’re Neal’s girlfriend, aren’t you?”

Merely moments after Fernanda’s words hung in the air, Bonita gasped sharply, her hands flying up to stifle the sound that escaped her lips. Fortunately, the clamor of the crowded venue swallowed her outcry before it could draw any attention.

Bonita’s face was a mask of shock as she turned to face Fernanda, her eyes wide and unseeing. Just then, the large screen at the venue flickered, bathing Fernanda in a harsh, white light that illuminated her features starkly. In that stark glow, Fernanda’s eyes shone with an incisive sharpness, twinkling like celestial bodies in the night sky. They pierced through Bonita, filled with an unnerving certainty and a depth of understanding that left no room for denial.

Stuttering, Bonita managed to respond, her voice laced with a blend of awe and fear, “Why… why would you say that?”

With a knowing look, Fernanda softly explained, “It’s impossible to conceal the stirrings of the heart. Your gaze lingers on Neal with such intensity of emotion. You’re unaware of how revealing your eyes are.”

Bonita had always prided herself on her discretion, especially around Neal, steering clear of any interactions that could hint at their clandestine affair. Yet, Fernanda had effortlessly seen through her facade.

.

.

.