If looks could kill, Jason would have died a hundred times already. The glares from the guys around the cafeteria were sharp enough to slice him into pieces.
"Who the hell is that guy? Why him?"
"No clue. But damn, he looks way too smug."
"Wait, isn't that Jason? The guy from the business department who used to chase after Emma?"
"Hold up—you're telling me Holly Larson, Quinn, and Megan are eating with him? No way he's some desperate guy chasing them. Look closer—those three are literally serving him food!"
The news spread like wildfire. By the time people finished their meals, half the cafeteria knew about it, and someone had already posted photos on the campus forum. The comments were blowing up within minutes.
Girls' Dorm, Business Department
Emma sat on her bed, taking a deep breath as she nervously opened her phone. She'd been waiting for hours to see if Jason had accepted her friend request on Instagram.
This was already her last burner account. If Jason didn't accept this one, she'd have no other way to reach him.
She tapped the notification—only to see the words that made her stomach sink: Request Declined.
Not only that—he'd blocked the account.
Emma froze, her chest tightening. Just last year, Jason had replied to her messages instantly. Now… nothing.
Out in the hallway, a group of girls walked by, chatting loudly.
"Did you see the cafeteria? All three queens of the campus having lunch with one guy."
"Yeah, I saw him from a distance. Jason's gotten way more handsome lately—plus the fit, the confidence… total glow-up."
"Wasn't he the guy who used to chase Emma like crazy? I heard he stood outside her dorm in the middle of winter with flowers, shivering for over an hour, and she didn't even come out."
"For real. Back then he didn't have money, and Emma ditched him for some fake rich guy who ended up scamming her. Now Jason's looking good, has cash, and clearly doesn't give a damn about her."
"Honestly? Kinda satisfying to watch."
Emma, who had overheard everything, stormed out of her room and cut the girls off. "What did you just say? The three of them had lunch with Jason?"
The girls looked at each other, clearly annoyed at being confronted. "Yeah. That's what everyone's talking about. It's all over the forum. Check it yourself."
One girl pulled out her phone and showed Emma the post.
There he was—Jason, sitting at a table with Holly Larson, Quinn, and Megan. Smiling. Relaxed. Like a damn king.
Emma froze. Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at the photo.
Jason really had changed. The shy, broke guy who used to worship her was gone. Now he looked like someone completely out of reach—a guy with options.
The girls brushed past her, not wanting to deal with the drama. Emma just stood there in the hallway, biting her lip.
Even though Jason had made it clear last time that he wanted nothing to do with her, she still clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd change his mind.
That's why she kept sending him requests. Why she couldn't let go.
But seeing this picture…
It felt like losing him all over again.
It was right there in front of Emma's eyes, shattering whatever illusions she had left. She bit her lip hard, trembling with frustration.
Jason was supposed to be hers.
Now he was handsome, confident, clearly doing well financially… so why should someone else get to take him away?
In the business department dorm lounge, Lily and Holly Larson's roommate, Megan, were scrolling through the campus forum, disbelief written across their faces.
Lily muttered, eyes wide, "Oh my God… Jason isn't just on speaking terms with the three campus queens—he's literally hanging out with them?"
Megan leaned closer, scrolling through the photos. "And compared to the last time we saw him… why does he look even better now? Seriously, it's like he leveled up overnight."
Neither of them had romantic feelings for Jason, but they couldn't help stealing another glance at the photos. They had to admit—he was ridiculously good-looking now.
At that moment, Emma suddenly bolted from her dorm room, brushing past them without a word. Lily and Megan exchanged surprised looks.
Emma ran toward the main cafeteria as fast as she could. The thought of Jason—tall, good-looking, and now sitting with Holly Larson, Quinn, and Megan—burned in her mind.
Tears blurred her vision before she even reached the building.
But when she got there, breathless and cheeks wet, Jason was nowhere to be found.
She looked around frantically, only to see strangers sitting where the photos had been taken.
One student recognized her and said kindly, "Oh—you looking for Jason? He left a while ago."
Some other students, curious about the commotion, asked what was going on. When they heard Emma had come running in tears, one guy's face twisted in disbelief.
"Wait… not only the three campus queens were with him, now the fourth one is crying looking for him too?"
Emma didn't stop. She turned and sprinted toward the guys' dorm.
She stood under the building, chest heaving, and shouted up toward the balconies:
"Jason! Can you forgive me? I know I messed up… I'll treat you right this time! Please don't ignore me!"
Her voice cracked, echoing across the courtyard.
One by one, guys stepped out onto the balconies to see what was going on.
"Damn… who made a girl like that cry?" one guy said, shaking his head.
"Right? If a girl that pretty begged me like that, I'd treat her like gold. No way I'd let her cry like this."
"Wait, Jason… Jason… oh yeah, isn't he the guy who had lunch with Holly Larson, Quinn, and Megan earlier?"
"No freaking way. So now he's got four girls? All at once?"
Another voice cut in, "Hold on. From what I heard, Jason used to chase Emma like crazy. She rejected him, ran off with some rich kid, and got burned. Now she sees Jason glowing up and hanging with the three queens, so she's panicking."
"Oh… so that's the story. Kinda serves her right."
"Maybe… but seeing her cry like this? Man, I think I'd cave if it were me."
In Room 307, Jason's roommates—His friends—were leaning over the balcony, watching everything.
One of them let out a low whistle. "Third bro… you're cold, man."
The other one added, "She's crying her eyes out down there. If it were me, I might've gone soft already."
"Seriously, Jason. Not even a little sympathy?"
But Jason shook his head, expression calm, almost indifferent.
Anyone who gives in to this kind of drama is just asking for trouble.
He'd chased her three times before. She never cared.
Now she was crying because she saw him with other girls? If he lost his job or someone richer came along, she'd ditch him again without hesitation.
This kind of woman didn't deserve a second chance.
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