Sophie believed that everyone’s life was like a stage play, each person playing their own protagonist, with varying themes and different characters appearing.
At this moment, she felt like a clown!
Reflecting on the words she had hurled at the male classmate, which were now being echoed back to her, Sophie experienced a sort of epiphany.
It was evident that his pursuit was not motivated by ulterior motives, but simply to remind her she had left her wallet behind.
Her over-sensitivity and the uncontrollable trigger of her inner darkness had prompted a defensive reaction.
Just like the goal she had set for herself: to keep men at bay right from the start.
But what now?
Listening to him repeat her own words almost verbatim…
It was utterly embarrassing, truly mortifying!
Even her usually impeccable persona seemed incapable of withstanding the awkwardness spreading rapidly.
If only she could disappear into a hole, yet she needed to retrieve her wallet…
What to do… Hmm?
Suddenly, an idea struck Sophie.
Instead of responding to Sam, she simply closed her eyes.
Sam was taken aback. What was this about?
He had seen people bury their heads in the sand, but never anyone pretending to be blind on the spot. Did she still want her wallet back?
But then, Sophie suddenly opened her eyes, appearing to glance at Sam in panic.
She then shyly looked around, her cheeks flushed, and with a completely different expression, she turned to him.
“Um… handsome guy, did I leave my wallet here with you?”
Sam keenly sensed the drastic change in her tone and expression.
What was going on? Could it be that Sophie had a performative personality, one moment a cold, world-weary beauty, and the next, a typical girl-next-door?
Sam frowned slightly. Was she pretending to have amnesia in front of him?
“What wallet? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is this a new way to start a conversation?”
Sophie didn’t get angry but instead spoke to Sam with some difficulty.
“Ah… sorry about before, that was my fault. I get a bit anxious when I’m out alone at night, which makes me overly cautious. I said some things that were too much, and I’m really sorry about that…”
Though her tone was a bit awkward, she at least acknowledged her mistake.
Indeed, Sam wasn’t the type to hold grudges.
Even when Louis frequently borrowed money from him for games or virtual equipment, as long as it was within a reasonable limit, Sam was always willing to help.
But Sophie’s behavior left Sam somewhat puzzled.
“I understand the feelings of a girl living alone… But why would you think I’d need to strike up a conversation with you?”
Watching Sam’s skeptical gaze, Sophie blinked, appearing somewhat dazed.
The previous high-and-mighty attitude that made her seem unapproachable was gone, replaced by a sudden simplicity. She seemed almost naive now.
Sam concluded that beautiful women are indeed enigmatic creatures.
“Uh… because there are quite a few who do that. Maybe I got a bit annoyed, so I reacted hastily. Plus, I wasn’t in a great mood today, you know, special time of the month for a girl, you understand, right?”
Sophie blushed as she blinked at Sam.
For some reason, Sam felt goosebumps all over at that look.
From her particularly aloof and resistant demeanor to suddenly appearing somewhat coquettish, the shift was too drastic, wasn’t it?
He keenly sensed that Sophie wasn’t exactly normal. As to what kind of abnormality, it was hard to say. Could she be similar to Angel and the others?
So, Sam decided not to delve deeper. Who knows what other complications might arise? Best to end it before any strange system prompts or bizarre texts arrived.
Therefore, Sam took out Sophie’s white wallet and placed it on the counter.
“Check to see if anything’s missing. Just to be clear, the store has cameras, and I couldn’t have taken anything from it.”
Sophie took her wallet but didn’t immediately check its contents. Instead, she blinked and looked at Sam’s name tag on his chest.
“Oh, I naturally trust you. By the way, you’re Sam, right?”
Sam looked at Sophie curiously and nodded.
“What’s up?”
“Well… could we exchange contact information? I live nearby and I…”
Before Sophie could finish, her expression shifted again, reverting to her previous cold demeanor.
Sam was utterly confused. He hadn’t grasped the situation yet, and suddenly she was asking for his contact details.
Sophie’s face grew colder, even showing a hint of unnamed anger.
Then she looked at herself, leaving Sam baffled.
What’s going on?
Is this some kind of performance art? Are we on stage?
Sophie took a deep breath, as if adjusting her emotions, and then said,
“Sorry, I don’t know what got into me just now. Said some weird things. Apologies for today’s incident.”
Sam was still puzzled: “What’s going on here…”
Unexpectedly, the girl in front of him glared at him fiercely, her disdain clear in her eyes.
“Although I was the one who was offensive this time, the message remains the same. We haven’t met tonight, we won’t have any relationship in the future, and even if we bump into each other at school, we’re just strangers.”
After saying this, she opened her wallet and took out a few bills, thinking for a moment.
Biting her lip, she reluctantly placed a bill on the counter and then turned to leave.
Leaving Sam behind, perplexed, he picked up the bill.
“Is this supposed to be compensation? Or a tip?”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Stingy, huh? Well… at least it doesn’t involve any complicated relationship.”
After Sophie left, Sam just idly stood at the counter, waiting for his shift to end.
He didn’t know Sophie’s secrets yet, only having his suspicions. Without any system prompts or strange texts, it indicated that Sophie wasn’t particularly significant to him at the moment.
So, for now, keeping his distance seemed like the best course of action.
Just back home, Sophie was in the midst of an internal conflict.
“You’re insane, aren’t you! Asking Sam for his contact information? Are you smitten?”
“But he really is handsome… and kind too. And this time, it was you who were wrong, wasn’t it? He only wanted to return your wallet, and you wronged him…”
“That’s a reasonable avoidance of risk! This time it might have been about the wallet, but what about next time? Can you guarantee that every time, everyone comes with good intentions?”
“But still, he genuinely seems like a good person! And so handsome. Sister, I’ve never seen such an attractive guy, waaaah.”
“Waaaah your head! Shut up. You barely spoke to him and already think he’s a good person. Have you forgotten all the pain from before?”
“But… but I just have a feeling, you know? Sister, my intuition is usually spot on.”
“Spot on, my foot! Wasting my $10, aaaaaah!”
Hugging her pillow, Sophie’s face was a picture of heartache.
Though she was the only one in her room, the conversation had the distinct tones of two people.
Suddenly, Sophie sat up on her bed, staring seriously at the empty wall in front of her.
“Sophia, I’m serious. Never, ever fall for a man. They’ll only use your love to hurt you. Can you promise me that?”
Then her expression wavered.
“But sister… what if you’re the one who falls for a guy first?”
Sophie expression turned disdainful.
“Even if it were the end of the world, I wouldn’t fall for a man. And how could we, with our circumstances, be in a relationship like others? Have you forgotten?”
“But… what if we both liked the same person?”
Instantly, Sophie’s cheeks flushed red.
“Crazy! Liking the same man? No way! Men are the worst!”
“But sister… our sexual orientation isn’t the issue, isn’t it inevitable…”
“Never. I will be vigilant for you. As long as you hold out, I will never like anyone else.”
“What if I’m the first one to fall for a guy? If that happens, no matter how much I like him, I’ll give him up for you, sister.”
“And if it’s me first?”
“If it’s you first… then I’ll try to like the man you like. Then, sister, you must allow me to share, okay?”
Sophie’s face showed hesitation, doubt, and an indescribable anger.
She took a deep breath.
Her head held high in pride, her eyes full of scorn.
“I accept this bet. I’ll prove to you that not every girl needs to like someone to get through life. Just having you is enough for me, and having me is enough for you.”
“Sister, aren’t you afraid of the unexpected?”
“Unexpected? There are no accidents. Falling in love means giving away everything, standing vulnerably in front of the other person. And me, Sophie, being absolutely rational, cannot and will not ever give away my emotions.”
