Sure enough.


    Mirabe paused for a moment before asking, "Hey, Matthew, have you had lunch yet?"


    Last time at Prestige College, Matthew had treated her to lunch.


    Matthew chuckled, "Not yet."


    Upon hearing that, Mirabe quickly said, "Perfect, let''s grab something together."


    "Sounds good," Matthew agreed. He already had a favorable impression of Mirabe, finding her straightforward and refreshingly direct.


    Soon, the group made their way to the cafeteria, with Mirabe swiping her card.


    Neither Matthew nor Vincent were the type to stand on ceremony, so they didn''t protest.


    The four of them found arge table and sat down. Surrounded by three academic powerhouses, Jenna felt a mix of excitement and mncholy, oddly insecure about herpany.


    After all, dining with the pirs of the future was a bittersweet burden.


    Jenna nibbled on her fork, lost in thought.


    Matthew, always warm and outgoing, noticed Jenna might feel left out and made it a point to include her in the conversation now and then, ensuring she didn''t feel awkward.


    "By the way, who''s the senior ss speaker this year? Vincent, is it you?" Matthew asked as he picked up a piece of barbecued rib, turning to his cousin.


    He had always known his cousin to top the charts academically, so he naturally assumed the role would go to him.


    Vincent''s grip on his fork paused, but his handsome face showed no embarrassment. He nced at Queen Mira across the table and sighed, "Not


    me."


    Matthew raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Not you?"


    With a cough, Vincent looked down and mumbled through a mouthful of food, "Yeah."


    Though not embarrassed, he felt a bit sheepish.


    Matthew blinked, his mind racing, then turned back to Mirabe, pping his forehead in realization, "Oh, right, Mirabe, it must be you."


    Remembering her first-ce victory at the internationalpetition made it clear that Mirabe''s academic performance was likely far superior to his cousin''s, something he had momentarily forgotten.


    Hearing Matthew''sment, Vincent seemed even more downcast.


    He wondered why he had agreed toe to the cafeteria today.


    Mirabe humbly acknowledged with a "Hmm."


    "You''re truly outstanding..." Matthew gave Mirabe a thumbs-up.


    "Cut the ttery, let''s eat," Vincent said, nudging his cousin''s leg with his foot to stop his exaggerated praise.


    Seeing this, Matthew just nced at him sideways, "Now you realize there''s always someone better, huh?"


    Back when he prided himself on always being top of his ss, he''d strut around, showing off in front of family and friends.


    Even though Matthew had never been number one, being consistently in the top


    five didn''t seem to earn him any respect. Was that fair?


    Vincent muttered, "Can you at least try to save me some face?"


    "Did you ever save face for me?" Matthewughed.


    Vincent just sighed.


    Mirabe watched the two cousins, unable to help but shake her head and smile, then went back to her meal.


    That''s when a gentle female voice joined in.


    "Oh, Matthew, you''re eating here too?" Meg looked at Matthew, her surprise evident.


    Her gaze then swept across the table, pausing slightly at Mirabe''s striking features.


    Hearing Meg, Matthew looked up, his expression softening, "Yeah, it''s been a while since I''ve eaten at Parkside High School''s cafeteria. Got the chance to visit my old school, so I thought I''d grab a bite here with my cousin and our underssman."


    Meg was also an alumna invited back to Prestige College.