Michelle reached for her phone on the table.


    Just before her fingers could brush it, Jayden''s hand shot out faster, snatching it away.


    She looked up at Jayden, her teary eyes shing with defiance. "Give me back my phone!"


    Jayden took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Michelle, it''s not toote to stop. If you really did send Stefan to get close to Vrie, then tell him to back off."


    Michelle nodded. "Fine. No matter what I say, you won''t believe me. So, let''s say I did send him. What are you going to do? Tell Brandon?"


    Jayden fell silent, unsure of how to respond. Beforeing here, he hadn''t even considered what he would do if Michelle was behind this.


    Would he tell Brandon? Or pretend he didn''t know?


    "Whether you were behind this or not, you need to call Stefan and tell him to stop seeing Vrie. If Brandon finds out about your rtionship, he won''t believe anything you say again," Jayden warned.


    Michelle''s eyes filled with disappointment. "So, you don''t believe me either?"


    "I want to, but..." Jayden trailed off.


    Michelle''s voice cracked as she cried, "Enough! Just go. I don''t want to see you right now."


    "Michelle..." Jayden''s tone softened, almost pleading.


    Michelle yelled, "Go! Just leave! If you don''t trust me, then let''s stop seeing each other altogether!"


    Tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away and turned her head, refusing to look at him again.


    The hospital room fell silent. Neither of them spoke.


    After a long moment, Jayden ced her phone back on the table and walked out.


    As the door clicked shut, Michelle finally lost control, sweeping everything off the bedside table in a fit of rage.


    Jayden lingered outside for a few seconds before walking away.


    ...


    Vrie drove Stefan back to his dorm after dinner.


    Throughout the ride, Stefan seemed like he wanted to say something but kept hesitating.


    When the ear finally stopped outside


    the university''s main gate, he


    couldn''t hold it in any longer.


    "Veevee, back at the restaurant, you


    said you had something for me. What is it?"


    Vrie smiled at the curiosity in his eyes. "Get out of the car first."


    Stefan hesitated. "You''re not going to trick me into getting out and then just drive off, are you?"


    Vrieughed. "I wouldn''t do that."


    "Alright, I trust you." Stefan stepped out.


    Vrie followed and walked to the back of the car, popping the trunk.


    Inside, neatly stacked, were all the clothes Stefan had helped her pick out at the mall the other day.


    Stefan''s eyes widened in shock. "These clothes..."


    "They''re all for you," Vrie said with a smile.


    Stefan gasped. "But... I thought you said they were for a friend''s birthday?"


    Vrie suddenly pulled a small cake from behind her back and held it out to him Yeap, you''re that friend You didn''t forget your own birthday, did. you?"


    Stefan froze for a moment before realizing that Vrie must have seen his ID.


    The birthdate on his ID was today,


    this real birthday was still


    over


    months away


    never celebrated his bi


    He had


    before.


    Seeing his silence, Vrie raised an eyebrow. "What''s wrong? Did I get the date wrong?"


    Her voice snapped him back to reality. He quickly shook his head. "No, you got it right. It''s today."


    "Then make a wish," Vrie said, lighting the candle and holding the cake out to him.