Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies - Chapter 109: Chapter 109

I'm the childhood sweetheart of Lucas Brooks. Lila Anderson is his destiny at first sight.
People always say childhood bounds can't compete with love at first sight.
Not long after she transferred in, someone claimed they saw Lucas standing in a empty stairwell after class.
My rebellious childhood sweetheart Lucas lowered his head, apologizing like a submissive puppy.
Later, after Lila and I had a falling-out, he threw out one casual sentence. "I don't want to see Sophie at school anymore."
My parents, terrified of offending the powerful Brooks family, immediately transferred me to another school.
After that, I disappeared from his world completely, afraid to show around him.
But then came his birthday, he showed up at my door soaking wet, looking utterly miserable and wronged. "Did you forget today's my birthday?"
They say childhood bounds never wins. I used to cock a snook at that.
But sitting in the auditorium, watching Lucas gaze at Lila as she danced gracefully on stage, I could see the undeniable adoration and affection in his eyes.
In that moment, I finally believed it.
I also started believing those rumors about Lucas. The guy who never backed down from anyone, apologizing to Lila in that empty stairwell.
The feelings I never got the chance to say aloud? I knew then they'd stay buried forever.
As the dance ended, I joined everyone else in applauding the radiant girl on stage. Lucas stood up from his seat, probably rushing to find Lila. And I took that as my cue to leave the auditorium too.
Outside, I raised my hand. A small crystal pendant dangled from my wrist, swaying in the breeze.
"Here, Sophie... for you."
I was confused back then. "What is it?"
Seven-year-old Lucas had been watching romantic movies with his aunt and learned about something called a "love token."
"It's for you, Sophie. Now you can only like me forever. Got it?
"And I'll protect you forever, too."
My eyes stung at the memory. You can't take a child's promises seriously.
But I did. Lucas Brooks, the untamable troublemaker who answered to no one, had been the joy and secret of my entire adolescence.
Lila transferred in this semester. She was beautiful and a dance student.
Of course, she caused a stir the second she stepped into class.
The girls in class said she was just like those transfer students in romance novels—sweet and innocent, who ends up catching the bad boy's eye.
Then the bad boy softens for the good girl.
Guys were lining up to ask her out. Someone joked that only remained Lucas to join the queue.
Lucas had stretched lazily, glancing at the guy. "Is she even worthy?"
See how arrogant he sounded then?
Back then, I didn't believe the rumors about them. Because I hadn't seen it with my own eyes or heard it from him directly.
But now I knew. It was time to move on and keep my distance from Lucas.
We used to walk home together every day, but I can't remember when exactly he started making excuses for me to go ahead without him.
He could have just told me. I wouldn't have clung to him.
After all, we were never actually together.