Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
Elijah looked a bit surprised. “It’s been a week already, and he hasn’t asked you out?”
Apparently, Elijah had heard that Xander was still single; he hadn’t dated anyone all these years overseas.
He assumed that Xander was still hung up on Cameron.
Cameron frowned, genuinely puzzled. “Why would he want to meet up with me?” she asked.
They were roommates back in high school.
But it had been seven years-those days were long gone, and they were not the same people anymore.
Elijah fell silent.
‘Why?’ he couldn’t help but think. ‘Does she really need to ask?
Back then, Xander only decided to go study abroad because he saw something on Austin’s Instagram,
Elijah had assumed that Xander would I go straight to Cameron when he returned to the country.
A whole week had passed, and still nothing.
Maybe after seven years, Xander had finally moved on.
Seven years passed. Some people move forward, while others stay frozen in place.
In the end, Elijah didn’t say anything. He just replied, “He’s probably pretty busy.”
Cameron nodded. “This salad is delicious.”
A slight smile tugged at Elijah’s lips. “I’ll have them pack some for you to take home.”
“No need.” Cameron shook her head.
Elijah looked puzzled. “But you said it was good.”
Cameron smiled softly, “Even the best dish gets ordinary if you have it too often. Coming here once in a while keeps it special
Elijah paused. “That actually makes sense.”
Cameron and Elijah looked at each other and smiled..
Elijah’s smile grew brighter. He was usually so reserved, but whenever he was with Cameron, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward.
Being with Cameron made him happy without needing to do anything at all. That was why he’d willingly stayed by her as a friend for seven years.
Cameron froze when she saw that brilliant smile on Elijah’s face.
She knew how he felt about her. But she couldn’t give him what he wanted. Seven years had passed. She couldn’t waste any more of Elijah’s time.
Cameron’s grip tightened around her fork. “Eli, I saw Bradley a few days ago.”
“Bradley?” Elijah looked surprised.
Since he’d rescued Cameron from Bradley’s grasp seven years ago, Elijah hadn’t been in touch with Bradley.
Bradley had vanished into thin air, and Elijah was perfectly fine with that arrangement. He’d never bothered to ask what Bradley was up to either.
Elijah figured Bradley would fade out of his and Cameron’s lives forever. He never expected Cameron to bring him up today.
Cameron nodded. “Yeah, turns out he went abroad to study. No wonder he just disappeared like that.”
Elijah’s brow furrowed. “Cameron, about what happened back then-“
“I’m not mad at him anymore,” Cameron said.
Elijah fell silent. ‘Not mad at him anymore? Bradley crossed so many lines, and Cameron forgave him? Why would she forgive him sily? Back then, Austin just tipped off Xander, and Cameron was furious. But Bradley gets a pass? Does Cameron still have feelings for him?”
Elijah stared at Cameron, forcing himself to ask the question that made his heart race, “Have you been waiting for him this whole time?”
The moment the words left his mouth, his chest tightened with dread.
Cameron took a slow sip of her drink. “Eli, Brad has always been different from you guys. He’s special to me.”
Cameron was telling the truth. Out of everyone in Room 316, she and Bradley had always been closest
Elijah’s brow furrowed without him realizing it. He thought, ‘Brad? Cameron was calling Bradley “Brad” again. She’d forgiven him
He asked, “Then why did you turn him down seven years ago?”
Cameron sighed, “He was rushing things.”
“Rushing?”
“I wasn’t ready to date anyone back then, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like him.”
Elijah’s eyes went wide with shock. ‘Did I just hear that right? Cameron said she liked Bradley?’ His mind raced. ‘So she’s stayed single all these years waiting for Bradley?’
It all made sense now. Cameron liked Bradley-that was why she’d forgiven him so easily.
Only the ones who were loved get to break the rules.
“Oh, by the way,” Cameron said, a soft smile playing at her lips, “Brad apologized to me a few days ago.”
Elijah felt like a heavy stone had settled on his chest. His voice came out rough. “Cameron, so you’re planning to be with Bradley?”
Cameron smiled, “If he wants to.”
Her smile was pure, like a girl who’d fallen in love for the first time.
Elijah opened his mouth, but all his emotions stuck in his throat.
There were no words for loss, pain, shock, or disbelief. The hurt cut deep, but he held onto what dignity he had left. He called the waiter to pay the bill, then looked at Cameron. “I wish you happiness.”
Cameron smiled. “Thanks.”
Cameron and Elijah left together.
At the entrance, Cameron said, “By the way, Eli, about the company-
“I’ll have my secretary contact you,” Elijah replied.
“Okay.” Cameron nodded and got into a taxi at the curb.
Elijah watched the busy street, his eyes growing slightly moist. It was Cameron’s choice, and he wouldn’t interfere.
Seven years passed. His dream had finally come to an end.
“Pull over here, thanks.” Cameron got out of the taxi and wandered along the river.
She hoped Elijah could start fresh now. She’d pushed him away so many times, but nothing had worked.
This time may be different.
Cameron stopped and leaned against the railing, watching the neon lights dance on the water’s surface.
Everything she’d said to Elijah was meant to make him give up on her completely. But every single word she’d spoken was true.
Over these seven years, Cameron had slowly realized that what she felt for Bradley differed from what she felt for Elijah and the others.
Cameron had always been the type to hold grudges and get even.
But that time, she’d let Bradley off the hook. And that castle couldn’t hold her anyway.
She had countless ways to escape from there. But she’d allowed Bradley to do what he did. Then Bradley disappeared.
In those quiet midnight hours when sleep wouldn’t come, she finally understood what Bradley meant to her.
But seven years had passed. Everything had changed. What was done was done.
A month flew by, and Cameron settled into her routine. She went to work and occasionally met with Amelia and the others for afternoon tea.
Lila had married Calder and was busy with the baby, so she couldn’t make it. Sienna had turned into a complete workaholic. Even though money wasn’t an issue, she kept pushing herself more than ever.
Cameron and Amelia sat across from each other in the coffee shop.
Amelia looked polished and beautiful, slouching lazily in her thair. “Cam, next Wednesday night is my mom’s birthday party, I’m officially inviting you Her tone was completely flat.
Cameron raised an eyebrow. “Your mom’s birthday, and you don’t seem too excited about it?”
