Edward’s POV
Hearing my words, Mario only got more dramatic. He sighed heavily and muttered, “You really didn’t have to,” before turning to glare at Alora, who didn’t even flinch. She’d already grabbed his phone and was happily scrolling through shopping apps like she owned the damn thing.
Mario rubbed his temples, defeated. “Forget it,” he said finally, then turned back to me. “Anyway, there’s a party tonight. You showing up?”
Back then, when I was broke, parties like that were off-limits. I couldn’t even afford a proper meal at the cafeteria—what business did I have wasting money on booze and loud music? But now… things were different. The thought made me smile. This wasn’t just any party; it was our pre-graduation gathering. It would be awkward not to go.
And besides, I wasn’t the s
