Chapter 6
1053 Words
Sophia thought the project with Ethan Lockwood was finally over.
And she was grateful.
Not because it was difficult.
Actually, the project had gone better than expected.
The problem was Ethan himself.
Spending so much time with him had only confirmed one thing in Sophia's mind.
He was still impossible.
Yes, he was intelligent.
Yes, he was hardworking.
But that didn't change his attitude.
He was still cold.
Still arrogant.
Still someone who believed he could handle everything alone.
And Sophia had no intention of becoming one of those people who admired him just because of his family name.
"Are you seriously thinking about him again?"
Sophia looked up from her notebook.
Lily was staring at her with a knowing expression.
"I am not."
"You are."
"I'm thinking about the assignment."
"You finished that assignment three days ago."
Sophia sighed.
"Fine. I was thinking about how annoying Ethan Lockwood is."
Lily laughed.
"That sounds more believable."
Sophia closed her notebook.
"I don't understand why everyone acts like he's perfect."
"Because he's not like everyone else."
"Exactly. He thinks he's better than everyone else."
Lily shook her head.
"You two are funny."
"What?"
"You spend so much time saying you dislike each other, yet you always have something to say about each other."
Sophia rolled her eyes.
"Because he gives me reasons."
Before Lily could reply, the professor entered the classroom.
The conversation ended immediately.
---
Weeks passed.
The semester was coming to an end, and students were preparing for their final exams.
Sophia was focused on her studies.
Unlike many students who enjoyed the university attention, she preferred a quiet life.
She had friends.
She had her family.
She had goals.
And she didn't need unnecessary drama.
Unfortunately...
Drama seemed to find her.
Especially when Ethan Lockwood was involved.
One afternoon, Sophia was walking through the hallway when she heard voices nearby.
She wasn't trying to listen.
But one sentence caught her attention.
"Ethan only gets everything because of his family."
Sophia slowed down.
A group of male students stood near the lockers.
One of them laughed.
"If his last name wasn't Lockwood, nobody would care about him."
Another student nodded.
"Exactly. People only respect money."
Sophia frowned.
She didn't like Ethan.
That was true.
But she disliked unfair comments even more.
Before she could stop herself, she spoke.
"At least criticize him for something he actually does."
The students turned.
They looked surprised to see her.
"What?"
Sophia crossed her arms.
"You said people only respect him because of his family. But have you ever considered that maybe he's also smart and hardworking?"
The boys exchanged looks.
One of them laughed.
"Are you defending Ethan Lockwood now?"
"No."
Sophia immediately answered.
"I'm saying your argument makes no sense."
She walked away before they could respond.
She didn't notice someone standing a short distance away.
Ethan.
He had heard everything.
For a moment, he simply watched her leave.
He didn't understand her.
Sophia Clark spent most of her time criticizing him.
She argued with him.
She challenged him.
Yet when people spoke unfairly about him, she defended him.
It was confusing.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
She probably just hated injustice.
Nothing more.
---
Later that day, Ethan found Sophia in the library.
She was sitting alone, reading.
He stopped beside her table.
Sophia looked up.
Her expression immediately changed.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you standing there?"
Ethan placed a book on the table.
"You left this in the classroom."
Sophia looked at the book.
She recognized it immediately.
She must have forgotten it after the lecture.
"Oh."
She took it.
"Thank you."
Ethan nodded.
Sophia stared at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're acting strange."
"I'm not."
"You returned a book without making a sarcastic comment."
Ethan looked at her.
"Do you expect me to insult you every time?"
Sophia thought about it.
"Honestly?"
"That's not a good sign."
She ignored his comment.
"You just seem different today."
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think."
The words made her pause.
For a second, she didn't know how to answer.
Because he was right.
She had already decided who Ethan Lockwood was.
Maybe she had never tried to see beyond that.
But she quickly pushed the thought away.
"Maybe."
She closed the book.
"But your attitude is still terrible."
Ethan almost sighed.
Almost.
"There you are."
Sophia smiled slightly.
"The Ethan I know."
He shook his head and walked away.
---
The following week, the university announced a charity event.
Students from different faculties were encouraged to participate.
Sophia immediately volunteered.
Lily looked surprised.
"You?"
"Why are you surprised?"
"Because you complain about every school event."
"I complain, but I still participate."
Lily laughed.
That was Sophia.
She could complain about something and still be the first person to help.
On the day of the event, students gathered in the university hall.
Sophia was busy arranging donation boxes when she noticed Ethan entering.
Of course.
Even at a charity event, he attracted attention.
Some students immediately surrounded him.
Sophia watched from a distance.
"Here we go again."
Lily smiled.
"You sound jealous."
"I'm not."
"Sure."
Sophia ignored her.
A few minutes later, the organizer announced that Ethan had donated a large amount of money toward the charity.
The students applauded.
Sophia was surprised.
She didn't expect that.
But before she could think about it, Ethan walked away as if it wasn't a big deal.
No announcement.
No pride.
Nothing.
Sophia frowned.
That didn't fit the image she had of him.
But she refused to admit it.
"Maybe he's not completely terrible."
Lily looked at her.
"Did you just say something nice about Ethan?"
"Don't misunderstand."
Sophia quickly corrected herself.
"I still don't like him."
Lily smiled.
"Of course."
Sophia looked away.
Because the truth was...
Ethan Lockwood was confusing.
He was not the person she expected him to be.
But that didn't mean she liked him.
And Ethan felt the same.
Sophia Clark was unpredictable.
She was stubborn.
She was too honest.
And she annoyed him more than anyone else.
But he would never admit that she was also different from everyone around him.
For now, they were still two people who couldn't stand each other.
Two people who only saw each other's flaws.
To be continued…
- Writer
