I’m Done Being My Genius Boyfriend’s Secret Chapter 08

I’m Done Being My Genius Boyfriend’s Secret Chapter 08

Tristan went back to New York.

The scandal kept growing.

He ended up coming forward and handing over evidence-

Briar’s burner account, the posts, the coordinated smear campaign-

all of it, to the school.

Briar didn’t go quietly.

She showed up crying at the teaching building, demanding answers. Word spread fast.

A friend from New York texted me the gossip. The fight was ugly.

Briar sobbed, “What does she have that I don’t?”

“She’s not smarter than me. Not more accomplished.”

“She doesn’t even look special standing next to you.”

“So why does she get you, when I-” her voice broke,

“when I’m the one who’s always been better at everything?”

Tristan didn’t answer right away.

Then he said, “Because she never tried to destroy someone else to get what she wanted.”

Briar lost it. “And you’re innocent?”

“You liked having me around. You let me stand by your side.”

“You made Kira feel small-over and over again. Don’t pretend you’re better than me.”

That one hit him hard.

In the end, both of them were formally warned.

Briar lost her social standing.

People avoided her.

The image she’d built so carefully-brilliant, graceful, admired-crumbled.

Tristan didn’t come out clean either.

He’d already missed the start of the semester.

Now, with the scandal attached, his competition slot was canceled.

I heard he kept to himself after that.

Some said they saw him standing in front of the library, staring at nothing, holding an old photo,

I didn’t ask. I didn’t care.

Fall came fast in Wyoming.

After orientation, my roommates dragged me to a ranch for Chugwater Chili.

I got so spicy my eyes watered-they laughed and handed me yogurt, then slid the last piece of meat into my bowl.

I thought about how I used to run after Tristan, afraid of being left behind.

Now I knew: real friends don’t make you chase them.

They slow down. They pull you forward.

I joined student government. Took part in debates.

Worked on projects with professors. Got a scholarship.

I wasn’t someone’s shadow anymore.

I was just Kira.

Average or not, I was living my own life.

One winter evening in sophomore year, I posted a photo of the snow-covered mountains on

Instagram.

I was laughing in the shot.

Tristan liked it-then unliked it right away.

I saw it. I didn’t click his profile.

My roommate grabbed my phone.

“Kira, come on. We’re going to watch the sunset.”

I laughed and caught up with them.

The wind carried the clean, cold scent of Wyoming winter.

I glanced back at the road behind me.

The youth I’d left three thousand miles away-was finally over.