After I Dressed as a Man, He Mistook Me for His Rival Chapter 11

After I Dressed as a Man, He Mistook Me for His Rival Chapter 11

Because Tavish was always teasing me, I started coming out of my shell without realizing it.

I talked more. I got mad when I wanted to. I laughed when I was happy.

With my grades and my new haircut, I slowly noticed girls sneaking looks at me in the halls.

Sometimes, small gifts showed up in my desk.

One of Mom’s friends even joked with her, “Your son is so well-behaved. Much better than most boys that age.”

That night, when Dad brought Maribel a glass of milk, he actually spoke to me for once.

“Still studying?” he asked. “Don’t stay up too late.”

Ever since what happened last time, Mom had been awkward around me.

I heard her stop outside my door and ask Dad in a low voice, “Is she asleep?”

But I didn’t want to talk to her.

So I turned off the light and lay down.

Mom stood outside my door for a long time before finally leaving.

I lay awake after that, unable to stop thinking.

Part of me was still waiting for an apology.

Another part already knew it wouldn’t fix anything.

One day, a girl from the dance program handed me a love letter.

I politely turned her down. “Thank you.”

Then I carefully tucked the faintly perfumed letter into my bag.

From the hallway, Lachlan saw everything.

His eyes lowered to the letter in my hand. He watched for so long that I finally felt the weight of his stare and turned around.

Then he said flatly, “Bad taste.”

A few girls immediately argued with him.

“Sutton is sweet. He’s kind, and he treats people well. Why would you say that?”

Lachlan gave a soft laugh.

Then he turned and left.

In May, the school held an inter-school rivalry game.

The basketball game between Evershore Prep and Moorfield High drew the most attention.

Word was that Moorfield’s team was strong this year, and the teachers were worried.

So for the next few days, Lachlan, as team captain, was always on the court.

Tavish went to practice too.

On the day of the game, Maribel had prepared bottled water in advance.

Right before it started, she suddenly turned to me.

“Sutton,” Maribel said softly. “Mom and Dad have been pretty nice to you lately.”

I didn’t know how to answer.

She didn’t know what had happened, and I didn’t want to pull her into it.

So I could only smile and nod. “Yeah.”

Maribel said nothing else.

After a while, she suddenly gasped.

“Oh no. I forgot the water. I swear, my memory is awful.”

“Sutton, hurry and get it for me. I bought a whole case and left it in the equipment room.”

I hesitated.

For the first time, I refused my sister.

“I promised someone I’d watch his game.”

“The equipment room isn’t far. You can still make it back in time.”

Maribel pushed me a few times.

“Come on, Sutton. It’s so hot. I don’t want to run.”

“My makeup will be ruined if I sweat.”

This time, I didn’t give in to her whining right away.

I stood up and looked at her seriously.

“This is the last time,” I said quietly. “From now on, if it’s something you can do yourself, I need you to do it.”

“I’ll still be here for you, Maribel. I just can’t keep putting myself last.”

Maribel froze where she stood.

For the first time, she looked almost lost.