The Campus Bad Boy Bet He Could Make the Poor Transfer Student Fall for Him — Then He Fell First
Chapter 4
Jake tried to make things right without revealing everything.
He stopped bragging about the challenge.
He stopped talking to his friends about Elena.
He stopped keeping score.
He simply spent time with her.
They studied together.
Walked to class.
Shared lunch.
One afternoon, Elena’s laptop stopped working.
She nearly cried.
“I can’t afford another one.”
Jake looked at it.
“Can I see?”
“You know computers?”
“A little.”
He spent an hour repairing it.
The screen came back on.
Elena stared.
“How did you do that?”
“Luck.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“No problem.”
She looked at him.
“You’ve changed.”
He froze.
“How?”
“You’re quieter.”
“Good?”
“Maybe.”
She packed her bag.
“I like this version.”
Jake smiled.
He liked hearing that.
Later, Elena told him about her family.
Her mother was a seamstress.
Her younger brother wanted to become an engineer.
They lived three hours away.
She sent half her earnings home.
Jake listened.
“You do a lot.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You choose to.”
She looked at him.
“What’s the difference?”
“Choice means you have strength.”
She smiled.
“You talk like someone older.”
“My grandmother raised me.”
“What happened?”
“She died when I was fifteen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
They sat quietly.
The friendship deepened.
Then Jake invited Elena to a basketball game.
She refused.
“Why?”
“I don’t like crowds.”
“You can sit somewhere quiet.”
“No.”
“Please?”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
She came.
She sat in the back.
Jake played.
He kept looking toward her.
When the game ended, he scored the winning basket.
His teammates celebrated.
He looked at Elena.
She was smiling.
He walked toward her.
“You came.”
“I said I would.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“You played well.”
“That’s all?”
“What do you want?”
“Maybe a congratulations.”
She laughed.
“Congratulations.”
He smiled.
That was enough.
Then Tyler came over.
He whispered:
“You’re getting attached.”
Jake glared.
“Shut up.”
Elena noticed.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
She looked suspicious.
But didn’t ask.
That evening, Jake’s phone buzzed.
A message from Tyler.
You owe us the bet money if you quit.
Jake typed:
Keep it.
Tyler replied:
No chance.
Jake blocked him.
He didn’t care about the money.
He cared about Elena.
The next morning, she found him outside the lecture hall.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you always with me?”
Jake smiled.
“Because I like being with you.”
She stared.
“That’s dangerous.”
“Why?”
“People don’t like me getting close to rich boys.”
“I’m not just a rich boy.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
That was the moment Jake realized she trusted him.
And he felt terrible.
Because trust was the one thing he wasn’t sure he deserved.
