My Childhood Love Came Back Too Late

Post-exam party. Someone suggested Never Have I Ever.

Freya Gilbert went first.

"I got guaranteed admission to Northbridge. Didn't even take the college entrance exams."

The private room erupted in whoops.

The Olympiad competition in senior year — make the national team and you earned a guaranteed-admission slot.

I'd spent the better part of a year preparing, only to end up hospitalized with a bad allergic reaction right before the exam. I missed the whole thing.

I folded a finger down without a word.

A few rounds later, only Freya and I still had one finger standing.