Rejected: A love story-Chapter 103: Anonymous sponsor 2

I was halfway through my second class when my phone buzzed in my bag. I ignored it at first, thinking it was probably just a random notification. But then it buzzed again, and this time, I pulled it out to check.

Please report to the dean’s office after class.

My stomach dropped. What could this be about? Did I miss a payment deadline or mess up some paperwork?

The rest of the lecture passed in a blur, my thoughts spinning. As soon as it ended, I packed up my things and headed straight for the administration building.

The dean’s office was on the second floor, tucked away in a quiet corner of the building. I knocked lightly on the door, and a voice called out, "Come in."

I stepped inside, clutching the strap of my bag tightly. The office was neat and professional, with shelves lined with books and certificates framed on the walls.

The dean, a tall man with glasses and a calm expression, was seated behind his desk. He looked up and smiled as I entered.

"Fiona. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

I sat down, my nerves buzzing. "Is something wrong?" I asked quickly, unable to stop myself.

He chuckled softly. "No, not at all. Quite the opposite, actually."

I frowned, confused. "Okay..."

The dean folded his hands on the desk and leaned forward slightly. "I wanted to inform you that Campbell University has decided to award you a scholarship."

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. "A scholarship?"

"Yes," he said, nodding. "It’s a full scholarship that will cover your tuition fees, books, and other expenses. Effective immediately."

I stared at him, my mind struggling to process the words. "Wait—what? Are you sure?"

He smiled again, his expression patient. "I’m sure. The scholarship is part of a program we’ve recently implemented to support promising students who show determination and potential. You were selected based on your academic record and personal circumstances."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "But... I didn’t apply for a scholarship."

"You didn’t have to," he said. "This one doesn’t require an application. The decision was made by the university’s scholarship committee."

My throat tightened, and I felt a lump forming. I’d been stressing about tuition fees for weeks, wondering how I was going to keep up with payments while working at the bakery and trying to stay on top of my classes.

"Are you sure this isn’t a mistake?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The dean shook his head. "It’s not a mistake, Fiona. You’ve earned this. We’re happy to support you in your academic journey."

I sat back in the chair, still trying to wrap my head around it. Relief washed over me, followed by a strange mix of gratitude and disbelief.

"Thank you," I said finally, my voice shaky.

"You’re very welcome," the dean said. "We’ll send you the official paperwork to sign later today. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out."

I left the office feeling like I was floating. My mind was racing with thoughts of what this meant—no more sleepless nights worrying about money, no more wondering if I’d have to drop out.

As I stepped outside, the cool breeze hit my face, and I actually jumped. Some students looked at me with this weird look but I couldn’t care less because for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe. No more worrying about tuition fees. I just had to eat and study!!

#########

I pushed open the door to the bakery, the bell jingling softly as I stepped inside. The place was quiet except for the sound of Mike chatting with a customer at the counter.

He was smiling, his usual easy grin, as he handed the man a box of pastries. "Thanks for coming by," he said, waving as the customer left.

I stood there, shifting my bag on my shoulder, trying not to look like I was bursting at the seams.

Mike turned to me, his smile widening when he saw me. "Hey, Fiona. Why do you look so... lively?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

He raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. "Your face. You’re practically glowing. What’s going on?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Wow, is it that obvious?"

He smirked. "Kind of. Spill."

I dropped my bag in the cubby and walked over to him, my heart still racing from the news.

"So," I began, trying to sound calm but failing miserably. "I just came back from the dean’s office."

Mike straightened up, his expression shifting to something more serious. "What happened? Is everything okay?"

"It’s better than okay," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "They gave me a scholarship. Full tuition. Everything’s covered, can you actually believe it?."

For a second, Mike just stared at me, like he was trying to process what I’d said.

"Wait—what?" he said, his voice rising slightly.

I nodded, unable to keep the grin off my face. "Yeah. They said it’s part of some program for students who show potential. I don’t even know how it happened, but... it’s real."

His face lit up, and before I knew it, he was stepping forward and pulling me into a hug.

"Fiona, that’s amazing!" he said, his voice full of genuine excitement. "I’m so happy for you."

I froze for a second, caught off guard by the hug, but then I relaxed, letting myself smile against his shoulder.

"Thanks," I said softly, my voice muffled.

He pulled back slightly, his hands still resting lightly on my arms. "Seriously, you deserve this. You’ve been worrying so hard, and now you don’t have to worry about tuition. That’s huge."

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. "It’s like... I don’t even know how to explain it. I’ve been stressing about money for weeks, and now it’s just... gone. I can actually focus on school."

Mike grinned, his eyes warm. "See? Things are finally falling into place for you."

For a moment, I just stood there, soaking in his words. It felt good to have someone to share this with, someone who genuinely cared.

"Anyway," I said, trying to sound casual but failing, "I thought you should be the first to know."

Mike chuckled. "I’m honored. Really."