Chapter 3

After school, I went to find Vivian for the handover.

She sat in her seat, undisguised triumph on her face.

"Actually, there's nothing much to hand over."

She leisurely looked in a mirror, not even glancing at me.

"Chase said I'd definitely be fine, told me to boldly run for it."

"I think so too. If even you could be a good class president, then it must be the simplest thing ever."

I picked up my things and turned to leave.

"Evelyn!"

Chase caught up and blocked my way by the wall.

The sunset stretched his shadow very long.

"Just now."

He paused, as if explaining to me was something very difficult to say.

"I didn't deliberately not choose you. It's just that Vivian has never been a class officer. It's almost graduation—letting her experience it is like having no regrets in youth."

"Don't overthink it."

I said nothing.

The boy reached out to pull me, but I dodged sideways.

My gaze inadvertently swept past the fitness band on his wrist.

He'd worn it until the edges were frayed.

I remembered it.

Vivian's birthday gift to him last year, a few dollars from the convenience store.

She'd put it on his wrist herself.

And those signature edition sneakers I'd saved several years of New Year's money to buy.

He'd never worn them once.

At this moment, this several-dollar plastic band was firmly circled on his wrist bone.

Glaring as if mocking how all my heartfelt gestures were worthless.

I said nothing and ran home.

After that, Chase seemed to sense something.

When boys pointed at my hair and laughed strangely during breaks, he would actually frown and scold:

"What's so funny? If you're bored, go do practice problems."

When I couldn't find my exam papers, he'd pass his own from behind.

After school he'd also dawdle instead of leaving, as if wanting to wait for me.

Late rain fell on an already cracked heart.

It had no moisturizing effect.

It just felt noisy.

For the last school festival before graduation, each class had to put on a performance.

At Vivian's suggestion, our class would perform a short play with a script she carefully wrote.

When the script was being passed around, I was doing practice problems.

Bursts of laughter came from the class. I seemed to realize something.

When it finally reached my hands.

I understood what they were laughing at.

The protagonist was an obese, shameless, witless high school girl.

Her daily routine was doing all kinds of absurd things to seduce the male lead.

Secretly hiding the male lead's sneakers, deliberately falling when the male lead passed by, imitating the female lead's dress and becoming a laughingstock.

Every line was incredibly ridiculous and despicable.

My whole body trembled.

After class, the boys had no more reservations and laughed loudly.

"Art comes from life."

"Vivian observed so carefully!"

Chase was chosen to play the male lead.

After he got the script, his brows furrowed deeply. He glanced in my direction.

Unable to read anymore, I went to knock on the homeroom teacher's door with red eyes.

She sighed and said the program had already been submitted.

Not knowing what to do, my whole body went cold. I sat at my desk with tears flowing wildly.

That night, I stayed up late writing Chase a long letter.

Using every humble word I could think of, begging him not to perform.

Begging him to leave us with just a bit of dignity at the end.

The next day during rehearsal, I saw him arguing with Vivian in a corner of the hallway.

The boy was frowning.

Vivian pulled on his arm, eyes slightly red, saying something quietly.

A thread of hope ignited in my heart.

Maybe there was still a chance.

On the day of the school festival performance, I sat in the least noticeable corner below the stage, so nervous I wanted to vomit.

Just as I was silently praying,

That ugly character based on me, wearing a messy wig and exaggerated ugly makeup.

Appeared with affected mannerisms.

"Honey, don't get so close to those bad women. My little heart can't take it!"

The audience below laughed like crazy.

People kept looking at me. Some raised their eyebrows and pointed me out to others.

"Look, that's the fatty."

In my most painful moment, Chase and Vivian made their entrance.

A handsome man and beautiful woman, triggering waves of heckling.

"Kiss!"

"Get together!"