5
“Haha, look at that pathetic expression. He’s probably already hearing wedding bells in his head.”
“Villain: She likes me so much. She brings me food every day in secret. I think I’m starting to like her too.”
“I heard this villain’s character is pretty intense. The obsessive, clinging ghost–type. Once he latches onto someone, he’ll never let
go, not even in death.”
“Look at the way he’s staring. He probably already thinks she belongs to him.”
“Haha, you’re done for, side character! Our villain is the type who, if you show him a single kindness, will cling to you like a vengeful
spirit.”
The comments were a chorus of laughter, but I was trembling where I stood.
This was bad.
Not only had I failed to attract the male lead, but I had accidentally provoked the villain!
The System had mentioned this villain, Leo Vance, before. He would go on to do terrible things and meet a tragic end. If he latched onto me, would I even survive?
No, no, no.
1 had to cut this off. Now.
I quickly turned and ducked back into the classroom. Thankfully, it was almost time for morning study, and students were trickling in. I breathed a sigh of relief, figuring he wouldn’t dare follow me in here.
I lowered my head, ready to start my reading.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the door.
“Hey, isn’t that the jinx from Class 10?”
“What’s he doing here?”
“Stay away from him. Look at him, all gloomy like a sewer rat. So creepy.”
“Is he here to see someone?”
“Get real. You think someone like him has friends?”
“Yeah, I heard whoever gets close to him has bad luck for the whole day.”
“Why is he just standing there?”
“Who’s he waiting for?”
302% C
A few boys shoved him.
Leo didn’t move.
He just stood quietly at the back door, still clutching the sandwich and yogurt. His eyes were fixed on the back of my head, unblink- ing, as if he could burn a hole through it with his gaze.
The boys at the door, annoyed, slammed it shut in his face.
Leo said nothing. He silently walked over to the window and continued to stare at me through the glass.
The people sitting by the window: “…”
So the curtains were drawn.
Even though I was sitting at my desk and didn’t turn around, I could feel his eyes on me, like needles on my back.
And the comments kept scrolling.
“Villain: Can’t see my wife anymore, sob.”
“Villain: It’s okay if my wife doesn’t want to see me. I’m not that sad, really, I’m not. As long as she’s nice to me later, it’s okay, it’s okay… No, it’s not okay! Wife, please, just look at me once…”
I pretended I couldn’t see any of it. Wiping a bead of sweat from my brow, I went back
Thankfully, he must have felt awkward, because he didn’t come looking for me for the
But going to the bathroom meant passing his classroom.
my homework.
of the day.
After holding it for two periods, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I sprinted past his door like I was running a hundred–meter dash.
On my way back, though, I couldn’t resist a quick glance into his classroom. And I immediately saw a familiar tall, thin figure.
But he wasn’t at his desk.
For some reason, he was standing by the trash can, staring into it blankly. Then, without hesitation, he reached in to pull something
out.
Me: “!”
As I was wondering what was going on, the comments appeared right on cue.
“Poor villain. Someone threw the sandwich the side character gave him in the trash.”
“Sigh, he’s already so poor he can’t afford food. That was probably his only meal for the day.”
“He was trying to save it, too. He wrapped it in his jacket and put it in his desk, but those guys who hate him found it.”
“How can people be so cruel?”
“Sigh, isn’t that how it always is for villains? Bullied from a young age, facing endless hardships, until they finally lose all hope and
love for the world and just hate everyone equally.”
“When you’re at your lowest, even a single straw can break you. Let alone having the food from the person you like thrown in the
trash.”
“With the villain’s vengeful personality, is he really just going to let this slide?”
“Of course not! Spoiler alert: tonight, Leo will corner those guys in an alley, beat them half to death, get expelled, and begin his life
as a villain.”
“What? No way! I heard his grades are really good. If this didn’t happen, he could have gotten into a top university, had a bright futu- re, instead of ending up in the criminal underworld, fighting for his life in the rain, covered in wounds.”
10.30 CO
“What? No way! I heard his grades are really good. If this didn’t happen, he could have gotten into a top university, had a bright futu- re, instead of ending up in the criminal underworld, fighting for his life in the rain, covered in wounds.”
“Can’t be helped. That’s his fate.”
The comments made my blood boil.
What fate? All he wanted right now was to eat. Such a simple wish. Why did he have to trade his future for it?
I was so angry I forgot all about my plan to stay away from him.
Without a word, I marched into his classroom and grabbed Leo’s arm just as it was about to go into the trash can.
In front of the gawking bullies, I dragged him out of the room.
Leo, caught off guard, instinctively tried to shake me off. But when he saw it was me, he immediately lowered his head and follow- ed me obediently. His tall, thin frame stumbled awkwardly as I pulled him along, but he didn’t make a sound.
Under the brim of his cap, his dark eyes were fixed on the hand I was using to hold him, a slow ripple of emotion spreading through them.
The comments exploded.
“What is she doing?!”
“I don’t care, she’s so damn cool!”
“The villain is really going to fall for her now.”
“Wife, your humble servant bows to you~”
