1
“William, this is Wren, my best friend at college. Isn’t she pretty?” Jessica’s teasing voice and the deafening music around us brought me back to reality. This was when I first met William Carter.
He didn’t think much of me then, and it was the same now.
He didn’t even glance at me, just kept drinking his whiskey.
Jessica had one arm around my shoulders, grinning as she asked, “Wren, what do you think of our William?”
“William’s family is in real estate. They’re the richest in the city.”
I lowered my head and smiled shyly, pretending to be embarrassed.
“He seems nice. I need to use the restroom real quick.”
Jessica clearly liked William, yet she kept trying to push him towards me. William was a jerk too, getting together with me even though he didn’t like me. I was just a pawn in their little game.
I raised my head from the cold water, taking off my thick black–framed glasses.
This time, I refuse to be their plaything. Who says an ugly duckling can’t become a swan?
I left without saying goodbye, and sure enough, I ran into William at the entrance.
He was sitting alone on a hidden bench near the door, head down as if looking at something.
In my previous life, I learned a lot about his past from Jessica.
Today was his birthday, but also the anniversary of his mother’s death.
In my past life, everyone urged me to toast William, but he mocked me for not knowing the difference between brandy and whiskey, then left me standing there.
I kept my head down and took out a box of strawberry milk from my bag.
It was supposed to be my breakfast, but now it would have to serve as a prop.
“Here, drinking alcohol all night isn’t good for your stomach.”
William gave me a cold look. “I don’t need your pity.”
I didn’t get angry, I just set it down and said, “If you hurt your stomach, your mom would be sad.”
With that, I turned and left, ignoring the curious gaze behind me.
Rich kids like him and Jessica would never take someone like me seriously.
But this time, I’m not just going to make him take me seriously, I’m going to make him and Jessica turn against each other.
When Jessica came back, she complained about me leaving without a word. I sweet–talked her as usual, fawning over her.
If she skipped class, I’d mark her present. If she was too lazy to get food, I’d bring it to her. If she thought the dorm washing machines were dirty, I’d hand–wash her clothes one by one.
The other roommates called me a bootlicker behind my back, saying no matter how much I sucked up, she’d never give me a penny.
I pretended not to hear, playing the role of Jessica’s little follower.
Every day, besides doing chores for her, I had to listen to her bragging.
12:37 PM
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She’d say the cafeteria food was barely fit for pigs, and that her dad should just open a food processing plant right here on campus.
Sometimes William would come visit her, bringing flowers, gifts, food, and all sorts of little trinkets – there’d even be something for me.
I’d suck up to him too, bringing him food when I brought Jessica’s.
