Chapter 2

Miranda had been my desk partner since our freshman year. Back then, I was totally infatuated with her. I'd hop the school fence at six in the morning just to buy her breakfast, and pick up late-night takeout for her after study hall, barely leaving myself enough lunch money to survive.

To put it bluntly, I was her ultimate simp.

Over the past few days, Chase, the notorious school bully, had set his sights on her. Now, she wanted me to walk her home solely to use me as a shield against him.

In my past life, I genuinely believed Miranda detested Chase. But now, it was obvious that wasn't the case at all.

Whatever twisted game they were playing, I had zero interest in being their pawn.

I shook my head and said, "Go on without me. I've got something to take care of."

The words had barely left my mouth when Miranda's other childhood friend, Liam, popped out of nowhere. "Miranda, how about I walk you home? We're heading in the same direction anyway."

He was the type who always hung around under the guise of being a 'best friend,' sliding into Miranda's SnapChat every single day. Whenever Miranda and I had a fight, he would immediately swoop in to play the comforter, subtly talking trash behind my back.

Whenever there was an opening, he'd show off how sweet and considerate he was—the textbook definition of a "nice guy."

Unfortunately for him, Liam was about to run straight into a brick wall today.

According to my past life's memories, the moment I walked out of the school gates with Miranda today, Chase intercepted us. He blatantly groped and taunted Miranda right in my face. In a fit of rage, I threw hands with him, which ended with two of my ribs fractured. I spent months bedridden in the hospital, and my grades tanked completely.

Right now, Miranda completely ignored Liam. She turned back to me and snapped impatiently, "Are you coming or not?"

"I really don't have time. Let Liam walk you. Aren't you two heading the same way?" I said flatly.

"Yeah, totally," Liam chimed in eagerly. "It's been a while since we walked home together."

Even though every time Liam finished comforting Miranda, she would toss him aside and hit him with the "you're like a brother to me" or "you're such a nice guy" speech, he still wagged his tail and came back for more.

Miranda eyed me suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're terrified of Chase? Wow, I never realized you were such a spineless coward!"

Such a clumsy attempt at reverse psychology didn't faze me in the slightest. But to high school kids, that was a heavy blow. Liam looked at me curiously, clearly expecting me to explode with anger.

Instead, I just shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Yup, I'm scared. Have fun, you two."

Miranda stomped her foot in irritation. "How can you be so pathetic and irresponsible?!"

Hearing that, Liam immediately jumped on the bandwagon to lecture me: "Seriously, man. Ever heard of being a gentleman?"

I couldn't help looking up at Liam—the guy spent all day playing the gentle hero, plotting endlessly to steal Miranda away. Out of the goodness of my heart, I offered him a sincere piece of advice:

"Do you know the saying? Nice guys finish dead last."

Looking back, I hadn't been much better than Liam back then. I was a pathetic simp, and he was the wannabe 'nice guy.' He was just one step behind me in line.

And simps always lost out to bad boys anyway.