Chapter 2

I looked Tiffany in the eye as I said, "No."

I thought Sue really liked me before and really wanted to be my friend, so I always gave her my notes, got her the good seats at the lecture hall and brought her along for competitions.

But now, everything felt different about her—she didn't really have a heart, only endless plotting.

And I refuse to be a mere stepping stone to her success!

Silence ensued until Tiffany sprang to her feet, showing her chair backward and making it screech loudly against the floor.

She stood up, crabbing her coat as she growled icily, "Fine. If you won't go, I'll go. Honestly, wasting so much time over something so insignificant—I was wrong about you. You really are selfish."

As she turned to leave, Sue promptly ran up, yelling, "No! Tiff, don't go!"

Catching Tiffany's sleeve, she said, "You haven't finished your assignment, and I don't want to trouble you… But Zoe will be going out anyway, so I thought I could ask her to help instead of you making the trip."

Her tone was pressing but meek, and she was looking at me as she said she didn't want to trouble me.

I felt a chill run down my spine as Sue insisted that the 'trouble' should only fall upon me.

Tiffany stopped, but didn't sit down as she turned toward me in silence, her glare leaving me shudder a little.

It was a look that said, 'See? Because of your selfishness and 'inconvenience', I have to do it for you even when I haven't finished my assignment. And Sue had to apologize for you too!'

But my throat felt stuck, and I couldn't argue, leaving the room deathly silent until the door opened.

Bobo Strauss, our other roommate, entered with her laptop, followed by two of her classmates.

"Everyone! Shower me with your praise, for I have finished my project—"

Bobo was beaming as she entered, but stopped halfway as she realized something was wrong.

After all, Sue was sitting by her bed, teary-eyed.

Tiffany stood by her desk, her expression dark, while I sat by mine, my expression cool.

Bobo closed the door. "What is it?"

"Heh. You see…" Tiffany promptly replied, "Sue asked Zoe to get a tiramisu when she goes out later, but Zoe refused, saying it's 'inconvenient'. I offered to help, but Sue won't let me."

Hearing that, Bobo looked at me with surprise and disapproval.

Her face virtually said, 'Why are you like this?'

She put her laptop on her desk and walked up to Sue. "It's okay. I'll hand over my report to my lecturer, and get it for you later."

"That's too troublesome," Sue quickly said, her voice cracking. "And you need rest after working…"

As she spoke, she kept shooting me looks, so everyone turned toward me too.

Bobo's classmates weren't leaving either, with the short-haired one whispering, "They all bunk in the same room. Is a favor like that really too much to ask?"

The other classmate shrugged. "Every time I come, Sue is always greeting me warmly, while that one stays still like a log. No wonder no one likes her."

Tiffany then chimed in, her tone nonchalant without even looking at me, "Only Sue tolerates her, but she still doesn't know what's good for her. Tut, tut… So what if she has good grades? Personality matters more.

"That's why people prefer girls like Sue—good grades, good looks, and getting along with everyone… Unlike certain loners who don't care to socialize."

Each word was clearly prickly and aimed at me, as if I was some weirdo who doesn't care about anything except my grades.

She even lumped my refusal as jealousy and poor morals.

I glared at Tiffany's cheek, my molars numb and clenched.

On the other hand, Sue wiped her eyes and looked up at me tearfully.

And everyone could see it from where she stood—not rolling down her cheeks, but not wiped away either.

"Zoe…"

She murmured like a wounded kitten forced to be obedient. "Please?"

Everyone in the room was staring daggers at me right then—Sue, Tiffany, even Bobo and her two classmates.

It's like the air was sucked out of that place entirely, but I suddenly laughed and stood up. "Sure. I'll get it for you."