Chapter 3

After class, I went to get some water. Lucas cornered me in the hallway.

"Lily, are you done with your tantrum?" he demanded.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Just because I chose Hazel as my partner for the biology competition instead of you? Your grades are excellent - not having that extra credit won't affect your college applications. But Hazel needs this. I have to help her!"

Lucas lectured me with a frown, as if I was being utterly unreasonable.

"Didn't you promise not to compete with me for the spot? Hazel is your friend too. Can't you be less petty and jealous? You're jeopardizing someone else's future!"

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity.

Sacrificing my opportunities for Hazel's future, without a second thought.

Then I remembered.

The school had allocated five spots for the National Biology Olympiad to our class. By the time it got to us, only one spot remained.

Lucas had approached me then, which was rare. He asked me to give up my spot for him.

After all, I was his only real competition in our class.

My biology scores were the best in our grade. The teachers called me a prodigy.

Lucas went to great lengths for Hazel's future, even feeling guilty years later that he couldn't give her the best. He ended up taking over the company I had poured my heart and soul into building, all to impress Hazel.

But he never once considered the price I paid in giving up everything.

He felt entitled to my sacrifices, as if it were only natural.

Seeing my silence, Lucas softened his tone, looking smug and self-assured.

"You were always pestering me to tutor you in English before. If you back down now, I'll agree to tutor you."

He looked at me as if bestowing some great favor, making me sick to my stomach.

I couldn't hide my disgust.

"Lucas, who the hell do you think you are?"

He was stunned, not expecting me to curse at him.

"If you like Hazel, go after her yourself. Don't blame others for your own cowardice. What kind of man are you?"

"You've got some nerve. Why should I have to pay the price for your love life?"

Lucas stood there dumbfounded as I walked away without a backward glance.

Around the corner, Hazel was startled to see me. She looked at me awkwardly.

But I didn't spare her a single glance.

I hadn't expected Lucas to be so shameless.

When he came to my desk with a practice exam, I shoved the form I was filling out into my desk.

"Lily, there's a problem Hazel can't solve. Can you help her?" he asked.

I looked at him like he was an idiot.

"Teach her yourself."

Lucas's expression turned awkward.

"Lily, neither Lucas nor I can figure it out," Hazel said with a sweet smile. To others she might have seemed kind, but I caught the flash of resentment and contempt in her eyes. "He said you once promised to help him unconditionally, so we came to you."

"You're not refusing because you're jealous that Lucas and I get to compete together, are you?" she continued. "This is a national competition. If we win, it'll benefit our whole class and school. You should think of the bigger picture and not let your personal feelings get in the way."

Her words sparked a chorus of agreement from our classmates:

"Yeah, talk about petty! No wonder Lucas doesn't like her."

"They're doing her a favor by asking. As if someone as smart as Lucas needs help from a selfish person like her!"

"If Lucas loses because she's jealous, she'll be sorry!"

Hearing everyone criticize me, Hazel smiled in satisfaction.

Lucas's eyes darkened: "Lily, that's enough. Don't be so ungrateful."

I laughed.

"If you can't handle it yourselves, why take on the challenge? Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Are you going to blame me if you fail the competition too? Expect me to take the test for you?"

Lucas was at a loss for words. Hazel's expression soured as well.

I was a biology prodigy. Our company Joy Tech had succeeded largely due to my technical skills.

In my past life, I had given up a guaranteed spot in a top university's biology lab for Lucas's sake. But on the day of the finals, he had run off to the airport to chase after Hazel, wasting an opportunity others would kill for.

This time, I refused to hand over what was rightfully mine.

Lucas frowned deeply: "Acting out like this won't get my attention. It only makes me resent you."

I rolled my eyes: "As if I care."

The biology teacher walked in. I stood up and pulled the registration form from my desk.

"Teacher, I want to sign up for the Olympiad!"