After spending a year as the "School Bully's" backup girlfriend, I still didn't make the cut. He chose the good girl. On the phone, he dragged out his words, casually insulting me: "Sorry, Stella. Compared to Lily, you're just too... cheap." Everyone bet I would throw a tantrum. Or maybe get jealous and start a catfight with the good girl until we were both bleeding. Instead, I just said, "Oh." I hung up and continued booking my flight to study abroad. Nobody knew I only approached Hunter to dodge a creepy stalker who wouldn't leave me alone. Graduation was here. The acting was over. Later, Hunter flew to a dozen countries, finally cornering me red-eyed at an airport. "Stella, did you seriously play me like a fool from the very beginning?" 1 It was pouring rain on graduation day. Hunter invited me to a party. I didn't go. So they started a livestream just for me. On screen, the whole crew was there. Hearing I wasn't coming, the mood dipped instantly: "Wait, wasn't today the day he picks between her and Lily? I was waiting for the drama. What's up with Stella?" "I bet she knew Hunter wouldn't pick her, so she's hiding somewhere crying." "LOL, the simp finally realized she's not worthy. I told you she'd break." For the past year, while I desperately chased Hunter, everyone treated me like a joke. The camera zoomed in on Hunter's face. He was expressionless, sitting next to Lily, the "good girl" everyone thought was his perfect match. Hunter grabbed her chin: "Since Stella forfeited, you're my girlfriend now. The only one allowed to kiss me." The room erupted in cheers. Lily turned bright red, burying her head and playfully hitting him. "Stop it~" Hunter leaned in to kiss her, but someone shouted: "Honestly, Stella isn't uglier than Lily. Hunter, why didn't you pick her?" "Yeah, I remember you drove her home a few times and bought her Christmas gifts." "Dude, look how cheap she acted. Obviously, she begged for it, right Hunter?" Hunter paused. Then he sneered: "Obviously." Lily, ears still red, pouted. "Yeah, and Stella looks so desperate for love. Who knows how many guys she's been with? She's probably not clean." The group burst into laughter. "Guess I'll chase her in a few days then, see if I can get some action. She's kinda hot. You cool with that, Hunter?" Hunter took a sip of his drink. "Why would I care?" His eyes drifted toward the camera lens. After a beat, he picked up his phone and dialed. "Hello, Stella." The second I picked up, mocking laughter pierced my eardrum. "You really gotta tell her yourself for maximum damage." "Hey, put it on speaker! Let's hear how loud she cries." "Hahaha record it!" I didn't speak. I just heard Hunter’s lazy drawl, dragging out every syllable. "Stella, here's the thing." "It's a shame, really. But you're just too cheap and easy. I like girls like Lily who behave." "So..." "Oh," I said. I cut him off. Before he could continue, I hung up. 2 I stood by the window, booking a flight for two days later. After hanging up, I confirmed the time and airport, grabbed my ticket, and exhaled deeply. I watched the livestream. Notifications from classmates kept popping up on my phone; it was hard to miss. Hunter was the school's untouchable bad boy. When he played basketball, the way his muscles flexed made every girl swoon. Usually, girls admired him from afar, too scared to approach. I was the first. Starting senior year, I "shamelessly" chased Hunter. I blocked his path after school, waited for him at the gates. By the third week, he finally acknowledged my existence. Right after me, the second pursuer appeared: Lily. Clearly, Hunter preferred her type. I ran three blocks to buy Hunter his favorite sports drink; he took a sip and tossed it. Lily bought a random water from the vending machine. Blushing, she handed it to him. He put it on his desk and didn't touch it all afternoon, cherishing it. I waited two hours at the basketball court for him. Lily already had his number. She walked over with him, giggling. Seeing me, she covered her mouth. "Hunter, is she the girl everyone says harasses you?" Hunter glanced at me. That was the first thing he ever said to me directly. "Her? She's not half as cute as you." But I didn't give up. After three months of effort, I finally earned the position of Hunter's "backup girlfriend." "As long as you need me, I'll do anything. I won't cling to you. It's all one-sided on my part." I lowered my head, standing in front of him. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze a mix of amusement and disgust. "Really? Are you that desperate?" I kept my head down, gritting my teeth. "Yes. All I want is to be around you more." Hunter scoffed. "Interesting." He walked away. But after that, everyone knew our relationship was ambiguous. He walked with Lily but called me to bring them food. Sometimes when he played ball alone, he called me to fetch rebounds. Classmates couldn't guess who he really liked. When asked, Hunter laughed openly: "I don't date. They know that." So I was a backup. So was Lily. The only difference was Hunter promised he'd give her a title after graduation. The rumor mill turned it into a "Bachelor"-style choice between us. Unsurprisingly, I was destined to be the punchline. But honestly? I never took it seriously. A notification popped up: Hunter's official relationship announcement on Instagram. He tagged me specifically. The photo was a silhouette of Hunter and Lily kissing. I didn't look closely. I just noticed a familiar name in the comments: Ethan: Congrats. I smirked in disgust and fear. I should thank Hunter. If not for his terrifying reputation, I don't know how many times that creepy, slimy stalker Ethan would have assaulted me. 3 In the VIP room. After hanging up, Hunter didn't speak again. People whispered. "What did Stella say? Did you hear?" "She just said 'Oh'." "No way? Seriously? No reaction? She chased Hunter like a dog, ready 24/7. How could she not care?" "I bet the shock was too big. She froze." At the table, people stood up to toast the new couple. Hunter barely reacted. He just smirked faintly and kept scrolling through his phone. Refresh. No comment from Stella. No new message. Hunter’s eyes grew darker. Others didn't know Stella, but he knew. Her tone just now was flat, completely void of emotion. Like she heard something totally irrelevant to her life. But why? Usually, she lit up just seeing him. She hung up first? Suddenly, Lily's best friend stood up, pouring wine indignantly. "Honestly, you guys should have been together ages ago. It's all because of someone trying to be a homewrecker. So shameless, right Lily?" Lily pursed her lips shyly and nodded. "Can't blame her. Even though Hunter liked me back then, she probably thought she had a chance." "I don't care. She better stop clinging to Hunter now. Can we beat her up and then delete her number?" Lily giggled. "Don't be violent. Just have Hunter delete her." She reached for Hunter's phone. He slammed his hand down on it. "What are you doing?" Hunter glared at her. Lily froze. She'd seen Hunter angry before; it was never pretty. She swallowed her words. "N-Nothing." Her eyes turned red, tears welling up. Hunter ignored her and stood up. "You guys have fun. I'm leaving." He grabbed his jacket and walked out. Lily sat there, stunned. Outside, Hunter stared at his phone for a long time. He looked up at the moon, took a deep breath, and opened his chat with Stella. [Usually you're desperate to stick to me. Are you dead today?] [Just because I'm official doesn't mean we can't be friends. Don't be too sad. Come out, I'll comfort you. You have 30 minutes.] 4 I slept for 14 hours straight. Exams over, no more studying. I collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. I woke up at dusk. Dad called to remind me about packing. "Don't forget your acceptance letter." "Okay, Dad." I packed, then checked my phone. Messages flooded the screen. My throat tightened. Unknown number. I knew it was Ethan. [Can I come to your house tonight?] [Leave the window open? Your security guard pulls hard, my arm hurt for days. But I was happy you looked at me.] [Hunter has a girlfriend now. Stop wasting time on him. He won't stop us anymore.] [I heard you're going to USC? I'll rent a place near your dorm.] ... I scrolled down. My teeth clenched uncontrollably. My body shook. Ethan. The most invisible guy in the class next door. The reason I approached Hunter. He noticed me freshman year. Sophomore year, I realized someone had been following me for a whole year. He mimicked my habits, my movements. He found out everything I liked. He sent love letters written while fantasizing about me at night. My desk was always missing a used eraser, an opened pack of tissues, a half-drunk water bottle. Every time I noticed, I went numb. The worst was that one time. I turned around on the street. I saw him. Walking fast, like he was about to pounce. "What are you doing!" He realized he was caught and laughed psychotically. "Nothing. Just looking at you." Later, he followed me home, even climbed through my window at night. We called the cops, but he kept following me like a ghost. Then I became Hunter’s backup girlfriend. Ethan backed off for a year, scared to offend the big dog. Now he was back. Luckily, I graduated. I'm leaving the country. USC? Just a smokescreen. Thinking of this, I relaxed and booked a hotel. Flight in two days. One last hideout. But that night, I bumped into Hunter at a nearby convenience store. And Lily. He was staring at his phone. When we bumped into each other, he froze. "Stella?" I ignored him. Turned to leave. Then I saw a familiar shadow in the distance. Standing in the dark, staring at me unblinkingly. Goosebumps exploded all over my body. I whipped around and grabbed Hunter’s sleeve. "Where are you going? Can I come?" Lily froze, her eyes red instantly. She gripped Hunter's hand. "Stella, Hunter and I are together now. Can you stop?" "Hunter, ignore her! I'm your girlfriend, she can't steal you!" Hunter stared at me. Said nothing. After two seconds, he scoffed. "Stella, what is this? Did you forget I gave you 30 minutes?" 30 minutes? I was confused. I’d heard count-downs like that a million times. "Be here in 30 minutes or you're fired as backup." "Five minutes. Or I block you." ... Terror consumed me. I clung to Hunter. Almost begging: "I apologize for being late. Last time! Just let me stay near you for a bit, okay?" Lily started crying. Hunter ripped my hand away. He laughed, a cold, amused sound. "Stella, I thought you grew a backbone not replying to my texts." "Turns out you're still this cheap. Can't live without a man? I look down on you."
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