Chapter 4

I just walked away. Lily tugged at my sleeve.

"I... I don't know how to play pool."

I frowned and said, "What's that got to do with me?"

"I..."

Intimidated by my harsh tone, Lily's eyes welled up with tears.

Ash ran over, shielding her behind him, and confronted me: "Can't you speak nicely?"

"Psycho."

I tried to leave, but he blocked me.

Fed up, I deliberately provoked him: "What's the deal, Ash? Playing hard to get? Want me to be your girlfriend?"

"In your dreams."

"Then don't block my way."

I left, and this time no one stopped me.

I heard Lily panicking behind me, asking, "What should we do, Ash? I don't know how to play pool."

Ash patiently comforted her: "Silly, with me here, we won't lose."

I had no interest in the outcome of their game.

But that evening, during dinner.

My mom kept sighing, saying, "I saw Ash's mom again today, she was covered in bruises. His dad is really going too far..."

"By the way, Nova, why haven't I seen Ash come over for dinner lately? Did you two have a fight?"

"No."

"That's good. If you're free, invite him over more often..."

I looked up, interrupting my mom.

"We're not friends anymore."

"What? Why?"

I took a bite of the tender fish.

"No reason. I just can't stand blind people."

My mom cautiously asked, "Is Ash dating someone?"

I put a piece of fish in my mom's bowl.

"Yeah, and they're sickeningly sweet."

They're acting out some idol drama and insist on dragging me, a passerby, to play the supporting role.

Early the next morning in the classroom, I heard Lily crying.

"What should I do, Ash? It was in my backpack this morning, but now it's gone!"

My deskmate told me: "The class fund that Lily was keeping has disappeared. Everyone's helping her look for it."

I casually said, "Why not just check the security cameras?"

Lily reacted defensively, coming over to me and saying, "Nova, I may be poor, but I'm not so poor that I'd steal the class fund."

I didn't even say she stole it, why is she so defensive?

Ash came over and coldly commanded.

"Apologize to her."

I put my backpack on the desk and sat down.

He threw my backpack and flipped my desk.

Ash was having an episode again.

"Apologize to her, didn't you hear me?"

The classmates didn't dare to make a sound, and no one dared to come stop him.

I bent down to try to right my desk, but Ash grabbed my neck.

His eyes were red as he said, "A-po-lo-gize."

I couldn't breathe, tears welling up in my eyes. My neck quickly developed a red mark from his grip.

Lily tried to stop him: "Ash! Ash!"

He wouldn't listen to anyone, staring at me with red eyes, not knowing who he thought I was.

It took several teachers rushing in to separate us. Lily went forward and hugged the frenzied Ash.

"It's okay, it's okay, Ash. I don't care about others, as long as you believe me, that's enough."

He buried his head in her shoulder, but his gaze was fixed in my direction.

I was taken to the infirmary by the teachers.

His gaze was obscure, constantly fixed on my retreating figure.