Yes, I am her boyfriend 💙

In the deserted empty lot behind the school, Jade found himself pinned against the wall, trapped by Susi. It was the exact same spot where she had extorted money from him countless times before. To Jade, this place felt less like a schoolyard and more like a prison cell meant for torturing inmates.

The chain-link fence dug uncomfortably into his back. Susi's fingers nervously twirled the frayed friendship bracelet peeking out from under her cuff-a nervous habit she would absolutely never admit to. Up close, her oversized hoodie carried the faint scent of cafeteria grease blended with a heavy air of sheer desperation.

"A-Ah... Susi... I'm sorry!" Jade stammered, his voice trembling.

"What more do you want from me? I... I've been giving you the money regularly, haven't I?"

"And that's exactly why we're in this mess," Susi snapped, her voice sharp but strained. "You spineless coward."

"Wh-What?!" Jade blinked in confusion. "But I gave you everything you asked for!"

"Are you talking back to me now?" Susi growled. She slammed her forearm against his throat, shoving him hard against the rattling chain-link fence.

"Ugh!"

"Listen to me, loser. You're going to do something for me," she ordered bluntly. Yet, her sharp blue eyes darted anxiously toward the main street, scanning the area as if checking for witnesses-or worse, social workers.

Jade choked out, "What else do I have to do? Do you want more money? Or... or are you going to force me to steal things for you again?"

"Shut your mouth and just listen! Doing any of that crap right now won't do me any good." Susi cut him off, suddenly falling silent as a wave of dread washed over her.

"Damn it... calm down, she panicked internally. If he says no... Lily is a goner..."

Forcing the dark thoughts away, Susi leaned in closer, her lips brushing past his ear as she whispered urgently.

"Listen closely. From now on, you are my boyfriend. We've been 'dating' for three months. You're such a sweet, generous guy that you even bought colored pencils for Lily."

Jade froze, his mind completely short-circuiting.

"Ha?"

"Wh-Wh-What... What?!"

"Don't make me repeat myself! Just do exactly as you're told."

Susi's mind flashed back to yesterday's absolute disaster. Lily had smiled brightly at the social worker, proudly showing off a drawing of a dragon.

Lily: "My sister Susi's boyfriend helped us! He gave me all his money!" the little girl had beamed.

Susi had been completely struck dumb, the truth choking her up right then and there. If she told Lily the harsh reality, everything would fall apart. The bullying, the extorted money... Lily would realize their 'stable life' was nothing but a fragile house of cards held together by lies and anxiety.

"S-Su... Susi, are you joking?" Jade stammered, his eyes wide.

"Be your boyfriend? Wh..Who?"

"M-Me?!"

CLANG!

Susi slammed her palm against the fence right next to his head, making the metal screech.

"What the hell are you thinking, loser? Do you honestly think I want you as my boyfriend? Gross. I'm telling you to pretend to be my boyfriend. Don't flatter yourself."

Susi leaned in until she was barely inches away from his face.

"Listen up, here's the plan. Every Friday, when we go to the social services office, you hold my hand so they buy it. We'll go on fake dates for proof. And you will call my little sister 'Lily-doll'. Don't you dare laugh-it's her favorite nickname. And when you look at her..."

Susi hesitated, the words catching painfully in her throat. She swallowed hard before forcing them out.

"When you look at her... you make sure you look at her like she isn't a burden. Understand?"

Her gaze pierced right through him, but her voice betrayed a slight, fragile quiver-a tiny crack in her otherwise fierce armor.

Jade stared at her, utterly paralyzed. He couldn't believe his ears. This girl had been ruthlessly bullying him since the start of the school year, and now she was asking for this? He didn't dare question her, but his mind was racing wildly.

"A boyfriend? Like, lovers? With Susi?! The girl who bullies me? Is she for real? Even if it's just pretend, how am I supposed to even touch her? Forget holding hands, if I even puts my arm around her shoulder, she'd probably kill me! This is literally life-threatening!"

"If you cooperate..." Susi continued, breaking his train of thought, "I'll stop taking your money. But if you refuse, I will ruin your life in this school.

Come Monday, I'll make sure everyone brands you as a pathetic creep who stalks girls. Don't think I won't do it.

Try me."

"No! Please don't do that, Susi!" Jade pleaded instantly.

"Everyone already calls me a coward because of what you do. Please, just don't make them call me a pervert too."

Suddenly, the distant thud of a car door closing echoed from the end of the alley. Susi's entire posture went rigid. She quickly masked her panic with a cruel, mocking smirk.

"Well? What's it going to be? Hurry up and answer, Prince Charming. Time is ticking. Are you going to be the hero in Lily's stupid little fairytale, or should I paint you as the villain? Either way, I win."

She spat the words out bitterly, but her fingers gripped the edge of her hoodie tightly, hiding Lily's worn-out bracelet from view.

A sharp gust of wind swept through the empty lot, sending a crumpled burger wrapper tumbling across the dirt. Susi didn't blink, nor did she back down.

"Please... please... please... " she begged desperately inside her own head.

Despite her threatening glare, she had absolutely nothing left. Jade's answer was the final thread keeping her and Lily together.

Jade stood there like a statue, completely overwhelmed by the chaos in his head, forgetting to even blink.

"Well? Am I going to grow old waiting here?" Susi snapped, her sneakers tapping anxiously against the cracked asphalt.

Her sharp tone snapped Jade back to reality. He swallowed hard, trying to process everything one last time.

"Um... I... I'll help. But... why me? Couldn't you find someone else? Someone braver... and more manly than me?"

His voice trailed off into a whisper as his head dropped slightly.

"But... if you promise to really stop bothering me... I guess I can do it."

In a split second, Susi's expression shifted. It was hard to tell if it was immense relief or utter despair. She frowned, scanning his face thoroughly before a faint, cynical smile played on her lips.

"Because you're useless. That's exactly why."

Her tone was blunt, but the venom was entirely gone.

"Everyone knows you're completely harmless. You don't fight back, and you won't ask questions. You're just..."

She waved her hand dismissively. "...going to do exactly what I say. Like a good, obedient dog."

Jade's head dropped even lower at her words.

"Am I really that weak? he thought bitterly. Her, them, everyone... they always look down on me."

Susi let out a frustrated sigh, her shoulders still visibly tense. She checked the alleyway one more time, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Look, I don't exactly have a ton of options here, okay? If it wasn't you..." Her jaw tightened, and she abruptly cut herself off, shaking her head.

"Never mind. Just do this for me. For Lily. And honestly, after all the crap I put you through, you owe me this much."

She took a step back, staring at him with a desperate glint of hope hidden deep in her eyes.

"So... what's the verdict, Prince Charming? Are you in, or are you out?"

Chapter-2 Next 》》