Chapter 1
MR. NICE GUY
Chapter One — The Nice Guy
Crazy how everyone expects you to be nice.
push your patience, test your limits, take advantage of your kindness—and somehow, you're still supposed to smile.
They want you to be the nice guy.
Tom was that guy.
At least, he used to be.
“Tom!”
Tom stopped walking.
He turned around and saw Jason jogging toward him from across the parking lot.
“Hey, man. Wait up.”
Tom checked his watch.
6:18 p.m.
He was already running late.
“What's up?”
Jason slowed down, catching his breath.
“I need a favor.”
Tom almost smiled.
Of course.
It was always a favor.
“What do you need?”
Jason glanced around before lowering his voice.
“I need to borrow some money.”
Tom stared at him.
“How much?”
“Three hundred.”
Tom raised an eyebrow.
“Three hundred dollars?”
“I'll pay you back Friday. I swear.”
Tom hesitated.
He had rent due in four days.
His car needed repairs.
And his bank account wasn't exactly in a good mood.
Still, he pulled out his phone.
“I just sent it to your Cash App.” Tom said.
Jason's face immediately brightened.
“Seriously?”
Tom nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Man, you're a lifesaver.”
Jason slapped him on the shoulder.
“I owe you one.”
Tom smiled.
“You're good.”
Jason walked away.
Tom watched him for a moment before looking down at his phone.
The transfer was done.
His bank balance dropped another three hundred dollars.
He locked his phone.
“It's fine.”
He said it quietly.
“I'll figure it out.”
He always did.
Twenty minutes later, Tom was sitting behind the wheel of his old sedan, staring at the traffic ahead.
His phone buzzed.
MOM
He answered.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. Are you still at work?”
“Just leaving.”
There was a brief pause.
“Did you remember what we talked about?”
Tom knew exactly what she meant.
The money.
He rubbed his forehead.
“Yeah. I'll send it tonight.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“I know. I'm sorry.”
His mother sighed.
“It's okay. Just don't forget.”
“I won't.”
Another pause.
“Drive safely.”
“I will.”
The call ended.
Tom placed the phone on the passenger seat.
For a few seconds, he simply stared through the windshield.
Everyone needed something.
His mother.
His friends.
His coworkers.
His boss.
And somehow, whenever someone needed help, Tom was always the first person they called.
He didn't know how to say no.
Maybe he was afraid of disappointing people.
Maybe he just wanted to be liked.
Or maybe somewhere along the way, he'd convinced himself that being a good person meant putting everyone else before himself.
The traffic finally began moving.
Tom stepped on the gas.
He had no idea that this ordinary evening would be one of the last times he'd recognize the person he was.
Because sometimes, it isn't one big betrayal that changes you.
Sometimes...
It's a thousand little ones.
And eventually, you get tired of pretending they don't hurt.
Tom was still the nice guy.
For now.....
