When Asher Kingsley transferred into our class, I was shaking like a leaf. But the moment he introduced himself, the entire class looked at him with pure hostility. Weirder still, if Asher got within six feet of me, my classmates would immediately swarm, pushing him away. Years later, at my wedding, they all showed up. My class president, teary-eyed, hugged me and said: "This is how it should be. You deserve to be happy." 1 Senior year. My dad pulled me out of the prestigious City High and transferred me to Oakwood High—the worst school in the district—all for twenty thousand bucks. I didn't dare complain. I knew if I made a fuss, he'd just pull me out of school entirely. The night he got the money, I actually got to eat an egg for dinner. A rare treat. Dad and Grandma were in the other room, eyes gleaming as they counted the cash. "Didn't think the money-loser would be worth anything. That dead woman was right, an educated girl sells for more." "Take a cut now, then sell her off again after college. My precious grandson will be able to buy a house in the city." "Maybe he'll even get a city wife, just like you did." The "dead woman" they were talking about was my mom. She was trafficked here. Because she gave birth to me—a "money-loser"—she was beaten constantly. She was forced to get pregnant over and over. Dad dragged her to shady clinics for gender tests. If it was a girl, he made her get rid of it. Finally, on the fourth try, she had my brother. That’s when I realized she hadn't wanted to live for a long time. But she endured it all so I could go to school. She traded her suffering for my education. So, to save Mom and take her home, I had to endure. 2 Honestly, it didn't matter where I went to school. I was the only kid from our village to make it to a city high school. At City High, I was ostracized from day one. I was too poor. Even though I washed my clothes every day, they said I smelled like poverty. Later, just because the school heartthrob, Asher Kingsley, spoke to me once, I became the target of relentless bullying. For two years, I studied under siege. So, this transfer felt like a blessing. The new kids at Oakwood were nice. They didn't mock my worn-out clothes. Some even shared their snacks with me. I thought, finally, I can have a normal life. But I was wrong. Even after transferring, I couldn't escape the beatings. When the bullies from City High found me, I instinctively crouched down and covered my head. Their leader was Chloe. She was obsessed with Asher, and her family was close with his. If any girl talked to Asher, Chloe made them pay. She grabbed my hair, a practiced move, and hissed: "Lily, I didn't know you had it in you. You transferred schools and still managed to make Asher talk about you." "Playing hard to get, huh? You're more manipulative than you look." Asher Kingsley. Again. Even miles away, I couldn't escape his shadow. The first time I spoke to Asher was because he didn't turn in his homework. I was the class rep; I had to ask him for it. Instead of handing it over, he said something weird: "Do you know who I am? You have guts, asking me for homework." "You're interesting. I'll remember you." At the time, I just thought he was a weirdo. And kind of greasy. Who cared who he was? All I knew was the teacher would yell at me if I didn't collect all the assignments. I thought it was nothing. But after school, I was cornered in an alley by a group of girls led by Chloe. They kicked me, hit me, and warned me to stay away from Asher. I felt so wronged. But I was just a powerless girl from the sticks with a dad who didn't care. When I went home covered in bruises, my dad just cursed: "Useless thing, coming home late? Go make dinner, are you trying to starve us?" They didn't care if I was hurt, as long as I was alive enough to be sold later. I thought staying away from Asher would fix it. But it was useless. If Asher even casually mentioned my name, I got beaten up. I figured Asher and I were just cursed to be enemies. 3 I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the pain. But it didn't come. Instead, a fierce voice rang out: "Do you know whose turf this is? You dare touch my people?" It was Maya, the class president. I opened my eyes. Maya had grabbed Chloe's hand. Behind her, thirty of my classmates stood in a circle around the six bullies, each holding a broom. In that moment, they looked like radiant gods. Maya gripped Chloe's wrist hard. Chloe winced and let go of my hair. But her mouth didn't stop. "Fine, Lily. Don't think having backup scares me." "As long as Asher remembers you, I'm not done with you." Slap. A crisp sound echoed as Maya slapped her across the face. "Seriously, how did you get into City High with that brain? You can't control your man, so you blame Lily?" "Or are you just having a breakdown because he doesn't like you and can't even remember you exist?" That hit a nerve. Chloe lunged at Maya. Maya pulled me behind a wall of boys, continuing her verbal assault. "Wow, look at you getting triggered." "Instead of losing it here, maybe figure out how to be memorable." "And what's this about Lily seducing him? Lily didn't do anything." "Maybe that trash guy just wants to hit on our Lily. Do you really think everyone sees him as a prize like you do?" Tears finally spilled out of my eyes. Right. I didn't even like Asher. But everyone assumed I was playing games. Even the teachers said, "The Kingsley family is out of your league. Focus on your studies." This was the first time someone said it wasn't my fault. Right. I didn't do anything wrong. My classmates didn't speak, but they took a step forward. They gripped their brooms tighter. The threat was clear: Move again, and we swing. The bullies looked at our numbers and hesitated. Chloe gritted her teeth and glared at Maya. "Do you know who I am? You dare..." "I don't care who you are," Maya cut her off. "If you like him, chase him yourself. Bullying the weak doesn't make you tough." Chloe shot me a venomous look, then scanned the wall of students ready to fight. She swallowed her words and left with her crew. Once they were gone, the crowd relaxed. The academic rep helped me up and dusted me off. "You okay?" I shook my head, choking out a "Thank you." Maya turned around, her face returning to normal. "Alright, show's over. Back to class." Everyone walked back quietly. No one made a big deal out of it, like they'd just swatted a fly. But my heart felt warm for the first time in forever. 4 From that day on, things changed. When the bell rang, before I could even pack my bag, a classmate would casually walk up to my desk. "Lily, let's go. Going your way today." First day it was Maya. Second day, the girl in front of me. Third day, the janitorial rep. They never said "I'm walking you home." Just "It's on the way." But I lived on the outskirts of the city. It was the complete opposite direction of the new suburbs where most of them lived. I didn't call them out. I just walked with them silently. Mornings too. When I walked out of my narrow alley, I'd "accidentally" bump into a classmate. "Oh? Lily? You take this route too? What a coincidence. Let's walk." Sometimes it was the same person, sometimes not. Sometimes they had breakfast and would give me a bun or a soy milk. "Bought too much. Help me eat it." "Don't pay me back. You always help us with homework. Better than a tutor." I took the bun. It was warm. I knew they were protecting me, scared Chloe's gang would come back. That tight feeling in my chest returned, but this time it was warm. I studied harder. I helped anyone who asked with homework. I did the dirtiest jobs during cleaning duty. It was the only way I could repay them. But I noticed something weird. Almost everyone in class had a specific book. Not a textbook, not a study guide. The cover was plain. I couldn't tell what it was. Sometimes during breaks, they'd take it out and read. But if I got close, or even glanced at it, they'd slam it shut and stuff it in their desks. Once, I turned around to ask the guy behind me a math question. He was engrossed in reading. I caught a glimpse of the page—dense text, like a novel, but the formatting was strange. He noticed me looking and slammed the book shut with a loud thud. I figured it was some contraband web novel they didn't want the teacher to see. Everyone has secrets. I didn't overthink it. I didn't ask. I thought these peaceful days would last until graduation. Until one morning, a month later, the homeroom teacher walked in with a new student. "Quiet down, everyone. We have a transfer student. Please welcome him." A tall boy stood on the podium. His gaze swept across the room with an arrogance I knew all too well. He said: "I'm Asher Kingsley."
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