Chapter 2

Cindy thought she could threaten the school with her own future and use that to get the impossible chance to be with Rodney.

She didn't know that the only thing she was giving up was her own spot.

And without doing a thing, I became the only winner.

…

I had just barely sat down at my desk when someone who reeked of cigarettes came over.

Rodney put both hands on my desk, leaned forward, and looked down at me.

He could barely hide the smugness in his tone as he said, "Shane, I heard Cindy tore up your guaranteed admission form."

I didn't even look up. I opened my workbook and started on a few problems to calm myself down.

When I ignored him, Rodney raised his voice. "What good is all that effort? You stay up late studying every night and come in second every time. What do you have to show for it?

"Sometimes hard work isn't enough. Some things just come down to luck."

As he spoke, he brushed some dirt off his clothes and gave a smug grin. "You're not like me. I'm lucky. With Cindy backing me, I can get into Belton University without even trying."

A few classmates nearby started watching, curious about what was going on.

Rodney clearly loved the attention. He leaned closer and lowered his voice, so only the two of us could hear. "Just wait. Once Cindy and I get married, I'll be the one running the Gardner family.

"At that time, whether you still have a place in this family will depend on my mood."

Finally, I stopped spinning my pen and looked up at him.

He thought his words had angered me, and the smug smile on his face grew wider.

Just then, the classroom's back door flew open with a bang. My idiot sister, Cindy, strolled in with her hands in her pockets.

She walked straight over and pulled Rodney, who was still leaning over my desk, behind her.

Only then did she look at me, wearing an apologetic expression that was clearly meant to make her seem gracious.

"Shane, don't be mad at me. I know I did you wrong."

She spoke just loud enough for the classmates around us, who were all listening in, to hear.

"But Rodney can't live without me, and I can't just leave him behind. Besides, with your grades, you could easily get into Belton University by taking the college entrance exam."

She made it sound so noble, as if she were making some huge sacrifice for me.

Behind her, Rodney immediately put on a defiant yet loving look as he gazed at her. "Cindy, I knew you cared about me most."

The two of them carried out their lovey-dovey act as if no one else was there.

Cindy patted him on the shoulder and said in an affectionate tone, "Silly, who else would I be nice to?"

After saying that, she looked at me again. She furrowed her brows slightly as she spoke in her usual elder-sister, lecturing tone.

"Shane, you need to be more understanding. Rodney isn't like us. He doesn't have the same advantages as we do, so he needs this chance.

"Just think of it as doing me a favor."

Watching the two idiots caught up in their own delusions and self-importance, I almost burst out laughing.

She wanted me to do her a favor? Was I supposed to help her ruin both her future and an innocent classmate's?

I said nothing. I simply picked up my pen again and worked through a complex function problem on my scratch paper.

The solution quickly became clear to me. It was far more interesting than their pathetic little act.