The Nerd Who Played the Game
He was a top student favored by the teachers, but his poverty and those ragged clothes made him a joke fodder.
In contrast, she was the princess and center of attention.
She liked him, but she feared mockery for crushing on a broke nerd.
That hidden affection twisted into intensified bullying and disdain. She naively thought no matter how wild she got and how she stomped on his feelings, he'd be there waiting.
She laughed until she cried, realizing she indeed wasn't worth my liking.
At the same time, I'd leave my toxic family and old wounds behind.
Lumina's operations boomed under my lead. My designs were fresh and alive, quickly winning the elite markets.