I Was Never the One to Save Her

I finally got my table next to hers, the deep-hearted secondary female lead.

As I was moving the desk, the main male character suddenly rushed up and hugged her.

It's so good to see you again. This time, I'll protect you!

Bullet comments flashed wildly across the screen:

[Last life, the male lead chose the wrong girl. Luckily, he's reborn and will fiercely pursue his wife!]

[LOL, the male lead doesn't even need to chase. A smile will make the deep-hearted secondary female lead willingly surrender.]

[In contrast, Ethan is a joke. He took a hit for her just to sit at the same table.]

Jessicas face was grim, but she let Christopher embrace her tightly.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do for you this time?"

"Write love letters for her? Or give up my competition spot for her?"

The boy shook his head hard, crying in a way that tugged at your heartstrings.

"I just want to be with you!"

Jessica froze.

After a long moment, she turned to me and said, "Let's not move the table for now."

I suddenly lost interest and summoned the System.

"See? It was never me who could save her. So, can you let me go home now?"

I was moving my desk to the back row when Christopher was confessing.

He stopped Fiona, who had just returned to the classroom, holding a large bouquet of roses.

Bright and flamboyant, just like him.

Before he could speak, Fiona said coolly, "Whatever you do, it's useless. I don't like you."

Christopher froze, his face pale.

A few seconds later, he suddenly looked around as if startled.

When he saw the date on the electronic clock on the wall, his eyes widened.

The next second, he pushed through the crowd and rushed over.

Carrying the scent of roses, he enveloped Jessica in a hug, filled with the joy of rediscovery, tears streaming down his face.

"Its good to see you again!"

"This time, I won't let you I'll protect you!"

Jessica stared at Christopher in astonishment, her hands hovering in mid-air, unsure where to put them.

Everyone was stunned.

Bullet comments flashed wildly before my eyes:

[Last life, Fiona married Christopher but then fell for someone else, breaking Christopher's heart and leaving him to die of sorrow.]

[It's a shame Christopher never looked back at the shy, deeply devoted secondary female lead, Jessica. She rushed into a fire to save him without a second thought, but got her face disfigured. After being discharged, she avoided Christopher but secretly protected him.]

[The most heartbreaking part was the car accident! Christopher, after arguing with Fiona, ran a red light in a fit of emotion. It was Jessica who rushed from across the street to push him away, getting hit by a truck herself. Christopher cried hysterically, begging her not to die.]

[Thinking about that just breaks my heart! Jessica never once said she loved him, but she gave her all for Christopher, boo hoo hoo.]

[Thank goodness Christopher is reborn. This life, he's going to fiercely pursue her and suffer a karmic retribution! As for Fiona, get lost!]

[But Fiona's reaction to Christopher's confession shouldn't be like this. Could she also be reborn?]

The students watching started to jeer.

"Christopher, did you get the wrong person? Weren't you supposed to confess to Fiona?"

"Exactly! You just got rejected by Fiona and now you're switching targets?"

"Doesn't Ethan like Jessica? Tch, a love square?"

Sarcastic gazes rotated among us.

Jessicas face was grim.

I knew she was heartbroken that Christopher was rejected and mocked, and jealous that Fiona could possess his passionate affection.

Christopher and Fiona were a perfect match, socially speaking.

As for Jessica, she was just the child of Christopher's housekeeper and driver. Plus, with her parents deceased, the Sterling family gave her a monthly allowance out of pity.

Christopher had always treated Jessica with condescending commands.

He'd command her to give her only umbrella to Fiona during a rainstorm, forcing her to walk home drenched.

He'd command her to give her late-night study notes to Fiona, and if Fiona didn't want them, he'd tear them up in a huff.

He'd command her to skip a test, giving Fiona the top spot in their grade.

So Jessica didn't take Christopher's words seriously. She just pursed her lips and asked with a hint of self-mockery:

"What do you want me to do for you this time?"

"Write love letters for her? Or give up my competition spot for her?"

Christopher's voice was tearful but exceptionally clear, sincere and firm:

"I want youto be with me!"

"It's okay if you don't believe me now; we have plenty of time! I'll make you believe!"

With that, Christopher turned and glared at me.

"Get lost!"

He pushed me aside, grabbed the desk I had just moved, and shoved it hard to the side.

The wooden desk scraped against the floor with a grating sound, ending up next to the trash can.

Then he ran back to get his own desk and merged it with Jessica's.

"From today on, your only deskmate can be me!"

He lifted his chin proudly, his eyes shining as he looked at her.

Jessica remained frozen throughout.

She turned her head helplessly, avoiding his scorching gaze, but her eyes met mine.

After a long moment, Jessica spoke:

"Let's not move the table for now."

I summoned the System.

"See? It was never me who could save her. So, can you let me go home now?"

I was living perfectly fine in my original world when I was suddenly bound to the System.

It said I was the only one who could save the deep-hearted secondary female lead.

Only by helping her avoid disfigurement and death could I return home.

Jessica was a cold-hearted person, always sitting alone at the back of the classroom, a loner. The only warmth she showed was to the male lead, Christopher.

She loathed my persistent approaches, always telling me to get lost in a cold voice.

Until last week, she was cornered, and an iron rod was aimed straight for the back of her head.

Without thinking, I took the hit for her.

That was the first time I saw Jessica's expression change.

She knelt on the ground, trembling, her voice fragmented.

"Who told you to meddle?!"

The rod hit my back. Fortunately, with the System, the injury wasn't too severe.

While Jessica was taking care of me in the hospital, I seized the opportunity to ask to be her deskmate.

She looked very reluctant, frowning but agreeing.

Yet, the deskmate status I earned with my blood, Christopher achieved with just a few tears.

I continued to negotiate with the System.

"Now that Christopher is reborn, he won't let Jessica get hurt. I'm completely unnecessary here."

The System's cold, mechanical voice replied:

[We apologize for this unexpected situation. You indeed no longer need to remain here. According to regulations, you may choose a death node to return to your original world.]

I've been here for nearly three years, and I have teachers and classmates who are very kind to me.

The college entrance exam is less than a week away. If I were to suddenly die, it might affect them.

I didn't want that to happen.

"After the exam."

[Understood.]

Having been violently pushed by Christopher and slammed into the wall, a dull ache spread from the wound on my back. I couldn't help but wince.

Suddenly, a painkiller was offered to me.

Fiona pointed to my back. "Your wound has opened up. Do you need to go to the infirmary now?"

Even an irrelevant person noticed something was wrong, but Jessica seemed completely unaware.

In just a few minutes.

Jessica's desk was already adorned with books and a thermos that weren't hers.

A cartoon couple's bracelet adorned her pale wrist, a stark contrast to her cold demeanor.

Christopher's school jacket was draped over her shoulders.

In Christopher's hand was the lunch I had prepared for Jessica.

Christopher took a bite, then gagged and spit it out, tossing the lunchbox away.

"My dog wouldn't even eat this! No wonder you're so thin. From now on, you'll eat with me!"

Jessica stared blankly at the lunchbox in the trash can.

She didn't say a word.

I left the classroom and went to the school infirmary to get my back re-bandaged.

When I returned, school was already out, and only Fiona remained in the classroom.

My desk had been moved next to hers.

Fiona calmly explained, "My old deskmate was Christopher. He moved, so I moved your desk here."

Without having to pursue Jessica, it didn't matter where I sat.

Fiona said, "It's getting dark. How about I walk you home?"

I didn't want to get entangled with the original female lead and was about to refuse when.

Jessica's cold voice echoed from the doorway.

"No need. I'll walk him home."

Jessica lived in a distant shantytown. For the sake of the mission, I became her neighbor, forcibly trailing behind her to and from school, talking to her incessantly along the way.

When she got too annoyed, shed put on her earphones right in front of me.

But I was relentless.

I talked about everything: how the school's white cat had six kittens, how the sweet and sour pork at the cafeteria was too salty, my dream university, wanting a teddy bear for my birthday, even how many times I went to the restroom that day.

Each time, Jessica would turn to glare at me, her usually cold face flushed.

"Why, why are you telling me all this?"

I asked slowly, "Didn't you put on your earphones? Can you still hear me talk?"

Jessica walked on, head down, trying to widen the distance.

I caught up and asked loudly, "Is it really annoying?"

Without waiting for her answer, I sighed and murmured to myself:

"Do you know? People only want to talk when they feel happy."

"I like you, I really like you, you know. I feel happy when I'm around you, that's why I want to talk."

"I hope one day you can talk a lot to me too."

My shining eyes burned her, and she turned her head away, but she took off her earphones.

Still, she wouldn't wait for me, remaining silent.

Back then, I thought it was a distant dream for her to actively wait for me to walk home and chatter incessantly.

I never expected it to come true today.

The cicadas buzzed in the summer air.

But they couldn't drown out Jessica's incessant chatter:

"I didn't expect Christopher to be my deskmate. It's probably just a whim of his; he'll move back in a few days, and then I'll be your deskmate."

"He's not as arrogant as he seems. His hands were red from moving the desk, but he still insisted he was fine."

"He said a lot of strange things today, that he dreamed I would die saving him later. I find it funny; does he really think I'm that foolish?"

...

It was rare.

This was the first time Jessica had spoken so much to me, and it was all because of another boy.

She chattered on for a long time, every word, every sentence, about Christopher.

Until we were almost at the alley entrance, she suddenly stopped and asked me,

"Why aren't you talking today?"

I wanted to ask her: What can I say? What should I say?

But what came out was:

Jessica paused, caught off guard.

Before she could speak, the sound of a car door opening echoed from a distance.

Christopher bounced out of the car and put an arm around Jessica's shoulder.

"From now on, I'll walk her home. No need to trouble you, outsider!"

Before he could finish, Jessica suddenly interrupted,

"He's not an outsider."

Everyone froze.

Jessica seemed surprised by her own words.

She pursed her lips as if regretting them, then told me,

"You should go home first."

The hot summer wind wrapped around my face, making me feel stifled.

Behind me, a girl's anxious voice called out:

"It's a shantytown here. It's not safe at night. You should go home."

She carefully escorted Christopher back to his car, leaving me alone in the dark.

Christopher was right, after all.

The deep-hearted secondary female lead firmly loved the male lead, yet the System insisted I save her.

In this relationship, in this world, I was always an outsider.

In the morning, I received a message from Jessica:

[I have something to do today and took the day off. You don't have to wait for me for school.]

When I got to the classroom, I found both Jessica and Christopher's seats empty.

Fiona noticed my gaze and voluntarily explained,

"Today is Christopher's birthday. He said Jessica went with him to buy birthday presents."

So, what Jessica called 'having something to do' meant buying presents.

She was a very studious person.

She once caught a fever of 102 degrees from the rain, but still refused to take the day off, enduring through her classes.

When I was hospitalized with injuries, she didn't take time off either, only coming to accompany me after school.

Now, this person who valued her studies above all else, would, less than a week before her final exams.

Take a day off for something as trivial as a present.

But then again, Christopher's birthday, in Jessica's eyes, how could it be a small matter?

Jessica didn't return to school all day.

I walked home alone. As soon as I entered the door, I heard a knock.

The moment I opened it, a half-human-sized teddy bear filled my vision.

Its round belly blocked the person behind it.

The next second, the teddy bear was gently moved aside.

Jessica's face peeked out from behind, her nose tip red from the cold.

"Happy birthday."

I froze.

It was only then that I remembered today was also my birthday.

But how did Jessica know?

Seeing my bewildered look, Jessica curved her eyes into a smile.

"Did you forget? You told me your birthday was today."

"You also said you always wanted a teddy bear because when you were little, you were afraid of the dark and couldn't sleep all night. You wanted a big teddy bear to keep you company, but the orphanage didn't have spare money."

I had indeed told her that on the way home from school.

But at the time, she was wearing earphones, and I thought she couldn't hear me, let alone remember.

Jessica extended her right hand.

Her fingertips were swollen and red, with shallow scratches.

"I worked washing dishes at a restaurant on the weekend to save up. At first, I was clumsy and broke several bowls, so some money was deducted. Otherwise, I could have bought you a bigger one"

I was a bit surprised.

She actually used her study time to work a dirty and tiring kitchen job.

Jessica, both nervous and expectant, pushed the soft teddy bear into my hands.

[Folks, I'm dying of laughter. Is the male supporting character moved?]

[If he knew that this bear was actually meant for Christopher, but the young master, being accustomed to luxury, found it distasteful, so Jessica gave it to him instead, what would his reaction be?]

I took a step back, and the teddy bear fell to the ground, getting covered in dust.

"I don't want it."

Jessica's hand froze in mid-air, her face turning pale.

She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, just a soft "Hmm."

She paused, then asked, "Did anything happen at school today? Tell me about it"

I cut her off. "No."

Then I closed the door, leaving her and the bear outside.

The next day was Saturday, and I was preparing to move all my school books home.

Just as I stepped out into the alley, Christopher blocked my path.

He looked me up and down.

"Why are you always clinging to Jessica? Ive never seen you before."

I had no intention of getting entangled with him and turned to walk around.

Christopher snapped his fingers.

Several people emerged from the alley entrance, holding sticks, blocking the way completely.

Christopher walked up to me, looking down.

"Did Jessica give you a bear?"

"She wanted to give it to me, but I found it a bit distasteful, so she gave it to you instead."

I looked at him calmly.

"So?"

Christopher's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

"So you should give the bear back to me. It's the first gift she bought with her own money from working, and it rightfully belongs to me! An orphan like you, no one wants, you don't deserve her affection!"

The word "orphan" felt like a bucket of ice water, drenching me.

I had only told Jessica about my background.

About how dark the nights were at the orphanage, how much I envied other children who received toys from their parents.

I had explicitly told her not to tell anyone.

Christopher's smile deepened.

"What? Did I hit a nerve? Well, someone like you has probably never received a gift from anyone, right?"

I clenched my fists, took a deep breath. "Move."

Christopher not only didn't retreat but, with a triumphant air, stepped closer, almost pressing against my ear.

"I've already messaged Jessica. Who do you think she'll choose?"

Before he finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded, and Jessica's figure suddenly appeared at the alley entrance.

Christopher immediately cried out and lunged forward.

At the same time, two boys simultaneously raised their iron rods.

One whistled through the air, aimed at my back, the other pointed directly at Christopher's cheek.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Jessica's pupils contracted sharply, and she lunged towards Christopher.

A tearing pain shot through my back, and cold sweat instantly drenched my school uniform.

Jessica looked down to check on Christopher, her voice filled with an urgency I'd never heard before. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Christopher held her hand and shook his head, looking wronged, but his eyes peeked over her shoulder at me, a triumphant smile on his lips.

I stared at Jessica's back, suddenly remembering what she had said in the hospital after I took a hit for her last time:

"Don't ever rush in front of me again. I should be the one protecting you."

Turns out, that protection came with priorities.

The person she wanted to protect had always been Christopher.

My vision began to blur.

Darkness, like a tidal wave, surged and completely enveloped me.

Before losing consciousness, I saw Jessica's shocked and flustered expression, as if she wanted to run towards me.

I summoned the System: "Get me out of this world."