Revenge is Best Served… After Reborn

Odie's face turned stormy.

What kind of place is this? You can't even bring a cigarette in here.

"What are you searching for?"

Sophie popped her head around, giving Odie a curious look.

When he noticed her face, Odie couldn't help but look away. "Nothing."

"Class is about to start. Let's head there together."

Sophie took the lead, walking ahead. Odie frowned, "I never said I was going to class."

"Then you're skipping, and at Eastwood College, that's a big deal."

Sophie spoke with sincerity, "If you don't want to get kicked out before the semester even starts, you'd better show up."

"Do you always worry about everything? There are tons of people out there, and many feel like giving up. Do you plan to convince each one to embrace life and turn things around?"

Sophie shook her head. "No one around me would ever give up. They're all positive, looking forward to a bright future."

"Of course they are. Someone like you only knows the rich kids, with their money, power, and connections. Even if they don't do a thing, their futures are set. Why would they ever think of giving up?"

Odie scoffed.

For those at the bottom, they might spend a lifetime and never achieve the life others take for granted.

That's the gap.

The wealthy get to enjoy life, while those without money come into this world just to struggle and end their misery early.

"It's not like that."

Sophie's mood dipped. "Don't let my looks fool you; I don't really have any friends."

"You? No friends?"

"Yeah."

Sophie kept walking, and without realizing it, Odie fell into step beside her.

"I don't have friends. Growing up, everyone kept their distance at school, and my parents sheltered me. In middle school, I had a close friend but she sold me out to my dad's business rival. If my brother hadn't shown up just in time, I might not be here today."

Sophie added, "So I stopped making friends. It's enough to keep things looking good on the surface."

Odie caught the sadness in Sophie's eyes.

He said, "No friends, no betrayal. It's not all bad."

"But I do friendsnoveldrama

one

f

those who have real share everything with of always being on guard, of betrayal again."

afraid

"Dummy, anyone who'd sell you out was never a friend."

Odie gave Sophie a light tap on the head.

Sophie rubbed her head, "Why'd you hit me?"

"Just checking if there's anything inside that head of yours."

Odie

youed sideways at Sophie,

bet

"Why'd you spill all that to me? Aren't you afraid I might be a bad

just

playing nice?"

"You...definitely don't come off as a good guy."

""

"But bad guys don't usually walk around advertising it."

Sophie said, "I think you're just acting tough, but deep down, you're not bad."

Odie stopped in his tracks.

What Sophie said mirrored words she'd spoken before.

"What's wrong? Did I say something off?"

"You did miss the mark."

Odie said softly, "Because I was never a good guy to begin with."