Bound by Fate

Chapter 8

Genevieve

What kind of person was Vincent?

Perhaps it was because of his family's wealth that he believed deep down that money could buy anything, even love. And perhaps because I was sensitive to money, I saw this the first time he asked me to be his girlfriend. Past experiences kept me composed, as I walked away without changing my expression.

"No," I said firmly.

He raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Why not?"

Skipping the niceties, I told him directly, "I don't have time for a boyfriend."

Vincent rubbed his temples. "Didn't you understand what I meant earlier?"

"If you're my girlfriend, you won't have to work so hard. I'll give you an allowance," he explained.

"And then?" I questioned softly. "Will I go from being a rumored impoverished student to a materialistic girl? Living a life of luxury, indulging in extravagance?"

He burst into laughter, reminiscent of our first meeting. But as he pursued me more aggressively, my indifference towards him grew, and his laughter turned into a cold smirk.

"Why are you so amusing?" he chuckled.

Little did he know, every time he laughed at my words, I was speaking seriously. The gap is the understanding between our two lifetimes. Vincent couldn't grasp how much those rumors hurt me.

Rumor has it, words can break bones. Only the person involved understands. I gazed up at him silently, saying nothing.

"You're overthinking it. Who cares who we're friends with or who we date? It's nobody else's business," he shrugged.

I nodded. "What you say makes sense. But... we live in a society. People are social creatures. It's impossible not to be influenced by others or to not influence others. Sometimes words can be deadly."

"Forget what others say. Just don't let me hear it, or they won't have it easy," he deflected. "So, be my girlfriend."

His gaze was intense, unwavering. But I couldn't. Just a remark like, "She's hanging out with rich guys and still applying for scholarships?" was enough to overwhelm me.

Despite working multiple jobs every day to cover living expenses and medical bills, they couldn't see that. They only saw Vincent pursuing me, showering me with gifts. And they couldn't see my rejection of him either.

Selective blindness.

"Girlfriend is not possible," I said after a moment. "At most... we can only be friends."

I was serious. I couldn't accept him, but I also couldn't ignore him like in my past life.

He gritted his teeth, but his face retained a refined smile. "Alright, let's be friends for now."

He believed this smile could deceive me, portraying him as a gentlemanly senior student with charm. Little did he know, in my past life, I had suffered from his mischief and shamelessness, and I already knew his true nature. Despite that, if he wanted to play this role, I wouldn't expose him. I could only nod, "Okay."

***

During the afternoon break in class, a girl approached me, asking, "Hey, Genevieve, did you have lunch with Vincent, the third-year student, today?"

My hand paused momentarily. It was unavoidable to be seen since Chili’s was right across from the school gate.

"Yes," I replied briefly.

The girl's eyes lit up with curiosity, "Do you know him well?"

Vincent was somewhat of a campus celebrity, but for a freshman to be familiar with him in mid to late September meant this girl was quite well-connected, a typical clout-chaser.

Her name was Megan Williams, and she could be described as beautiful.

"Yes," I confirmed.

Megan muttered something under her breath, her expression turning disdainful.

She scoffed, "You're quite a diligent student, huh?" before walking away.

Back at her desk, she grumbled to her peers, "Who does she think she is? I can't even hold a proper conversation. So stuck up."

Her friends exchanged glances, attempting to console her, "She usually talks fine. Maybe she's just having a bad day?"

Megan sneered, "Forget it. Did you see how she ignored us? Having lunch with a rich guy in broad daylight. Talk about arrogance. Clearly, she's not interested in mingling with regular students like us."

Her friends became curious, "Rich guy? Who is he?"

"Do you guys know Vincent? No? Wow, you guys are really out of the loop. Next time I see him, I'll introduce you..."

I remained quiet, focusing on my studies.

Despite Megan and her friends speaking in hushed tones, their words were still audible to attentive listeners.

Some students defended me, which surprised me. Then I remembered that before Vincent appeared, although I wasn't close to my classmates, our interactions were still normal.

Everything changed after Vincent's arrival.

Megan, frustrated by her inability to capture Vincent's attention, turned her attention to mocking me, a financially struggling student, for attempting to get close to a wealthy heir. Initially, some classmates defended me, but as rumors circulated and Vincent intervened on my behalf several times, their support dwindled.

I knew Megan was responsible for half of the rumors, while the other half developed organically. As they spread, they grew more outlandish, including the ludicrous "five thousand dollars for one night" tale.

They accused me of feigning poverty and seeking pity.

The girls distanced themselves from me, and even the boys who once admired me began to regard me with mockery and disdain. They eagerly echoed the rumors, offering the most "logical" explanations for my rejection of their advances.

"It's not us; it's her gold-digging ways!"

"She's just after money!"

I had contemplated repairing my relationships with my classmates. However, when I looked at their faces and recalled how, after my death, they gleefully discussed the ambiguity and sordid details surrounding my mysterious demise, how they speculated about my misfortunes...

I cast my gaze downward and focused on my studies in silence.