Chapter 3: The Villainess Script

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen the barrage.

The comments had become a part of my life, like the background noise of a bustling Indian household. But it was the first time I believed it.

When Priya transferred into our class, she stood at the front of the room and instantly drew the attention of almost every boy—except Rohan.

She wore her hair in a neat braid, her uniform crisp and spotless. The boys at the back nudged each other, whispering in Hindi and English, but Rohan just doodled in his notebook, oblivious.

That’s when the barrage appeared:

[What’s the male lead doing, not even glancing at his fated girl?]

[No way, does he still think he likes his childhood friend at this point?]

[It’s just the calm before the storm. Don’t forget, the male and female leads have empathy—a classic webnovel setting!]

[Later, their chemistry will be off the charts. The male lead will only have eyes for the female lead, wishing they could be together every moment.]

The words echoed in my mind, mixing with the giggles and chatter of the classroom. I felt like a character in one of those serials Amma watched every evening, the plot thickening with every episode.

I pieced together the story from the barrage:

Rohan and Priya are the main couple of this world.

And I’m the jealous supporting character.

The realisation stung. I could almost hear my own background music playing—a slow, mournful tabla beat.

After Priya’s transfer, because of their physical empathy, Rohan is gradually drawn to her.

I grow jealous, secretly scheming against Priya, but every time, Rohan swoops in to save her at the last moment.

Their feelings for each other deepen.

Eventually, I become increasingly reckless, burning through all the goodwill that came with being childhood friends.

To protect Priya, Rohan forces me to transfer schools before the board exams.

That leads to me failing the exam.

Unable to accept that three years of hard work have gone to waste, I end up driving my dad’s car in a fit of madness, trying to run Priya down.

But, as always, the villainess never succeeds: Priya is saved by Rohan, while I die in a car crash, leaving my parents to mourn their only child.

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t help but shiver.

Was the barrage telling the truth?

I turned to glance at Rohan, who was sitting next to me, carefully peeling an orange. He was picking off every bit of the white pith, just because I said it tasted bitter.

The sunlight caught in his hair, and for a moment, everything felt normal. Sensing my gaze, he looked up and smiled at me. “Impatient?” Then he popped an orange segment into my mouth.

In his dark eyes, there was only me.

Ha, I knew the barrage was full of nonsense. Impossible.

I laughed, shaking my head. How could anything come between us? Not fate, not some invisible audience, not even Priya with her pretty smile and perfect grades.