The Novel’s Antagonist: I walk the path of a Villain - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: The Talk…

“Selena… we have to talk,” I said firmly, as she held my hand, her fingers hooked into mine, wearing a silly smile while we walked through the sea of students, making our way to the cafeteria

“About what?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“About… our relationship. About… us,” I said. It was time I put an end to this.

I didn’t want to be indecisive anymore.

I already had a plan—a plan to escape this world before the second semester. Having her with me would only ruin everything. I couldn’t afford any emotional attachments.

Yet, I already had one. Toward her.

“Us?” she repeated, halting in her tracks.

“Yes,” I responded.

“Is it… about my identity? The secret I kept from you?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

My eyes widened. How did she know?

Wait.

Did she beat it out of Victor?!

“Yes,” I finally answered, piecing it together. That would explain Victor’s odd behavior lately.

How much did she even torture him?

Even in the novel, Victor wasn’t the type to betray someone he considered a friend. If he spilled, it had to mean she pushed him to the brink.

“Let’s… talk after lunch,” she said after a long pause, her voice soft but firm. She turned and started walking again, pulling me toward the cafeteria.

Her hand trembled in mine.Her hand trembled slightly.

Why?

Why does she act this way? Why?

Is it really just an act?

Is this some façade for a bigger plan ahead?

But if it isn’t… then what’s the reason behind her feelings?

Why does she love me this much?

I’m not an idiot. At least, not completely. I know there’s no way in hell she would feel this much for me just because I became her childhood friend.

This isn’t some brain-dead romance novel.

This is a world with real people.

Even in the novel, there was always a logical reason for characters falling in love with the protagonist. Well, sometimes it wasn’t completely logical—like Rizel becoming a yandere for Lucas—but at least the explanation sufficed.

With Selena, there is no explanation.

Yes, I get it. I might have been a completely dense fool not to notice how my looks affected those around me.

Yes, I get it—I’m good-looking, overwhelmingly so, perhaps. But that still doesn’t explain this.

Why does she feel this way about me?

And what’s worse… why do I feel the same?

Whenever she looks at me, I feel this… connection. It’s like finding a part of myself that I lost long ago.

Yet… there’s something else.

A faint hatred.

I feel it.

It’s subtle now, but it’s growing.

I hate her.

I hate all of them.

All these heroines. All these girls.

What makes it worse is how these emotions contradict themselves when I look at her.

I have to end this.

If this keeps up, I’m going to lose my mind.

The pain in my chest never stops. It claws at me, especially after I see that woman in my dreams.

It’s the same pain I felt the day I found Renay’s bloodied body on the street.

That feeling of betrayal.

As much as I love Renay… I hate her just the same.

She killed herself just to hurt me.

She knew I was already drowning in the weight of what she’d done.

I just needed space. I needed time to process the betrayal, to get over it.

But she didn’t care.

The fact that I ended things was all the reason she needed to end her life.

She really is a selfish bitch.

And yet…

I still love her. I want her back, despite everything.

God, I really am hopeless.

“Let’s sit… there,” I heard Selena’s voice pull me from my thoughts, and I realized we had arrived at a table in the cafeteria. She was already guiding me to a seat.

Oh. I got lost in my thoughts again. I didn’t even realize we had arrived.

“Just wait here… I’ll get the food,” she said, her hand briefly touching mine before she smiled and walked off.

Sighs.

I sighed deeply, my hands sliding across the table as I closed my eyes, lost in contemplation. This is going to be so difficult. I hope… I just hope she doesn’t do something crazy.

…Yeah, who am I kidding? She’s definitely going to do something crazy.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, something blocked my view.

“Huh?” I gasped, startled.

“Guess who, Riley~!” A familiar, high-pitched voice sang through the air, followed by giggles.

“Shelly,” I answered without thinking, grabbing her hands to pull her into my line of sight.

“How’d you know?” the purple-haired girl with amethyst eyes asked, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement.

“You’re the only one who calls me Riley, idiot,” I replied flatly, flicking her lightly on the forehead.

“Ouch!” She pouted, rubbing the spot where I’d flicked her, then—

BAM!

“FUCK!” I gasped, clutching my abdomen as searing pain shot through me.

Damn it! I hate how weak this body is!

It was just supposed to be a playful punch. But the way she hit me… it nearly killed me.

Why are all the villainesses in this world so fucking strong?

“…S-sorry,” Shelly stammered, her tone suddenly apologetic.

And then, a soothing warmth washed over me.

Healing magic.

I sighed deeply, trying to regain my composure as I watched her bend down to look at me.

“Where did you come from?” I asked, trying to push through the pain as she casually sat beside me.

“Well, I was coming back from the restroom,” she said, pointing behind me. “I was sitting over there.”

I turned to follow her gaze—and froze.

There, at a table nearby, was Lucas. That wasn’t what shocked me.

It was the people sitting with him, laughing and chatting as if everything was normal.

“Wait… aren’t those Liliana and Eloisa?” My mind went blank.

What the hell is going on?

This never happened in the story.

…

…

Alright guys, don’t get annoyed at our boy El for being a hopeless lover boy. This much is needed to build his character for dangerous arcs soon to come.

Golden tickets~