For ten years, I had a crush on Yates Martin, and looking up at his back became second nature to me.

Everyone around us said we were a perfect couple, destined to be together.

I felt a thrill of excitement and decided I would confess my feelings to him once we were to university.

But then, out of nowhere, I fainted, and a memory from a book flooded into my mind.

That's when I realized I was actually the cruel female supporting character, and there was no future for me and him.

Still, I didn't want to give up; I tried to change the story and rewrite my fate.

In the end, though, a single line from the main heroine brought me crashing back to reality.

***

I dragged a torn burlap sack down the street, rummaging through one trash can after another, picking up bottles and stuffing them into the sack.

A passerby tossed a bottle with half a bottle of water left in it onto the ground.

I walked over, just about to pick it up, when I heard a cheerful exclamation beside me.

"Gina, why are you picking up garbage? It's all my fault. Yates, please let Gina go."

My movements froze instantly, and a wave of helplessness washed over me.

Slowly raising my head, I saw a perfect couple standing not far away.

Linda Sue was hugging Yates, looking pitiful as she shook his arm.

Yates immediately grabbed her hand to comfort her.

"Linda, sweetheart, if it weren't for this bitch, you wouldn't have to suffer so much. It's all her fault."

Hearing his words, a bittersweet feeling welled up in my heart. Was it really my fault?

I only liked him, yet I ended up in such a situation.

Thinking back on everything that had happened, a sharp pain shot through my chest, as if a knife were stabbing my heart.

"Yates, I have never done anything to hurt Linda, but you stubbornly refuse to believe my explanations. The moment she cries, you think I harmed her; it's like I deserve this. I shouldn't have liked you, and I've fallen so low, but why can't you both just let me go?"

During this time, I lived like a walking corpse, and when I encountered them again, I finally couldn't help but cry out.

A flicker of painful struggle flashed in Yates's eyes. Seeing this, Linda worriedly tugged at his sleeve before returning to her usual indifference.

"Gina Shaw, stop playing games; I won't believe you. If it weren't for you setting the fire, how could there be burns on Linda? You've tried to take her life multiple times, even hiring someone to kill her. How could I tolerate this? You're in this situation because of your own actions; you can't blame anyone else!"

I painfully closed my eyes. Yes, it's all my fault; it's all my mistake!

Even though I fought back countless times, I ultimately couldn't escape, couldn't escape!

Seeing him get angry, Linda ran directly in front of me, grabbing my hand and trying to pull me away.

"Gina, come with me. I can't watch you live by picking up garbage."

I looked at her holding my hand, panic rising in my chest, and hurriedly shook it off.

I couldn't do it; I couldn't dare to get close to her anymore.

But I clearly didn't use much strength; she gasped and fell to the ground, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Linda, are you okay?"

Yates hurried over to help Linda up, checking her over several times to make sure she was unharmed. Then, his gaze turned icy cold as he looked at me.

"Gina Shaw, you're so malicious! I've never seen you like this before. You've been acting for over a decade in front of me."

Seeing Yates's disgusted expression and Linda's innocent demeanor made me tremble inside.

Here we go again, just like always!

Why is it that even though I've done nothing wrong, I always end up being blamed?

Linda being kidnapped was my doing; the villa fire was also my fault.

Almost being assaulted was my instigation, and the insults she faced were my orders too.

But I've already distanced myself from her!

So why can't I escape? Why?

Looking at their unchanged expressions and recalling everything that had happened during that time, the tension in my mind snapped.

I broke down, laughing hysterically, laughing and laughing until tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

The two of them stood there, frozen, watching my breakdown.

I wiped my tears and glanced at the setting sun on the horizon.

The sky was filled with the afterglow, the sun sinking back into the mountains and seas, but where was I supposed to go?

I picked up the bottle on the ground, poured out the water, and put it back into the burlap sack.

No longer caring about the two behind me, I numbly walked forward.

Maybe I would never escape this quagmire, never be able to run away.

Because... I was just the malicious supporting character in this story, and no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, in the end, it was all just a joke.

I realized it was the third day since I fainted, and the content of that book was fresh in my mind.

I knew today was the day of their first meeting, and I was supposed to go to the library with Yates, where Linda would bump into us from behind.

So, I felt restless all day. Even though I thought the book was ridiculous, I couldn't shake off the anxiety.

"Gina, are you feeling unwell? If so, we can go tomorrow instead. Let me take you home first."

Yates said with a concerned look on his face as he started to get up.

I quickly grabbed his arm and said, "Yates, don't go. Let's just stay here for now and go out later tonight."

Yates furrowed his brow in confusion as he glanced at me but didn't say anything.

He then pulled a painkiller from his pocket and took my cup.

"Is it your time of the month? You always overeat and end up with a stomachache. Let me go get you a cup of hot water. You wait here."

Seeing Yates's actions warmed my heart, and I wondered if he might have feelings for me.

He remembered my menstrual cycle, carried painkillers with him, and knew my birthday and my preferences.

When I was home alone and woke up in the middle of the night from the thunder, Yates even rushed over with an umbrella.

If Yates and Linda didn't meet this time, then the book would be fake, and I would confess my feelings.

I made up my mind at that moment, feeling a bit nervous, but when I turned my gaze, all that remained in my heart was despair.

The female lead still appeared, and even though we hadn't gone out, they still ended up meeting.

Yates had prepared a cup of water for me, but it spilled all over Linda.

Linda was soaked, looking at Yates with her innocent eyes, tears welling up as she silently gazed into his.

To my surprise, Yates stood there, dazed, captivated by her gaze.

Seeing the two of them looking at each other so affectionately, I couldn't hold back any longer. I rushed forward and pulled Yates behind me.

"I'm sorry! Yates didn't mean to do that. Here's the dry cleaning fee. I'm really sorry, but we have to go now."

I tugged at Yates to leave, but to my shock, Linda's words made him drop my hand.

Linda gently tugged at Yates's shirt and timidly said, "Um, it's okay. You can take the money back. I can wash it. It's just... my clothes are a bit see-through. Could you lend me your shirt?"

I looked at Yates in a panic and hurriedly took off my own shirt to give to her, but Yates stopped me.

"Gina, you're not feeling well. Don't catch a cold. Just use my shirt. I'll take her home."

As he said this, he released my hand, took off his jacket, draped it over Linda, and then walked away with her.

That day, as I watched them walk away, my nose felt sour, and my eyes instantly filled with tears. I quickly lowered my head to let them fall.

Could it be that the book is real? Do we really have no future?

I've liked him for so many years. Just because I'm not the female lead, does that mean I don't deserve to be with him?

No, I don't want to give up. I won't admit defeat before they get together.

Later, I started to avoid every scene from the book.

Today was the day Linda would be bullied, so I had already taken a leave of absence and locked myself in my room. After all, I was about to graduate and didn't have any classes left.

Maybe if I just stayed inside, nothing would happen.

"Yates, it wasn't me, really! I didn't get anyone to humiliate her. We grew up together—don't you believe me?"

I desperately grabbed Yates' hand, looking at Linda, who was crying beside me, feeling a wave of despair wash over me.

I was confused. Why did this happen when I had already locked myself away at home?

Yates stepped forward and comfortingly patted Linda's back, pulling her into his arms.

He looked a bit skeptical, but perhaps because of our years of friendship, he still chose to believe me.

"Linda, Gina might have been framed. We've known each other since childhood, and I know she wouldn't do something like this. Don't worry, I'll find out who's behind it and give you an explanation!"

Hearing his words, I felt a sense of relief. Although I couldn't escape this situation, at least Yates believed in me.

I glanced at them hugging, but the sour feelings in my heart wouldn't go away.

Linda wiped her tears, forced a smile, and walked over to me.

"Gina, I believe you didn't do it. Honestly, I've always envied you. You have such a great family and loving parents, and Yates dotes on you. Unlike me, I was abandoned by my parents when I was little, and I'm still bullied by others. Can I call you sister? That way, I won't feel so alone anymore."

As she spoke, she leaned in and hugged me, surprising me with her sudden closeness.

Just a few days ago, whenever I got near her, something bad would happen, leading to several arguments between Yates and me.

Thinking about this, I quickly pushed her away.

She let out a small gasp, clutching her arm tightly, and looked at Yates with tears in her eyes.

Yates' gaze never left her. Hearing her cry out in pain, he rushed over to her in a few quick steps.

He gently took her arm and blew on it, his eyes filled with concern. Then, he turned to me with a cold look.

I shook my head repeatedly, desperate to explain, but he ignored me and left with Linda in his arms.

Linda snuggled up to him shyly, and through his embrace, she gave me a gentle smile.

For some reason, I could see a hint of smugness in her eyes.

It had only been seven days since Yates met Linda, yet I never imagined they would fall head over heels for each other so quickly.

Just a week felt like it outweighed the more than twenty years Yates and I had known each other.

That evening, I sat silently on the couch, staring at their official relationship announcement on social media.

It felt like a piece of my heart was missing; the pain was there, but I couldn't fully process it, just a sense of confusion and numbness.

I had liked him for years, and I'd finally mustered the courage to confess my feelings to him.

But as soon as Linda came into the picture, she stole his attention away. Is this what it means to be the female lead in a story?

My mom walked over with concern, wrapping me in a hug and gently patting my shoulder.

"Gina, some things we just can't force. I knows you like Yates, but he has a girlfriend now. You should try to move on. If you're feeling hurt, your dad and I are worried about you too."

My dad joined us, ruffling my hair affectionately.

"There are plenty of great guys out there, better than Yates. I'll introduce you to a few. Once you've sorted out your feelings, you can meet them. Our Gina is so amazing; it's his loss that he couldn't end up with my daughter."

Looking at my parents' caring expressions, my suddenly cold heart felt a bit warmer.

Yates has a girlfriend now; even though I've always liked him, what good does it do me?

I tried so hard; I did everything in my power to avoid the misunderstandings from the book, yet they still happened. In just seven days, they were together.

Can I really not change the outcome, no matter what I do?

Thinking about the ending, I suddenly remembered the big fire from the book, and my heart couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Mom, Dad, let's go abroad for a while. I need to get away and clear my head."

If I escape to another country, could anything still happen there?