The Villainess Reads The Comments

The last thing I see isn't a white lightits Becketts expensive Italian loafer stepping right over my shattered hand.

I am lying in the gutter, my body broken, the freezing rain mixing with the hot pool of my own blood. I try to scream, to beg for help, but my lungs only rattle. Through the downpour, I watch my childhood best friend wrap his arm around Sloane, shielding her from the cold while leaving me to rot like roadkill.

Then, the air itself begins to glitch. Glowing red letters explode across my vision, scrolling faster than my fading heartbeat:

[Ding! The Villainess is finally dead! Pop the champagne!]

[Watching her bleed out is the most satisfying part of the whole book. Bye, Felicia!]

The mockery of the audience is the last thing I feel. Despair drowns me, dark and heavyuntil my eyes snap open, and I gasp for air that smells like chalk dust and fear.

Chapter 1

I froze.

The floating text hovered in the air, translucent and impossible to ignore.

My gaze locked with Adrian's. His face was a mask of icy indifference, carved from marble and just as cold.

But his biology betrayed him.

The tips of his ears were burning a violent shade of crimson. A treacherous flush crept up his neck, staining his pale skin.

He had a crush on me? Adrian? The school's resident nightmare?

My brain short-circuited. I stared at him, eyes wide, processing the absurdity.

He panicked. His gaze darted away, severing the connection instantly.

But I could still feel it. The weight of his attention. It was heavy. Hot. Sticky.

The text stream in my vision accelerated, scrolling faster.

[Look at Coco blinking like a confused kitten. So cute. Adrian is crashing.]

[LMAO. The bad boy is down bad. He forgot to glare. He's just staring.]

It didn't make sense. Before today, whenever I caught Adrian looking, he'd roll his eyes and scoff. I thought he loathed my existence. He was the top student, sure. But he was also terrifying.

Six-foot-three. Old money rich. A face devastatingly handsome but perpetually twisted into a scowl. Aside from the glares, he had never spoken a word to me.

And he liked me? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

The comments had a point, though. If you didn't know he was crushing on me, you'd think he was plotting a homicide.

"What the hell are you looking at?"

Beckett shot up from his seat. My childhood best friend. The self-appointed guardian. He grabbed a handful of Adrian's expensive shirt, yanking him forward. "Stop staring at Coco. What's your problem?"

Becketts voice rose, self-righteous and loud. "You think because your family owns half the city you can do whatever you want?"

Adrians focus snapped from me to Beckett.

The shift was terrifying. One second he was a blushing mess, the next he was a predator.

He moved too fast to follow.

Slam.

Beckett was pinned against the desk.

Adrians eyes were feral. Red-rimmed. Dangerous. Like a wild dog cornered. Screams erupted around the classroom.

I rushed forward. "Stop!"

Adrian saw me approach out of the corner of his eye. He froze.

The tension left his frame instantly. The feral glint vanished, replaced by hesitation.

Beckett seized the opening. He wrenched free from the loosened grip and swung.

A sickening thud echoed as his fist connected with Adrian's jaw.

Adrians head snapped to the side. A trickle of blood bloomed at the corner of his mouth, stark against his pale skin. He looked back at me.

Panic. Pure, unadulterated panic flooded his dark eyes. His lips parted. He wanted to explain. He wanted to say he didn't start it.

But he stayed silent. He just clenched his fists, knuckles turning white, and took it. Standing there like a statue.

Beckett stood in front of me, chest heaving. A human shield I didn't ask for. He glared at Adrian, wiping his hand. "Coco, don't be afraid. I'm here. He won't touch you."

I opened my mouth to speak, but the comments exploded in a furious red torrent.

[Ugh, get over yourself, Beckett. Why is it your business if Adrian has a crush?]

[This guy. Flirts with the class beauty in first period, comforts the shy girl at lunch, then plays hero for Coco now. He's not a 'nice guy.' He's a community service project. He belongs to the streets.]

[I still don't get why Coco becomes so obsessed with this loser later. She literally loses her mind over him.]

[Yeah, she goes full psycho villainess and gets brutally murdered in the end. Tragic.]

My blood ran cold. I stood paralyzed as the text scrolled.

Obsessed? With Beckett? Me? Dead?

I looked at Beckett's back. I felt absolutely nothing for him. Zero butterflies. Zero spark.

Wait. Scroll back.

How exactly do I die? I need details. If I'm destined for a gruesome end, I need to know how to dodge the bullet.

Chapter 2

The floating text shifted gears, the mood swinging from mockery to urgent analysis.

[No suspense here. Coco is definitely going to scream at Adrian. In her mind, hes just delinquent trash compared to her precious Beckett.]

[She thinks Adrian hates her. Shes going to dump all her repressed anger on him right now.]

[This is the pivot point! This is why Adrian thinks hes a burden to her. He transfers schools after this. We never see him again!]

[Tragic. The boy is literally obsessing over her, pure love, and hes about to be banished from her world forever.]

I scanned the comments quickly. My gaze snapped to Adrian.

He hadn't moved. He stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were bleached bone-white. His eyesthose long, sharp, beautiful eyeswere filled with a crushing desolation.

He looked like a man waiting for his execution sentence. He was ready for me to yell. To hate him.

I shoved Beckett aside. I didn't think. I just walked straight up to Adrian.

My hand reached out, fingers trembling slightly as they hovered over the cut on his lip. I brushed the corner of his mouth, careful not to press down. "Does it hurt?"

My voice came out softer than I intended.

Adrians entire body went rigid. Shock crashed over him. The desolation in his dark eyes shattered, replaced by a raw, blinding disbelief.

Beckett stared at me, his face twisting in confusion. "Why are you being nice to him? He's been bullying you for years!"

The comments exploded.

[OMG! The Villainess is defending Adrian! Did she finally wake up?!]

[AHHH! That soft tone! Adrian is dying right now. Hes fighting that smile so hard his face might crack.]

[Look at his ears! Theyre burning red!]

[Coco, what is this play? Im confused but I love it!]

I didn't have a master plan. I just knew the truth now. The glaring, the hostilityit was all a cover. He was a panic-stricken boy with a massive crush, terrified Id find out. Loving someone isn't a crime. Why should I blame him for that?

Besides, Beckett threw the first punch.

Adrian stared at me. His gaze was scorching hot, heavy with a mix of adoration and shyness. It felt like the rest of the classroom had dissolved, leaving just the two of us in a vacuum.

A long beat passed.

He shook his head slowly. His voice was rough, like gravel grinding together. "No."

The comments rolled in again.

[LMAO. "No." Bro, your crush is touching your face. Youre on cloud nine. You wouldn't feel it if you got stabbed right now.]

He said no, but the blood was still welling up on his lip. I didn't care about the audience anymore. I grabbed his wrist. "Come with me. Nurse's office."

The text stream went nuclear.

[HOLY! Hand-holding?! Already?!]

[Look at this simp! Hes staring at their joined hands like he wants to frame this moment in a museum.]

[Adrian is going to go home and stare at that hand for five hours straight. Hes not washing it tonight.]

Adrian didn't resist. He followed me instantly, docile as a trained puppy.

My mind was racing as I dragged him down the hallway. The comments had filled in the blanks. I was living in a "Childhood Sweethearts" romance novel.

Beckett, my childhood friend, was the Male Lead. He was destined to fall for the new transfer studentthe real Heroine. And me? I was the stepping stone. The jealous, possessive Villainess destined to spiral into madness and die a miserable death.

And Adrian he was the Knight. The cold school bully who only existed in my high school arc, silently loving me from the shadows.

We reached the nurse's office. It was empty. I sat him down and went to grab the cotton swabs and iodine from the cabinet. My thoughts were a chaotic mess.

I turned back around.

And my heart skipped a beat. A violent, physical stutter in my chest.

Adrian was sitting quietly on the exam bed. The harsh fluorescent lights washed over his pale skin, making him look almost translucent. His head was bowed slightly. Strands of messy black hair fell across his forehead, casting shadows over his eyes.

He looked shattered. Fragile. There was a heartbreaking vulnerability to him that hit me like a physical blow.

How had I never noticed? He was devastatingly beautiful.

Chapter 3

The comments immediately picked up on my reaction.

[Confirmed. No plot armor, just raw instinct. Coco is weak for the sad puppy dog look.]

[If only Adrian could see these comments. Coco might look cute, but she's got a temper. Shes soft-hearted, though. If you play the victim, she folds instantly.]

[Exactly. If you want to bag the feisty girl, you gotta act like a fragile flower. Go full 'pick me' boy.]

Suddenly, Adrian looked up.

The icy, untouchable facade was gone. His sharp eyes were now glistening, wide and wet. He reached out, his fingers gingerly tugging at the hem of my uniform. He blinked, batting his lashes with exaggerated innocence.

"Please don't be mad at Beckett for today. I can take it I'm used to being treated like this."

???

I didn't even ask him about Beckett. Why did he suddenly sound like a manipulative side-chick in a bad soap opera?

Unless

Does he have the sight too? Did he wake up just like me?

I narrowed my eyes. I scanned his face, hunting for a crack in the performance. He just kept tugging at my shirt, looking up at me like a kicked stray.

The comments noticed it too.

[Holy sh*t. Can Adrian actually see us?]

[Let's test it.]

[Adrian, if you can read this: Keep acting like a 'pick me' boy. Coco eats that sh*t up.]

Adrians jaw tightened. He looked like he was about to jump off a cliff. Then, he doubled down. His expression crumbled into something even more pathetic.

"You're not saying anything are you mad at me? It's my fault. I should have just let Beckett hit me. I shouldn't have fought back."

He couldn't even look me in the eye as he said it. The comments were losing their minds.

[LOOK AT HER, YOU IDIOT! Use that face! Don't waste the money maker!]

[Seduce her! Do you know what that word means?!]

[Do you want your crush or not?!]

Adrian looked like he wanted to die of embarrassment. He took a shaky breath, steeling himself. Slowly, he lifted his head. His gaze locked onto me.

"I know I'm not as perfect as Beckett. That's probably why he hates me. You defended me today Beckett must be furious. You two grew up together, and now I've made things difficult for you"

The text stream cheered. [YES! YES! That's the flavor! exquisite trash!]

Adrian finished his monologue and dropped his gaze, looking utterly defeated. "I'm sorry."

I frowned. Okay, that was forced. He was laying it on way too thick. But it confirmed one thing: He could definitely see the comments.

The chat went wild.

[Let's gooo! The disposable male lead has awakened!]

[Doe-eyed baddie vs. The Innocent Bad Boy. This is a Michelin-star meal.]

[Adrian,] the text bolded itself, [Listen to us. Do NOT leave school today. You must follow Coco.]

[Today is the critical turning point where Coco falls in love with Beckett.]

I paused. Why on earth would I fall for Beckett? And what kind of "turning point" was powerful enough to make me obsess over him until I turned into a psychopath?

I stared at the floating text, waiting for answers. But they didn't explain. They just kept spamming Adrian to follow me.

I was Class President, so Mr. Wood kept me late to photocopy some papers. By the time I got out, the school was mostly empty.

I walked to the gate.

Adrian was there.

He was leaning against the brick wall, waiting. He was tall and lean, broad-shouldered. His blazer was hooked casually over one finger, draped over his shoulder. The wind caught the edge of his shirt, lifting it just enough to reveal a glimpse of a sculpted waist.

He saw me. He snapped to attention, standing rigid.

I walked past him without a word. Behind me, he was a mess of nervous energy. He fidgeted with his cuffs. He cracked his knuckles. He looked everywhere but at me.

I kept walking. He followed silently, keeping a respectful distance. My own personal, anxious shadow.

Chapter 4

The entire walk, the text stream was raging with frustration.

[Adrian, you absolute disaster! You have the face of a god and youre playing the silent stalker game? You can see the comments! Use them! Talk to her!]

[New here. How is this shy mess the school's 'King of Hell'?]

[Accident. Pure accident. Hes too handsome and has resting b*tch face. People assumed he was dangerous. Rumors spiraled.]

[Actually, hes super polite. Old money upbringing. Hes cold to everyone else because he doesnt need to impress anyone. But for the girl he likes? Hes a melted puddle of goo. The contrast is lethal.]

[Exactly. His 'politeness' is why he never made a move. In the original plot, after Coco yelled at him, he thought he was bothering her, so he transferred schools. He literally removed himself from her life to make her happy.]

[But he can see the chat now! Why is he just staring at the back of her head?! Hes going to burn a hole through her blazer!]

[Relax. The boy is trying. He saw Coco frown when he tried the 'pick me' act earlier and panicked. He thinks he grossed her out.]

[If we hadn't warned him about the 'turning point' with Beckett today, he would be digging a hole to live in right now.]

[Hes terrified of messing up. His strategy is: Don't speak, don't die of embarrassment.]

Adrian was silent as the grave. Just walking. Following.

It was weird.

If I couldn't see the comments explaining his internal meltdown, I would be terrified. The guy who usually glares at me was now stalking me home. Thats serial killer behavior. He liked me, but he wouldn't say it. Which meant I couldn't even reject him to clear the air.

My brain was buzzing. I needed to know about this "turning point." How do I fall for Beckett? How do I stop the domino effect that leads to my gruesome murder?

I couldn't let them know I could see the text.

I stopped abruptly. I spun around.

Adrian froze. His gaze, which had been glued to me with intense longing, snapped away. He started looking at the sky, the trees, a random trash cananything but me.

I channeled my inner mean girl. I had to stay in character. "Why are you following me? Do you have a problem?"

My voice was sharp. Aggressive.

But Adrian he just stared. The panic in his eyes melted into a dazed, dreamy look. He was zoning out on my face again.

The comments lost it.

[Does Coco not realize she looks like an angry hamster when she puffs her cheeks out? Its not scary. Its adorable.]

[With those bangs? Threat level zero.]

[Adrian is malfunctioning again. She thinks shes intimidating him. He thinks shes flirting.]

I sighed internally. This was hopeless. I reached into my bag and pulled out a cartoon hair clip. I pinned my bangs back aggressively, exposing my forehead. Trying to look severe.

I glared at him. "Why are you following me? Answer me. Look at my eyes!"

Chapter 5

Adrian flinched at my tone. He lowered his head slowly, his long lashes casting shadows over his cheeks. He looked devastated. Beautifully, heartbreakingly devastated.

His voice was a rough whisper. "Its on my way."

He looked so fragile, so unjustly accused.

My brain short-circuited. The anger evaporated, replaced by a warm, fuzzy haze. I felt like Id been drugged. "Oh," I said softly. "Okay."

I blinked. Wait. Wasn't I supposed to be mad? Why was I comforting him again?

Dammit.

I clutched my chest. My heart was hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. I turned around and started walking fast. My thoughts were a mess.

I was terrifyingly weak for his sad boy act. It was a problem.

I reached the entrance to Helix Alley.

The text stream suddenly exploded.

[Here it is! The Male Lead's highlight moment!]

[The fated scene where the Villainess falls in love!]

I lived in an old apartment complex behind Helix Alley. It was a sketchy shortcutneon lights, dive bars, and the smell of stale beer and bad decisions. Fights were common here.

And since I was living in a high school romance novel Helix Alley. Floating text going crazy.

Don't tell me

The "turning point" where I fall for Beckett. Is it seriously going to be a clich "Damsel in Distress" scene? I get harassed by thugs, Beckett saves me, and I fall madly in love?

Seriously?

If thats all it takes to make me obsess over him and eventually turn into a psychopath this plot is lazy. I rolled my eyes. The writers really don't treat side characters like humans, do they? Just forced affection. Forced death.

As if on cue, a group of drunk thugs stumbled into view. I frowned, disgusted.

Let me guess. Theyre going to whistle at me. Reach out with grimy hands. Say something gross like, "Hey baby, wanna party?"

Then Beckett enters, stage left. The hero. Hell step in front of me, chest out, and deliver a line like, "Don't you dare touch her."

Despite being a physical weakling, hell somehow beat up multiple grown men. Hell probably do it in slow motion. Maybe flip his hair back afterwards. And Ill look at him with starry eyes, worshipping him as my savior, forever trapped in his orbit.

Just thinking about it made me want to gag. I shook the thoughts away and focused.

The thugs were swaying toward me, shouting profanities. But they weren't looking at me. They were arguing with each other. Something about money. A split that wasn't even.

Suddenly, the argument turned physical. Shoving. Punching. One of thema guy with a neck tattooyanked a switchblade from his pocket. The blade snapped open with a metallic click.

"You think you can rip me off? We sold that together!"

He lunged at his partner. The partner was standing right in front of me, a few feet away. He was drunk, stumbling. He lurched sideways to avoid the blow.

The tattooed guy missed his target. But momentum carried him forward.

The knife was no longer aimed at his friend. It was plunging straight toward me.

The text flashed red.

[Beckett is here.]

[I feel bad for Adrian, but honestly? This is Becketts moment. The writers went hard on this scene