Chapter 2 Noelle's Redemption

• Noelle fully understood the drama unfolding around her. Nelson suddenly became the new crush on campus, making waves, with some even arguing he was better looking than Liam.
• Liam, known as the ultimate campus crush, had said nothing yet, but Noelle, the instigator, was fuming.
• Coming from a low-income background, Nelson had always had to balance multiple part-time jobs alongside his studies, missing out on the carefree life typical of youth. His tough life and reserved nature led most to avoid him.
• For Noelle, comparing him to someone like Liam seemed ridiculous. She decided to show Nelson his place.
• Knowing about his family's financial woes and his mother's health issues, she spitefully hired him for errands, seizing the chance to treat him poorly.
• Nelson reluctantly took the job after Noelle ensured he had no other options for part-time work.
• At the moment, she purposely sent him to buy ice cream in the blazing heat across town, knowing it would melt when he returned.
• She then used the melted ice cream as an excuse to humiliate him in public, throwing it at him in front of everyone.
• Everyone around couldn't resist looking their way, and seeing Nelson in such a mess, Noelle got chills down her spine.
• She knew the original story well and knew that beneath Nelson's quiet facade was someone formidable—he was known in underground boxing circles as a fierce competitor. His appearance of vulnerability was deceptive.
• In school, he came across as shy and didn't have much words, but when he stepped into the boxing ring, it was a whole different story - he was a force to be reckoned with, tough on both his opponents and himself.
• In the storyline, he eventually gets back at original Noelle who mistreated him, making sure she faces the consequences far worse than what he endured.
• And just like that, she had gone and publicly embarrassed Nelson.
• Noelle's heart was pounding, anxiety washing over her as a strange tingling sensation made its way up her scalp.
• Right then, a girl beside her jokingly said, "Noelle, tell him he's gotta buy a new one."
• Involuntarily, Noelle shivered, looking nervously at the peer who seemed too eager to stir up drama.
• The present Noelle was a shy and bookish freshman at university. She was really scared of what the original Noelle before she could congratulated her own rebirh.Thinking over how she would keep Nelson from spiralling and protect herself simultaneously, Noelle pulled herself together, looked at the boy before her, inhaled deeply, and said hesitantly, "Hey, no worries. You don't have to get another one. You can leave."
• Nelson's eyelashes fluttered, feeling a bit confused.
• Why was this person suddenly switching her approach today? Wasn't she supposed to be provoking him into more embarrassment?
• Still, it was a relief that they had eased off; he had other things to worry about.
• Nelson nodded, then casually mentioned, "I haven't been paid for today yet."
• "Oh, right, your payment."
• Noelle quickly returned to the present and hurried to find Nelson's profile on her phone. After noticing the small transactions of fifteen or thirty dollars, she figured the original account holder wasn't short on money, so she sent over seventy-five dollars.
• After putting her phone away, she smiled positively at Nelson, saying, "This covers the dry cleaning, too. Take care."
• But Nelson ignored her, bent down to pick up some thrown-away ice cream wrapper, and walked off without saying anything.
• With Nelson, the future success story, finally gone, Noelle breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed on the viewing bench.
• Her clueless teammates were still unhappy, asking, "Noelle, why'd you let him off the hook today?"
• "Right, you should've told Nelson off while Liam still playing. Let Liam see how you feel about him."
• "Exactly!"
• Noelle sighed deeply, feeling defeated, and realized that the person before her likely landed in this mess because of these so-called friends.
• Feeling adrift, she suddenly stood, declaring, "I've got to handle something, I'll be back."
• The girl beside her was surprised. "But Liam is still playing. Where are you going?"
• "Just need to return some cheerleading stuff I borrowed."
• With a casual lie, Noelle grabbed the pom-poms she'd borrowed to cheer on Liam and hastily made her way out of the spectator stands towards the sports complex.
• On her way out, she caught the attention of a guy playing basketball.
• Despite sweating from the game, his good looks and defined features were unmistakable.
• Liam noticed her, his brows slightly knitting together before he turned away.
• Noelle bit her lip and continued past the court.
• Wandering through the quiet hallway of the sports building, feeling the firmness of the floor under her feet, the texture of the colourful ball in her hands, and the warm air around her, Noelle realized it all was real.
• After a car accident, she worked at the time-space restoration department in a quest for a second chance at life. From there, she found herself in the world of a novel – embodying the role of a not-so-nice side character.
• Turning into such a persona puzzled her, as she was far from who she was.
• Abandoned by her biological parents, she was adopted by foster parents who had lost their child. When they had another baby, she felt she was no longer needed.
• Her foster parents weren't mean but weren't particularly warm either.
• Despite growing up facing challenges, she was thankful for her life and always tried to stay out of trouble, making her way through school and into college.
• But less than a year into college, she met a tragic car accident when she was doing a part-time job.
• The only comforting thought for Noelle was that her foster parents had another daughter, meaning her absence wouldn't be too painful. She hadn't been a source of much happiness for them and didn't want to be a burden any further.
• Suddenly, as she was lost in her thoughts, the door to the equipment room next to her burst open, and before she could even react, someone grabbed her arm and yanked her inside.