Be Mine, My Rival || Myoui Mina (English Version)

Chapter 3

Y/N's POV

I sighed in relief after seeing my report card, my grades are excellent which made me happy but I can't be contented or relaxed.

I'm sure that my parents will be unsatisfied and unhappy about my grades until I finish senior high school.

They'll only praise me if I graduate as the Ace Student. And I'm not gonna lie, it's very hard to achieve.

They'll scold me and beat me up, whenever I don't get perfect scores on my exams. Even if it's just one mistake.

As if things won't get any better, they'll compare me to my sister which hurts because I'm really trying my best. I guess they only care about the results, and not the process.

Sometimes, I just want to give up. They don't appreciate me, they won't be proud of me, no matter how much hard work, effort, and sacrifices I put.

You won't hear a single 'congratulations' nor 'I'm proud of you' from them. Maybe at the end of this school year, I might be able to hear it. Just maybe.

I wish I was my sister Irene. Our parents make sure to give her tons of praises.

But even so, I'm still thankful that she's my sister because she's very kind to me. She cheers me up whenever my parents scolded me or whenever I'm sad.

She's the best sister I could ask for.

Okay, enough with the drama.

We're still in our classroom, our teacher finally distributed all of our report cards.

Some of us chose to stay while others went outside since it's our free time and all of the teachers are having an emergency meeting.

Some of the students that are left here are busy using their phones like Dahyun, Jeongyeon, and Tzuyu while Chaeyoung is busy on her papers. And I'm just sitting here, listening to music from my AirPods, reading a book, not giving a damn about anything.

Someone suddenly poked my shoulder causing me to put down my book and turn around.

It's Jihyo...

"Favor, please?" Jihyo pleads and pouted at me.

I removed my AirPods and looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak.

"Come with me to the SSG Office," Jihyo said.

I nodded without asking why and stood up while holding my book. She also called Chaeyoung since she's also a part of the SSC Club.

I continued reading my book while walking through the hallways, being careful not to trip while the two of them talked about papers.

Some of the students that we passed by are whispering, talking, and gossiping about us but they were only saying good things so it's fine.

I'm not surprised that they know me because I'm always in the highest rank and I'm with the SSG Officers.

SSG OFFICE

I and Chaeyoung both sat in front of Jihyo as we patiently waited on what she'll say.

"I brought you here because I really need your help, Y/N." Jihyo started as she rested her elbows on her desk, tapping her fingers.

"O-Okay?" I replied, confused.

"We've already talked about this before, you'll be our school's representative on the upcoming quiz bee in the division level." She continued.

"But one of the rules in the quiz bee states that every school needs two participants. And if it's okay with you, we're partnering you up with Myoui Mina."

I froze.

Is she serious?!

"Hang on– there are so many students in this school that can be my potential partner, but why Myoui Mina?" I asked.

"Don't worry, it's not yet confirmed. The rankings aren't announced yet."

Chaeyoung said which made me sigh in relief, but got tense again since we all know that me and Myoui are always beside each other in the ranks.

"U-Uhm... Is it okay for you that I'll just be the one to pick my partner?" I asked nervously.

I hope she agrees, partner me up with anyone except for her.

"Why? Isn't it much better if the two of the smartest students in our school participate in the contest, so there'll be more chances of winning?" Jihyo confidently retorted.

She has a point, but I really don't want to.

"But what if one participant isn't comfortable with the other? It might affect the participants' performance on the day of the quiz bee." I stated causing Jihyo to look at me seriously.

"Why don't you want to be partnered up with Mina? Almost all of the students are dying to talk to her. Just try being her friend, will you?" Jihyo said making me mad, but I'm used to controlling my emotions so I just remained poker-faced.

I can feel the veins in my neck...

"No, I don't make friends with the enemy. You guys know that I don't want to be fake." I answered her, struggling to control my emotions.

"E-Enemy?" Chaeyoung stuttered.

"But why?" Jihyo asked in a confused tone.

"Because she's my rival," I said in a deep tone that made them stiffen a little.

"But... we're also in the rankings, isn't it a bit unfair that you're fine with us having a place in the ranks while you see her as a rival?" Chaeyoung asked.

Is she really my friend? Aish.

"I'm fine with that, you guys are different from her. She's so close to my rank, she's only one step below me." I explained seriously explained to them while remaining poker-faced.

I don't know why, but she makes my blood boil.

I already see her as my rival ever since we're in high school.

She once stole my place as the highest ranker in this school and I got beaten up by my parents that day.

I even got grounded. I was forbidden to use my phone or any other gadget. I couldn't watch TV and I got locked up in my room.

I stayed up until 2 AM to study and answer my modules.

I only ate biscuits and only drank milk.

I can only eat something good when I finished studying or answering my modules.

It continued for 2 weeks, my eyes are sore from crying. In short, it was like hell.

And since then, they started comparing me to my sister Irene.

I tried my best to get back my position and I succeeded, but they still weren't proud because I broke their expectations of me being a perfect daughter.

But I'm still human, I make mistakes, I'm not perfect.

They never thought of my situation, they never thought of me, they never thought that their daughter is hurting and struggling.

I feel suffocated as if a rope is latched onto my neck. And if I make a single mistake, the rope will tighten, suffocating me even more until I give up.

That's how I feel, it hurts because they make me feel that I don't have freedom.

That's also the reason why I became cold. They made me like this.

Dahyun knows everything since she's my childhood friend. But the others, they don't know, so there are times that they misunderstand me. But it's okay. They're used to me now.

"Okay, but if ever you two become partners, please be nice to her," Jihyo said in a pleading tone.

I said and looked at her, emotionless.

"I'll try," I said coldly.

•••

Merry Christmas everyone ☃️🌲