Chapter 2

"Did you just come to my room?" Oscar questioned. I looked up at him in confusion. Why was he asking me that? "No. I just helped Dad hang the laundry and then went back to my room to study. Dad said I could try to get into the Gifted Scholars Program, too." He looked at me skeptically before mumbling to himself, "Something feels off." Was it strange? Maybe it was because I didn't bring him any fruit this time. The next day, I stayed home and studied all day. Using the excuse of not wanting to trouble our parents, Oscar refused to let them take him to the exam. For three days straight, Oscar didn't come home. It wasn't until the SATs were over that he finally returned. Mom and Dad prepared a scrumptious feast and happily waited for him to return home that day. No one could have expected that the moment Oscar stepped into the house, he would suddenly fall to his knees. "I'm sorry, Dad, Mom. I didn't take the exam. I want to stay in high school. I don't want to live as some prodigy anymore. I want to take things step by step like a normal person," he exclaimed. This was the reason Oscar had fallen for Tracy. Since childhood, both Oscar and I had exceptional intelligence. At the suggestion of the principal of our elementary school, our parents took us to get our IQ tested. As expected, we were indeed different from the other kids. My dad often thanked the heavens for being kind to him. He often said that he was blessed with a son and an adopted daughter, who were both geniuses. But Oscar had always resented being called a genius or a prodigy. He believed that it bound him to a certain way of life and imprisoned his free will. Since elementary school, the two of us had been participating in various competitions. Thus, we were pretty well-known in our area. Whenever our parents shared their parenting experiences, I noticed a trace of disdain in Oscar's eyes. When Oscar killed us in my previous life, he complained that our parents never truly loved him. He held a grudge as he believed that they only treated him well because he was a genius. He also claimed that Tracy was the only person who had ever truly cared for him. She loved him for who he was, not for his so-called brilliance. After Tracy died, the light in his life disappeared completely. If that were the case, I would let him shed that "genius" title that he resented so much and let him live an ordinary life this time around. That night, Dad smoked in the living room until the wee hours of the morning. Mom sighed heavily, and their bedroom light stayed on the entire night. For some reason, Oscar suddenly came into my room. He accusatorily asked, "Are you laughing at me? Do you think me a fool for thinking that geniuses like us could never live an ordinary life?" "I'm not!" I stood up and faced him squarely. "You made your choice. So, just take responsibility for whatever decision you made." After hesitating momentarily, Oscar said something that completely took me by surprise. "I know you have feelings for me, but I hope you remember that I only see you as my sister!" I nearly burst into laughter. Who told him that I had feelings for him? Perhaps my expression was too skeptical and derisive because Oscar started explaining himself hastily. "The books Tracy gave me said that adopted sisters usually fall for their brothers. Starting today, I will move into the school dorms, so you had better give up on those improper thoughts." After saying that, he went off, leaving me standing still in shock. Had he always assumed that I fancied him? No wonder he always dated people around me in my past life, only to break up with them, claiming I couldn't stand him being in a relationship. That was how he systematically caused me to be isolated. My friends alienated me, and my reputation was ruined. I was ostracized entirely, and my thesis was rescinded. I even lost my eligibility to enroll in undergraduate studies. And all of this was because of such a ridiculous reason! Then again, Oscar had always been ridiculous, so it made sense for him to have such an absurd belief. Oscar gave up enrolling in Novaris University's Gifted Scholars Program and chose to attend high school instead. For a long time, the teachers at school lamented that he missed out on this good opportunity.