Chapter 2

2 Ethan couldn't help himself. He started walking towards me.

He stops in front of me and his hand goes up like he's about to smack me.

But his hand didn't land. I grabbed his wrist before he could connect.

Ethan looked even angrier, "You’re actually trying to fight back?!"

Hearing his rage, I suddenly flashed back to the last time this happened. Last time, Tiffany had already handed in a finished painting that was identical to mine, and went on live TV, calling me out for being a copycat.

I didn't understand how my concept had ended up in her painting. I tried to explain but Ethan just slapped me across the face without even giving me the chance.

He didn’t want to hear it. He was shouting, calling me a "thief," dragging me out by my hair.

"I can’t believe you're a copycat," he spat. "I was so wrong about you!"

And because he was my boyfriend, the online mob took it as the truth. I couldn't shake the accusation of being a copycat.

I was the internet’s public enemy number one. After the cyber-bullying finally killed me, my elderly parents followed shortly.

But, after my soul floated in the air for a while, I saw Ethan propose to Tiffany, riding my misery to fame and riches.

Tiffany became the new "it girl" artist, and Ethan became a judge in the art world.

Only I ended up alone, a ghost with a broken family.

This time, I made sure my eyes were gone. I went to a doctor before this whole thing happened again, and had them take my eyeballs out. I’m not letting them pull that crap again.

Snapping back to reality, I felt Ethan's rage. I tightened my grip on his wrist.

He was fuming, "Chung, what do you think you're doing? In front of everyone, are you going to start hitting judges now?!"

"You already stole Tiffany’s work, what else do you want?!"

The chat went wild again, all saying I was a lost cause and wouldn't own up to my mistake.

But I wasn’t worried. I smirked at Ethan.

I looked up and told him, calm as could be, "Ethan, you sure have a way with words. Anyone who doesn't know any better would think you're Tiffany’s boyfriend, the way you're defending her.”

Ethan seemed thrown off. He didn't expect me to say that.

"I'm just being impartial as a judge. There's nothing personal about this!"

I laughed.

“Then why did you show Tiffany my sketches before the competition?"