The Villains Must Win-Chapter 136: Reid Graves 16

Reid had no idea that his so-called "comforting" approach was the equivalent of handing someone a pop quiz when they just wanted a hug.

No wonder Gwendolyn ended up into Roman’s arms—she needed emotional support, not a dissertation.

Reid pushed his glasses up. "Oh, it gets worse. The phenomenon is amplified when the bad boy shows moments of kindness or vulnerability. It creates an emotional contrast that makes his attention feel more meaningful."

"So, every time Roman does something remotely nice, it just makes things worse for me?" Gwendolyn asked in a daze.

"Precisely," Reid confirmed, flipping through his book. "The unpredictability keeps the emotional intensity high. That’s why women in romance novels tend to fall for their arrogant love interests—fiction often mirrors real psychological patterns."

"Damn. So, basically, Roman isn’t just winning—science is on his side," Tabitha said with a tone in edge directly mostly at Reid for him to stop yapping.

Gwendolyn dramatically slammed her head against the desk. "I hate this. I hate everything."

Tabitha patted her back. "Cheer up, Gwen. You’re not the first girl to fall for a walking red flag." She widened her eyes at Reid.

Reid, still oblivious to social cues, added, "To be fair, not all bad boys succeed. If the girl actively resists and creates a strong emotional barrier, the effect can be reversed. But since Gwendolyn is already considering going to a party with him—"

"I am not considering it!" Gwendolyn interrupted, her face still buried in her arms.

"Sure," Tabitha teased, grinning. "Just like how you ’weren’t’ considering talking about it to us just now." If Reid was adamant in making her second guess, then she was persistent in making sure that she went in that damn party.

Gwendolyn groaned. "I came here for emotional support, not a science lecture and a roast session."

Reid closed his book. "Emotional support isn’t exactly my specialty."

Tabitha grinned. "Don’t worry, Gwen. Even if science is against you, I’m on your side."

Gwendolyn lifted her head warily. "That . . . doesn’t sound reassuring coming from you."

Tabitha grinned. "You wound me. I’m an amazing friend. And honestly, you should just go to the party with him. If you don’t, you’ll regret it."

"You’ll regret it nonetheless if you do," Reid countered flatly.

Tabitha shook her head. "Reid," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose, "has anyone ever told you that you’re really, really bad at comforting people?"

Reid blinked. "Bad? I just provided valuable insight into—"

"Yeah, yeah, save it for the psychology club," she cut him off. "Just . . . maybe try being less of a human textbook and more of an actual human next time, okay?"

Reid frowned as if the very concept baffled him. "Less of a human textbook? But . . . I like being a human textbook."

Tabitha groaned. "Yeah, we know."

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn, still emotionally wrecked from Reid’s "comfort," let out a long sigh. "I . . . I think I need to go home and rest."

Reid nodded. "That would be an appropriate response, given the cognitive dissonance you’re experiencing."

Tabitha threw a pencil at him.

Gwendolyn muttered something as she left.

Tabitha crossed her arms and gave Reid a deadpan stare. "Will you stop stuffing facts and science into her head?"

"What do you mean?" Reid blinked, feigning innocence.

"Can’t you see she actually wants to go?"

"If she really wanted to go, she wouldn’t be second-guessing it and asking our opinion," he said matter-of-factly.

"My opinion, actually. You just barged in and started spewing scientific research like some kind of love scientist."

"I thought I was helping."

"Reid, I love you, but leave the emotional talk to me, okay?"

Reid merely shrugged, turning a page in his book as if this conversation wasn’t worth the effort. But Tabitha studied him closely, her lips twitching into a smile.

"What?" he asked, catching her look.

"You’re saying all this to Gwen because you want her to second-guess herself and reject Roman, aren’t you?"

"Huh?"

"You like her, don’t you?" Tabitha prodded, watching his reaction closely.

Reid exhaled sharply and snapped his book shut, looking at her with squinting eyes. "Are you seriously implying that I like her and that I’m making up facts to get into her head? Are you doubting my scientific knowledge?"

Considering he was more offended that she was questioning his intellect rather than denying any romantic feelings for Gwendolyn, it told Tabitha everything she needed to know. The guy no longer saw Gwen as a romantic partner—just a friend maybe or even less.

And that realization made Tabitha beam her brightest smile as she shook her head. "No way. So, genius, got anyone to take to the prom?"

Reid scoffed. "Obviously not."

"Why not?" she teased. "Are you saying no girl in this school would be thrilled to have the honor of dancing with the smartest guy here?"

Reid looked at her as if she had suggested something utterly absurd. "There’s no practical benefit to attending," he said plainly. "And realistically speaking, no one would want to dance with me anyway."

Tabitha clutched her chest dramatically. "Wow, tragic. But don’t worry, I got you."

"You got me?" Reid narrowed his eyes.

"Yup." She grinned. "I’ll dance with you."

Reid gave her a pointed look. "Because we’re friends."

"Sure," Tabitha said, shrugging. Then she met his gaze and softened her tone just a bit. "But between all the guys out there, I’d still choose you."

Reid blinked, slightly caught off guard.

"And I’d definitely prefer you over some sweaty, cologne-drenched jock stepping on my feet all night," she added quickly, bringing back the humor.

Reid rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay." But the way the corner of his lips twitched upward, just a little, didn’t go unnoticed by her.

"So, we have a date then?" Tabitha asked, grinning.

"Huh? What?" Reid immediately buried his face back into his book, suddenly looking very interested in a page he had probably already read ten times.

"The dance, Reid," she pressed. "You don’t have a partner, I don’t have a partner. You’re an outcast, I’m an outcast. We’re a perfect match. I say we go together."

"I don’t know . . ." He shifted uncomfortably, flipping a page in his book despite clearly not reading it.