I Was Sick Of Second Place So I Took Everything Chapter 02

I Was Sick Of Second Place So I Took Everything Chapter 02

At dinner, my parents weren’t surprised at all that I had come in second again.

As usual, they praised me anyway.

“Second place is already amazing. We never got grades like that back in school. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

How could I not? Of course I had to get first.

But at my level, hiring some top-tier tutor wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Just then, the sound of a car pulling into the neighboring yard drifted over.

My mom said casually, “Silas is back for summer break. Want me to ask him for his old study materials?”

Silas Sheffield, two grades above me.

In his senior year, he had been admitted through academic competitions and had offers from multiple Ivy League schools.

When that happened, not just our school but even the whole neighborhood had banners up celebrating him.

For a while, he had been the center of attention everywhere.

Before I could get a word in, my dad spoke up. “Silas was on the competition track. His materials might not be right for Estelle.”

The moment he said that, something clicked. I shot to my feet.

“What’s gotten into you?” My mom jumped.

I sat back down, shoveled down my second helping at top speed, and set my plate down.

“I’m going to ask Silas for his notes.”

The gate to the neighboring yard was open, so I walked right in.

After greeting Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield on the first floor, I headed straight upstairs.

Silas was lounging on the sofa, wearing a plain white T-shirt and loose jeans, scrolling through his phone.

The lights were dim, and the glow from his screen lit up his face, outlining his sharp profile.

To be honest, I didn’t like Silas.

The first time I met him at ten years old, when our parents were exchanging parenting tips, I had already known what kind of person he was.

A show-off. And no show-off likes someone who outdoes them at their own game.

Years later, my first impression had only been confirmed.

When he saw me, he raised an eyebrow. “Well, if it isn’t little Estelle—”

Before he could finish, I dropped straight to my knees in front of him.

Silas jumped up from the sofa in shock. “Estelle, what are you doing? Why are you kneeling?”

I looked up at him, completely serious. “Silas, I heard you’re on summer break. I want to hire you as my private tutor.”

He quickly reached down to pull me up. “If you want to hire a tutor, just hire one.”

“Why are you kneeling? Forget bad luck, if my parents see this, they’ll kill me.”

“To show I mean it,” I said, blinking. “One knee would be weird. Both knees maybe sincere.”

“Silas, can I hire you for two months—market rate?”

“…Don’t say it like that. That sounds wrong.”

“Oh.”

He hauled me to my feet and gave me a long once-over.

“I thought you were a really good student. Why would you need me as a tutor?”

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest.

“So you’re saying you’ve been stuck at second place for two years since starting high school?”

Silas looked at me in surprise, then gave me a thumbs-up. “That’s impressive.”

Was he mocking me?

As far as I knew, Silas had always focused on competitions.

But whenever he took the regular school exams, no one could touch him for first place. He was strong across the board.

He didn’t have weak subjects.

“So you came to get tips on how to land first place—from me?”

My ears burned a little, but I nodded anyway.

Of course. It takes one to know one.

Silas suddenly let out a laugh. “The fact that you came all the way here and even begged me… you must really want that number one spot.”

People like us hated asking for help. But Silas didn’t need money.

If I didn’t go this far, why would he agree to tutor me?

And honestly? Being the perennial runner-up stung way worse than swallowing my pride.

“So… will you?” I looked at him, hopeful.

Silas had that same casual smile on his face—the one he wore back in senior year when he coasted into those Ivy League offers like it was nothing.

God, I hated him.