Switching Scores

The mock exam just finished. A beggar outside the school gate pointed right at me and said, "Zero points."

I laughed.

"The score for the top scorer in the college entrance exam always shows up as zero. Thanks for the blessing, I guess."

The beggar gave me a meaningful look.

"The top scorer in the college entrance exam will be your best friend. You'll actually get zero points."

I just laughed.

There was no way the school's top student would get zero points.

As I was about to walk off, he pointed at my bracelet.

"Score-Switching Bracelet. When she hands in a blank paper, you'll get zero points."

I was taken aback.

My bestie did give me this matching bracelet recently. I thought it would be a pain to wear because it would be uncomfortable when I write, but she insisted I put it on.

I tried taking it off a few times but couldn't.

Recently, my grades had indeed slipped, while my bestie's scores had consistently ranked first three times in a row...

"What should I do then?"

"Transfer it to a close family member. They can bear the misfortune for you."

The beggar pointed at the boy coming to pick me up.

"Like him."

I turned around.

Standing not far away, waiting for me, was my childhood friend.

"No way!"

I hurriedly covered my bracelet.

I had known my childhood friend Zonday Lester for eighteen years.

Ever since my father passed away and my mother fell ill, he had been there with me through thick and thin, even using his pocket money to help with my living expenses.

I could transfer the misfortune to anyone except for him.

"After a while, the bracelet will completely tighten around your wrist, and you won't be able to transfer it anymore. When that happens, you'll get zero points for sure."

The beggar didn't seem to care about my decision. He lit a cigarette and ignored me.

I covered my bracelet and walked back.

Maybe he was lying? How could there be something like a Score-Switching Bracelet? It was impossible.

In this mock exam, I had checked the answers and I hardly made any mistakes. First place should be mine.

But when the results came out, I found myself outside the top ten.

First place belonged to my bestie, Camilla.

But her best grades before were only in the teens...

I entered the classroom in a daze and heard a familiar voice say, "A Score-Switching Bracelet? That's messed up, man! But why? Isn't Yunara your childhood friend?"

Zonday absentmindedly twirled a pen with his fingers.

"I've always told Yunara that even if she can't get into college, I'll support her financially, but Camilla's different. She has her academic pursuits, yet Yunara has been hogging the top spot that should belong to her. When I asked Yunara to let Camilla take the top spot, she even got into a fight with me. I had to use a lot of connections to acquire the bracelet. Since Yunara wouldn't cooperate, I have no choice but to do this."

I pressed my back against the wall, breathing heavily.

My grades had always been top-notch.

My bestie Camilla had joked since junior year that she would surpass me. I'd always said I'd never give her the chance, but I still helped her with her studies.

But she never managed to beat me.

Finally, she cried, sobbing her heart out on the exam paper. Nothing I said could make her feel better.

Zonday had asked me to let her win, but I had refused, leading to an argument with him.

That fight had ended with him backing down, and he never brought up the matter again.

But it turned out...

The bracelet was his...

Wiping away my tears, I rushed to find the beggar before he packed up.

"What counts as a close family member? Do they have to be blood-related?"

The beggar paused before answering, "As long as you consider them to be family, then they are."

I tightened my grip on the bracelet.

"Sir... please help me..."