I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With

Okay, so picture this: me, sprawled on the couch, a family-sized bag of chips precariously balanced on my stomach, and binge-watching some random anime. Suddenly, a thought hits me like a truck – what if I were the villain? Not just any villain, mind you, but the one the super-smug, ridiculously overpowered hero is inexplicably, obsessively fixated on? It sounds ridiculous, right? Like fanfiction-level ridiculous.

But then, real life started feeling… suspiciously like that anime. And I’m starting to think I might be living that fanfic. Let me explain.

The Unlikely Villain Origin Story (My Life, Basically)

Before we dive into the potential obsession, let's back up a bit. My life was, shall we say, spectacularly average. Think beige walls, lukewarm coffee, and the existential dread of Mondays. I wasn't exactly plotting world domination or anything. In fact, the most "villainous" thing I'd done recently was accidentally double-dip my chip in the communal guacamole at a party. (Don't judge, it was really good guacamole!).

Seriously though, I was the definition of "background character." Until… well, he showed up. Let's call him… "Ace." (Because, you know, superhero-y and vaguely annoying. No offense to anyone actually named Ace!).

Enter the "Hero"

Ace is, in theory, a good guy. Charming smile, dazzling eyes, unwavering moral compass... the whole package. He’s the kind of guy who rescues kittens from trees and probably volunteers at soup kitchens on his days off. The kind of guy that you’d immediately cast as the protagonist in any story. And, normally, I wouldn't give him a second glance. I appreciate a good hero as much as the next person, but I’m usually more drawn to the flawed, morally grey characters (You know, the ones with actual personalities!).

But Ace, for reasons I still can't completely fathom, started paying way too much attention to me. Like, suspiciously-intense, bordering-on-creepy attention. At first, I thought it was a fluke. Maybe he was just being friendly. Maybe he mistook me for someone else. But the incidents started piling up.

• The "Accidental" Run-Ins: Suddenly, Ace was everywhere I was. The coffee shop, the library, even that obscure pottery class I took on a whim. He always had some perfectly reasonable explanation ("Oh, I just happened to be in the neighborhood!"), but come on! The pottery class? Really?
• The Intense Gazes: He would just… stare. Not in a flirty way, mind you. More like he was trying to solve a particularly difficult math problem, and I was the equation. It was unnerving, to say the least.
• The Over-the-Top Helpfulness: Need help carrying groceries? Ace was there. Lost your keys? Ace somehow found them. Struggling to reach that top shelf at the grocery store (my eternal struggle)? Ace was already there, offering his assistance with a slightly too-eager smile.

It was like living in a rom-com, but instead of feeling butterflies, I felt a growing sense of dread. And confusion. Mostly confusion.

The "Villainous" Deeds (AKA My Normal Life)

Now, here's where the "villain" part comes in, or at least, where it *might* come in. See, the thing about Ace is, he's incredibly idealistic. He believes in the inherent goodness of people, the power of positive thinking, and all that jazz. And I… well, let's just say I'm a bit more cynical. Okay, a *lot* more cynical. I tend to question everything, point out flaws, and generally rain on parades. (I swear I don't do it on purpose... usually!).

So, what did I *do* to warrant this "obsession"? Nothing, really. I just… exist. I voice my opinions (which often clash with his), I pursue my own interests (which are decidedly un-heroic – like competitive napping and collecting vintage rubber ducks), and I generally refuse to conform to his idealistic worldview. In his eyes, that probably makes me some kind of rebel, a challenge to his unwavering faith in humanity.

Basically, my "villainy" boils down to:

• Being honest (brutally so, sometimes): I don't sugarcoat things. If something sucks, I'll say it sucks. Ace, bless his heart, tries to find the silver lining in everything.
• Having different values: I prioritize things like comfort, personal space, and a good night's sleep. Ace is all about selflessness, sacrifice, and saving the world. You can see where the conflict arises.
• Not being impressed by his "heroics": Don't get me wrong, rescuing kittens is great. But I'm not going to swoon every time he performs a good deed. I expect basic human decency, not a parade.

The Obsession Hypothesis (Or, Why I Think I'm in a Bad Fanfic)

So, here's my theory: Ace isn't actually *into* me. He's obsessed with the idea of *changing* me. He sees my cynicism, my "negative" attitude, as a challenge to be overcome. He probably thinks that if he can just "fix" me, he'll prove his point that everyone is inherently good and capable of redemption.

Think about it: in a lot of superhero stories, the hero is obsessed with "saving" the villain. Not just from themselves, but from their "evil" ways. They see the potential for good, even in the darkest of hearts. They believe that with enough love, understanding, and maybe a good therapy session, they can turn the villain into a hero. (It’s a trope for a reason!)

And that's what I think Ace is trying to do. He sees me as his personal project, his ultimate test of goodness. He probably even thinks he's doing me a favor. It's infuriating, honestly. I'm not a broken toy that needs fixing. I'm a fully functioning (albeit slightly cynical) human being.

Evidence Supporting My Crazy Theory

• The "Concerned" Comments: He often makes comments about my "lack of faith" in humanity, or my "pessimistic" outlook. He phrases them as concerns, of course, but they always feel like thinly veiled criticisms.
• The Unsolicited Advice: He's constantly offering me advice on how to be more positive, how to be more grateful, how to be a "better" person. I didn't ask for your life coaching, Ace!
• The Attempts at "Fun" Activities: He keeps inviting me to do things that are clearly designed to cheer me up – volunteering at an animal shelter, attending a motivational speaker event, skydiving (seriously?!). I appreciate the thought, but I'd rather stay home and watch bad reality TV.

The Implications (And My Potential Escape Plan)

If I'm right about this, it has some pretty serious implications. For one thing, it means that Ace's "attraction" to me is completely artificial. It's based on a flawed premise – that I need to be changed – and driven by his own ego. It also means that he's not actually seeing me for who I am. He's seeing a project, a challenge, an obstacle to overcome.

And that's not okay. That's manipulative, condescending, and frankly, a little bit creepy.

So, what's my escape plan? Well, I have a few ideas:

• Embrace the Villainy: Lean into the cynicism, amplify the pessimism, and become the ultimate challenge to his unwavering optimism. Maybe if I'm truly, irredeemably "evil," he'll finally give up and move on. (Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme).
• Direct Communication: The most obvious solution, but also the scariest. I could just tell him, point blank, that I'm not interested in being his personal project and that he needs to back off. But that requires confrontation, and I'm not a big fan of confrontation.
• Become Incredibly Boring: Start talking about spreadsheets, the proper way to fold fitted sheets, and the joys of filing taxes. Nothing scares away an overly enthusiastic hero like the mundane realities of everyday life. (This is my personal favorite).
• Move to Antarctica: Okay, this is a last resort. But if all else fails, I'm packing my bags and heading to the South Pole. I hear the penguins are much less judgmental.

Honestly, I’m still trying to figure this whole thing out. Am I really the "villain" in Ace's story? Or am I just projecting my own anxieties onto a situation that's simply awkward and uncomfortable? Maybe he genuinely likes me (shudders). Maybe I’m reading way too much into things.

The Moral of the Story (Maybe)

But even if I'm wrong, there's a valuable lesson to be learned here: People are not projects. They are not puzzles to be solved, or challenges to be overcome. They are complex, flawed, and perfectly imperfect individuals. And they deserve to be accepted for who they are, not for who someone else thinks they should be.

And maybe, just maybe, if more "heroes" understood that, there would be a lot fewer "villains" in the world.

So, wish me luck. I'm going to need it. And if you happen to see Ace lurking around your local coffee shop, tell him to leave me alone. Please?