Chapter 98: Chapter98-Emily

Why? Why did this happen? Why did I let her go? Damn... It hurts... My heart hurts... If only I hadn't let her leave that day... The pain was unbearable. My heart felt as though it was being crushed. She was the only person who cared for me so deeply, apart from my parents. I had planned to propose to her that day... It was my fault. It was entirely my fault. If only I had kept her with me... If only I hadn't been annoyed with her that day... Then... Then... Maybe... Maybe she would still be alive and standing in front of me. As all of this was happening, my phone screen suddenly went dark. When I turned my phone back on, everything came into sharp focus and cleared up my recent doubts. Time and Date... June 23, 2020 11:30 AM I stopped and stared at my phone, my eyes fixed on the date rather than the time. June 23... Huh? I kept looking at it, my mind racing. My breathing grew heavier with each second, and I felt overwhelmed, almost as if I might collapse. Despite the growing panic, I kept staring at the screen for a few more moments before muttering, "If I remember correctly... Isn't that the day the accident happened?" So... Is this why my parents were comforting me at lunch? I sighed deeply, realizing the truth. Huh... I really didn't know. I had completely forgotten about this when I was in that other world. Maybe the luxury of that life had distracted me and made me forget. Life is like a spinning wheel... It moves smoothly and unnoticed until it hits a bump. I sighed again, feeling the weight of the date and the memories coming back with a mix of sadness and clarity... That day was the last time I saw her... Her pink hair, flowing like a soft pastel wave, and those gentle hands that always made me feel better. I would reach out and touch them whenever I could, enjoying the warmth and softness they gave. Maybe it all started for me when I was younger, in those simpler times when I met her for the first time Before I could finish my thought, my heavy breathing became too much for me. My vision blurred, and the room spun around. With one last shaky breath, I collapsed onto the bed, falling unconscious into the darkness. *** It was a perfect afternoon, almost too good to be true. The sky was a clear, endless expanse of blue, with the occasional fluffy white cloud lazily drifting by. The sun bathed the rooftop in a warm, golden light, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees below, carrying the faint scent of grass and flowers. A fourteen-year-old boy sat cross-legged near the edge, leaning against the low parapet with a book in his hands. The novel was an escape to another world, full of knights, dragons, and epic adventures that let him forget his problems for a while. He was totally absorbed in his book, the words taking him to distant lands. The quietness of the rooftop was calming, interrupted only by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirping of birds. It was his favorite place, a refuge from the harsh realities of school life. Without warning, the peaceful silence was shattered by the sound of the rooftop door creaking open. The boy's heart sank as he looked up and saw three boys emerging from the stairwell. They were Daniel, Mark, and Jasonclassmates who had made it their mission to make his life miserable. Daniel, the ringleader, was tall and broad-shouldered, with a perpetual smirk plastered on his face. Mark, lanky and sharp-eyed, was always ready with a cruel remark, while Jason, the shortest but stockiest of the group, had a reputation for his mean streak. "Well, look who we have here," Daniel sneered, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. The other two followed his gaze, their expressions darkening with malicious glee. The boy tried to ignore them, his eyes fixed on his book, but his hands trembled. The footsteps grew louder as the trio closed in on him, their shadows casting a pall over his peaceful retreat. "Reading again, huh?" Mark mocked, eyeing the book in the boy's hands with disdain. "What is it this time? More dragons and knights?" "Maybe he thinks he's a hero," Jason added with a snicker, snatching the book from the boy's grasp before he could react.... He flipped through the pages carelessly, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "What's this garbage?" "Give it back," the boy said quietly, but there was a tremor in his voice. He stood up, his legs shaky, but he was determined to reclaim his book. Daniel stepped closer, his smirk widening. "Or what? What are you gonna do about it, crybaby?" "Hahahaha!" The other boys laughed, their voices harsh and grating. They encircled the boy, cutting off any escape. Fear twisted in his gut, but a flicker of anger kept him standing his ground. "Come on, let's see what he's reading about," Mark said, grabbing the book from Jason and holding it up mockingly. "Knights and dragons? Seriously, you're such a loser." The boy lunged forward, trying to snatch the book back, but Daniel intercepted him, shoving him hard against the wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him, pain radiating through his back. "You think you're tough?" Daniel snarled, pressing his forearm against the boy's chest, pinning him in place. "You're just a pathetic little nerd." The boy struggled, but Daniel's grip was like iron. Jason and Mark continued to jeer, their taunts blending into a cruel symphony. Jason threw the book to the ground, and Mark stomped on it, grinding it into the concrete. A surge of anger and helplessness coursed through the boy. He tried to push Daniel away, but the older boy twisted his arm behind his back, sending a jolt of pain through his shoulder. The boy cried out, the sound swallowed by the emptiness of the rooftop. "Pathetic," Daniel muttered, shoving the boy to the ground. He landed hard, the rough surface scraping his palms and knees. The pain was sharp, but the humiliation cut even deeper. Mark kicked the book one last time, sending it skittering across the rooftop. "Next time, stay out of our way," he warned, his voice dripping with malice. The three boys left, their laughter echoing long after they had disappeared down the stairwell. The boy lay there for a moment, his body aching, his spirit shattered. The sky above was still a brilliant blue, the clouds still drifting peacefully, oblivious to the cruelty below. The boy remained on the rooftop, his tears falling freely as the pain and humiliation consumed him. His body ached from the beating, but it was the emotional torment that truly hurt. He curled into himself, the sobs wracking his frame. "Why me?" he cried, his voice breaking with anguish. "Why do I have to suffer so much? Just why?" The weight of the bullying, the isolation, and the sense of hopelessness pressed down on him like a crushing burden. He felt utterly alone, abandoned in a world that seemed to take pleasure in his misery. After what felt like an eternity of tears, something inside him snapped. "Enough, I am going to end all of this... I don't want to live any more." He stood up, wiping his eyes with trembling hands, and looked towards the edge of the rooftop. The thought of ending his suffering by jumping from the building took root in his mind. He walked slowly to the edge, the tears still streaming down his face. Standing at the brink, he looked down at the ground far below. The world seemed distant, the people and cars tiny and insignificant. A mixture of fear and determination swirled within him. The boy closed his eyes, trying to summon the courage to take that final step. "Let's end this all!" The thought of escaping the pain, the bullying, and the loneliness was almost comforting. He took a deep breath, preparing to jump. But then, a voice pierced through his despair. "Wait! Don't do it!" He opened his eyes and turned to see a girl standing at the entrance to the rooftop. Her pink hair flowed around her shoulders, contrasting with the crisp white and navy of her school uniform. Her face was soft and kind, her eyes wide with concern. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaking with both fear and curiosity. "My name is Emily," she said, stepping closer. "Please, come down from there. You don't have to do this." The boy hesitated, the desperation in her voice pulling at something deep inside him. "Why should I? No one cares about me. They all hate me." "I care," Emily said softly. "I know what it feels like to be alone. But ending your life isn't the answer. Please, come down." The boy asked, "Why?" She answered, "Because I'm just like youI used to be bullied and humiliated too, but not anymore." He stared at her, the sincerity in her eyes and the gentleness in her voice reaching through his despair. Slowly, he stepped down from the edge, his heart pounding in his chest. Emily approached him, her expression one of relief. "Thank you," she whispered. "You're not alone. I'm here for you." "Huh... I should be thanking you instead." The boy said with a happy tone. Honestly, he never would have gone through with the suicide anyway because he was too afraid to do. Emily looked at the boy's condition and asked, "Did they bully you?" The boy shivered at the mention of "they." He nodded his head slightly. Emily took his hand, gently pressing it, and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here, and I'll make sure those guys never bother you again in future..." The boy just stared at her like a statue until Emily proposed that they become friends. She gently shook him and said, "Hey, you there!" The boy snapped out of his daze and replied, "Yes!" Emily then asked, "So, what do you think about becoming my friend?" He was too shocked to believe that one of the school's beauties, known as the "Ice Queen" for her cold attitude, was asking to be his friend. Without much hesitation, he quickly answered, "Yes." And this is how their friendship began. Over time, they became very close friends, bonded by their shared experiences of loneliness and isolation. Emily, with her cold attitude and striking beauty, had often found herself alone as well... Together, they found solace in each other's company, their friendship growing stronger with each passing day. They would meet on the rooftop, talking about their lives, their dreams, and their struggles. Emily's presence became a beacon of hope for the boy, a reminder that there was still kindness in the world. As the days turned into weeks, the boy began to heal... The rooftop, once a place of torment, became a sanctuary once again, but this time it was shared with someone who understood his pain. Emily's pink hair and gentle hands brought comfort, and her unwavering support gave him the strength to face each new day. The bullies suddenly stopped picking on him for no obvious reason. Through their friendship, they learned that even in the darkest times, there was always a glimmer of light. And together, they found the courage to keep moving forward, knowing that they were not alone. Until the day when one mistake by the boy changed everything... A mistake that wasn't meant to happen... A mistake that ruined both their lives... A mistake that led to the boy's downfall... *** I sprang up from the bed, gripping my right hand as tightly as I could. "What was that?" I panted heavily, my breath coming in ragged bursts, and pressed my hand against my chest, feeling my heart pound like a drum. Was that a dream? Gradually, my breathing began to steady, and the pounding in my veins eased. I could feel my body returning to its normal state. It was the first time I'd dreamed about her. Why now? I couldn't understand why she had appeared in my dream. Everything had started back thenmy friendship with her had slowly turned into something deeper, something that she never seemed to notice. Yes, it was love. I was aware of my feelings, but maybe it was too late for me... Maybe I should have confessed my feelings to her earlier. If I had, I might have been able to live a happy life with her. Though, I still don't know if she would have accepted my love or not... I proposed to her at the end, during her last moments, but I never got an answer to my question. But it would have been better to try... I sighed as her face and words suddenly flooded my mind. "Let you go, huh?" "No chance." I looked at my phone and saw that it was exactly 7:30 P.M. I was surprised I had been unconscious for so long. "Gruuu~" A rumbling sound broke the silence in the roomit was my stomach. Hungry? I hadn't eaten anything in the past 8 to 9 hours, so it was hard to function... I quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed my wallet from my desk, and headed out of the room. As I came down the stairs, I saw my mom sitting on the sofa in the living room, combing her hair. When she noticed me, concern filled her eyes, and her voice was laced with worry. "Going out again?" I understood exactly what she meant. Since her passing, I had become a bit unstable, frequently leaving the house at all hours, even in the middle of the night, like 3 or 4 A.M. My behavior had changed, and I often acted rudely toward my parents for no reason. Today, however, I replied, "Yeah, I'm going out again, but to a new place to help me feel refreshed." Her expression didn't change. "When will you be back?" Without hesitation, I said, "Within two hours." This time, her reaction was different. I knew whywhenever she asked about my return time before, I would just walk out without answering, showing her clear disrespect. At first, she would punish me for that, but over time, she stopped as my behavior remained the same. She stared at me for a few seconds in silence, which made me uncomfortable. The room seemed to hold its breath as I waited for her response. After a few more moments, she finally asked, "You sure?" I nodded and said, "Yeah, I promise I'll be back." Her tone took on a mysterious edge as she replied, "I hope so." I then asked, "So, can I leave now?" She nodded without saying another word. I quickly moved to the entrance, opened the door, and stepped out of the house. But just before closing it, I called out, "Mom." She turned to look at me with curiosity in her eyes. With a smile, I said, "I love you, as always!" When she heard those words, a mix of shock and perhaps a hint of happiness crossed her face. I could see the impact my words had on her, and it made me even more embarrassed. I closed the door behind me, not giving her a chance to continue looking at me. I was too embarrassed to face her further, not because I had said "I love you," but because I was struggling to hold back tears. For so many days, without her, I had found it hard to cope, and the emotions I had kept bottled up were threatening to spill over. I quickly called a taxi and instructed the driver to take me to a specific place.