Chapter 23
“Riley…”
Almost the moment Nathaniel emerged, Riley stood up like a hedgehog, instantly bristling with defensiveness.
“What are you doing here? Did you follow me?”
“No, no, let me explain.” Seeing that Riley had misunderstood and was full of wariness toward him, Nathaniel hurriedly explained. “I came to take care of something with the principal, and thought I’d come up here to see…”
Theo also stood up, pulling Riley from the edge of the rooftop to a safer position in the middle before saying: “That spot wasn’t safe.”
Seeing Nathaniel staring at them, Theo smiled and extended his right hand: “Hello, I’m Theo, Riley’s good friend.”
Despite his dislike, Nathaniel reached out and shook his hand: “Hello, Nathaniel.”
Hearing this name, Theo glanced at Riley with a knowing smile.
Then he turned back to Nathaniel: “Sorry man, we were here first, and we haven’t finished our conversation, so maybe you could…”
Nathaniel sighed, fighting the sting in his nose as he looked at Riley one more time, then nodded and left.
As soon as he was gone, Riley’s emotions erupted. Suddenly, she crouched down covering her face with both hands. Her thin back shook violently, muffled sobs escaping from between her arms, growing louder until she finally broke into wailing cries.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel, who had descended several flights of stairs and was sure the two on the rooftop couldn’t see him, let his previously straight back slowly bend. His shoulders suddenly sank, and his steps down the stairs became heavier until he seemed unable to walk any further.
He appeared to have suddenly given up his composure. His hand holding the railing was trembling slightly.
His eyes were so blurred with tears that he could barely see the stairs. Nathaniel blinked hard, and the tears that had filled his eyes surged forth like a broken dam. He finally gave in to his pain and cried out.
He had heard everything they said.
He hadn’t followed them here. He had actually come to discuss with the principal about funding the closure of the rooftop–he never wanted to experience what happened in his previous life again.
But just as they finished their discussion, he saw Riley leading Theo toward the rooftop.
The pain from his previous life rushed over him like a tide. He followed them in panic but didn’t dare approach.
Hiding behind the door at the stairwell, he overheard Riley’s pain—not only what he knew about, but also what he had never
discovered.
Victoria’s online posts, Riley’s depression, and that final day when Riley had set up that table on the rooftop–it was actually a
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I Died. He Cried. Now We’re Stuck in This Toxic Rebirth Loop
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Chapter 23
cry for help.
“She was begging me to save her in the end…”
Nathaniel wailed. That was her last bit of hope.
She had tried to use those memories to awaken his love for her, to save her from despair.
But what had he done? He had left her alone, abandoned her on the rooftop, and gone to find the woman who had caused her so much suffering.
“…I’m sorry, Riley…I’m sorry…I was wrong, Riley…I was wrong…”
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