Chapter 4

I was a person, not an emotional punching bag.

If Henry's cruelty could help me reach death, I wouldn't stop him. Our classmates served no purpose other than making my life at school miserable.

"What are you talking about?"

Henry stared at me, immediately denying everything. His eyes reddened as he looked like he was about to cry. "Mom, Dad, Leon, don't listen to him! I've always told everyone in class to be nice to him!"

Here came another performance from him. Honestly, I was bored by it. I just wanted to settle everything at once so I could head upstairs and rest.

"So, how do you want me to apologize to Henry this time?" I asked. "A verbal apology or a physical punishment?"

I had done both, so I thought they would make a decision quickly. Strangely, for the first time, Alan and Margot didn't ask me to apologize to Henry. They simply told me to go to bed.

As I closed my bedroom door, I heard Alan's stern voice from downstairs. "Henry, be honest with your mother and me. Have you been bullying Marcel this whole time?"

Oh. Were they finally going to see Henry's true colors? It didn't matter, anyway. The fact that they had been so easily fooled by Henry made me certain that they wouldn't actually punish him.

In the end, I would be the one to suffer.

As expected, Henry approached me after swimming class the next day. By then, the teacher and the other students had already left, leaving the pool deserted with only the two of us.

"You've got some nerve to show up to school, Marcel. Because of you, Mom and Dad tore into me last night."

I straightened my clothes and looked at Henry, trying to read his emotions. There was fury… Good. That was a good thing for me.

I replied calmly, "As long as I'm alive, I still have to come to class."

My words seemingly enlightened Henry. He glared at me, then looked around the pool. When he turned back, his expression had visibly softened.

"You know what, Marcel? I've decided to make peace with you. I won't cause Mom and Dad any more trouble because of this."

"Sure," I answered lightly.

He continued, "To show you my sincerity, I'd like to give you a gift. Stay right here for a moment. I'll be right back. Don't move around, okay?"

I nodded again and stood still, waiting for him, just as he wanted.

When I saw Henry enter the small surveillance room connected to the swimming pool, I couldn't help but smile. I knew he wouldn't disappoint me—he was planning to kill me.

A few minutes later, he returned empty-handed. I pretended not to know anything, saving him from any questions.

He pointed toward the deep end of the pool, as arrogant as ever, as though he were doing me a favor. "The gift I prepared for you is right at the bottom of the pool. Take a look."

I didn't move, not because I was timid but because I was worried the system would consider this an intentional suicide attempt.

Henry got angry. He stepped forward and shoved a hand against my back.

"I thought you wanted to die, Marcel! Go on! I'll help you! From now on, I'm the only one Mom, Dad, and Leon have! Soon, no one will remember that someone named Marcel Sylvester ever existed in this world!"

I couldn't swim. I sank straight to the bottom without struggling even once.

Through the rippling surface of the water, I saw Henry leave. He had done something wrong and was too scared to stay, so he ran away with his tail between his legs.

Water rushed into my nose and mouth. The suffocation was overwhelming yet satisfying. I asked the system, "This time, can I finally die?"