บททั้งหมดของ Framed, Killed, Reborn: I Walk Away: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 9

"Don't blame me for being harsh," Meryl said. "I'm doing this for your own good. I can't just watch you go down the wrong path and become someone who bullies the weak by any means necessary."She continued, "If you realize your mistake, apologize to Jackson. We'll give you a chance to change and start over. We also won't report what you did to the administration."I had known Meryl for years. We were so close that there was nothing left we didn't know about each other. Yet now, looking at her, I felt like I was staring at a stranger. Her cold expression felt so foreign to me.In my previous life, for Jackson's sake, she personally locked me inside an empty classroom and forced me to reflect on my actions.I was trapped there for three days—hungry, thirsty, and close to the edge of death. Not once did she come to check on me.I looked up and met her gaze. "How can you be so sure that I pushed him?"Without even thinking, Meryl answered, "Who else could it be? Jackson is a younger

"No, we do," I said. "We're not that close, after all."Kara's face turned pale. She looked at me in disbelief. "Adam, what are you talking about?"I smiled and walked away without replying to her.The next day, the faculty member in charge of the exchange program informed me that my application had been approved and asked me to sign the paperwork.When I finished and walked out of the office, I ran into Sally. She was dressed in professional attire, paired with high heels. Not only was she a professor at this college, but she was also Mom's distant relative.Thus, our families had always kept in touch. After I started college, she had always taken good care of me—except when it came to Jackson, the student she sponsored.In my previous life, to get justice for Jackson, Sally reported the matter to the administration and requested that I receive the harshest punishment possible.She also called my family. When Mom heard that I had bullied a friend at school, she became so angry

Meryl came up to me, glaring with her beautiful eyes. "Adam, was pushing Jackson off the rooftop not enough for you? You're tormenting him in a different way now?"What exactly did he ever do to you that makes you go so far just to target him? I truly misjudged you. I even thought that after you agreed to apologize, you were someone willing to turn over a new leaf…"Before she could continue her words, I cut her off and finished her sentence for her. "Let me guess. You're going to say I'm not allowed to leave, and whatever I do, I have to apologize to him and explain everything to the students. Right?"Meryl looked slightly surprised that I had predicted her words so accurately. She nodded and crossed her arms. "I'm glad that you're at least self-aware. I don't need to waste my breath.""Oh," I said, laughing. "Then here's my answer—I'm not doing any of that."Her face turned red with anger, just like Sally's earlier. Deep inside, I was amused. After all the defending they had don

Without giving me a chance to refuse, Meryl followed me back to my rented place. I had no idea what she was planning.I wasn't happy about her showing up unannounced, but in a foreign country where things could get dangerous, I still couldn't bring myself to throw her out onto the streets.Suddenly, Meryl stopped me just as I was about to return to my room. Her expression became slightly awkward."I'm sorry, Adam. Back then, I didn't know you went up there to save Jackson. When I saw him looking so helpless, I instinctively believed him. I wrongly accused you about what happened with him, and I'm sorry."Although I had known her for years, seeing the proud campus belle concede and apologize was something I had never witnessed before. Her attitude was sincere, but unfortunately, my heart no longer stirred.When I needed her trust the most, she actively chose not to stand by my side. Now that I had already swallowed all my grievances and moved on, I finally understood something.I