Chapter 2The Secret Behind the Top Student's Death

The second practice exam came around before long.

I thought Zara's death meant I would finally place first.

But when I saw the results, my heart sank.

My classmates laughed.

"Julian really is stuck in second place forever. Zara's gone, and he still couldn't come first."

My best friend, Zachary King, took first place this time.

He looked embarrassed as he tried to comfort me.

"Julian, I'm sorry. I know your dad's going to hit you again because you didn't come first. I didn't know I'd do so well this time."

I ignored him, picked up my backpack, and left.

When I got home, Dad tore into me over my exam results, just as I expected.

"Julian Nash, how did I end up with such a useless idiot for a son? Zara's dead, and you still couldn't come first?"

"Do you remember what you promised me? And this time, that mediocre Zachary beat you! Didn't you say his grades were worse than yours? How could you lose to him?"

I couldn't deny that I was upset.

Zachary usually scored lower than I did. I gave up a lot of my free time to tutor him so he could improve.

I never expected him to outscore me.

Dad grew angrier the more he thought about it. He pulled off his belt and beat me.

I cried and begged him to stop.

"Dad, I won't tutor Zachary anymore. I promise I'll come first next time! Please believe me one more time."

He sighed and handed me a glass of milk.

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you can't even come first, how will you get into a prestigious university?"

Dad raised me alone and gave up everything to help me succeed.

I understood why he pushed me so hard.

His harsh rules and high expectations were meant to give me a better future.

I silently swore that I would do whatever it took to place first in our class on the next practice exam.

That night, I drank the milk and went to bed early.

Zachary sent me message after message, but I didn't reply.

Then I dreamed about him.

He slapped himself in front of me.

"Julian, I'm sorry. This was all my fault! Please forgive me this once!"

"I swear I won't score so high next time! Believe me!"

I stared at him without expression and said only one thing.

"Only the dead deserve forgiveness."

Then, to my horror, I watched myself reach out in the dream and shove him.

Zachary fell out of his bedroom window.

His school uniform fluttered as he fell. He looked back at me, his face full of disbelief and despair.

Less than three seconds later, I heard a tremendous thud.

Blood spread beneath him in a bright red bloom. I couldn't tear my eyes away.

"Zachary!"

I screamed and bolted upright in bed. Cold sweat covered my back and soaked my pajamas.

Thankfully, the class group chat was quiet. There were no new messages.

I'd killed someone in my dream again!

This time, it was my best friend.

I stared at the tenth apology Zachary sent me. I hesitated, but I still didn't reply.

I thought I could talk to him in person the next day.

But when I reached the classroom, he was nowhere to be seen.

The bell rang, and our homeroom teacher walked in with a grim expression.

"Everyone, I'm so sorry. I have some terrible news. Zachary jumped from a building yesterday. He died."