1

606words2026-01-26 11:24

For the seventh time, I tried to save the male lead—Ryan Miller, consumed by self-loathing, and for the seventh time, he jumped from the rooftop.
Before dying, he arranged everything, considering everyone, even those who had bullied him.
Ryan specifically left letters absolving them, so those people wouldn't face online harassment after his death.

Like the previous seven times, Ryan left gently, trying to take care of everyone until the end.
So at the funeral, everyone mourned him, regretted, heartbroken.
Except me.
Because this time, I was pregnant.
I knelt on the ground, begging Ryan not to give up, not to abandon me and our child.
But Ryan just smiled sadly at me and said, 'I'm sorry.'

Then I lost my husband, and my child lost their father.
I asked the System, 'Can I stop redeeming the protagonist?'
The System ignored me and directly started the eighth reset.
I opened my eyes, back in the high school classroom.

Seeing the poor wretch Ryan, drenched in dirty water by his bullies over there.
I stood up, under his subtly expectant gaze.
Stepped around Ryan.
I walked towards his stepbrother who was bullying him, met the boy's malicious eyes:
'...Kill me.'
'Or, take me away.'
Kyle Sullivan's expression froze, then exploded into exaggerated laughter:
"Lily Carter, did you hit your head during nap time? 'Kill me'? What are you, some emo chick?"'
I didn't speak, just looked at him quietly.
Gradually, Kyle' laugh died down.
He looked into my eyes, then sharply looked away.
"...Damn, this is creepy."
I kept staring stubbornly.
Because I knew Kyle could do it.
In the future, Ryan's little brother would become a murderer.
Now, still a high schooler, Kyle kicked the mop bucket out of his friend's hand:
"God damn it, this sucks. Everyone, scram! Get lost!"
Before leaving, Kyle glanced at me a few more times.
Frowning, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
And in the corner, a figure was curled up.
Ryan was very thin in high school, his lean frame swallowed by the soaked jersey, looking even frailer.
Dirty water dripped from his hair, slid down his sharp cheekbones, and dripped onto the floor.
He just looked at me, his brown, wet eyes fixed unwaving.
His pupils contracted slightly as if caught by light.
And the tide of memories washed over me at that moment.
I remember every reset started like this.
I would rush over immediately, spread my arms, and shield Ryan.
Berate Kyle and his friends, tell them to stop bullying Ryan.
"Pfft— Lily Carter, playing the white knight again?"'
Kyle's mockery would always follow:
"Hey Ryan, is that all you got? Hiding behind a girl?"
And when I finally managed to chase them away, turning back.
Ryan would always look up at me with those same brown eyes.
Like a puppy drenched in a downpour.
Making my heart ache and swell.
Then I would carefully help him up, soothe him softly, take him to the sink to wash off the grime...
But this time, it was different.
My gaze lingered on Ryan's dark eyes for half a second.
In them was hope he hadn’t yet withdrawn, confusion about what was happening,
and a trace of broken light left from the bullying.
Then, I lifted my foot.
Stepped around him.
I didn't pause, walked straight back to my seat and sat down.
I took out the textbook for the next class and spread it neatly on the desk.
I didn't look back.
Finally, the warning bell rang through the campus.
The figure in the corner moved.
Ryan's lifted head lowered, bit by bit.