Eliott stood still, his heart pounding fiercely, his eyes closed as the wind whistled around him. His thoughts swirled relentlessly, like a film he couldn't stop. Every memory, every humiliation, every blow he had endured played back. He remembered all the plans he had made, all the strategies he had devised to escape the bullying, to protect his parents and their restaurant… but nothing had worked. He was nothing but a walking failure.
He opened his eyes and took one last look at the void in front of him. One step, just one more step, and it would all be over.
But suddenly, a nonchalant voice broke the dramatic silence.
"Well, that's pretty high up, huh?"
Eliott flinched, his heart skipping a beat. He stumbled back, gripping the railing tightly to avoid losing his balance. The shock overwhelmed him, like an invisible hand had pulled him back at the last moment. His breath caught, his mind racing to comprehend what he had just heard.
"That must be, hmm… about 18 meters," the voice continued.
Looking to his side, Eliott saw a familiar figure casually sitting next to him, legs dangling over the edge. Kai, wearing his trademark look of indifference, stared at the horizon as though they weren't on the rooftop of a school building, with a boy about to jump.
"Seriously, were you really planning to jump from here? I mean… there are easier ways to make a big exit, aren't there?" Kai said with a raised, amused eyebrow.
Eliott stared at him, still in shock from his sudden appearance. "W-What?... Who..." he stammered, his voice trembling.
Kai, still seated, swung his legs in the air like a child on a swing. "Ah, relax. I was just passing by and saw someone about to do something reckless. So, I thought, 'Why not intervene?'"
Eliott, still reeling from the adrenaline, wondered if he was dreaming. How could Kai be so calm? How could he act like nothing extraordinary was happening?
"You… you don't understand... You don't know what I've been through..." Eliott murmured, trying to steady himself.
Kai turned his head toward him, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, I understand more than you think, believe me. But right now, what I see is a smart guy, with dreams and a family who loves him, ready to give it all up because some jerks are making his life miserable."
Eliott gripped the railing tighter. "I… I have no more options. Every plan I've made has failed. Every time I try to stand up for myself, it only gets worse. I'm tired, Kai... tired of fighting..."
Kai nodded as if seriously considering Eliott's words. Then, suddenly, he sat up slightly, an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, it's true—you're pretty bad at strategy."
Eliott stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?!"
Kai burst out laughing. "Seriously, Eliott, your plan with the compass? You could've done better. You almost hurt that clown, and now you think everything's ruined? And you think jumping is the best option? Not very smart, admit it."
Eliott remained silent for a moment, a mix of anger and confusion flooding his mind. How could Kai be so casual about all this? He had been moments away from doing something irreversible, and all Kai could do was criticize his failed attempts?
Kai, still seated beside him, crossed his arms and stared at the horizon. "Listen, I'll be honest with you. You've tried things, and that's good. But you've been picking the wrong battles. And more importantly, you've forgotten that you don't have to do it all alone."
Eliott furrowed his brows, Kai's words starting to resonate with him. "What do you mean by that?"
Eliott still stood at the edge of the rooftop, his trembling hands gripping the railing. The quiet of the school grounds below contrasted sharply with the turmoil raging inside him. Just as he was about to take the plunge, Kai's voice had stopped him cold. And now, Kai was sitting there, beside him, calm, almost indifferent, as if this were all some kind of game.
"Three options, Eliott," Kai resumed in a calm tone, as if discussing something as trivial as a menu at a café.
Eliott lifted a confused gaze toward him, but Kai wasn't even looking at him. He was staring out at the horizon, his legs still dangling over the edge.
"Option one," Kai said, raising one finger, "you jump. End it all. Simple, quick. But you know what'll happen next? Marc and his friends will have won. They'll just laugh at your disappearance. Your parents..." He paused, his gaze turning more serious. "Your parents will be devastated. They're already struggling to keep going, and this... this will destroy them. No one will help them. No one will stand up for them."
Eliott felt a sharp pain in his chest at the thought of his parents suffering. He had already disappointed them so much; he didn't want to hurt them even more. Yet the first option still felt so tempting, so final.
"Option two," Kai continued, raising a second finger, ignoring the distress on Eliott's face, "you jump, but you don't die. You survive... but not unscathed. Maybe paralysis, maybe severe injuries. Your body will be broken, and guess what? Your parents will have to pay for your hospital bills." He crossed his arms, his tone growing harsher. "They're already drowning in debt. Imagine what that would cost them. Years of anguish, suffering, maybe even financial ruin."
Eliott opened his mouth to say something, shocked by how much Kai seemed to know about his life. How did he know his parents were on the brink of financial collapse? How did he know these intimate details?
But before he could ask, Kai raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Option three," Kai said, raising a third finger, his piercing gaze finally locking onto Eliott's. "It's the simplest, and probably the hardest for you to accept." He paused briefly before calmly stating, "You hand everything over to me. Let me take care of it."
Eliott frowned, bewildered. "Hand everything… over to you?"
Kai nodded, his expression serious but with a hint of irony in his eyes. "Yeah. Let me deal with Marc, his friends, and even that shady landlord. And I promise you, you'll never have to endure this kind of humiliation again."
Eliott's heart raced again. It was tempting. Too tempting. But at the same time, something inside him stopped him from agreeing right away.
"Why… why would you do that?" he asked hesitantly.
Kai smiled faintly, that same enigmatic glint in his eyes. "Let's just say I have a soft spot for lost causes… and I see more potential in you than you think."
He remained seated, turning his head to face Eliott, the void below them seemingly inconsequential. "So, what's it going to be, Eliott?"
Eliott stayed silent, the words echoing in his mind.