Chapter 2 Does It Hurt
- In Chauncey's memory, Natalie was incredibly frail. She always wore old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses and had thick bangs. When she spoke, she was always agreeable and never dared to raise her voice.
- She was unanimously regarded as the ugly duckling among the boys in their class.
- The difference between her and Roxanne, the school's beauty who was as aloof as a princess, was like night and day.
- Chauncey had been in love with Roxanne.
- Knowing that Roxanne liked milk candy, he would prepare it every day.
- Once, after he upset Roxanne, she refused to take his milk candy.
- He casually tossed it to his seatmate, Natalie, whom he didn't even want to spare a glance at.
- I can't believe she's been keeping them.
- She even claimed to be my lover.
- She's... in love with me?
- “These candies were a gift from you. They saved my life. Without you, I would have been gone long ago. I've been waiting until I was strong enough, until I could catch up with you, to confess my love and be with you. But how could you die? Why won't you give me a chance...”
- Natalie's voice was filled with sadness.
- As she spoke, she began to laugh.
- “But it's okay, I'm here to join you...”
- Realizing what she was about to do, Chauncey yelled out hysterically, “No! Don't! Natalie, don't!”
- The woman was oblivious to his roar. She took a slow step forward, a lone tear trickling from the corner of her eye.
- “Chauncey, could you spare me another glance in another life...”
- Chauncey's head ached.
- The piercing halo made it impossible for him to open his eyes.
- He rubbed his eyes and heard the boisterous shouts from nearby.
- “Chauncey, what are you doing? Get down now! The flag-raising ceremony is about to start! If you don't, Zeller Menace will surely come and give you a hard time! Roxanne, would you please talk some sense into him!”
- “But how?”
- “Didn't he just call out your name? He's holding roses. He's definitely about to confess his feelings for you. Don't you realize he likes you? Say something and let him come down!”
- “I... How do you know he's going to confess his feelings to me? What if he's just—”
- Suddenly, a resonant roar of fury interrupted her, “Chauncey! What are you doing? Get down from there!”
- That's... Mr. Zeller's voice?
- How is it possible?
- Stanley Zeller, also known as Zeller Menace in First High School, was the Dean of Students and Chauncey's math teacher during his senior year of high school.
- But after graduating from high school, Chauncey never saw him again.
- Is this all just a dream?
- Bewildered, Chauncey opened his eyes. What met his gaze were the countless students below the steps.
- The face closest to him belonged to his chubby friend from high school, Mitchell Ludlow.
- Chauncey distinctly remembered he was already nearing his forties.
- But now, he appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, his face full of youthful innocence.
- Beside Mitchell stood a familiar young girl.
- The young girl, her hair loose around her shoulders, was dressed in her school uniform. She was looking up at him.
- Her name was Roxanne.
- Stanley, his belly bulging like a pregnant woman's, hurriedly led a group of anxious teachers in this direction.
- “Chauncey, if you don't come down now, I'm going to call your dad!”
- Chauncey glanced down at himself, finding that he was holding a vibrant bouquet of roses, standing atop the flag-raising stage.
- Is this the Hundred-Day Countdown Pep Rally for senior students?
- Have I reincarnated?
- Chauncey took a step forward, forcefully patting Mitchell's shoulder.
- “Chauncey, have you lost your mind? Why did you hit me?”
- Chauncey looked at him, his voice steady. “Does it hurt?”
- “Duh, how about I punch you in the face? Get down from there and save your confessions for later. We're about to face the university entrance exam. It's better to have less on our plate. Let's just focus on getting through high school first!”
- I've truly reincarnated!
- Chauncey nearly burst out laughing.
- It was 2004. Chauncey was in his senior year of high school.