Who left their last words here?

Chapter 86 Jia Tingting! Swinging on swings is prohibited at school! (5.7k!)
Yuanmeng Middle School, Grade 4.

Jia Tingting's academic performance was not ideal.

She is the person that Class Monitor Xiao Fang mentioned was being persecuted by the "Exam King".

As a soon-to-be graduate with only 281 days left until the high school entrance exam in Tinghai City, Eastern Federation...

She used to be the pride of her parents and teachers, but in the past year or so, her grades have plummeted, and even her teachers have asked her if something has happened at home.

Everyone who met Jia Tingting gave her earnest advice and instructions, saying that time waits for no one and she must work hard, because the high school entrance rate of Tinghai Middle School cannot be broken because of her!

She really did try her best; she kept her eyes wide open in class and buried herself in doing practice problems after class.

But I don't know why, the harder I try, the less lucky I become. Even though I've done a lot of practice problems, my exam scores inexplicably drop.

The homeroom teacher said that you need to know how to flexibly adjust your studies, so Jia Tingting asked what exactly constitutes flexibility, and how to make up for missed lessons if she doesn't study.

When asked again, the homeroom teacher frowned and said something unfathomable like "you have no comprehension." In fact, Jia Tingting had already realized that the teacher was also at a loss with her.

Sure enough, after struggling for a long time, the homeroom teacher could only manage to utter, "Why didn't you do this earlier?"

This is probably what a fallen genius looks like.

But she herself couldn't find the reason.

...The greater the pressure, the lazier people become, and daydreaming during evening self-study and morning reading became Jia Tingting's most enjoyable time.

This kind of life lasted for a year.

Anxiety caused Jia Tingting to inexplicably begin to experience auditory hallucinations.

My ears were filled with another sound.

"...Is it time to sleep? Have you figured out the solution to the most challenging math problem? Other students are studying until one or two in the morning."

"...Aren't you ashamed? Huh? Don't you know shame? Who have you let down?"

The sticky, shrill sound seemed to churn in her brain, making her temples throb and ache. It kept Jia Tingting tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

...So he turned on the desk lamp and studied all night.

Her mother witnessed this scene and was both puzzled and delighted, but still couldn't help but point it out:
"Tingting, don't study too late, remember to rest."

"It's just the high school entrance exam. If it doesn't go well... it's okay."

"Oh, I see."

Standing far away at the bedroom entrance, out of her mother's sight, Jia Tingting's eyes were faintly bloodshot, her expression pained and ferocious.

"..."

The day after studying all night, summer vacation ended and the new semester officially began.

To gain more study time, their grade started school in late August, about a week earlier than other students.
It was the same familiar classmates and teachers.

But she always felt that the teacher looked at her strangely, and the other seven or eight classmates often looked at her and whispered among themselves, their eyes cold with a hint of gloating mockery and condescending discrimination.

Only a few whispered words, like insects, burrow into the brain, mixing with the auditory hallucinations heard at night.

"...Look, she's daydreaming again."

"...It really didn't work out after all..."

"—Splash!"

The hazy sound, sometimes near, sometimes far, seemed like breaths in my ear, yet it also buzzed deep within my brain.

Jia Tingting suddenly stood up from her seat and couldn't help but shout, "What are you talking about!"

She suddenly looked up and around, only to see her stunned classmates, all of whom were staring at her.

On the podium, the math teacher, whose lecture had been abruptly interrupted, was also staring blankly at her.

"—Jia, Jia Tingting, do you have any comments about the teacher's class?"

In the classroom, a sea of ​​dark heads loomed overhead, like a dark cloud pressing down.

Jia Tingting's face stiffened, and a chill ran from her head to her toes.

Yes, it's class time now, and everyone is too busy trying to concentrate.

...Then where did the discussion she heard come from?

Afterwards, the homeroom teacher, looking worried, called her parents over. The three of them looked at her and sighed, their pitying expressions making Jia Tingting very uncomfortable.

"The school's psychologist is currently on leave."

"We recommend that you go to the hospital for a check-up."

Listen to the homeroom teacher's advice.

Jia Tingting then realized that she was "sick".

And he is seriously ill.

No wonder the teacher looked at me like that.

Although she was prescribed a lot of medicine, she couldn't fall behind in her schoolwork and had to continue attending classes as usual.

Jia Tingting didn't know how others viewed her. They smiled at her, but the smiles weren't genuine. They were polite to her, but their eyes always made her uncomfortable.

—Is this also an illusion?
Even though I take the medication every day, just swallowing a bunch of unknown drugs requires drinking two or three cups of water. It makes me feel terrified, and I feel like vomiting...

Her auditory hallucinations showed no signs of abating.

"Your attitude towards learning is problematic."

What is your value?

"If you don't get into a top university, your life is over."

"If everyone else can do it, why can't you?"

"Your top priority right now is to study, only study! Everything else is trivial, and you don't need to go to art classes anymore... it's useless!"

"—It's all for your own good!"

Various auditory hallucinations constantly surrounded Jia Tingting.

While she was washing up, while she was doing a math problem wrong, while she was resting...

She felt like she was about to break down.

Her face grew increasingly haggard. Looking in the mirror, she saw a person in a school uniform with no facial features.

Gradually, the facial features of the person in the mirror emerged.

It looks like "Jia Tingting".

Jia Tingting said to Jia Tingting:

"Can't you handle this little bit of pressure?"

"what?"

"The least stressful stage of life is when you're in school. If you can't even handle this little bit of pressure... then you're not qualified to face the rest of your life!"

A corner of the mirror reflected the wall behind Jia Tingting.

The wall is covered with numerous certificates of merit that Jia Tingting has received, including "Three Good Student" and "Excellent Class Leader".

She was always number one from childhood to adulthood, and she was once a spirited young girl.

When did it start...? I think it was after I was assigned to the elite class last year, where the pressure increased dramatically.

There, everyone was a genius, which shattered her confidence completely.

If she hadn't gotten into that class, would her life be completely different now...?

"……Why?"

The "self" in the mirror asks a cold question, yet with a muffled tone.

In that murmur, there were a mother's earnest admonitions, classmates' cold whispers, and a teacher's disappointed urging—

Ultimately, all of this became questions she herself was asking herself:
Why couldn't we try a little harder?

"Is the 100% key university admission rate of Yuanmeng Middle School really going to be broken because of you?"

Everyone else is moving forward, but you... are standing still! Shameful!

“Shameful…” Jia Tingting stood there, stunned.

A strange, burning sense of shame and indignation welled up inside her, and she subconsciously took two steps back, bumping into the wall covered with certificates of merit.

"You must study as hard as you can for the next few days, no matter what."

"You must get into the top 30 in the class for the opening exam, even if it means cheating!"

"otherwise……"

A cold voice gave the final urging.

It didn't continue with the rest of the story.

But in the next instant, two streams of dark tears flowed from the eyes of the "Jia Tingting" in the mirror.

It looks like black blood, but more like ink.

The scene was extremely horrifying, but for some reason, Jia Tingting only felt cold and suffocated, not afraid.

"I will always be watching over you and encouraging you—"

He left these words at the end.

It disappeared from Jia Tingting's sight.

...From then on, this "self" became omnipresent.

It coldly supervises in every book, alongside the figures on the textbook covers; it casts a shadow on the blackboard behind the teacher, constantly watching Jia Tingting.

Like the strictest teacher, he supervised Jia Tingting's studies.

just like……

It wasn't trying to harm Jia Tingting; it was simply being "good" to her.

But this actually increased Jia Tingting's study pressure and reduced her efficiency.

In September, the school prepared a test for the students.

After the test, everyone compared their answers; some were happy, while others were sad.

Looking at the red crosses all over the exam paper, Jia Tingting felt like her heart was dying.

Her vision blurred, and the auditory hallucinations from "herself" grew louder, but they were no longer idle chatter or interrogations.

Instead, he made his prophecy in a hurried tone.

That was a worthless, obsolete future, a prophecy that Jia Tingting was destined to be swept into some dark corner like garbage, rotting and stinking.

"don't want……"

The voice said—

This is you, Jia Tingting, this is your end.

"say no more!"

Under immense pressure, Jia Tingting finally reached the brink of collapse.

She lost her composure again.

Fortunately, her voice was drowned out by the school bell.

"One two one!"

"One two one!"

"Set sail! Be full of fighting spirit! Love Class 3! Let's create a brilliant future together!"

"One! Two! Three! Four! One, two, three, four!"

"..."

Loud slogans echoed from the playground, accompanied by cheerful drumbeats and rhythms broadcast over the loudspeaker.

The students are doing their morning exercises.

In a daze, Jia Tingting hid in an old toilet in a corner of the campus.

There was no one there, only the sound of rushing water and the slapping sound of the wind blowing the thick plastic curtains.

"who are you?"

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Jia Tingting looked at herself. She was no longer the spirited girl she used to be; her eyes slowly filled with bloodshot veins.

"I am you."

The "Jia Tingting" in the mirror is flashing a ferocious smile at the outside world.

"Do you still remember your former pride? Do you still remember your former arrogance? Do you still remember everything you abandoned?"

"Look at the pathetic state you are in now. How disappointed would your past self be if she knew?"

"Everyone can be number one, so why shouldn't you be number one?"

"—It's all because you didn't try hard enough!"

"How can you face your parents who worked so hard to send you to school?"

"How can you face the teacher who is disappointed in you?"

"Are you true to your past self who had lofty ambitions?"

"—How could you do this to me?"

The angry, questioning roar stopped there.

Jia Tingting in the mirror has lost her facial features once again.

The faceless figure, dressed in a school uniform, stepped out of the mirror under Jia Tingting's dazed and confused gaze. It walked to Jia Tingting's side and whispered in her ear, its voice like a demonic seduction:

"I gave you a chance."

"Those who rank at the bottom are only fit to become stepping stones and nourishment for the strong."

"Those whose grades aren't good enough are the ones who affect the chances of getting into their dream high school—"

"People like that don't deserve to breathe the air of this world!"

"Unworthy..."

Jia Tingting stood there blankly, simply repeating the other person's words.

She was overwhelmed by unparalleled shame, guilt, and immense grief.

She had almost lost all her reason, unable to extricate herself from these negative emotions.

"Your parents, your teachers, and your classmates must all think the same way."

The whispers in my ear continued:

"You are their disgrace, you are trash they are ashamed to mention... You drag everyone down, why are you still alive?"

The accusations from the crowd resurfaced in Jia Tingting's mind.

She felt the disappointment, and she also felt the heaviness... the heaviness of love.

cold.

There is a kind of pure, bone-chilling cold.

Jia Tingting's school uniform was soaked through at some point.

It's cold when you put it on, and it's cold when you take it off.

—Just like the heavy burden she felt she carried.

in case……

Would everyone be happy if I weren't there?

At Yuanmeng Middle School, no one will hold you back; your deskmate will be someone with better grades to help you; your teachers won't be disappointed; and your parents won't feel ashamed.

It seems everyone is happy.

"Yes... why am I still alive?"

A hint of confusion appeared on Jia Tingting's face.

It would be better to be free and end it all.

There's a saying, "Go early and come back early."

—Maybe, because of the arduous study experience at Yuanmeng Middle School, it's equivalent to serving a sentence in hell and going straight to heaven?

The Faceless Man nodded happily:

"Then—you should die!"

"...Go to hell?"

Jia Tingting suddenly froze.

"Go to hell, go ......"

The faceless man's whispers echoed in her ear, creating countless reverberations, as if everyone was urging Jia Tingting on—

Go to hell!

"Just die there, in that forgotten corner."

"Don't disturb the other students."

The faceless man raised his hand and pointed to the innermost part of the toilet.

A narrow, tightly closed door slowly opened, revealing a white rope hanging precariously from the roof beam.

Following closely behind the rooftop figures dressed in the Dream Realization School uniform, Jia Tingting slowly walked over.

"...!"

The moment Jia Tingting raised her hand and touched the rope, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her whole body jolted.

The auditory hallucinations that had plagued me for days receded like the receding tide.

She heard a slightly different sound.

"That is……"

"Actually, you could consider enrolling in a painting training camp. If you pursue a special talent program, you should be able to get into a good high school."

"Of course, whether you apply or not is up to you. As long as you study hard, no matter what score you get in the end, you will be the teacher's pride."

"Life is a long journey, so don't rush. As long as you don't give up on yourself, you'll eventually succeed."

—This is the suggestion her homeroom teacher made to her.

"Tingting, if you really can't keep up with your studies, Mom will arrange for you to take a leave of absence from school. Let's go home and rest properly, okay?"

"You've wanted that yellow rabbit plushie for ages, look what this is! Dad bought it for you, it's extra large!"

—These are the kind and gentle faces of her parents in front of her.

"Tingting, are you alright?"

"These are my math notes. I'll lend them to you; they might be helpful."

These are the words of a classmate who cares deeply about her.

how……

It's completely different from what she remembers, even the complete opposite?

Should we urge them?
Is it coercion?
What about everyone's discrimination, indifference, and shame towards her?

Jia Tingting was confused.

Could it be that no one has ever actually done this before, and she's just overthinking things, putting pressure on herself?
Which one was her own auditory hallucination, and which one was real?
"Those things, of course, don't exist!"

Accompanied by a ferocious shriek.

These images all disappeared, and the faceless man occupied Jia Tingting's entire field of vision.

He approached Jia Tingting, his voice unusually urgent:

"You're just too tired and you crave everyone's approval too much."

"But the harsh reality cannot be changed!"

As he spoke, the faceless man scratched his chest and neck with his sharp nails.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that those weren't sharp fingertips at all...

They are clearly black gel pens that have grown into the flesh of the palm!

The sharp pen tip slices through flesh and blood.

The skin was torn, and the blood vessels were ripped open.

But no blood flowed out.

What flowed down his chest, neck, and face was viscous, faintly reflective, jet-black ink.

"L……"

Ink fell onto the white porcelain floor, splashing out petals that were blurred by the water.

Instead of flowing away, they meandered and crawled on the ground, automatically outlining a complex pattern, with obscure incantations filling the gaps between the patterns.

It was like a sacrifice.

And standing in the middle of the pattern, the failed sacrifice—that is, of course, the dazed Jia Tingting.

The faceless man stood behind Jia Tingting, placed his hands on her shoulders, and whispered in her ear.

The solemn voices sounded like hymns sung at a grand ceremony:

"Bird in a cage, when will you fly?"

It asked Jia Tingting.

Before Jia Tingting could answer, it spoke again, raising its voice:
"If we cannot fly—we shall rather die!"

I'd rather die!

Like a puppet on strings, Jia Tingting's mind went blank.

Her hands, as if out of control, rose up and reached for the white rope hanging in mid-air.

At the same time, she lifted her feet, leaned forward, and peeked her head out—

so tired...

The sheer exhaustion made her unable to lift her eyes at all.

At the age of eleven, Jia Tingting vowed to get into Tinghai University.

But right now, all she wants is to take a break and get some sleep.

only……

"I don't deserve to live."

Originally, this thought permeated her mind and governed all her actions.

But deep in my heart, there seems to be another voice, faintly echoing in my mind.

"Do not……"

"I...don't...want...to...die..."

However, this voice was drowned out by countless emotions and could not be received by Jia Tingting's own brain.

"help me……"

"I don't want to die..."

It was purely coincidental, yet it felt like destiny—

Beneath her feet, on the white ceramic tiles of the toilet, lay a scarlet "last words" that neither she nor the exam king could see.

These "last words" are shining brightly, resonating deeply with Jia Tingting at this moment.

But no one knew, no one noticed.

A rope had already been put around his neck.

Jia Tingting's every move was like that of a puppet on strings, completely controlled by the person beside her, and then... she was determined to die.

As oxygen was gradually exhaled, a feeling of suffocation welled up inside.

Clearly aware that her strength was rapidly draining away, the intense pain caused Jia Tingting's legs to struggle in mid-air.

"Someone...someone save me..."

My mind was unusually clear, but it was only my last conscious thought.

Only Faceless Man stood aside, satisfied, admiring his masterpiece.

Its form gradually grew taller, the ink-painted sacrificial patterns beneath its feet faintly glowed, and it chanted the question again:

"Bird in a cage, when will you fly?"

The next moment——

With a loud crash, the sound of shattering glass rang out.

It was as if lightning flashed down from the sky.

The spinning iron object, as it swept through the air, severed the white rope.

Jia Tingting fell, her face flushed and coughing incessantly.

"who!"

The faceless man immediately let out a shriek, and as the air vibrated, it stared intently at the scene.

But they discovered that what was severing the rope was only one...

A chair leg that someone casually broke off from some classroom or office?!
Just then, a series of curses and swears came from outside the toilet.

"You break a person's wings with your own hands, lock a bird in a cage, and then ask when it will fly again?"

"What kind of ridiculous logic is this?!"

The moment the words fell.

"boom--!!!"

The toilet door, which had been locked by the Faceless Man, was kicked open.

The collapsed gate kicked up wood chips and dust.

Two uninvited guests broke in together.

"Surprise inspection! I'm a teacher!"

"Let's see which little rascal is hiding here trying to skip drills!"

Bai Zhou raised his employee badge and scanned the restrooms. He immediately spotted the faceless man in his school uniform and Jia Tingting, who was sitting on the ground coughing loudly.

Then, he put down his employee badge, pointed at the two men, and shouted:
"Jia Tingting! Swinging is not allowed in the school restroom!"

"And that shameless one over there—"

"You two have been caught violating school rules!"

(End of this chapter)