Chapter 5

Jericho didn’t respond right away. He brushed a hand through her hair, thoughtful for a moment, then finally said, “If you want to stay, fine. But listen carefully, Reina is off–limits. She can’t know. Ever.”

Margot nodded sweetly, but the second his back was turned, she slipped her hands behind her and made a small victory sign toward the camera.

A notification lit up on my screen. [I won.]

Then another. [Just wait. I’ll get him to agree to keep the baby. And after that, I’ll make sure he divorces you.]

[If you’re upset, you should blame yourself for being boring. Mr. Greene said he never really enjoyed being with you. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.]

[If you’ve got even a shred of pride left, walk away on your own. Otherwise, wait until he gets tired of you and kicks you out.]

She just wouldn’t stop. It was like Margot was high on her own drama. [He told me to wear fishnet stockings under my graduation gown. Sexy, right?]

[He wanted to hook up in the campus library. I said no and he got all moody. Control your man, would you?]

[He gave me a diamond ring in front of my roommate. Who does that for graduation? Feels like a proposal to me.]

I just stared at the messages. No anger. No heartbreak. I didn’t feel anything anymore. Just empty.

I put the phone down and asked the system, “Why does today feel like it’s never going to end?“

The system hesitated before replying, “Please hang in there, host. There’s one hour left before your official departure. We’re currently clearing your presence from this world.”

In every family photo, my image was slowly vanishing, like I had never been there to begin with.

Then, I called Jericho. “What are you doing?“

His voice came through cool and relaxed, with a hint of warmth. “Thinking about you, baby.“

I let out a quiet laugh. Funny. His last words to me were still a lie. I left the phone on the dining table, Margot’s messages still flashing one after another.

I grabbed some coins from the counter, walked out the door and caught a cab to Margot’s university.

As the system countdown ticked in the back of my mind, I heard a few girls gasping nearby. “Whoa, they’re so good–looking!“

“Do you think they’re famous? Maybe here for a photo shoot?”

I glanced in the direction of the voice. Jericho, under a tree full of flowers, casually holding Margot close while they took selfies together. He wasn’t in his usual tailored suit.

Today, it was a simple t–shirt and jeans; easy, clean and painfully familiar. He looked like the version of him I used to love, the one who made me believe we had forever.

And in that moment, he looked so calm. So soft. Like someone completely in love.

*5… 4…” The system’s voice ticked on, flat and mechanical in my ear.

Suddenly, Jericho turned. His eyes locked onto mine, like he could feel me standing there.

“3… 2… 1… The host has successfully left this world.”

And just like that, I was gone. His eyes widened, frozen in disbelief.

“Reina?” he blurted out, taking a step forward.