Rex was currently in class. His head resting on his palm, as he lazily paid attention to class.

What the hell was I even supposed to do in that situation? Rex thought annoyed.

Help him, HOW? Alan has been training in Jiu-Jitsu since he was five! He would have knocked me out instantly. And threaten his sister? As if! I would be thrown in jail immediately, If I did anything stupid like that. Alan is a MASSIVE, 6' 5" beast of a man. There really was nothing I could do.

Despite telling himself all this, Rex was still a little guilty for abandoning Jake like that.

Oh well, I barely knew the dude. I mean sure we hanged out in the same group, but we never talked much until today.

Pushing what happened to the back of his head, he focused on going back to sleep. The rest of the day passed uneventfully and by the time it was evening he was already back home.

He didn't see Jake in class after the cafeteria incident.

He's probably just skipping class for the day. Rex told himself.

But Jake didn't come to school for two weeks after that, and when he eventually did return; he chose not to speak to anyone for another three weeks.

Rex wouldn't apologize for something he didn't feel guilty for. So, he basically ignored Jake. Which was mimicked by the rest of his classmates.

Eventually, Jake got over the incident and started talking again. He returned to how we was, always smiling and being happy with his friends.

It was like nothing had ever changed.

***

It was summer vacation. Six months had passed since that day with Jake. Rex passed the time playing games and spending time with my family.

Sometimes Rex went out with his classmates - Jake included - enjoying the summer vacation together. But mainly, he just stayed at the house and ate Junk food. Barely getting out of his room to enjoy some fresh air.

It was a nice and relaxing, well-deserved break for the students after the exams.

*Ping*

Rex immediately jumped from his sofa and grabbed his phone, unplugging the cord. The only person he didn't disable text notifications from was his girlfriend, Leah.

[I'm free this Saturday, what about you?] - Leah.

Rex canceled his plans to go to the dentist.

[Yeah, I'm free.] - Rex.

[Sweet, I was thinking we could… spend time together] - Leah.

[You know… since my family is leaving for their anniversary trip this weekend] - Leah.

Wait… is this what I think it is?

Rex started tapping away at his screen frantically, he kept deleting and retyping - until he crafted the perfect response.

[k] - Rex

Perfect.

[…] - Leah

[Okay] - Leah

Rex bashed his head against the wall in frustration.

'k' Seriously! That's the best I could come up with.

"Dammit Rex!" He yelled at himself.

Rex put turned off the phone and put it in his pocket. He grabbed his calendar and marked next Saturday.

I have to make sure everything goes perfectly.

When the day finally came, he was so excited he couldn't sleep. By the time he woke up, it was already noon. Groggily brushing his teeth, Rex did a full-body workout to calm his nerves. After that, he took a bath and ate a slightly heavy meal.

It was 5 pm now. He had to meet up with Leah right after six.

He applied some expensive perfume on his wrists and neck, even applying a bit down there. He combed his hair until it was perfect and looked himself over in the mirror.

He also chose to wear his best fit-

A clean white shirt tucked in with stylish brown cargo pants. He wore a pendant on his neck to match.

The outfit made his blue eyes - which he was proud of - to stand out more and the darker brown pants matched his honey blonde hair.

He didn't put much thought into fashion. So, he just went with whatever fit him best.

And it worked.

He walked out of his bedroom door and into the hallway. As he was about to open the door -

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Huh" Rex jolted in surprise. "Jeez don't sneak up on me like that sis." Rex said giving his sister an annoyed glance.

Standing before him was a tall beauty, with a more mature visage. She had long honey brown hair like his and had inherited the deep black eyes of our father.

She was named after mother's favorite flower - Jasmine. She was 22 years old and worked in dad's company as an intern.

"I told you already, I'm going to the dentist."

"Don't lie to me, I already know you canceled it."

"How?"

"The deposit was refunded to my account."

"Tch" Rex clicked his tongue annoyed. "I shouldn't have gone with the prepaid option."

"So where are you really going" Jasmine asked.

"…just going on a date with Leah."

"Hah, I knew it was suspicious that she didn't want to go to her favorite cafe."

Leah often came over for sleepovers and to just hang out with my sister.

When she started showing interest in me, I reciprocated, and we gradually got together. The only downside to this being was that sis would immediately know if I got in contact with her.

"Alright get in the car." Jasmine said.

"You're going to drop me off?" Rex asked.

"Can't let my little brother be late for his first time, now can I."

"How did you know? Did she tell you?" Rex said, his face reddening.

"I saw you sneak into dad's room and steal his condoms." She said in a snarky tone.

"Can't believe my little Rex is all grown up now." Jasmine teased.

"…" Rex regretted life at that moment.

***

He was in the shotgun seat of his sister's car.

He and his sister lived in the suburbs next to the city. A lot of business owners and wealthy people - including Rex's father - had settled in the area.

Rex's father was a strong and responsible man. He took care of his family by himself after the death of his mom. He made sure all of their needs were taken care of and also managed to propel his business into the wealthy empire it was now.

They finally reached the street next to Leah's house.

"Alright" Jasmine said stopping the car. "Should I just wait here?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Knowing you, it will all be over in a minute." She teased with a smirk on her face.

"Just leave!" Rex said angrily, slamming the car door shut.

Jasmine laughed and drove off; she would come back a few hours later.

"…annoying." Rex muttered.

The city bustled with noise of traffic and pedestrians.

It was much better to walk the last kilometer, since the heavy traffic would have made it slower than walking. Cars honked at each other continuously and a homeless man was doing cartoon character impressions in the corner.

As Rex walked down the street, excitement filled his body. He had a light spring to his step as he jollied past the pedestrians.

"Well, it's a good thing I wore pants." Rex said glancing down.

I practiced all night with my pillow last night, there's no way I mess up. Rex comforted himself.

He took a shortcut, going in between an empty alleyway.

As he was lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the person in front of him until the last minute and bumped into him dropping his phone.

Rex started apologizing.

"Oh, my bad. I didn't notice you-"

"Huh?" Rex was surprised. "What are you doing here Jake?"

Jake stood before him. He was wearing black slacks and a hoodie, rather than his usual fashionable outfits.

He wore a mask and dark gloves, which along with his sunglasses, made him look like an undercover celebrity.

He also didn't have his usual friendly expression either and instead seemed more… dangerous.

"Leah won't be meeting up with you today." Jake said.

Rex froze. An expression of incredulity filling his face.

" Where's Leah and how the hell do you know her?"

Jake shook his head. "Have you forgotten? I'm Leah's cousin."

"Don't lie to me, Leah never mentioned any siblings or cousins."

"Oh well, it was worth a try." Jake said, giving up on the ruse.

He straightened his slacked body and looked up at me, straight in the eyes.

"I killed her."

Rex's heart sank, as it started beating wildly. He lost all color from his face.

It can't be...

L-Leah is dead?

"Why!" Rex yelled, grabbing the hem of Jake's shirt.

"She didn't do anything wrong." Rex stared into his hollow eyes, demanding an answer.

"Because you loved her." Jake said grabbing Rex's arms with surprising strength.

Has he been training?

"Because YOU betrayed me." Jake grabbed Rex's head and headbutted him in the face.

Rex staggered back, clutching his now bloody nose as his face contorted in pain.

"You left me there… alone." Jake said, clenching his fists.

The cafeteria incident! Is that why he killed Leah and confronted me like this?

"All because I didn't fight for you… is that it. You want to blame ME for your own weakness." Rex said.

Anger clouded his face, as he threw a right hook at Jake's face.

Jack blocked the blow with his left hand and countered with a knee to Rex's stomach.

Rex body collapsed on the floor, as he vomited his guts out.

"True… I shouldn't have excepted you to fight my battles." Jake admitted, his eyes cold and lifeless.

Then he gave me a strange look, his face filled with bitter sadness.

"But I thought we were friends…" Jake said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Rex defiantly looked up at him, his face laced with pain and visible disgust.

"I never considered you a friend, NEVER." Rex spat out.

"…"

A tense silence filled the alleyway, as Jake just stared at the lump of flesh - Rex's body - on the floor.

Rex tried to get up, but Jake kicked him in the side.

"Gahh" Rex rolled over and laid on his back, pain sprouting from his side.

"You know… I lied to you. I didn't kill Leah." Jake said.

Rex's eyes widened.

She's alive!

Jake spat in his bloody face.

"I just wanted to see you get riled up. I wanted to emotionally break you, and when you were at your absolute lowest… I would crush you like a bug." Jake said.

"Even then, murder is something I would never resort to."

"But..."

Jake slowly brought out a knife from the pockets of his hoodie.

Rex paled in terror.

He slowly got up and tried to run away.

But Jake was too near and too fast.

"For you… I will make an exception."

*Swish* In one fluid motion, Jake impaled the knife into Rex's gut.

Rex screamed, an agonizing wail of misery.

It was horrifying.

The cold metallic surface of the knife touching your bare skin for a split second, before it mercilessly penetrated your skin.

Your nerves screaming at you, as the foreign object stirred up your insides violently.

Blood starts to flow out, like pus spewing out from some exposed fungus.

He felt a sharp striking pain and then nothing. He was too high on adrenaline to feel the damage that was happening to his body.

Rex collapsed on the floor of the street, like a puppet with it's strings cut off.

Rain fell from the skies as the earth cried, it's tears slowly marking them.

Jake straddled him, as Rex struggled in discomfort.

"Don't turn your eyes away from me." Jake said, grabbing his chin and lowering his face to his.

They were so close now, Jake's deep black eyes staring into Rex's blue ones.

"I want to see the pain, the suffering you will experience as you slowly die."

*Swish*

Jake pulled out his knife and stabbed him in the ribs, effortlessly penetrating him.

The cold blade brushed against the rib bones, and a renewed pain - like nothing he felt before - engulfed him.

He screamed in pain.

The pain almost made Rex faint as tears welled up in his eyes. His face was slick with blood and sweat, as he breathed heavily.

His damp honey blond hair swayed on the dirty ground.

He didn't allow Rex to process the pain for long however, instead pulling it out immediately and then stabbing him in the chest.

Rex kept screaming and screaming, until he could scream no more.

"Louder Rex, I want to hear the melody of your final cries." Jake had a wide smile on his face, as he leaned in closer putting his ear next to Rex's mouth.

He didn't care if the screams turned him deaf. They were too sweet for him to notice.

Rex reacted violently, biting into Jake's ear.

"Anh." Jake moaned in pain, as he slapped Rex violently.

He got up, clutching his ear as his face contorted in anger and pain.

Rex spat out a mouthful of blood and a mangled piece of flesh - A piece of Jake's upper ear.

"F-Fuck you." Rex said weakly.

Jake clenched his fists in anger and moved closer to teach him a lesson.

"HEY! Over there, what do you think you're doing." A passerby outside the alleyway, who noticed Rex's screaming yelled at him.

"… I guess I have to leave now Rex, don't miss me too much." Jake said, pulling down the hem of his hoodie.

Rex was too occupied with his own pain to react.

He turned away to leave, but not before giving one last kick to Rex's sides.

"Bye, Bye Rex." Jake said, cheerfully waving at Jake.

Then he bolted away, never looking back.

Leaving Rex there on the cold dirty street, with a knife in his chest and a battered and bruised body.

***

'Ahhh!' Rex's body groaned.

The people surrounding him, making a fuss. But he was too tired to notice what they were saying.

It hurt so much. The cold knife in his chest felt like a hot searing rod of condensed lava penetrating his lungs.

Why did dying have to be so damn painful?

The cheap bastard. He could have shot me with a gun, right in the head.

Quick and painless.

But nooo, he just had to pull out some rusty ass knife and shove the damn thing in my chest.

He could have at LEAST had the decency to tell me the real reason why he had stabbed me.

The cafeteria incident? As if, it was too long ago and too inconsequential.

There had to be something more to it, something that genuinely drove him to despise me.

I mean we were on pretty good terms.

I rejected Caitlin when she tried to cheat on him with me.

I comforted him when I aced the test he failed after spending weeks preparing and told him he shouldn't try too hard on some stupid test anyway.

I mean I EVEN set up a date for him with his current girlfriend, Samantha.

It was an apology for that time I pulled down his pants in front of her and her friends because I thought it would be funny.

Hehe. I mean it still was.

My body tried to chuckle but the pain me convulse and my vision go hazy.

Too bad the bastard ran away soon after, or he might have bust a nerve seeing the slight smirk on my face.

…

Leah should be safe right?

Jake did say he doesn't want to murder anyone. I guess I wouldn't have really had to die, If I just kept my stupid mouth shut.

…I hope Leah cries at my funeral. Jake thought, ashamed at himself for wanting his girlfriend to be sad.

It isn't fair.

- I don't want to die.

Tears filled the corner of my eyes. I really don't want to die.

I - no; WHY! WHY! WHY!

WHY ME! WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DIE?

Please…God.

I wanted to spend more time with my family.

I wanted to spend more time with Leah.

I wanted to travel more and explore other countries.

I wanted to play those games I saved up and read more novels.

I wanted to - I want to have more fun…

Rex sobbed, tears and blood running down his face.

The rain still kept falling, dampening my body and washing everything away.

Damn rain.

The passersby moved about frantically, not knowing how to react.

As if jeering at my earnest pleas, my body started failing.

His vision clouded as it narrowed, the edges of my vision fading to black.

I guess, this is what people meant by seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The ringing sound in my head faded.

The pain no longer tormented me, leaving me in an unfeeling void.

It was comfortable, in an eerie way.

As my consciousness faded away and everything lost its meaning, so did my mind lose its ability to think.

My emotions still lingered.

A single strong feeling.

Regret.