Echoes of Betrayal: A Second Chance

My roommate, Sarah Gray, was a fervent admirer of the most popular guy, Ruben Scott, on campus.

Just because of an offhand remark he made, she decided to go on a diet where she only drank water and consumed no food so as to lose weight quickly.

I kindly advised her to reconsider it and helped her find healthier ways to slim down.

But later, Ruben confessed his feelings to me.

So Sarah hated me. She not only slandered me for trying to outshine her in a rivalry but also spread rumors that I discriminated against overweight people.

After Sarah witnessed Ruben show me special attention and care, she lost her sanity and stabbed me to death on a dark road.

Ruben then smoothly took my guaranteed admission to a graduate program and ended up with another beautiful female student.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Sarah started her dangerous crash diet.

This time, I directly pushed Ruben towards Sarah, saying, "Sarah has gone to such lengths for you. How can you not take responsibility for her?"

1

"Damien, look at this post. It says one can lose fifteen pounds in seven days," Sarah said in a cheerful voice. At the same time, her phone screen was thrust in front of me.

I looked at the screen, and my gaze gradually cleared.

Memories from my previous life returned.

I gritted my teeth and hid the hatred in my heart.

Then I pushed her phone away and pretended to respond normally, "Really?"

Sarah was so absorbed in the post that she didn't notice my unusual behavior.

She read it for a long while before putting her phone away.

Then she excitedly turned to ask me, "Damien, do you think I should try it?"

I lowered my head and said flatly, "I'm not sure. It's up to you."

"You're being so dismissive," Sarah said. She pouted and left the dormitory.

Watching her playful demeanor, I felt a chill run through me.

In my previous life, she had asked me the same question.

I had kindly suggested she research more and warned her that extreme weight loss methods could be harmful to her health.

I never imagined it would be the start of a nightmare.

Sarah listened to my advice and didn't use that extreme method.

However, the guy she liked, Ruben, confessed his feelings for me.

From then on, she believed I had stolen Ruben from her and deliberately stopped her from losing weight quickly.

She not only slandered me for trying to outshine her in a rivalry but also spread rumors that I discriminated against overweight people.

It was a sensitive subject.

After she complained with tears, I was blamed by everyone.

Sarah even set up an organization and called on others to try extreme means of losing weight.

She gained a lot of people's encouragement and support.

But my accounts on various platforms were exposed, and I received countless insults.

I endured being ostracized and judged by my peers.

Another roommate, Camelia Weaver, pulled me back from my memories. "Damien, I advise you not to talk to her about those things anymore."

I turned to her in confusion.

She continued, "Last time she and I went to the supermarket together. She said she wanted to eat some chips, and I told her to go ahead. Then she accused me of trying to make her gain weight..."

She clicked her tongue and added, "Since then, I stopped talking to her about those things in case she might hold me responsible for her problems."

Only then did I realize that the signs were there all along, and I had just missed them.

I nodded gratefully and said, "Got it."

This time, I wanted to see how far she'd go if no one stopped her.

Camelia and I went to the supermarket after dinner.

Unexpectedly, we ran into Sarah and Ruben on the way.

2

They stood and faced each other.

Sarah was excitedly saying something, while Ruben maintained a calm expression. His smile was unchanged.

When he saw Camelia and me, Ruben's eyes lit up.

And he greeted us.

His gaze fell on the shopping bags in my hand, and then he asked gently, "Do you need help carrying those?"

I knew from my previous life that he was interested in me. But I didn't want to get involved with him.

I slightly moved the bags behind me and shook my head. "No, thank you."

Ruben gave an awkward smile and took back his hand.

Sarah's eyes darted between Ruben and me.

Then her gaze fell on the several bottles of mineral water in her hands.

She looked a bit aggrieved.

However, Ruben didn't notice it at all.

Sarah tugged on Ruben's sleeve and pleaded in a gentle voice, "I have several big bottles of water here. Can you help me carry one?"

Ruben hesitated for a moment and then said with a smile, "Sarah, you look strong enough. You must be able to handle it yourself."

Sarah's face froze, and her smile slowly faded.

We said goodbye to Ruben, and he walked away. Then Sarah finally turned to Camelia and me.

Her expression softened as she forced a smile. She said, "For the next seven days, I'll only be drinking water. Please don't invite me to eat anything."

Camelia responded simply.

Sarah didn't seem to expect such a lukewarm reaction from us.

She picked up the bottles again, and her back bent under the weight.

Sarah forced a determined smile and said, "I'll head back now."

We acknowledged her and turned to enter the supermarket.

After walking a bit further, Camelia said, "She only drinks just water for seven days. Won't she die?"

I chuckled and said, "Who knows?"

"Respect her decisions and let her face her own fate," I thought.

After all, it had nothing to do with me.

On the third day of Saran trying that means, she was struggling.

She was so hungry that she couldn't sleep at night and had to get up to drink water.

During the day, she was too exhausted to do anything but lay her head on the desk.

Camelia and I were about to head out for lunch when we overheard Sarah's weak voice as we passed by. "I heard there's a new window for steak at the cafeteria, right?"

Before we could answer her, she continued, "I envy you, as you can enjoy all the delicious dishes."

Her eyes were fixed on us with a burning intensity.

Camelia was about to say something to her, but I tugged at her sleeve.

I said, "It's indeed tasty. But you told us not to ask you to have meals that day. Otherwise..."

Sarah froze. Her eyes showed surprise mixed with hesitation. "But..."

I didn't let her finish and pulled Camelia along as we turned to leave.

Sarah stopped us again and said, "You didn't even try to persuade me. Maybe if you had, I would have gone."

I slowly removed her hand and comforted her, saying, "You're only halfway through your seven days. If we take you to have lunch now, it would be bad for you. Keep on."

With that, I left without looking at her expression.

After lunch, Camelia had something to attend to, so I returned to the dorm alone.

Unexpectedly, I encountered Ruben downstairs.

He walked straight towards me.

In my previous life, when I was slandered and faced all the hostility and insults, Ruben sided with me and encouraged me.

Although I never developed feelings for him, I was grateful for his support back then.

Ruben went behind me a bit shyly.

He scratched his head and said, "Damien, are you free this weekend? Do you want to catch a movie together with me?"

I didn't want to give him any false impressions that might lead to misunderstandings. "I'm afraid it's not convenient. Sorry..."

As I spoke, I noticed Sarah was not far behind Ruben. Her gaze was fixed on us intensely.

3

She suddenly put on a cheerful smile and skipped over to us.

She looked completely innocent and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"

Ruben smiled and said, "Nothing much. We were just chatting."

She huffed softly and muttered, "So, you're keeping secrets from me now, huh?"

Her expression appeared genuinely naive and charming. But the memory of her vicious and menacing demeanor from my previous life was deeply etched in my mind.

I couldn't bear it and hastily bid farewell to the two of them.

I didn't know what they talked about after I left.

But after Sarah returned to the dorm that day, she wasn't as lively as usual.

She was much quieter and asked me in a serious tone if I had any feelings for Ruben.

I denied it.

Then she nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been struggling with hunger at noon, but she never mentioned being hungry again.

On the seventh day of her strict diet, Sarah had lost weight.

However, she suffered significant hair loss and got a pale complexion and lifeless eyes. Her spirit had plummeted.

I watched her and felt no pity.

After class, Ruben waited at the dormitory building.

Sarah's nearly vacant eyes lit up, and she approached him to greet him.

Unexpectedly, Ruben kept his gaze on me.

He had asked me out several times recently, but I had declined each time.

I thought he must understand what I meant.

"Um..." He hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and seemed to make up his mind finally.

He said, "Damien, actually... I have feelings for you. Would you be willing to date me?"

Sarah was stunned.

I didn't want to get involved in their affairs anymore.

With so many people around, I answered straightforwardly, "Ruben, I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way about you."

I noticed Sarah's expression starting to turn fierce.

I grabbed Camelia's hand and left.

From a distance, I heard Sarah's voice. "Ruben, what do you mean? How could you like Damien?"

As we walked away, I couldn't hear their conversation anymore.

But shortly after returning to the dorm, I saw the aftermath on the confession wall.

In the video, Sarah's expression was almost ferocious. Her tone was sharp when she tugged Ruben's sleeve as she pleaded, "Please wait for me, okay? I'll soon be thinner and prettier."

Ruben gently shook off her hand.

"Sarah, I have feelings for Damien not just because she's pretty but because she's outstanding, has good grades, wins scholarships, is popular, independent, and cheerful..."

Being involved, I felt a bit awkward and closed the video.

But a question lingered in my mind.

Ruben was handsome and had good grades.

But why was Sarah so obsessed with him?

She had mentioned before that she only met Ruben after entering college.

Did she really like him that much?

4

I couldn't figure it out.

Sarah returned to the dorm very late.

She carried several buckets of water and put them where she had kept water for the past seven days.

Camelia couldn't believe her eyes and said, "You're really going to such extremes for a guy? Look at yourself now..."

Sarah was expressionless and said, "I know what to do."

Camelia clicked her tongue and said, "You're crazy. Is it worth it for a guy?"

As if triggered by a keyword, Sarah ignored Camelia and turned to me.

Her face darkened as she said, "Damien, don't get so happy. Ruben will definitely like me one day!"

I frowned and said, "Are you out of your mind? What does it have to do with me?"

Sarah snorted, "Don't think I know nothing. You rejected him just to play hard to get. Ruben is such a good guy. How could you not have feelings for him? Why could you not have feelings for him?"