This Time, I’m the Fool Chapter 09
Chapter 9 Toward the Light
Maisie looked even more panicked than I did, desperately denying everything–until I played the
surveillance footage.
The video laid it all bare. It clearly recorded how she had screamed and smashed things in the dorm, how
she had slipped sleeping pills into my cup when no one was around, and how, this time, she tried to kill me using toxic bacteria.
In an instant, the room erupted. Everyone was stunned by what they saw.
“My god, Maisie–we’re all classmates. How could you be this vicious?”
“You’re like a demon. That’s terrifying.”
Faced with the crowd’s sharp accusations and open contempt, Maisie completely fell apart. She couldn’t even form words at first. After a long moment, she finally pieced herself together and screamed shakily,” Yes! I did those things! But are all of you blind?! Can’t you see how scheming she is?! Her personality was
entirely fake! She’s been playing all of you the whole time!”
Yet not a single person there was swayed by her words.
Because me acting like a fool, at most, had made people laugh–it had never harmed anyone. While in my
previous life, she had hidden behind that same label of “being dumb” and actually gotten me killed.
Before I could even speak, Chloe cut in angrily. “If we’re comparing, who was the one who uploaded my
photos onto the group?! And come to think of it–I had such terrible diarrhea after drinking your coffee
that I was dehydrated!”
At once, the crowd exploded with outrage. One after another, people stepped in front of me to defend me, surrounding Maisie as they accused her.
Just then, the sound of police sirens approached from afar.
Maisie’s pupils shook violently. Her face turned deathly white. In the end, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, drained of all color.
The attempted poisoning case shook the entire campus and quickly drew widespread attention beyond
- it. Not long after, Maisie was convicted and paid the price she deserved.
On the day she was taken into custody, I stood at the back of the crowd, watching coldly as she cried,
screamed, thrashed, and resisted–only to be forced into the car all the same.
Finally, the resentment and hatred I had carried across two lifetimes turned into one long, heavy breath,
released at last.
Some distance away, Vincent walked quietly toward me, as if he had been waiting there on purpose. His
eyes were earnest as he looked at me and spoke solemnly. “Naomi, I like you. Could you give me a
chance?”
“Why? Do you really know me?” I asked. “Maybe the person you like isn’t the real me at all.”
Vincent smiled softly. His lashes lowered slightly, gentleness filling his gaze. “Maybe you don’t
remember. On the day freshmen moved in, I helped you carry your luggage. From that very first glance,
I’ve always liked you.”
I paused, emotions tangled in my chest.
I didn’t answer. I simply gave him a faint smile, took a few steps back, then turned and walked away with light, steady steps.
Vincent stood there for a moment before quickly catching up.
And just like that, we walked side by side along the campus path–toward the sunset, toward the lingering glow, toward the future, toward hope–taking bold, unhurried steps forward together.
