“Aitin, ”
Upon hearing Aitin’s words, Cerise’s body stiffened noticeably.
She lifted her tear-filled, blurry eyes and stared blankly into the deep and resolute gaze before her.
The weight behind his words struck through the girl’s muddled thoughts like a bolt of lightning, clearing her mind in an instant.
How selfish and shameless she had been, attempting to escape the sins she bore through forgetfulness, even trying to erase Olivia—the angel who once saved her—from her memory.
The mere thought sent a chill straight to Cerise’s bones.
Fear gripped her: if one day Aitin were no longer by her side, would she too harbor that terrible impulse, trying to forget the warmth and salvation he had given her?
No.
Absolutely not.
“Aitin, you’re right… I can’t forget… I absolutely cannot forget Olivia…”
Thanks to Aitin’s guidance, Cerise’s turbulent emotions gradually calmed.
She nodded firmly, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand in a messy yet determined gesture.
Her voice still trembled but was much clearer.
“That’s more like it.”
Seeing Cerise regain her composure, Aitin smiled with relief and gently patted her shoulder before shifting the topic.
“Then, Cerise, was the cause of your earlier emotional outburst related to that girl named Olivia?”
“Yes… Last night, at the street corner, I… I think I saw Olivia’s shadow… That’s why I was so scared and rushed home… At first, I thought I was just seeing things, or it was a hallucination caused by exhaustion…”
Cerise nodded and took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.
Her voice trembled slightly.
“But after I got home, I dreamed of a nightmare involving Olivia… When I woke up… I really saw Olivia standing in the corner of my room, watching me.”
At this, her hand instinctively gripped Aitin’s sleeve tightly, as if drawing strength to continue.
“She said to me… that I’m sly… and that she would come for me soon… to fulfill the Promise Under the Stars that we left unfinished.”
Unconsciously, Cerise moved closer to Aitin, seeking shelter.
After hearing her story, Aitin finally understood why she was in such a state of panic.
In Cerise’s mind, she had always felt profound guilt toward Olivia, believing she owed her too much and longing for a chance to make amends.
So, when she thought Olivia’s “ghost” had appeared, her immense fear stemmed not only from the fear of the supernatural but, deeper still, from fearing that Olivia had come to collect her debt—to take her away and “complete” that Promise Under the Stars, which now seemed more like a curse.
However, Aitin keenly sensed some inconsistencies in the whole matter, which Cerise, trapped in a vortex of self-blame and terror, clearly overlooked.
According to Cerise’s account, Olivia was a kind, strong, and wise girl.
Her “disappearance” did not directly mean “death.”
The Letter she left contained no trace of resentment toward Cerise; on the contrary, it sounded like she had to leave because of some unavoidable reason or a Mission that had to be completed, with a tone of acceptance and blessing.
It was Cerise herself, driven by overwhelming grief and guilt, who had prematurely interpreted Olivia’s departure as succumbing to pressure and choosing to end her life.
Moreover, even if Olivia had died harboring grudges, transforming into a Vengeful Spirit, would a girl who cared for and protected Cerise so deeply really turn malicious after death to seek revenge on the one she once fiercely guarded?
And if Olivia’s “ghost” really existed, why had it never appeared over all these years—why only suddenly now, just as Cerise’s life began to stabilize, especially when she had made new friends and started to change her mindset?
In short, there were just too many unreasonable points.
There had to be some undiscovered connection or trigger.
Aitin believed that with Cerise’s intelligence, she shouldn’t have missed these logical gaps.
The reason she was now in such a restless and fearful state was precisely the old saying—The one involved is confused; the bystander sees clearly.
It was clear that the overwhelming guilt and long-term self-repression had clouded her ability to think rationally.
“I’m so scared… Aitin… I’m really so scared…”
Cerise buried her face deeply into Aitin’s shoulder, her body trembling slightly as her voice choked with sobs.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Feeling Cerise’s fear and helplessness clearly, Aitin gently patted her back.
“Aitin… After hearing all this… don’t you think I’m selfish? That I’m… a terrible person?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Cerise raised her tear-filled eyes and asked timidly.
She was genuinely afraid that after knowing the ugliness deep inside her, Aitin would leave her like everyone else.
“Why would you think that?”
Aitin tilted his head slightly in puzzlement.
“It’s all my fault… that Olivia…”
Cerise lowered her head, her voice barely audible.
“I’ve already said, it’s not your fault.”
Before Cerise could finish, Aitin interrupted her, looking straight into her eyes.
“Just like when you were bullied, that was never your fault. The only mistake you made in this entire ordeal was blaming yourself for everything.”
“So… what should I do?”
Cerise looked at Aitin blankly, as if seeing a faint light in the darkness but unsure how to grasp it.
“Cerise, calm down and think carefully. Do you really believe Olivia is the kind of person who would resent you? The kind who would come to ruin your current happiness because you didn’t keep your promise?”
“No! Olivia was a good person…”
Cerise shook her head vigorously, her voice lowering, tinged with barely noticeable dependence.
“Just like… just like someone like you, Aitin…”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Aitin smiled at the comparison.
“Then, since Olivia isn’t that kind of person, why would she accuse you? After all, the ‘Olivia’ you saw—was she really the Olivia you know?”
“I… I don’t quite understand what you mean, Aitin… Are you saying that the Olivia I saw… was fake?”
Cerise’s pupils widened slightly, confusion and sudden realization flashing across her face.
“I haven’t seen Olivia myself, nor the phantom you mentioned, so I can’t say for certain. But if it’s true or not, isn’t it you—her closest friend—who’s most qualified to tell?”
Aitin did not give a direct answer.
Hearing this, Cerise was struck like a thunderbolt, frozen in place.
Indeed.
She had been so consumed by guilt and fear, blinded by her own conscience, that she never calmly confronted the ‘Olivia’ who appeared before her.
She never questioned whether that was truly her old friend or some other entity disguised as a phantom.
“Your inner demons can only be conquered when you face them yourself. Of course, there’s no need to be afraid.”
Seeing Cerise’s eyes slowly clear from confusion to understanding, Aitin knew she had begun to think.
He gently pulled her back into his embrace, giving her the courage to face the truth.
“If you feel scared, just look around—you’ll see that I’ll always be here with you.”
Feeling the warmth and strength of Aitin’s embrace, Cerise wrapped her arms tightly around him.
She lifted her head, voice soft and trembling with the last shred of uncertainty.
“Aitin… You won’t leave me, will you?”
“Everyone leaves eventually. No one stays forever—not even me.”
That word pierced Cerise’s newly rebuilt heart like an ice pick.
Her body trembled, and panic welled up in her eyes once again.
Yet Aitin’s next words melted away all her unease like sunlight.
“But certainly not when you need me the most.”