In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]-Chapter 177: Confusing Timeline (6)

Rise took a deep breath, inhaling Kamille’s scent and kissing the back of his hand firmly. He swallowed and looked down. He did not respond immediately; his mind was processing the information.

He could only play with Kamille’s right hand, resting on his lap. Only a few seconds later did Rise lift his head and eyes, landing on Kamille’s sleeping face.

"Is he fine?" Those were his first words after a moment of silence.

He heard the other Kamille answer positively. Rise nodded and licked his lips. He then exhaled again and grasped Kamille’s hand firmly in his, as if wanting to warm him up.

Slowly, Rise finally met the other Kamille’s crimson eyes. The other only watched him through it all. His expression was unreadable, especially since it was hard to discern the meaning of his gaze.

Rise blinked, took everything he saw, and observed this Kamille.

"You..." Rise stammered and paused. He took a deep breath again and swallowed. "How do you know I’ll come?" Rise spoke in a low and measured tone.

He did not know how to treat this Kamille. In all honesty, he was not even sure if this Kamille was real and not a figment of an illusion the gate created.

Yet, he chose to believe. Rise, trusted Kamille, in any way or form.

"And... what are you?"

Are you real?

Rise was afraid to ask directly that as he might get confused. If this Kamille, a past Kamille, was alive and real here... then, what about ’his’ Kamille? And this present Kamille?

Who was the real one?

Kamille looked intently at Rise and this time answered almost immediately as though he was aware of Rise’s growing confusion.

"I’m a memory." Kamille slowly spoke in a familiar tone. Rise almost became emotional again because of it and bit his lips to calm himself.

Rise’s mouth parted, yet no voice came out. He could only nod, letting Kamille continue. He just wanted to listen. And, it seemed the other also only wanted that.

"I’m a memory myself left behind," Kamille turned and looked at the sleeping Kamille, then back at Rise. "I don’t know what version, but I know it’s not one of your past."

Rise’s heart clenched, and so did how he held Kamille’s hand. His lips trembled.

"How... how long..." How long has this been going on?

Kamille shook his head as an answer to an incomplete but incomprehensible question.

He moved and seemed about to get closer, but stiffened and remained where he was. A bitter smile then crept on his lips, and his eyes lowered, the cracks on his face prominently bare.

"I want to touch you," Kamille shook his head. "But I can’t."

"Why?"

Kamille looked up first and then clenched his jaw. After a moment, he lowered his head and met Rise’s confused eyes.

"It will be known. And you know who I’m guarding against." Kamille sighed and then stood up. His shoulders drooping, the dangerous aura and confidence in him were nowhere to be seen.

"I want to talk to you more, but we’re pressed for time. The reason he also has to be asleep. He..." Kamille turned to the present Kamille. "...is still weak to witshdant the consequences of knowing the truth."

His crimson pupils glimmered. And Rise thought he saw sorrow in them when it was possible to discern for sure.

"Rise." Kamille strongly said this name and looked at him straight in the eye, in the most solemn expression he could ever muster. "Listen to all I’m about to say. Don’t ever forget." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Rise nodded; he did not ask and knew what the priority was. His heart was aching, wanting to ask this Kamille something, but for this memory, the past Kamille must have sacrificed a lot.

He did not want to waste it.

Kamille saw the determination in his eyes and finally smiled. Not a small one, but a genuine and proud smile. The corner of Rise’s eyes moistened at that, but still he kept his mouth shut.

"All you’ve been seeing, from the first time you entered this gate until now, is a product of a memory myself left behind. I found a loophole. I can’t remember what it is now; maybe I failed or thought it could only be exploited once, so I did not impart that memory here. But this is the result of that."

Kamille’s voice became hurried, and he talked faster.

"Of course, it was a memory that also underwent modifications. And can only maintain a part of the world. Yes, you probably guessed why no information about me and you here because of that. Creating a more convincing world isn’t the important part."

"Now, listen carefully." Kamille took a step closer until he was already only just a step away from Rise. And sat beside him on the bed. "Everything will happen as it is. No matter how you change it."

These words were like a bomb that detonated in his ears. He could not hear anything for a while, only these words. Rise’s expression changed, and his grasp on Kamille’s hand loosened slightly.

What Kamille just said shattered his hopes and determination. Then, what was the purpose of coming back? No...

Before he became far too hysterical, Kamille’s voice pulled him out of it.

"Rise! Rise... please, just... listen. Calm down first, hmm? Rise, my dear... we don’t have much time."

Rise snapped out of it and stared at Kamille, who was panicking but could not touch Rise or control himself from doing so. Otherwise, everything was over.

He blinked and nodded, but his face was still too pale.

"There, just breathe. Rise... I don’t know if there are others like me, a memory or anything left behind by another me, but for now, consider me the only one. So, don’t ever forget this."

His voice became hurried. And only now did Rise notice that the surroundings had cracks like shattered glass, and it would soon engulf them.

Rise’s mouth parted, and the tears he was holding in fell. Again, he did not say anything. Especially as those crimson pupils flickered, pleading for him to listen.

"I said, no matter how you do, nothing will change. And that’s true. That person... will always be destined to surpass and kill you." Kamille gritted his teeth, grief and fury evident in his tone. "And I..." Kamille bit his lips, and a tear or blood fell from his eyes. "...will always be too late."

"Rise... if the direction you want is still to be with me. And to kill him. To change destiny." Kamille looked at him and shook his head. "If you want to use that knowledge you have... being with me... won’t change anything."

Rise frowned, tears in his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief.

"W-What..."

Kamille exhaled and looked at the present Kamille and closed his eyes.

"This is what I’m about to tell you. Please, leave me."