My brother was my target. My mission: To get him to celebrate my birthday with me just once before I turned eighteen. If I succeeded, I lived. But my brother hated me. He blamed my birth for killing our parents. He cursed me more than once: "Chloe, why didn't you die instead?" I never dared to hope he would celebrate with me. Until my eighteenth birthday. It was my last chance. I gathered all my courage and called him carefully: "Lucas, please celebrate my birthday with me just this once, okay? Or else... I'll die." But his voice was filled with disgust, utterly careless: "Then hurry up and die." The call ended. I smiled, a broken, tragic smile. Okay, Lucas. As you wish. ... That night. Lucas, who was busy celebrating his adopted sister's birthday, was called back to work for an emergency. To perform an autopsy on my body. Chapter 1 [Host, this is the last chance.] [If your brother still refuses...] The System didn't finish the sentence. But I knew it couldn't bear to say the rest. The System had been with me since I was born. We had spent eighteen years together, day and night. even a cold machine develops feelings eventually. But my only brother still hated me so much. I pressed my lips together. Summoning every ounce of courage, I dialed Lucas's number. But the voice that answered was bright and cheerful—it was Mia. "Chloe? What's up?" My chest tightened. Mia... the sister Lucas adopted from the orphanage. But in his heart, she was the real sister. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and asked, voice rasping: "Where's Lucas?" Mia's voice bubbled with excitement: "Lucas is setting up fireworks for me! He's celebrating my birthday today!" I froze. Even though it wasn't the first time Lucas celebrated Mia's birthday instead of mine, my heart still stung. Chapter 2 Lucas adopted Mia on my seventh birthday. From that day on, my birthday became Mia's birthday. Every year after that, Lucas would take her out to celebrate. And I never dared to ask him to stay. I never dared to ask him to celebrate my birthday. I slowly looked up at the clock ticking on the wall. I didn't have much time left. "Put Lucas on the phone." Mia's innocent tone couldn't hide her bragging: "Why do you need him? He worked overtime for two weeks just to clear three days to celebrate with me." I lowered my head, the sourness in my heart spreading. Lucas was willing to spend three days celebrating Mia's birthday. Would he spare three minutes to eat a slice of cake with me? "Mia, who is it?" Lucas's voice interrupted my thoughts. "It's... it's Chloe." After a shuffling sound, the phone was in Lucas's hand. "Hello." Fear and nervousness gripped my throat. I couldn't speak for a moment. Until Lucas's impatient voice came through: "If you're not talking, I'm hanging up." "Wait—" I stopped him quickly. Swallowing hard, I begged carefully: "Lucas, can you celebrate my birthday with me... just once? Just this once." My heart pounded with hope and dread. After a long silence, Lucas finally spoke. But his tone was dipped in ice: "You have the nerve to celebrate a birthday?" My heart froze instantly. For years, I thought I was used to his coldness. But in this moment, facing impending death, tears welled up in my eyes. I choked out a plea: "Just this once, Lucas. Please, just this once, okay?" In my panic, I blurted out the truth about the System to make him believe me. "Or else... the System, the System will erase me. "I'll really die, Lucas." Chapter 3 The sound of my breathing and heartbeat seemed deafening in the quiet room. I gripped the phone tightly, waiting for Lucas's verdict. Maybe it was only a second. It felt like a century. Finally. Cold, hateful, indifferent words came through: "Then hurry up and die. "You killed Mom and Dad. Dying would just be paying your debt." I shattered. Every word was a jagged blade, stabbing into my heart, over and over. Tears fell uncontrollably. I knew. I knew I didn't deserve a birthday. But I still held onto that tiny sliver of hope. After all. We were the only two people left in this world with the same blood. We were supposed to be family, relying on each other. But... My brother wanted me dead. Fine. I didn't really want to live anyway. Chapter 4 A faint sigh echoed in my mind. [Host, do you want to... try one more time?] [Go find Lucas. Even if he only stays with you for a minute.] [I'll apply to HQ to count it as a success.] I smiled tragically, thanking the System for its kindness. "No need." What was the point? To be hated so deeply by my only family. What was the point of living? I had known since I was little that Lucas hated me. The System told me my mother had a difficult birth with me. I was supposed to die. But Mom didn't want me to die. She fought to bring me into the world. She traded her life for mine. That same night, Dad, distraught over Mom's death, got into a car accident. From the moment I was born, I carried the sin of killing my parents. Lucas's hatred for me was boundless. But... Lucas. I lost Mom and Dad too. Chapter 5 The clock struck 11 PM. I wiped my tears and gently untied the ribbon on the cake box. I lifted the transparent lid. The sweet scent of cream filled my nose. Before I died, I wanted to taste a birthday cake. I had never eaten one before. And I never would again. I took out the "18" candles and placed them gently on the cake. I pulled a lighter from the drawer. A breeze from the window kept blowing the flame out. I stood up and walked to the balcony to close the window. Just then. A brilliant firework exploded in the ink-black sky. Light cascaded down like a waterfall. Beautiful. I stood by the window. Letting the night wind fill my loose, thin dress. Filling the hollow, desolate cavern of my heart. One firework after another trailed silver tails into the sky. Exploding into thousands of stars. Sixteen of them. Mia is sixteen this year. As the last sparks faded, drones formed words in the sky. "Happy Birthday to My Sister." The wind was strong. It made my eyes sting. That's nice. Mia is lucky to have a brother who loves her. Chapter 6 The wind howled in my ears. I took a step forward. I was never loved in this life. Next life— Forget it. Let's not have a next life. Chapter 7 I took another step. My body leaned over the railing. Then, without hesitation, I let go. Falling straight down. Goodbye, Lucas. Chapter 8 Because the floor was so high, my death was gruesome. My soul floated in mid-air. Even looking at myself, I thought it was horrific. Face unrecognizable, limbs twisted, bones shattered. Like a dirty, broken doll nobody wanted. It was late, so there weren't many people around. Someone called the police. Sirens wailed in the distance, getting closer. I looked up. Watching lights turn on in the windows, people peeking out. [Host, it wasn't time yet.] The System sounded sad. I knew it meant it wasn't midnight yet. "It doesn't matter. Half an hour won't change anything." [But I detected your brother's car heading this way.] [Maybe he was coming back to celebrate with you.] Really? I looked at my broken body inside the police tape. I thought: Lucas will be happy to see me dead. Officers were documenting the scene. Lucas's car drove into the complex. [Host, he really came back.] [If you hadn't jumped early, the mission might have succeeded.] The System sounded regretful. I didn't feel much. Maybe when you die, emotions fade. My soul drifted toward Lucas uncontrollably. Lucas got out of the car, Mia following him. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see the commotion. Lucas pulled her head into his chest, his voice gentler than I had ever heard: "Don't look, Mia. It'll scare you." Chapter 9 Mia nodded obediently. She whined in his arms: "But Lucas— "You said you'd stay with me until past midnight." Lucas rubbed her head affectionately. "Be good, Mia. I'll be with you as soon as I'm done." Mia pouted, grumbling unhappily: "It's all that jumper's fault. Why jump now?" Lucas tapped her head lightly. "Mia, show some respect for the dead. "I'm a medical examiner. Autopsying bodies to help investigations is my job." So. Lucas was only called back to dissect my corpse. He didn't come back to celebrate my birthday. Good. Good. I didn't have hope anyway. Mia shook Lucas's arm, muttering: "I know, I know. I just wanted you to spend more time with me." Lucas pinched her cheek helplessly. Floating in the air, I watched the loving siblings. Actually, I was envious. I never acted spoiled with Lucas. Lucas never treated me with such tenderness. Between us, there was only his hatred and my fear. Worried about Mia going upstairs alone, Lucas asked his assistant to take her up. As soon as she opened the door, Mia called out cheerfully: "Chloe, we're back!" She probably wanted to brag about the fireworks and drones. But the only response was silence and darkness.
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