I didn't know that being reborn—or incarnated—as a high school student would be this difficult. I had thought it would be the easiest of the tests or punishments Death had imposed on me. But I was wrong. I hadn't anticipated the consequences or challenges that would follow. Now, I have to live as someone I'm not. I have to live with a woman who isn't my real mother. And worst of all, I have to deal with an ignorant bully who, if I'm not careful, might ruin my only chance of surviving this test.
I thought convincing Philips would be my only challenge before getting back at Josh. But now, there's a much bigger threat. A senior, possibly the strongest in the school, and part of the so-called "clique." Josh may just be a low-level tormentor compared to what's ahead. Still, the mission remains unchanged—I have to survive this life if I truly want to beat Death at her own twisted game. It might be tough, but it's doable. And now… it's time for the ultimate plan—a plan designed to take down a high school bully.
I had gone to the school's cafeteria for my usual lunch. It was my first time there, and the environment felt strange. I didn't know what Sharif—the boy whose life I now live—liked to eat. But I had to eat something. Compared to when I was in high school originally, this cafeteria was amazing. Back then, you were expected to bring your own breakfast and lunch. These days, schools provide hot meals—delicious ones at that.
I was eager to try the food, already savoring the smell before my first bite. For a moment, I forgot about Josh. Forgot about the bully who didn't like seeing me happy, who preferred to see me clinging to fear whenever he was near. In a way, my life now depends on his whim.
"Are you enjoying your meal?" Josh sneered as he dunked my head into the bowl, just as I was about to take my first bite.
"You must be, seeing as you dunked your whole face in it," he mocked.
I was furious. Without realizing it, I stood up and shouted at him—then poured the entire bowl of food over his head. I had just showered him with the same meal he ruined.
"You moron!" I bellowed. "You must really love the food, seeing as you're showering in it!"
"Finish it," I said mockingly. "I'm off."
And with that, I walked away.
The cafeteria froze, the entire room stunned and no one could believe what had just happened. The once-timid Sharif—always bullied, never resisting—had just stood up to Josh in the most humiliating way possible.
Josh stood there in the middle of the cafeteria, dripping in noodles while his reputation is in ruins. His boys weren't around to help him this time. He screamed in frustration, calling for Philips and another of his crew to grab me so he could "teach me a lesson." But something strange happened.
Philips began to wake up from his blind loyalty. He was starting to think for himself. Being a special-needs student doesn't mean he should be mocked or bullied. It's not a crime.
"Hey, you!" Josh shouted at Philips. "Go grab that bastard and bring him here—right now!"
"We just got here," Philips replied calmly. "And we'll miss lunch if we follow him now."
Josh was fuming.
"Have you lost it? To hell with your lunch! Go after that moron, now!"
"You might want to wash up," Philips said casually. "And maybe get changed too."
The whole cafeteria erupted in laughter. Students were howling. Even Josh's long-time crush—the same girl I thought was trying to help me when he beat me up last time—was sitting right there, watching everything unfold. She looked him dead in the eye, not with admiration, but with pure disappointment. She didn't see a tough guy anymore. Just a pathetic coward who picked on people smaller than him.
Josh was furious and humiliated to the core. And now, he was determined to end my life. That should've scared me. But instead, it sparked a strange sense of power in my chest.
What surprised me most was how quickly Philips had begun to change. Maybe I had said just the right words. But the mission wasn't over. I still needed to win him over completely—and I was determined to do that.
Philips was still confused. He wasn't sure if ignoring Josh was the right move, or if he should've gotten involved. But deep down, he knew I was right—if he stayed out of Josh's chaos, the senior wouldn't mess with him. At least, that's what I told him. And so far, he was taking my advice.
Meanwhile, Josh went whining to his clique, begging the senior to teach me a lesson of my life but I was waiting for it. Philips, though, couldn't hide his fear, gathered the courage not to look timid in anyways.
"What are you doing?" Philips asked, appearing out of nowhere.
"I'm reading a webtoon," I replied calmly.
He looked horrified.
"Are you insane? You did all that without a plan? You dragged me into your mess so you could sit here reading comics? If anything happens to me, I'll be the one sending you to your early grave!"
I had anticipated this. Of course, I had a plan. I just hadn't told him yet.
"I do have a plan," I said. "Just wait and see."
I barely finished my sentence before the senior barged into the classroom. I kept reading my webtoon, laughing, acting completely unbothered.
The senior didn't ask any questions. He went straight to Philips.
"Was it you who poured noodles on Josh?"
Philips, hands behind his back, trembling slightly, answered, "It wasn't me."
The senior turned to Josh.
"Who did it?"
Josh, without hesitation and shame, pointed at me. "This moron. He did it. I want you to teach him a lesson."
"This… nobody did that to you?" the senior said, looking disgusted. "Unbelievable."
"Did we come here to beat up a wimp like him?" one of the clique muttered.
"Josh!" the senior shouted. "Did you really call me here for this? Can't you handle him on your own?"
Josh stood there trembling.
"Don't ever act like we're close again," the senior growled and walked out with the others.
Looking cool is the only thing that matters to guys like that. They can't help but throw away whatever cramps their style. I said to myself as I walked to Josh and pulled him by the shirt.
"Got something to say now? Your friends are gone. No, wait—they're not your friends anymore."
He was seething, fists clenched. As he swung at me, Philips stepped in, caught his hand, and slapped him hard across the face.
"Does it hurt where I hit you?" Philips asked coldly. "You should've known better."
These were the exact words he would say to Philips whenever he slaps him.
Josh staggered backward as he sturggles to pick himself from the ground.
Philips turned to me, grinning. "Told you I could beat him with one hand."
And that was it.
Josh—the so-called boss—was dethroned in a heartbeat. From that day on, no one dared to bully me again. Even Josh's girlfriend abandoned him for one of the clique. I had become a walking nightmare in his life.
I promised myself I'd get stronger and build some muscle. And I meant every word I said. Every night, I started working out, determined to survive.
Everything was going perfectly. I started to believe I might actually beat Death this time.
But fate had other plans.
That night, while working out, I heard a noise. I thought it might be Josh. I was right.
He came at me with a metal bar and smashed it into my skull. Blood gushed down my face as he kept hitting, again and again, until everything faded.
I was dead again. And now I will have to face another demon call Death.