Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 499 Breakthrough

ʼCalm down, Rudy. Stop panicking! You didnʼt know anything about this because it was kept a secret from you! Yeah, so stop overthinking! But why did no one ever tell me about this? And who else knows about it?

Most importantly, why did this happen today of all times? Was it because I came to meet mom? Or was it because Janetʼs mom was sick and Janet came in her stead?

No, even if thatʼs the case, why today? I meet Janet every day, so she could have told me… no, no. Thatʼs not possible. In truth, I know why it happened today, I just didnʼt want to admit it.

It happened today because I wished for it.ʼ

ʼOnly if she wasnʼt my mother.ʼ Rudy recalled his words.

ʼIs it because I wished for it? But that was just a frustrating thought of mine. I wasnʼt serious about it. I had no idea my wishes even worked like that! Wait… could it be that my wish actually changed everything?

What if mom was truly my mother, but everything changed because I wished for it? Thatʼs hard to believe, but itʼs totally possible. What should I do… Angelica?

…she is not with me. Why do things like this always happen when I am alone? But wait… if I look at the bright side, doesnʼt that mean I can have an actual real, legal, official relationship with mom?

No one would ever question our relationship, and mom also wouldnʼt feel too repulsed by that idea… right? However, why… was she hiding this from me? Was it because she didnʼt want me to feel sad or bad?

And if mom isnʼt my biological mother, then who is? Janet mentioned something about momʼs sisterʼs death… oh…ʼ

Rudy realized whose grave Rebecca had visited.

ʼJessica. So she is momʼs sister? So… my aunt? But… why would mom keep that a secret? I had no idea about this in my past life, too, and I never learned of it, of anything. So had Janet not told me everything, I would have never known… just like in my past life.

Uhh…. please tell me itʼs not what I am thinking….ʼ

Rudy shook his head after a sudden thought crossed in mind.

ʼThe only possibility I can think of is why mom never told me that I was adopted and why she never took me to her sisterʼs grave is… that Jessica… is my mother.

And if thatʼs true… then that would make mom my aunt.” Rudy sighed and mumbled, ”I tried to look at the bright side, but there is no bright side. She is either my mom or my aunt.”

SIGH!

Janet bit her tongue and anxiously asked, ”Am I in trouble for telling you this?”

”No… you are not. I am glad you told me.”

”Please donʼt tell your mom that I told you everything.”

”Donʼt worry. I need time to think more and find some clues before confronting her about this. I am sure she has her reasons, so I want to be a dick and annoy her,” he uttered in a low voice.

”...”

”Anyway, letʼs get you home.”

Janet and Rudy began to walk again, but there was an awkward mood between them after what had just happened.

ʼDo something, Janet. You messed up the mood by making everything awkward. Now you should do something to talk about. This is a one-in-a-million chance I will ever get to be close to him!ʼ

Janet took a deep breath and opened her mouth to ask, ”So… how is it going with Alice?”

ʼArgh! Why did I have to ask that of all things! I still donʼt know whether they are going out or not, but if they are… I have no chance at him! I am an idiot! I shouldnʼt have asked that!ʼ Janet cursed herself inwardly.

”How should it be going?” Rudy responded. ”Is there something that should be happening between Alice and me?”

ʼDoes that mean they are not going out?ʼ Janet wondered.

”Nothing. I see you two coming to school and leaving together. I sometimes see you two together in the park. You two must be close,” she uttered with a judging look on her face.

Janet decided to take a direct approach if she wanted direct answers from Rudy. However, she still chose an indirect way to confirm whether Alice and Rudy were dating or just very close friends.

”We come and leave for school together because her house is on the way to school. And we both are childhood friends, so itʼs not that weird for us,” Rudy responded vaguely.

ʼWhatʼs with him? Why is he avoiding answering my questions?! Well… he did answer what I asked him, so I cannot complain. Should I just ask him, ʼAre you dating Alice?ʼ? Then, I will get a direct reply with a yes and no.ʼ

Janet gathered her courage and asked, ”You know, you two are so close that some of our classmates think you two are dating. Are you two dating?”

”Hmm~” Rudy hummed in amusement and replied, ”I wouldnʼt say no, but itʼs not a yes either. Itʼs complicated.”

”...”

ʼWhatʼs that supposed to mean?! Come on! Here I am, trying my best, and he is fooling around with his answers! Argh! I want to punch him so badly!ʼ

Of course, Rudy was well aware of what Janet was scheming. She had confessed her love to him in his past life, but he didnʼt know when and how she fell in love with him. However, it was different this time; Rudy and Janet had interacted more in the past few days than they had in their entire lives.

Rudy didnʼt want to say ʼyesʼ as that would have broken Janetʼs heart, and she would have made a wrong choice in her life like she did in his past life when she was in high school. He didnʼt want Janet to go through the same suffering and humiliation.

Sure, Rudy hadnʼt forgiven her for what she had done to him, but he didnʼt hate her. After all, she had changed completely and become good friends with him.

He wanted to give Janet a chance to redeem herself so she could one day confess her love to him once again.