It’s a quiet night where everyone seems to be drifting into sleep.
But rather than dozing off, I was gazing at the bright moon outside my window.
“Iris. What are you staring at like that?”
“Nothing. You go ahead and sleep, Ani.”
I smiled at my roommate and made an excuse.
The truth is, I wasn’t just caught up in my feelings watching the night sky. I was waiting for something.
– Caw
Just as I was anticipating something.
A cute crow’s call filled my heart with excitement.
As I stretched my hand out, the crow flew over and perched on my palm.
“Welcome, Helis!!”
In my excitement, I let out a loud sound without realizing it.
But what could I do?
Meeting Helis is one of the happiest moments for me.
When I took out food from my pocket, Helis started pecking at it.
How can such a cute creature even exist?
“Helis… do you have anything for me?”
As I cautiously spoke up, Helis fluttered up, extending her tiny foot toward me.
When I looked there, a note was neatly tied.
I hurriedly untied it with excitement and read it.
Iris. It seems I have a schedule this week, so I can only meet you for one day.
Let’s make the most of that time, and meet at the clock tower this week.
– From Hera, who treasures you.
“….I love you, Hera.”
I shyly left a short kiss on the note written by Hera.
How can she be this sweet?
Though it’s a shame that we can’t meet for one day this weekend…
Still, with her caring for me like this, I can’t be disappointed.
What should I wear this week?
What should I do with Hera?
I lay back on the bed, anxiously pondering happily.
Visualizing Hera, I slipped into a happy sleep.
I hope the weekend comes quickly.
*
[Jeja, are you doing well lately?]
“Huh? What do you mean?”
[….Nothing.]
Lately, I feel like Seuseungnim has been acting a bit strange.
Last time, he was saying something about how he fears Lily.
He’s been saying incomprehensible things and now he’s started to worry about me.
Could it be that he’s reached that age already..?
[I feel like you’re having impure thoughts, Jeja.]
“Ugh.”
I shivered subconsciously at those words.
Then Seuseungnim let out a short sigh and spoke to me with a worried tone.
[It might be best to be cautious about that girl, Lily.]
“Okay?”
[…You probably shouldn’t make her mad.]
“Like I would ever make Lily mad.”
[…Well, then that’s a relief.]
Seuseungnim is really something.
He worries too much.
I think he’s acting this way because of Lily’s dark atmosphere, but I feel no concern at all.
Lily likes me. I love Lily too.
Though our feelings might be different, our care for each other remains unchanged.
So there shouldn’t be any problems between us.
When I thought that, suddenly…
In the girls’ restroom at the Academi.
“Uh… what…?”
How did it end up like this?
Lily’s face was so close.
I was perched on Lily’s lap while seated on the toilet, facing her in a rather embarrassing position.
Lily wrapped her arms tightly around my waist so I couldn’t move and stared at me with smoldering eyes, whispering softly.
“Sister. I’m only going to ask once. Answer me truthfully.”
“Uh… okay…”
“Is the person you’re meeting this weekend, by any chance, Iris?”
Th-this is scary.
Lily’s eyes were glaring at me as if they could swallow me whole at any moment.
“Uh… what I mean is…”
I swallowed dryly.
Unable to move because of Lily’s grasp around my waist, it felt like I became prey with no resistance.
How did it end up like this…?!
An hour earlier, during lunchtime.
I was peacefully eating with my friends again.
“Iris. You seem unusually bright today.”
Ariel tilted her head while asking, and Iris smiled brightly in response.
“Yes! I’ve received a message from that person to meet this weekend!”
She had completely stopped hiding her feelings now.
As Iris spoke with her shyness and bright smile, Ariel muttered with slightly dimmed eyes.
“…I’m envious. Some of us are just struggling with feelings.”
“…Huh?”
‘….Did she just look at me? Nah, it must be my imagination.’
While I was in such thoughts, Lily, who had been quietly eating next to me, asked Iris.
“I’ve been curious for a while. Who does Iris like?”
Iris looked troubled but answered.
“I’m sorry… I can’t tell you.”
Even though she had been rejected, Lily didn’t give up and tried again.
“Then just give me a hint about them.”
“Right, I can’t help but be curious! Can you at least tell us something about them?”
This time, Ariel chimed in as well.
Iris showed a moment of hesitation but then sighed briefly.
“If it’s just a characteristic… I suppose I can share a little bit…”
With Iris agreeing, Ariel and Lily’s eyes sparkled as they focused on her.
Iris started to explain with an awkward smile.
“Um… first of all, they’re really kind.”
“That’s great. I was worried you fell for someone weird.”
‘Ugh.’
For some reason, that made me feel a bit hit.
“And… they’re really beautiful. I wonder if there is anyone as beautiful as them…”
Placing her finger on her chin, Iris caught Ariel’s attention, who looked a bit bewildered.
“… Don’t people usually say they’re handsome?”
“And they are really strong. Whenever I’m with them, I feel safe.”
“I see. So Iris feels protected by them-”
“And their voice… it’s so lovely. Every time I hear it, my heart goes thump-thump.”
“U-uh huh.”
“And can I mention how their eyes shimmer like jewels? I was enchanted at first sight. And their hands are so beautiful… I keep imagining holding hands with them, and, oh, their body is just so enticing. I can’t help but think of how I’d like to-”
“Iris…?”
“Oh.”
As Iris breathed heavily while looking dazed, Ariel called her name, snapping her back to reality, leaving her face beet red.
“P-please pretend you didn’t hear that!! I just lost myself…!”
Iris frantically waved her hands, and Ariel chuckled lightly.
“Uh… yeah. I think I can tell how much Iris likes that person.”
“Ugh…”
While Iris blushed and felt bashful, Lily had been staring at her intently with a calm gaze.
“…..Iris. So you said you’re meeting that person this weekend?”
“Yeah…? Ah, yes. I’m so happy about it.”
“Did you meet them last week too?”
Iris’s eyes widened as she looked at Lily.
“How did you know?”
“……”
What is this chill?
My body started trembling slightly, and my breath quickened, as if an enormous threat was approaching.
Gulp
As I swallowed dryly and slowly turned to face Lily…
“Hiiick.”
Her icy gaze was piercing through me.
“…..Sera. Can we have a talk?”
It seems like Seuseungnim was right.
Seuseungnim.
Please, help me.
So, now here I am.
I’m sitting on a toilet with Lily, completely trapped.
“Li… Lily, that’s…”
“That person you’re meeting is Iris, isn’t it?”
Lily whispered softly in my ear.
“Wha… what…?”
C-crap.
If only I had said it yesterday then this wouldn’t have happened…!
Hiding the fact to avoid causing trouble turned into a calamity that struck back at me.
How do I calm Lily down now?
‘…..No.’
Wait a minute.
Why am I feeling so guilty?
I haven’t cheated or done anything wrong.
She and I aren’t even in a relationship.
I shouldn’t be feeling cornered just because Iris and I are meeting.
With the feeling of injustice rising from my chest, I subconsciously pushed back.
“It… doesn’t matter, does it?”
“…What did you say?”
“W-well, it’s not like we’re dating… It’s fine to meet Iris, right…?”
“……Is that how you want to play it?”
Despite Lily’s low voice making me tremble, I forced myself to look her in the eye.
Lily stared at me for quite some time, then suddenly dropped her gaze, looking sad, and released her hold on me.
“Fine, sister. I guess you won’t have to worry about my feelings.”
“Uh… huh?”
“Whether I love you or whether you see someone else and I’m sad… it’s none of your concern.”
“Ugh… no…”
Lily?
Why would you say something like that…?
“….If that’s the case, you could have just turned me down cold.”
“I… I didn’t…”
“It feels like you’re just playing with me.”
My head felt empty.
Her words struck me like a heavy blow.
I hadn’t thought about it until now.
But after hearing Lily’s words, a realization hit me.
A “catch and release.”
A term I’ve heard so many times in South Korea.
It’s holding on to someone even though you don’t intend to date them, feeling like you can’t let them go, even while causing them emotional turmoil.
I had just wanted to be near Lily, not to make her feel lonely.
…But perhaps from Lily’s viewpoint, it might have felt like she was being kept on the hook.
“I’m going now, sister.”
“Li… Lily, wait a moment…!”
As Lily pushed my body away, I quickly grasped her arm tightly, stopping her.
Lily looked at me with eyes filled with loneliness.
“S-sorry. I messed up, Lily.”
“…..”
“I never intended to play with your feelings. I didn’t want to push you away… that’s why I did it…”
“…..”
I held onto Lily’s hand tightly, pleading with my eyes for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, Lily… I didn’t mean to hide it from you…”
“Really?”
As she asked, Lily wrapped her arms around my waist again, gazing at me intensely.
“….Yeah, I messed up.”
I buried my head in shame as I apologized, and Lily gently patted my head while sharing a faint smile.
“Then you’ll be punished, sister.”
“P-punished?”
“You have to be punished for your mistake.”
I felt a slight discomfort rising within me, but I suppressed it and glanced at Lily, slightly nodding.
Whatever it takes.
If this helps to soothe her, I’d do anything.
Her happiness is my happiness.
“Alright… what do I have to do…?”
Lily glanced around the room.
“This bathroom is convenient.”
With a somewhat eerie smile, she leaned in and whispered softly in my ear.
“Please show me how you pee.”
“……”
Huh…?
What did she just say…?
Did I hear that wrong…?
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