32 – 32. Darling
There exists an extraordinary item called the “Five Marvels,”
The power source of the Campbell Academy, the almost magical Flux Core.
The treasure at the basis of the sixth episode, the Blue Pearl of the Sea God.
Persona, which can manipulate someone’s emotions if you gaze into their eyes for more than a few seconds.
The Akashic Record, said to contain all the knowledge in the world.
And even a gun made of meteorite with galaxies and stars engraved on it, the Wormhole.
“Roughly speaking, most of these things belong to the protagonists…”
A completely contextless universe. All five Marvels end up in the hands of students from a single academy.
No, it’s even more contextless from the start that guys with backgrounds like crown princes and saints gather in one place.
No matter how prestigious it is, it doesn’t make sense logically.
“Anyway, one of those marvelous things we need to steal is the Flux Core of magi-engineering…”
Stealing it won’t be easy, and even Lucia, who we’ve called for the job, is an excellent force, but compared to the likes of Heidi and Nyhil, she falls short.
“You say you have a request? Anything is fine! Just tell me!”
…Of course, I know that, but it still makes me feel unnecessarily guilty to see her so excited about the fact that I’m asking for something when I don’t even know what I’m going to ask for.
But that’s the way it is. We’re going to steal one of the Five Marvels.
I don’t think we’ll fail, but it’s a big enough deal that we could end up in the gutter of life if we mess up.
Can you say all that without a plan? It’s perfect for getting scammed.
“It’s a full set-up…”
Raul, who was sitting across from me, let out a sigh and muttered.
I felt a mountain of desire to counter, but I couldn’t.
“Why, are you touched?”
The more I saw him, the more it felt like what he was showing wasn’t acting but genuine kindness.
The fact that he was really looking out for me had become clear in each of his small actions, unlike in the past when he saw me as a tool to provoke Heidi.
‘How can I say anything here without feeling embarrassed…’
Whether it’s me or Lucia, it seems like we’re both going to be wrapped up in each other if we keep going like this.
Just looking at Lucía next to me makes me think that if she had a tail, it would be wagging like crazy.
She’s not even a dog that follows its owner with infinite devotion, yet I still feel sorry.
“If you’re grateful, try calling me with a little more tenderness!”
Even though all I want is something as simple as that.
Honestly, considering everything I’ve received so far, there have been quite a few things.
Like the money spent on Grayson, and if you count the lemon candies, it’s almost a thousand.
“..So, maybe this time I should give her something that could be considered a gift.”
Honestly, I never thought that with just one word Lucía wants, I could repay all the debts I have had and will have in the future.
I can’t help but think that I’m playing with Lucía’s feelings for no reason.
If I had even a small ambition, I wouldn’t be able to be with Lucía.
“..Thank you.”
While Lucía shows me kindness, let’s make her as happy as possible.
Even if it hurts in the end, as long as I can cherish good memories, that alone…
“Damn, even I think this is garbage.”
Honestly, I don’t know how to treat Lucía.
I keep denying it to myself, but I like her.
Leaving Lucía alone while playing with my own feelings is something I can’t stand.
I still don’t know whether to follow the strong reason called belief or the sentiment.
“Confessing is not even possible for a pathetic person who’s tied to the past.”
Even if I were a woman, I would despise a man like this.
Am I thinking like this because I keep having those thoughts? Lately, little by little, I feel like the painful past that has kept me trapped in my beliefs is crumbling.
Regardless of whether I know which to choose between reason and sentiment, it means that the knot tying my heart is coming undone.
“Is there anything else to say if I’m grateful?”
The reason for that is none other than the adorable little golden sun in front of me.
Every time I see Lucía, I can’t help but let go of everything and just want to hold her tightly.
Considering the way I’ve lived until now, it would be best to keep my distance, but now I don’t think I can bear it if that guy gets farther away.
“Even though I keep saying I’ll keep leaving and that we can’t continue..”
I’m already caught up in it, so how can I just leave and let go of my feelings?
I haven’t forgotten even a single thing from the past, so how can I push away the one who has already come so deeply into my heart?
I admit it, now I feel like Lucía is someone I can’t be without.
Even though I brainwash myself every time, the desire to stay grows stronger and stronger, never diminishing.
“..If it’s going to be like this anyway, slowly and gradually.”
Maybe, by gradually letting go of the burden of the past.
Someday, I too will be able to stay faithful to reality without being tied to the past.
I wonder if I can become someone who can even laugh off stories of the past.
“And, someday, maybe Lucía will also have days where she can accept it with a smile.”
Without leaving, promising each other a future.
I briefly envisioned the future connecting Lucía and me in my mind.
Just imagining it made me feel good.
“Let’s hope that someday, it can be like that.”
I resent my weak self who knows how to be happy right away but fails to act on it.
That’s why, from now on, I decided to gradually convey my sincerity.
“..Honey?”
My words were meant to repay Lucía’s kindness and to take the first step in conveying my heart.
“..Eh? Uh? Uh-oh?”
Upon hearing that, Lucía was left completely confused.
“Is it weird…? Then is there something else…honey?”
“Ugh!”
I wanted to lightly surprise her and brush it off, but I didn’t expect her to freeze like this.
I wish she didn’t feel burdened to the point of freezing like this.
I started to dislike myself for irresponsibly saying such thoughtless words.
However, I didn’t feel too bad.
***
Wait.. What did I just hear?
Honey? Did I just call her honey?
Did I accidentally say something like “honey” when I wasn’t supposed to..?
Ah, no, more importantly, her friend is right beside her, and I dared to call her honey..!
“Is it weird…?”
Then, Jack’s voice broke through my thoughts, bringing all sorts of imaginings.
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Listening to Jack’s voice mixed with a hint of sighing, my heart momentarily felt irritated.
“No, it’s already perfect, so please continue!” Those words reached the tip of my tongue, but Jack’s response that followed immediately stripped away any semblance of reason I had to say such a thing.
What’s going on? Is he advertising himself to be devoured now? It almost feels like he’s wagging his tail behind him.
“Jagi? Jagi, you say?” Is he just declaring that I’m his?
“Finally! Finally, I’ve conquered him!” Reflecting on the efforts I had made to tease him, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
I think I even told the other girls when I brought him to my dorm, “He’s my man, so don’t touch him!” or something like that.
Though the words he was saying now came as a belated response to that, it felt like I was receiving them in the best way possible.
This guy is mine from now on, and I’m already feeling better…
“…Wait a minute.”
Actually, when I think about it, we’ve only had an ambiguous relationship until now, not officially in a romantic relationship, right?
I was so excited that I hadn’t thought about that aspect at all.
The words I said last time, that I liked him a bit, were practically a confession in themselves.
“Maybe we shouldn’t just naturally keep seeing each other like this…”
For a moment, I imagined us being all lovey-dovey, but then I shook my head.
It would be awkward if I thought of him as my lover and kept pushing forward, while he just considered it a joke between friends.
Even just calling each other “jagi” or “yeobo” as pet names had already gone far beyond a regular friendship, but anyway…
What would be more embarrassing than being the only one deluded in a one-sided love?
“Or maybe I should just…”
Should I sweeten the atmosphere a little and confess right away? That thought crossed my mind, but then I immediately dismissed it.
No, not yet, it’s still a bit too early.
I lifted my head, denying the thought that had just occurred to me.
Jack hasn’t fully opened his heart to me yet; he’s just slowly letting me in.
Now that he seems to be starting to care about me, if he just likes me a bit more and thinks about me…
Yes, if Jack falls for me as much as I’m falling for him right now, that’s when I’ll confess.
“Of course, by then, my feelings will be even stronger…”
They say in love, the one who starts first loses.
And I welcomed such a defeat at any time.
“What’s this? I’ve turned into a full-blown literary girl.”
Actually, I added a lot of miscellaneous words.
It would be more fitting to sum it up in one word rather than using these miscellaneous words if I want to speak in my own way.
I generally don’t like complicated things, so I don’t think too deeply about it.
“When I think about Jack..”
I don’t know how to put it, but my emotions become richer and I naturally start to think a lot?
Like I’m riding on autumn, changing poetically..
“Oh, my thoughts are getting long again.”
I just want to fully feel my emotions right now.
It’s a waste of time to keep thinking and hesitating instead of hugging Jack right now.
First, I’ll briefly organize my worries and put them aside, and just comfortably hug Jack.
Because Jack is so lovely right now that I can’t stand not hugging him anymore.
“Someday, I’ll make him fall for me and make him marry me, no matter what it takes.”
And from now on, just like I have been, I’ll use any means and methods to make Jack mine.
“Heehee… Sweetheart..”
For the day when I can say these words naturally and completely claim Jack.
Lucia, fighting again today!