116 – Lungs
“Why does the story suddenly go that way?”
I was taken aback by Bella’s sudden declaration of expulsion, and when I asked, Bella also looked at me with a puzzled look.
“Well, if I stay at the academy, it will be uncomfortable for you guys and it will hurt Roel. I’m not trying to run away because I don’t want to take responsibility. Even outside the academy, I can atone for you and Roel.”
With that said, I thought of Bella disappearing from her academy.
With just a moment’s thought, she could tell that several stories were at odds.
Some stories never even started.
Even at the academy, there were things only Bella could do for Roel.
I couldn’t let Bella leave Roel like this.
“It would be safe to stay by Roel’s side.”
The cult even used Dwin hiding in the academy to try to kill her Bella. When she pointed it out, she replied as if Bella didn’t mind her.
“I have no intention of sacrificing Roel for my own safety.”
It was a determined voice. This was Bella’s misplaced love. Someone who would be willing to sacrifice all of herself for the sake of Roel, who is the only one who truly cares about her.
To Bella, Roel was the only match that could give her warmth. A single match that I hold very dearly in my heart.
“Did your brother agree?”
Bella flinched at my question.
Did she hit the mark? Seeing Bella lower her gaze, I sighed. Of course, if Roel had heard of this, he would not have allowed it.
“Are you going to do whatever you want without listening to your opinion again?”
When I said it in a pathetic voice, Bella furrowed her brow and said as if to make excuses.
“… It’s for Roel.”
“Don’t use her brother as an excuse. If you are expelled from the academy, do you think your brother will be okay? I can blame myself more than I do now.”
If it were Roel, he would try to prevent her Bella’s expulsion by any means. Whether it’s using the wish ticket she received this time, or kneeling before Nelson, she’ll try any method.
Even if Bella made her mistakes, Bella is already dear to Roel.
And Roel doesn’t give up on his precious people easily.
“It’s okay to say I apologize and then call me selfish for acting like this. But I don’t want to cause any more damage to Roel because of me-“
“Stop being stupid, Bella. Or are you trying to use Roel to act to gain sympathy from me?”
I knew Bella was lying to me, but she wasn’t acting. But she needed to fix this stupid idea.
I risked my life to protect her, but going down a strange path would have made my desperate efforts in vain.
I got out of bed and stood in front of Bella. Their eyes entangled in the air as if they were trying to read each other’s thoughts.
“I told you. My brother needs you Don’t you remember?”
“Remember. I know well enough what that means. However, it can provide enough support outside as it is now….”
“If the cult seeks you again, can you guarantee your safety?”
I thought I didn’t need to hear any more, so I cut off Bella’s words. Bella, who was speechless, bit her lip and spoke weakly.
“… If it’s the imperial family, to some extent.”
“Don’t lie. You know that’s impossible, so you came to the academy to buy time.”
Bella’s shoulders flinched at my words. She didn’t expect me to know why she entered the academy.
As Bella looked at me with her slightly widened eyes, I continued her words.
“Imagine you get expelled and disappear from your brother’s side. No matter how much you help out there, it won’t compare to being there next to you. My brother will care more about you than before. You know full well that they aren’t efficient with each other.”
“Then just watch Roel suffer because of me!”
Bella shouted. I took a step closer to Bella, who was breathing heavily and looking at me as if she couldn’t take my words.
And he leaned over and whispered in Bella’s ear in a low voice.
“That’s right, you have to stand by your brother and watch the damage caused by your actions without doing anything. Your selfish behavior, the excuse that it’s for your brother… How difficult and painful it is for my brother. You have to watch it with your own eyes.”
Looking at Bella’s golden eyes that filled with water, I added her words.
“You just wanted to run away, fearing that you would feel guilty seeing your brother in pain, Bella.”
As if shocked by my words, Bella’s gaze wavered.
I spoke to Bella in a voice that lacked her accent and emotion.
“If you really love your brother, stay by his side. Even if you feel like choking on guilt, endure it. Because that is your punishment.”
***
Summer vacation is over. As soon as Nelson’s long speech was over, everyone ran out of the auditorium and cheered.
Luna, as always, went to the ward with her staff as soon as the vacation ceremony was over.
It’s been almost a week since I woke up every day and prayed that Ross would wake up today.
Feeling a little apprehensive that she might not be able to wake up forever, Luna shook her head. It was an act of erasing negative thoughts.
Arya knocked on the door of her ward, and Professor Joy opened the door slightly to check on her visitor and spoke briefly in a brusque tone.
“I left the room.”
“Yes?”
“Ross, he said he left the room in the morning.”
Surprised, Arya turned her head to look at Luna. Luna was also taken aback, and shook her head. I never thought Ross would wake up.
She thought that even if she woke up, she would have come looking for her first…. I also felt sorry for Ross.
The members hurriedly ran to the club room. Because there was only one place for Ross to go at the academy.
Luna felt a subtle emotion and moved her stride with her impatience. She wondered if she might have strayed.
Aria, who arrived first, took a deep breath and opened the door to the club room.
She followed her into Luna’s eyes and saw Ross, who was reading a book as usual at the desk in the club room.
Her tension was relieved, and the anxiety that had been pressing her heart all this time disappeared. The sadness that remained in my heart was quickly washed away by the emotions of joy and longing the moment I saw Ross’ face.
Luna could only thank her god for hearing her prayers that her Ross was back.
“Lo, Ross!”
Lost at Aria’s cry, Ross, who was reading a book, turned his head. Ross, who had a cold and melancholic expression on his face, smiled softly as he met his teammates’ eyes.
“Hey, vacation is over-“
Unable to bear the end of Ross’s words, Luna jumped into Ross’s arms.
Unable to control her speed, she was almost headbutted, but she thought Luna was the punishment that had worried her all this time.
Luna burrowed into Ross’s arms like her puppy while Ross, who nearly fell off her chair, managed to balance herself.
As always, Ross’ arms were warm. She misses him so much that tears flow involuntarily.
“It’s been a while, Luna. I missed you very much.”
Arya couldn’t stand it and rushed to Ross who said that while hugging Luna who buried her face in her arms.
“Ross!!!”
“Yes, I miss you too… sleep, wait!!!”
Kwadang-!
Ross fell from his chair, unable to withstand the weight of the two women. Since Ross’ back handled the shock, Luna and Arya crushed Ross without any shock.
As Ross desperately tried to breathe through his weight-bearing lungs, Kane and Lacar spoke simultaneously.
“Director… !”
“Sleep, hold on… Ugh!!!”
Ross, who was crushed by 4 people in an instant, hurriedly tapped the floor with his palm, but none of his members escaped. Rather, Kane and Aria lifted their legs in the air and put more weight on them.
“This is the punishment for worrying me all this time!”
At Arya’s words, Luna sniffed at her and nodded her head in her arms.
After a while, the team members moved Ross, who was barely released, to the bed, and wrapped the blanket around him and tied him up. The guilty Ross pursed his lips, but offered no resistance.
“Okay, let the interrogation begin!”
At Arya’s words, the members held pillows in their hands. Even her Luna held a thick pillow in her hand.
Ross, who rolled his eyes, opened his mouth quietly.
“Actually, I’m still not feeling well-“
Puck-!
Aria’s pillow hit Ross right in the face.
“I heard that there is nothing wrong with the body, right? Where are you lying! You liar! Hit me more!”
At Aria’s words, there was a pillow poultice filled with affection from her members. Ross, who was caught lying, had no excuses and had to hit his pillow.
“Now, tell me! What happened to you so suddenly?”
In response to Arya’s question, Ross recalled meeting Roel with Bella before meeting her crew.