I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 24
Gerard roughly pushed the umbrella aside and stood up. The wide black umbrella rolled pitifully across the ground, and the massive shadow of his figure, standing with the faint streetlight behind him, swallowed my body in an instant.
“……”
“I’m cold. Are you going to keep me standing here?”
The sound of rain striking the ground filled the surroundings without pause.
His familiar scent, carried in with the smell of rain, felt strangely overwhelming. I wanted to close my eyes, but it was as if I were caught by those ash-blue eyes and couldn’t.
“I’ll make sure he won’t put any pressure on you. Things like coming to see you, or giving you rides.”
Arvina’s words hadn’t been kept.
I should turn him away. Inside me, a warning bell kept ringing incessantly, shouting that I shouldn’t get entangled with Gerard any further.
But I couldn’t ignore the hand holding mine, trembling like it was spasming. It was severe enough that my own hand shook along with it, yet he was still clinging to me, forcing strength into his fingers.
“…Come inside.”
Even though I knew I would regret it, I couldn’t bring myself to turn my back on him.
* * *
Our mismatched strides made the iron stairs creak ceaselessly.
I retrieved the key hidden under a rotten flowerpot and opened the door.
“Ingenious hiding place.”
At the sarcastic remark, the sympathy that had crept into me faded by about half.
I left Gerard standing at the entrance and closed the door behind me.
“Don’t come in. Stay right there.”
I expected him to add something, but surprisingly, Gerard obeyed without protest.
I hurried on tiptoe to the bathroom and wrung the water out of my hair. Then I twisted the hem of my clothes, and rainwater dripped onto the floor with soft splashes.
Without even changing, I took out the largest towel. I wrapped one around my head and brought the other to Gerard at the entrance.
He was still in his uniform, as if he had come straight from the field. The black uniform looked heavy with rain.
“Please take it off.”
“You’re going to strip me the moment you bring me in? I expected that, but I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
“No! Your jacket!”
When I snapped, Gerard gave a small laugh and took off his jacket.
The moment I accepted it with one hand, my arm nearly dropped from the weight. It was soaked and far heavier than I expected.
After putting the jacket into the laundry basket, I came back to find Gerard roughly drying his hair with the towel.
Every time he moved, the rain-soaked shirt stretched tight, revealing the lines of his muscles.
Even if he had been fighting less, he seemed even bigger than three years ago. Watching his thick body move with such force made heat rise to my cheeks.
All kinds of emotions tangled together. The fact that Gerard was inside my house felt unreal. My heart pounded violently, with a feeling that I couldn’t tell was fear or anticipation.
“Done admiring the view?”
“……”
“Should I give you more to look at? My viewing fee is expensive though.”
Gerard brushed back his wet bangs as if to show off. His face was fully revealed under the light, his rain-damp skin even glistening.
“Please leave once the rain stops.”
“You’re going to keep me standing here?”
“……”
A single towel wasn’t nearly enough to deal with the water. In the end, I led him into the bathroom.
While he washed, I opened a box tucked away in the corner of the closet for the first time in a long while.
Inside were the clothes Gerard used to wear whenever he stayed over.
I had avoided looking at them on purpose, afraid they would bring back memories. The feeling of my heart churning made me press a hand against my chest and tap lightly.
I picked the most ordinary set and brought it close to my nose. It smelled faintly of wood, but it wasn’t bad enough to matter.
“I left some clothes for you outside the door, so change. I’ll be in the bedroom.”
While waiting for him to come out, I remained damp, letting out heavy sighs.
Why he had come here didn’t matter. The more I tried to understand what he was thinking, the less I ever knew.
Even as I told myself to stay calm, my heart wouldn’t settle. I was far more shaken than when I had met him outside.
Click.
Before long, I heard him come out.
