I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 27
“…Are you serious?”
“Wouldn’t it be too unfunny to call that a joke.”
There were spare blankets, so it wasn’t like we would be sharing the same one, but even so, a grown man and woman who weren’t lovers lying on the same bed felt improper no matter how I thought about it.
Putting aside whether he had any feelings for me, it seemed he didn’t even see me as a woman.
This was the same guy who used to cling to me endlessly, saying he would get hard just from looking at me when we were dating.
“You’re saying something dangerous.”
“Then let something dangerous happen.”
“I don’t think you understand, so I’ll tell you. I’m a woman.”
“When we’re out in the field, men and women sleep packed together in cramped tents without distinction.”
“I’m not an Awakened, and I’m Arvina’s friend.”
“That’s exactly why I can’t have you sleep just anywhere, princess’s friend.”
…There was no way I could win this argument.
Gerard leaned back on his hands, leisurely taking in my flustered expression.
“Anyway, I don’t want to.”
If I couldn’t win, running away was an option. I turned to leave, but my arm was grabbed.
Before I could even take a step, I fell back onto the bed. My hair fluttered in the air, then slowly settled.
“I can’t take the bed if I’m the only one staying here.”
“……”
“I’m not that much of a jerk.”
At some point, Gerard had switched places with me and lightly tapped the tip of my nose.
While I stared blankly, the pillow I had been hugging slipped out of my arms.
“You won’t be able to sleep on the sofa!”
I hurriedly grabbed the hem of his clothes as he tried to leave. Even I had to curl up to sleep on that sofa, so how much worse would it be for him.
In the end, I cleaned and wiped the floor beside the bed, then spread a thick winter carpet. On top of it, I piled several layers of winter blankets.
“…It’s not as good as the bed, but it should be more comfortable than the sofa. If it’s uncomfortable, I can sleep down there instead.”
“I wasn’t expecting it, but this is quite the hospitality.”
“You’re being sarcastic, aren’t you?”
“Take it as you hear it. What exactly do you think of me?”
It could have been an insulting sleeping arrangement, but Gerard lay down without the slightest sign of displeasure.
Feeling that it might be improper to keep looking down at him by my feet, I quickly turned off all the lights in the bedroom and carefully climbed onto the bed.
A pitch-black silence settled.
It was so quiet that even the sound of breathing felt noticeable. My body and mind were exhausted from Gerard’s sudden appearance, but my eyes were wide awake.
Sleep. I need to sleep.
I forced my eyes shut, repeating the suggestion to myself.
“I don’t get it.”
The unexpected remark broke the silence. I tried to ignore it, but then I heard him shift toward my side.
“Why does this shabby little room feel so comfortable.”
“……”
“It feels more comfortable than home…”
“Unusual experiences are fun sometimes.”
I cut him off quickly before he could dwell on whatever he was feeling or remembering.
“Fun and comfortable are different.”
“Try another place tomorrow. A villa or something. It’ll be much more comfortable than this place.”
“I told you, I ran away. If I get caught, I’ll be sold off.”
“There are plenty of inns.”
“I got no money for it. Do you think I was in any state to prepare anything?”
“……”
This conversation was pointless. I pressed myself as close to the wall as possible and shut my eyes tightly, deciding to ignore anything he said.
“Hey.”
“……”
“I know you’re not asleep.”
“……”
“Louize.”
When I kept silent, I felt him sit up. He didn’t stop there, he grabbed my forearm and gently shook it.
“Are you asleep? Already?”
“……”
“Even if you sleep more, you won’t get any taller.”
The voice sounded almost sympathetic, which made it strangely irritating.
There were no more words, but I didn’t feel him lie back down either.
While I stubbornly kept my eyes shut, firm fingertips lightly pressed against my split lip.
The faint sting made me flinch for a moment, but that was all.
“Good night.”
His voice, low and deep, sounded right beside my ear. The vibration that seemed to reach straight into my eardrum was more stimulating than the touch on my lip.
The moment I sensed him return to his place, I quietly let out a breath.
It seemed I wouldn’t be sleeping tonight either.
