I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 38
“I once fought and defeated a monster with a spear as tall as you stuck through my side. I’m not bragging. I’m just saying my mental strength isn’t weak.”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
“So if someone like me keeps myself even more under control from now on, what do you think will happen?”
“…You’ll become an even more admirable person.”
“It means something like today won’t happen again. I swear to God.”
“…Are you done?”
“Yeah.”
“Then may I wash now?”
Gerard nodded once. Even so, the hand blocking the door didn’t look like it had any intention of moving. In the end, I had to reach up and peel his fingers off one by one before I could close the door.
* * *
That night.
“Ugh, what mental strength!”
I struggled to block Gerard with both arms and legs as he tried to cling to me.
While I was sweating under his enormous body, Gerard slept peacefully as if nothing in the world concerned him.
Unable to endure it any longer, I kicked him hard to the side. His body rolled half a turn and finally fell away.
“Hah, haah.”
I sat up and wiped the sweat gathered at my temples.
“It’s a good thing I woke up from thirst.”
It was deep in the night. The sandwich I had eaten in the evening had seemed unusually salty, and I had woken up because my throat was dry.
When I drank some water and lay down again, Gerard suddenly sat up without a sound.
He ate the same thing, so he must be thirsty too.
I didn’t say anything, afraid that talking might wake me up further.
Then the mattress behind me sank under his weight.
I turned around with a bad feeling, and there was Gerard, still asleep, moving toward me. As if instinctively seeking warmth, he tried to wrap his arms around me.
“Haah…”
I looked at Gerard, sprawled at the edge of the bed. His bare upper body rose and fell steadily.
“Should I just kick this guy off again.”
I seriously considered it, but decided against it.
I didn’t want to wake someone who was sleeping so soundly, so I just pulled a blanket over and covered his stomach.
The bed was wide enough that even with two people, there was enough space that our bodies wouldn’t touch.
“He failed once, so he probably won’t cling again.”
I pulled my own blanket up to my shoulders and closed my eyes. Perhaps it was the steady sound of breathing behind me, but I fell asleep faster than usual.
* * *
Could it be any more comfortable than this.
The warmth spreading across my chest, and the solid, reassuring weight filling the space against my body.
“Mmm…”
I slipped my cold feet between the legs entwined with mine and rubbed them together. A temperature different from my own covered the chill in my feet. With a satisfied breath, I rubbed my forehead against the body pressed to me. Firm, defined muscle could be felt under my arm…
Wait, muscle?
The moment I felt the strangeness, my eyes flew open.
“Good morning.”
My gaze met ash-blue eyes directly. Gerard smiled, looking slightly embarrassed.
“……”
I moved only my eyes and looked around.
His palm was resting beside my eyes. When he moved his hand away, painfully bright sunlight poured onto my face.
Just like yesterday morning, we were tangled together as one.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.
“Didn’t you swear to God? Yesterday you came up and slept on the bed, and I didn’t wake you. But if you keep clinging like this again, it’s really a problem!”
“I understand it’s unpleasant, but…”
“If you understand, then from now on I’ll just sleep on the floor. No, this isn’t the issue. You should really get treatment for…”
“You were the one holding me today.”
What?
I blinked once, not understanding what he meant.
Gerard hummed low, and the vibration traveled from the chest pressed against mine.
‘W-Wait. What happened?’
I couldn’t understand why my arms were wrapped around him, or why my feet were rubbing against his calves.
“Ahhh…!”
With a start, I quickly scrambled backward.
Thud. I stopped only when my back hit the cold wall.
Unlike me, who was horrified, Gerard merely had slightly reddened ears as he got up calmly and put on the shirt he had taken off.
“I don’t know who pounced on whom.”
My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I could barely hear what he said.
‘Did I relax just because we’ve been staying together for a few days?’
Half-asleep, I had fallen back into an old habit.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I slept beside someone, so my old habits must have…”
“Habits?”
Gerard raised his brows slightly.
“As I mentioned before, I had a lover who I dated for a long time… Ah, we’ve broken up now. Anyway, back then, I used to do that a lot, so without realizing…”
What am I even trying to say? I wanted to bite my tongue for rambling. I was so flustered my vision was spinning, but Gerard tilted his head slightly to the side.
“I didn’t need to know that.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. Really, about today… please forget it.”
I asked earnestly, but Gerard only looked at me calmly without saying anything.
Then,
“Why should I forget?”
He countered, like a noble who enjoyed catching someone’s words. His half-lowered gaze was growing darker.
