Chapter 73
I was shocked to see people casually buying expensive clothes and accessories I wouldnât even dare consider, one after another, by color and by size.
Back when we were dating, I had once pointed out Gerardâs spending habits, when he was restless because he couldnât buy me presents. Only belatedly did I realize that even then, he had been restraining himself and holding back while watching my reactions.
When I was nearly exhausted, Nashar came up to the second floor despite how busy she was and worried about my condition.
âWould you like to rest in the waiting room for a bit? Usually, people donât crowd the second floor this muchâŚâ
It wasnât as if I was the only one having a hard time, and everyone else was working without even having time to sit down, so how could I rest alone in the waiting room?
Even though I said I was fine, Nashar suggested it several times. Then, at another voice calling for her, she had no choice but to go down to the first floor.
In the end, I couldnât rest for even ten minutes until the shop closed.
âStill, tomorrow should be less busy. Usually, the most customers come on the first day, and it gets quieter as the days go on.â
Haha, however, I should not have placed any hope in those words.
You said it would be less busy! You said it would get quieter as the days went on!
The shop was so swamped that the stock ran low and they had to start additional production, and the reservation list became as thick as a dictionary.
I think, with some exaggeration, I bowed at the waist about ten thousand times. Greeting people, tidying up the disordered props, chairs, and tables, then greeting people again.
As each day passed, I did learn the ropes, but even so, hard things were still hard.
On top of that, I had to do all of this while catering to the customersâ moods.
By the time work ended, my legs, which had been standing all day, were swollen as if someone had blown air into them.
âYou worked so hard all the way to the last day. This is four daysâ pay. The owner said they added a little extra for you.â
But the moment I received the thick envelope of money, the hardship of the past four days vanished as if washed away.
âThank you.â
I carefully put the envelope of money into my bag.
âUm⌠You remember, right? How I kept telling you to rest in the waiting room. I wasnât just saying that. It really would have been fine for you to rest. Iâm sorry I couldnât keep looking after you because it was so busy.â
Nashar apologized with an awkward smile.
It felt unfamiliar that she was apologizing when I hadnât been the only one stuck working, and she had even added extra pay for me.
âNo, Iâm actually grateful that you looked after me.â
âAhaha. Iâm glad you think so.â
Nashar looked as if she had something more to say. But even after I waited, she said nothing in particular, so I gave my farewell first.
âThank you for the past four days.â
âOf course. Come visit often.â
* * *
They say that in high-latitude regions, the sky is bright as day even at night.
âI wonder if it feels like the day never ends.â
Lying with his thigh as my pillow, I turned a page of the book.
But before I could even read the first line, the book slipped right out from above my head.
When I lifted my gaze, Gerard, with a dry expression, skimmed the part I had been reading with his eyes and then put it away on the bedside table.
âI came back after a week.â
He was dissatisfied that I was reading a book instead of looking at him.
Gerardâs business trip this time had been to a high-latitude region covered in snow.
I had only bought a book because I found it fascinating that the sun was up even at night, but the very source of that curiosity seemed quite displeased.
âYou came yesterday.â
Anyone listening would think we had just reunited.
âSo what.â
âWhat do you mean, so whatâ Ah, that tickles!â
His hand slipped beneath the hem of my clothes without hesitation.
At the touch of his fingertips softly rubbing my side, my shoulders hunched, and my body turned to the side.
Even though I shuddered and pushed him away, Gerard pressed his body over mine altogether and began tickling me in earnest.
With his hands, his lips, his breath.
A bright red heat rose over my face.
Aquila
Oh my. It’s unfortunate but i guess i’ll have to wait. đĽ˛