Lungs

,Why is the story suddenly going that way?”

I asked, flustered by Bella’s sudden declaration of expulsion, and Bella looked back at me with a flustered look.

,Well, if I stay at the Academy, it will be uncomfortable for you guys, and it will harm Roel. I’m not trying to run away because I don’t want to take responsibility. I can atone to you and Roel even outside the Academy.”

At those words, I thought about the possibility of Bella disappearing from the Academy.

Just thinking about it for a moment, I could see that several stories were going awry.

Some stories couldn’t even begin at all.

Even at the Academy, there were things that only Bella could do for Roel.

I couldn’t let Bella leave Roel’s side like this.

,It would be safer for you to be by Roel’s side.”

The Order was trying to kill Bella, even using Dwin who was hiding in the Academy. When I pointed that out, Bella replied as if it was nothing.

,I have no intention of sacrificing Roel even a little for my safety.”

It was a firm voice. This was Bella’s twisted love. Someone who would willingly sacrifice everything for Roel, who was the only one who treated her sincerely.

For Bella, Roel was the only match that could give her warmth. A single match that she cherished dearly in her heart.

,Did hyung-nim also agree to this?”

Bella flinched at my question.

Did I hit the nail on the head? Seeing Bella looking down, I sighed. Of course, Roel wouldn’t have allowed it if he had heard about this.

,Are you going to do whatever you want again without even listening to hyung-nim’s opinion?”

I said in a pathetic voice, and Bella frowned and said as if making an excuse.

,…It’s for Roel.”

,Don’t use hyung-nim as an excuse. If you get expelled from the Academy, do you think hyung-nim will be okay with it? He might blame himself even more.”

If it were Roel, he would try to prevent Bella’s expulsion by any means. Whether he uses the wish ticket he received this time or kneels before Nelson, he would try any method.

Even if Bella had done something wrong, Bella is already a precious person to Roel.

And Roel doesn’t easily give up on his precious people.

,You can curse me for being selfish for acting like this after saying I’d apologize. But I don’t want to cause any more harm to Roel because of me-“

,Stop talking nonsense, Bella. Or are you trying to act to get sympathy from me by using Roel?”

I knew that Bella wasn’t lying or acting to me. But I needed to correct this foolish thought.

I risked my life to protect her, but her going down a strange path was making my desperate efforts futile.

I got up from the bed and stood in front of Bella. Our gazes tangled in the air as if trying to read each other’s thoughts.

,I told you. Hyung-nim needs you. Can’t you remember?”

,I remember. I know full well what it means. But I can support him enough from outside, just like now….”

,If the Order targets you again, can you guarantee your safety?”

I thought there was no need to listen anymore and cut off Bella’s words. Bella, who was at a loss for words, bit her lip and said weakly.

,…If it’s the Imperial Family, to some extent.”

,Don’t lie. You know it’s impossible, so you came to the Academy to buy time, right?”

Bella’s shoulders flinched at my words. She didn’t expect that I would know the reason why she entered the Academy.

I continued to press Bella, who was looking at me with slightly widened eyes.

,Think about you being expelled and disappearing from hyung-nim’s side. No matter how much you help from the outside, it can’t be compared to being by his side. Hyung-nim will pay even more attention to you than before. You know well enough that it’s not efficient for each other.”

,Then, are you telling me to just watch Roel get harmed because of me!”

Bella shouted. I took another step closer to Bella, who was breathing heavily and making a face that she couldn’t accept my words.

And leaning my upper body, I whispered in a low voice in Bella’s ear.

,That’s right, you have to watch helplessly as hyung-nim gets harmed because of your actions. Your selfish actions, your excuse that it’s for hyung-nim… how much it makes hyung-nim suffer and be in pain. You have to watch it clearly with your own eyes.”

Looking at Bella’s golden eyes filling with tears, I added.

,You just wanted to run away because you were afraid of feeling guilty seeing hyung-nim in pain, Bella.”

Bella’s gaze wavered as if she had received a great shock at my words.

I said to such Bella in a voice devoid of intonation and emotion.

,If you really love hyung-nim, stay by his side. Even if you feel like you’re suffocating from guilt, endure it. That’s your punishment.”

***

The summer vacation ceremony was over. As soon as Nelson’s long speech ended, everyone ran out of the auditorium as if fleeing, shouting with joy.

As soon as the vacation ceremony ended, Luna visited the infirmary with her club members as always.

It had been almost a week since she prayed every day that Ross would wake up today.

A small anxiety crept in that he might never wake up, and Luna shook her head vigorously. It was an action to erase negative thoughts.

Aria knocked on the door of the infirmary, and Professor Joy slightly opened the door to check the visitors and said briefly in a blunt tone.

,He’s discharged.”

,Yes?”

,Ross discharged this morning.”

Surprised, Aria turned her head to look at Luna. Luna was also flustered and shook her head. She had never thought that Ross would have woken up.

She thought that even if he woke up, he would have come to find her first…. Luna felt a little resentful towards Ross.

The club members hurriedly ran to the club room. The only place Ross could go in the Academy was there.

Luna felt subtle emotions and moved her steps diligently with an anxious heart. She was worried that they might have missed each other.

Aria, who arrived first, took a deep breath and opened the door to the club room.

Following behind her, Luna’s eyes caught Ross sitting at the desk in the club room as usual, reading a book.

The tension was relieved, and the anxiety that had been pressing down on her heart disappeared. The resentment that remained in her heart was instantly washed away by the emotions of joy and longing the moment she saw Ross’s face.

Luna was just grateful to God for listening to her prayers that Ross had returned.

,Ro, Ross!”

At Aria’s shout, Ross, who had been넋을 놓고 reading a book, turned his head. Ross, who had a cold and gloomy expression, smiled softly when he met the eyes of the club members.

,Yo, the vacation ceremony is over-“

Luna couldn’t stand Ross finishing his words and ran into Ross’s arms.

She couldn’t control her speed, so it was almost like a body check, but Luna thought it was a punishment for making her worry all this time.

While Ross, who was about to fall off the chair, regained his balance, Luna burrowed into Ross’s arms like a puppy.

As always, Ross’s embrace was warm. It was a very nostalgic feeling, and tears flowed without her knowing.

,It’s been a while, Luna. I missed you so much.”

Aria couldn’t stand it and ran to him, hugging Luna, who had buried her face in his arms.

,Ross!!!”

,Yeah, I missed you too… Wait, wait!!!”

Kwadang-!

Ross, who couldn’t withstand the weight of the two women, fell from the chair. The impact was absorbed by Ross’s back, so Luna and Aria crushed Ross without any impact.

While Ross desperately tried to breathe with his lungs crushed by the weight, Kane and Lacar said at the same time.

,Club leader…!”

,Wa, wait… Ugh!!!”

Ross, who was suddenly crushed by four people, hurriedly hit the floor with his palms, but none of the club members got off. Rather, Kane and Aria lifted their legs into the air, putting even more weight on him.

,It’s a punishment for making us worry all this time!”

At Aria’s words, Luna sniffled and nodded her head in his arms.

After a long time, the club members who had finally released Ross moved him to the bed and wrapped him up in a blanket. Ross, who was guilty, pouted his lips but couldn’t resist.

,Okay, let’s start the interrogation!”

At Aria’s words, the club members held pillows in their hands. Even Luna held a thick pillow tightly in one hand.

Ross, who was rolling his eyes, slowly opened his mouth.

,Actually, I’m still not feeling well-“

Peok-!

Aria’s pillow hit Ross’s face straight on.

,I heard that there’s nothing wrong with your body? Where are you lying! You liar! Hit him more!”

At Aria’s words, there was a pillow massage filled with the club members’ affection. Ross, who was caught lying, had to take the pillows without making any excuses.

,Now, tell me! What happened that made you suddenly like that?”

At Aria’s question, Ross recalled meeting Roel with Bella before meeting the club members.