Wave

Today, all the club members who always eat together were busy, so I ate alone.

After filling my stomach moderately, I headed to the club room as usual.

As I was walking down the hallway with the moving paintings, someone suddenly called out from behind.

,Excuse me.”

The owner of the voice is someone I know. It’s Ellie-ssi, Ross’s childhood friend who revealed to me that she likes Ross.

When I turned around, Ellie-ssi smiled brightly and said,

,Can we talk for a moment?”

I wanted to refuse, but she turned around and walked away without even hearing my answer, so I had no choice but to follow her.

We left the hallway, walked a bit, and sat on a bench on the path leading to the training grounds.

,First, let me apologize.”

I was taken aback by the sudden words and asked,

,Apologize?”

,Yeah, do you know? I’m dating Ross’s older brother, Roel.”

I slowly shook my head. I heard that Roel-ssi was dating Flavia-unni, so did he get another girlfriend?

,I didn’t know.”

Ross doesn’t talk about his brother. He seems uncomfortable talking about his family, so I avoid it as a topic of conversation.

,The last time I told you that I liked Ross, it was actually a test.”

,A test…?”

,Yeah. But since we’re childhood friends and I’m his brother’s girlfriend, I was worried that you might waver because Ross is worried. I thought I acted too excessively. I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t get angry at Ellie-ssi, who bowed so low that I could see the top of her head.

In the end, I sighed and accepted the apology.

,Still, I’m glad there’s someone who cares about Ross, even if it’s not me.”

Ellie-ssi said that and then paused for a moment before continuing.

,The reason I’m suddenly bringing this up is because if Ross and I prepare for the triathlon, we’ll be alone together, and I was worried that you might be worried for no reason. I was worried.”

Actually, I was worried about that part. Being alone with a childhood friend who likes Ross is something that bothers me, regardless of trust.

I straightened my posture and expressed my gratitude.

,Thank you for telling me.”

,It’s nothing.”

Ellie-ssi made a bitter expression.

,Actually, things have become awkward since I became Roel’s girlfriend. We don’t even greet each other anymore.”

Is the reason I’m secretly happy about that because I’m bad? As I was fidgeting with my fingers out of unnecessary guilt, Ellie-ssi hesitated and dug at the ground with the tip of her shoe.

,Could you possibly help me?”

,Me…?”

Surprised, I asked back, and Ellie-ssi opened her mouth after a moment of silence, as if searching for the right words.

,Yeah. I know it’s shameless to ask for a favor right after apologizing, but this is related to the triathlon, which is a matter of honor for our academy. I want to ask you for a favor no matter what.”

If she says that, I have no choice but to help. But I don’t know what she wants me to help with.

Reading my bewildered expression, Ellie-ssi explained in a calm voice.

,It’s not difficult. I just want you to have dinner with Roel-oppa and Ross all together. I want to ease the awkwardness.”

My eyes widened. I was a little nervous because she asked for a favor, but it became a joke.

,I want to focus on the triathlon together in a good relationship like before, Roel also wants that… Would that be impossible?”

If it’s helping Ross maintain a good relationship with other people, I might have to take the lead as his girlfriend.

,I can’t give you a definite answer, but I can bring it up with Ross.”

Ellie-ssi replied with a happy expression.

,Really? That’s enough. Ah, and you can speak comfortably to me if you want.”

I nodded, but I had no intention of speaking casually easily.

Whenever I see Ellie-ssi, I feel like there’s an abyss in her heart that can swallow anything, so I feel uneasy.

Ellie-ssi, who was watching me as if observing me for a moment, gave a strange smile.

When I avoided her gaze, Ellie-ssi, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly lightly stroked my shoulder.

,Have you heard anything about his brother from Ross?”

I searched my memory, but Ross had never directly talked about his brother.

Roel-ssi has come to the club room a few times, so I have a face, but I have never had a direct conversation with him.

But I have received an apology.

When I shook my head gently, Ellie-ssi twisted her lips and muttered.

,Ah, I see.”

For some reason, I felt like I was being ridiculed, but I didn’t show it.

Ellie-ssi, who was looking around for a moment, turned her head back to me and smiled.

,The timing is good.”

I stood up as Ellie-ssi got up from her seat.

Following Ellie-ssi’s gaze, I saw Roel-ssi walking towards us from the training grounds.

Roel-ssi also found us, and he hastened his steps and gave a soft smile.

He has blonde hair and blue eyes like Ross.

The difference is that he is emitting too much light in his heart.

Ellie-ssi glanced at my expression and said.

,Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend and Ross’s brother.”

,Hello, I saw you with Bella last time, right? I was really sorry at that time.”

I shook my head slightly at Roel-ssi, who was scratching his sweat-soaked hair.

,No. You kept your promise.”

As promised, Bella-ssi and Roel-ssi visited the family during the vacation.

They gave a deep apology and valuable treasures, but my father and older brothers were very angry for a while.

,Ah, I have something on my hands, so I’ll go wash my hands for a moment. Will you two talk?”

Ellie-ssi raised her hand. Her hands were full of something like pollen.

,Okay, go ahead. I’ll talk to my sister-in-law in the meantime.”

Looking at his playful smile, I suddenly thought it resembled Ross’s smile. I guess brothers are brothers after all?

As Ellie-ssi walked away, Roel-ssi spoke to me with a smiling face.

,I often hear from Flavia that you two are loving each other well. I’m glad. Ross met a good person.”

I gave a happy smile at Roel-ssi’s sincere words.

,I received a lot of help from Flavia-unni.”

,Then, if you’re not uncomfortable, shall we go on a 2:2 date with Flavia?”

I somehow laughed at Roel-ssi’s suggestion.

It seems like he wants to maintain a good brotherly relationship as Ellie-ssi said.

,Okay. I’ll have some free time after the triathlon. I’ll tell you then.”

Roel-ssi smiled happily at my answer. Then, as if he had found something on me, he moved his gaze to my shoulder.

,You have something on your shoulder?”

I lowered my gaze to my shoulder at Roel-ssi’s words, but I couldn’t see it well.

Roel-ssi said as I made a troubled expression.

,Excuse me for a moment.”

Roel-ssi leaned his upper body towards me and carefully brushed off the thing on my uniform.

Maybe it was pollen that got on me when Ellie-ssi touched my shoulder earlier.

Just as I was about to say thank you, I saw someone approaching behind Roel-ssi.

It was Ross, who had just finished training, and he stylishly swept back his sweat-soaked bangs.

When our eyes met, I could see that Ross’s jaw was tightening for some reason.

Before I could even greet him, Ross strode towards us.

As I was panicking at his somehow angry expression, a large back blocked my view.

,What are you doing right now.”

It was the first time I had heard such a threatening voice from Ross.

Roel-ssi was also flustered by the voice full of vigilance and said something, but Ross didn’t answer and grabbed my wrist and left the spot.

Ross, who was silently dragging me, found an empty classroom and went inside.

Ross, who turned around, had a clearly angry expression, so I panicked and just pursed my lips.

,…What were you doing with hyung there?”

I was flustered by his sharp voice, which was different from usual, and blinked my eyes for a moment.

I could see Ross clenching his fist tightly and his arm trembling.

,I ran into him by chance and greeted him… .”

,That close?”

I felt like I had become a sinner at his urging voice, so I lowered my gaze and said.

,He was just brushing off something on my shoulder.”

Ross, who sighed deeply, pushed me against the wall.

When I leaned my back against the cold wall, I felt a chilly feeling.

I could feel Ross’s gaze looking at my face, so I raised my head and met his gaze.

Ross’s blue eyes, looking at me, seemed to be swaying like waves meeting a typhoon.

Ross, who tightened his jaw as if holding back his anger, gently stroked my hair after a while with a deep sigh.

,I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t help but hug Ross at his difficult voice, which seemed to be desperately squeezing out while suppressing his soaring emotions.

Ross, who was flustered, said, ,I’ll smell like sweat,” but I actually liked Ross’s smell very much.

,I like Ross’s smell.”

I raised my head, looked into his eyes, and added.

,Are you okay, Ross?”

Ross nodded with a bitter smile, then bit his lip for a moment and stared at me blankly.

,Please. Don’t get close to hyung.”

Ross’s eyes, saying that, were filled with a pleading look.

I wanted to ask why Ross was showing such a sensitive reaction and what kind of relationship he had with his brother.

At Ross’s desperate expression, I nodded vigorously.

,Yeah, I understand.”

At my answer, Ross hugged me silently with a slightly depressed expression.