episode_0015

I was taken aback by Renia’s sudden hug.

While I was drawing, I realized one thing.

‘Ah, no matter how much I study, I can’t help but panic when something unexpected happens!’

After just one hug, my mind went blank.

Rather, what is happening now?

I quickly came to my senses and checked.

Renia in front of me. This was not an illusion. The feeling of the hug wasn’t fake… .

First of all, there was only one thing I could do.

“Le, Renia, why are you here… ?”

Just ask directly.

Other than that, I couldn’t find any answer.

Is Renia happy that she surprised me? I kept shaking and laughing.

“Hehe, you were surprised, right? You didn’t know I’d come here, did you?”

Unless I’m mistaken about the date.

today-.

“You… Wasn’t it your birthday today?”

It was clearly Renia’s birthday.

But why are you here?

“You! You should call me Renia!”

As expected, Renia was right.

Although the appearance may have changed a little, the small details did not change. When I see you get angry when I call you ‘you’ with a disgruntled expression on your face.

“Sorry. But Renia, why are you here? Wasn’t it your birthday today?”

While talking to Renia, I couldn’t make eye contact. Because Renia had become much more beautiful than I remembered.

My heart kept pounding, and I couldn’t make eye contact with Renia.

Therefore, I intentionally avoided Lenia’s eyes and continued the conversation.

“Yes, that’s right! Today is my birthday. But I decided not to have a birthday party.”

“Why?”

“Chris, because you’re not here!”

It was difficult for me to come to my senses as the words continued like rapid fire. I was so dizzy. It was to the point where I thought that the current situation might be a dream.

however-.

Renia, who had been smiling brightly just a moment ago, suddenly took on a serious expression.

“But… Why are you avoiding me?”

“What do you mean avoiding…? ?”

Avoiding Renia. It was something that could never have happened. At least for me.

“You avoided meeting me! chris… , do you know how many years we’re meeting now?”

For sure… .

“Renia, we ended up meeting on your tenth birthday… . It’s been 4 years.”

“Yes! If we met then, and if we meet now, it’s been 4 years!!!”

4 years… . Although I knew it.

It makes me wonder if that has already happened.

And before I knew it, Renia had grown taller than me. This too must be the result of four years.

It felt like a very short time, but seeing Renia in front of me made me realize how big the four years had been.

Because it changes the appearance.

“But Chris… ”

Renia suddenly became quiet. It felt like something was disappointing.

“Why aren’t you making eye contact with me? Are you really angry because I came to see you on my own?”

I looked up and checked Renia’s expression. Renia looks like she’s about to cry.

I quickly made an excuse.

It wasn’t exactly an excuse, it was my truth.

“Renia has become so pretty… , That’s why I couldn’t make eye contact. I’m so embarrassed… .”

I lowered my head without realizing it because it was something I was embarrassed to say.

however-.

“What are you ashamed of? Could it be me? Am I a shy person?”

Did my words backfire? Rather, it was Renia who misunderstood. I quickly raised my head to speak again.

‘I was tricked!’

Renia understood what I meant correctly.

As proof of that, isn’t he looking at me with that charming smile? The expression on his face that seemed like he was about to cry just now disappeared completely.

“Hehe, I see. I did.”

“Renia… You seem to have changed a lot.”

Where did the innocent Renia go, and how did she become such a clever woman?

“Hehe, I’ve gotten better at teasing too!”

Renia returned with an innocent smile again. And then, ‘Ah… !’ Then, his expression changed again. With a very serious expression.

“It’s done, I promise!”

What a promise.

What are you saying all of a sudden?

“What?”

“I will definitely come on my next birthday.”

“If it’s your next birthday… ”

This birthday was Renia’s fourteenth birthday, so it was natural that it would be next.

“Fifteenth birthday?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Umm… , but.”

I was worried.

A round trip distance of two weeks.

With that time, I could have used it more effectively. I was worried for a moment. However, at the intense gaze given by Renia-.

“Answer me!”

“I understand.”

In the end, I nodded and agreed.

I wonder if I have suddenly become such a confident child. ah… , Has this been the case since long ago?

“For your information, we will not be holding a party for your next birthday either.”

“What… ?”

“Hehe, let’s have a party just for the two of us!”

“Ugh… . Yes.”

A party just for the two of us.

Honestly, it was burdensome. After realizing my love for Renia, I became a little afraid of being alone with Renia.

Because Renia might end up hating me for no reason.

Is it selfish of me to want to be satisfied with my current relationship?

But what… , to be honest, I was happy. To be able to spend my birthday alone with Renia…

For some reason, I felt like I had become Renia’s special someone.

.

.

.

It was around evening that Renia came to visit. It was late.

That’s why we just reunited.

After that, Renia went back to the guest room and I went back to my room.

I was studying in my room again.

however-.

Knock-. Knock-.

There was a knock on the door.

“Chris, it’s my father.”

My father came to visit me.

“You can come in.”

My father looked more serious than usual. It seemed like he was about to say something important, so I adjusted my posture and sat down.

“What are you trying to talk about?”

What is he trying to say with such a serious expression? It was definitely something serious.

“I want to tell you what you are lacking.”

“What is lacking?”

“Right away… !”

Let alone serious content, it’s really useless… wait for a sec?

I suddenly fell in love with you.

no way… .

“Did you steal it again?”

“Kuhm… !”

Judging by the way he was clearing his throat, it was clear that he had been spying on Renia and I’s reunion.

I felt embarrassed at the thought of showing that to my family.

“Really… ”

“Anyway, I think we can talk about that later.”

what… ?

It seems like something I should say, but my father said it. It was truly absurd.

“I want to give you some advice about love.”

Stealing and giving advice. I couldn’t help but snort.

“I don’t need it?”

really.

There really was no need.

“No, you really need it. If things continue like this, things can never happen with Renia.”

for a moment… ?

It can’t happen with Renia.

no way-.

To be honest, I wanted to say that it would never happen.

For now, I decided to listen to what my father was trying to say.

“Tell me what it is.”

I decided to pretend I was being fooled and get some advice.

“After all, men and women should not focus only on work. Your first priority should always be the woman you love. I was like that too. It’s still like that until now.”

My father never remarried, leaving behind a dead mother. Because he was such a father, his words were quite persuasive.

A father’s unchanging priority is his mother.

I understood that.

And even what my father wants to say.

“I guess so… .”

I thought about the reunion between me and Renia that happened today.

It didn’t seem like a proper reunion. Because I was embarrassed, I was busy avoiding Renia’s gaze.

but-.

Isn’t the problem that Renia has become too beautiful?

But these are all excuses.

Isn’t it all I have to change?

And again.

These words are no different from urging me on meeting Renia for the first time in four years.

No matter how much I need to study, Renia’s heart is also important. So, he probably meant to maintain a good relationship with Renia.

After hearing what my father said, I couldn’t just sit still like this.

“I’m going to go see Renia for a moment.”

“What… ?”

My father’s expression suddenly became strange.

“What’s wrong?”

The father was lost in thought for a moment, but soon returned to normal.

“Well, I guess it’ll be okay. Do your best.”

“Yes!”

.

.

.

I headed straight to the guest room where Renia would be.

And at the entrance to that room.

The maid I had seen before was guarding the door. But the way he looked at me was strange.

What can I say… , It was as if he was pressing forward.

but-.

I didn’t have time to worry about that.

I asked the maid’s understanding.

“I have something to say to Renia.”

Then the maid knocked on the door for me.

Knock-. Knock-.

“What’s wrong?”

“Miss Renia, Chris is here.”

“What… ?”

Renia’s panicked voice was heard, and at the same time, a crashing sound was also heard. When you are worried and try to open the door -.

The maid stopped him.

The maid looked at me and shook her head.

“No. Please wait a moment.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Facing the maid’s intense gaze, I patiently waited for Renia.

And not long after, the door opens.

I entered through the open door. And I understood the reactions of my father and the maid.

Renia in thin pajamas. I’m worried that my inner skin might be showing through.

I didn’t know what to do with Renia’s outfit like that.

Moreover, Renia’s pure white face was turning red.

It seems a little stiff.

It didn’t seem like the place for me, so I tried to go back.

“Why… , came to visit… ?”

“Well, that’s… ”

I was going to talk about my resolutions for the future. The situation was strange. Now that I think about it, it was definitely a strange situation.

Men and women in their prime.

How could such a man and woman be in the same room at night?

I now understand why my father reacted that way and the look in the maid’s eyes.

but-.

What can we do when we have already come?

I decided to just say business.

“Because I wanted to apologize.”

“Only apples… ?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Did I hear wrong?

anyway-.

There was one thing I wanted to say to Renia.

“I will visit often from now on. I’m sorry until now.”

study… It was important.

However, if you only focus on studying and leave Renia behind, isn’t the situation different? I was reminded of that again by my father’s words.

“Really? I like it!”

Renia, who was trying to hug me, hesitated for a moment and then stopped.

I guess in my current outfit…

Renia also seems to have realized that hugging her in this outfit is a bit dangerous.

“If you go back this time, I’ll come visit you next time!”

“Yes… ! Actually… . Chris came and surprised me.”

“Uh… I guess so.”

Even if that wasn’t the intention, it could be seen as having a slightly sinister intention.

“Yes. My father said that. You shouldn’t let men into your room without permission. I also said that I shouldn’t go to men’s rooms carelessly.”

That’s correct.

If I had a daughter like Renia, I would have said that many times.

“But it’s okay if it’s Chris!”

“Ugh… Yes.”

Because of the unfamiliar words, I could no longer stay in this space.

Just like that, I left Renia’s room as if running away. As I left the room, I felt the maid’s stinging glare.

I bowed my head slightly and asked the maid for forgiveness.

Fortunately, the maid forgave me.

“Please be careful next time.”

And on the way back to my room. Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.

“Ah… ! That’s why Renia didn’t follow you to the room.”

A memory from the past that I didn’t understand.

Even Renia, who had been chasing me to say thank you, never came to my room. Even before the door.

It was for this reason.

I once again realized how embarrassing what I had done was.

As soon as I got back to my room, I felt like I had to get under the covers and kick myself.