episode_0058

“…Sigh, why does she always show up wherever I go..?”

Silia, who was staring at me while saying that, walked towards the direction of the kitchen.

However, without saying a word, Silia hesitated and began to place her order.

“…Give me the one I had a few days ago.”

Upon hearing this, the grandfather who had entered the kitchen peeked out his face with a smile and said to her,

“Got it. I’ll make it right away, just wait a moment.”

Oh, that grandfather.

Always pressuring me, but now he’s all smiles with her.

Well, looking at Silia’s face, it’s hard not to smile.

As if meticulously carved by a sculptor, her densely packed features and black obsidian-like eyes.

Her sharp nose and rosy pink lips protrude beautifully as if popping out of a painting.

Moreover, her jet-black hair flows down to her shoulders, richly swaying.

Truly an unbelievable face.

When God created her, did He perhaps misallocate some stats due to her extraordinary appearance?

Well, being a hybrid of a vampire and a human, not being pretty might be even harder.

Anyway.

After placing her order, Silia wandered around before sitting next to me instead of starting to eat.

So, instead of eating, she just stared at me.

Silia then said to me,

“Hey, why are you staring like that? Eat your food. I just sat here because there was no other seat available.”

I didn’t say anything.

And there aren’t many people around, so there are plenty of seats available.

Why sit next to me and say such things?

Nevertheless, I continue eating without much concern.

Silia initiated a conversation.

“So, um… what happened with your father? Did you… have an argument?”

It must be related to her father, which is why she reacted poorly even when we were at the hospital earlier.

She also has deep ties with her family, especially her father.

So, when I brought up the topic of fathers, her expression didn’t look too good.

Maybe that struck a nerve.

However, she quickly waved her hand and added,

“Never mind, don’t talk about it if you don’t want to. I asked for no reason. Just finish your meal.”

Silia, someone who carries many scars from being rejected by her family and father.

Despite putting on a tough exterior, she is actually more sensitive and caring than anyone else.

I know that.

As old wounds reopen and new ones are etched into her body.

In the end, she will not reunite with her family and will meet a tragic end.

Given her circumstances.

Wouldn’t it be okay to say just a few words of comfort?

Setting down my spoon for a moment, I casually said to her,

“It’s just that our opinions didn’t align. Jeron and I pursued different things, so we drifted apart.”

“…Is that so? Were things not good between you and your father from the beginning?”

“Well, something like that.”

“By the way, can your hands even properly hold the food? I’m not saying this out of concern for you. I’m genuinely curious.”

I mean… is it necessary to add so much after asking a question?

“I can handle the spoon. I just get a little fidgety, that’s all.”

“Hmm, I see.”

As she spoke, she seemed to be looking at my hand as if regaining her appetite.

Is it solely because of my mood?

Anyway.

With that statement, the conversation didn’t continue.

Eating in an awkward atmosphere, we continued our meal.

The grandfather from the kitchen came out with freshly made rice soup.

Then, he handed the rice soup to Silia, who was sitting next to me.

“It’s hot, so be careful when eating.”

“Okay.”

Handing her the rice soup, Joseph, the grandfather, started to gaze at me with a gentle expression.

With the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, she was staring at me so intently that I felt like she wanted to smack me.

Why is she looking at me like that?

Anyway, as her father chuckled and headed back to the kitchen, Silia immediately started eating her rice soup.

Continuing to flip her tangled hair back, she ate quickly.

No, it’s more like inhaling.

Even though it must be scalding hot in the pot, she was devouring the rice soup at an incredible speed.

At this rate, she could compete with a vacuum cleaner.

She was inhaling so rapidly that it seemed almost unnatural.

I consider myself a fast eater, but that was on another level.

Watching Silia eat, stuffing her mouth full like a squirrel and then swallowing everything down, she started looking my way.

After gulping down all the food in her mouth, she began speaking to me.

“Hey, what are you staring at? Haven’t you seen someone eat before?”

No, that’s not it.

I was just finding her squirrel-like eating habits cute and unintentionally kept watching, maybe a bit too intensely.

Anyway.

I slightly bent down, approached Silia, and gently removed the rice stuck to her pink lips, saying, “Don’t eat like this, take your time. It’s dangerous.”

Upon hearing this, Silia’s delicate face flushed instantly.

She glared at me, clearly upset.

“What, what… What are you doing?! Are you out of your mind? Do you want to die for real?”

“Don’t eat with rice stuck on your pretty face. Just eat slowly. It’s just a piece of advice.”

As I spoke, her face grew even redder.

It seemed like steam was about to come out of her ears.

Then, her tomato-red face added, “Hey, what does it matter to you if I choke from eating too fast?”

Why is she getting angry over this?

I was just concerned.

“It doesn’t matter, but I’m just saying because I’m worried about you.”

“Ha, ridiculous. Are you trying to be my mom or something? Lecturing me about how to eat.”

“….”

“…Anyway, finish that and come outside for a moment. I have something to tell you.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Just come outside. I’ll be waiting there first.”

With that, after finishing her meal, she paid at the counter and swiftly left the shop.

I’m not sure what she wants to talk about.

But it seems best to go out quickly, so I hurriedly brought both our bowls to the kitchen after finishing my meal.

As I did, Silia, who had finished eating, was leaning against the building wall outside in a slouched posture.

Her appearance resembled a scene from a painting, causing me to stare blankly for three seconds.

Turning her gaze from the sky, Silia looked at me, grabbed my left wrist, and started pulling me somewhere.

“Suddenly, where are we going?”

Surprised by her actions, I asked.

“Stop talking and just follow me,” she said, gripping my wrist tighter.

Where on earth is she taking me?

She could at least say something.

But her expression looked so serious that I didn’t press further.

Crossing through the crowd, we continued towards our destination while Silia held onto my wrist, the murmurs of surrounding people becoming audible.

“What’s up, isn’t that Bern Flame?”

“Who’s the person next to him?”

“Oh, isn’t it him? The guy from the second year known for being a troublemaker.”

“Ah, him? The orphan kid?”

“Oh, there’s that girl who acts all high and mighty on such topics. That’s her.”

“Hey, didn’t you confess to her last year and get rejected?”

“Shut up, anyway. She’s known for being rude to everyone and acting all high and mighty. Why is she hanging out with someone like Bern?”

“Well, that Bern Flame guy. Even though he’s rude, he comes from a good family and looks pretty decent.”

“His personality may be terrible… but he’s good-looking. But wasn’t he engaged before?”

“You didn’t know? Bern broke off his engagement.”

“Right, I remember now. So, is he flaunting around like this right after breaking off his engagement? Acting all high and mighty on the outside. Ha, unbelievable.”

“Hey, honestly, they suit each other better than you do. Still, he’s better looking than you.”

“Shut up.”

“You shut up. They can hear us.”

“What are they going to do if they hear? What can they do?”

“Uh, hey.. hey.. seems like they might do something? It looks like they’re coming our way?”

“What, who?”

Wherever you go, there always seems to be one of those types.

Even when someone is right beside them, they gossip openly like that.

It doesn’t bother me if others curse at me.

Whether someone insults me behind my back, ignores me, or does anything else.

I don’t care.

Ignoring them is enough.

Enduring is enough.

But if someone says such things to my friend.

For some reason, it irritates me a bit.

So, feeling annoyed by those who speak ill of Silia.

“Just wait here for a moment.”

I couldn’t move forward.

So, I carefully let go of her hand and approached the guys engaged in vulgar conversation.

As I approached, I caught the guys who were slowly stepping back.

Placing my hand on their shoulders, I spoke to them.

“You two. I remember what you look like. If I hear this barking again in my ears next time, I won’t let it slide.”

“S-Sorry… We won’t do it again.”

“Okay… S-sorry.”

“If you understand, then get lost.”

Before I finished speaking, the guys hastily fled from their spots.

Turning away from them, I approached Silia, who was standing quietly.

Standing opposite her, I gently brushed aside the hair covering her eyes and said,

“Don’t worry about it. Just ignore those guys’ words.”

In response, Silia, with slightly flushed cheeks, began to speak to me.

“…You don’t have to say that, I don’t even pay attention to those guys. You’re just sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. And don’t touch my head… it feels unpleasant.”

However, despite saying that, her face seemed to be smiling ever so slightly.

Is it because of the mood?

Anyway.

Silia, grabbing my wrist again, added,

“Hmph, I won’t be grateful at all for that, so don’t do that next time. Alright, hurry up and follow me.”

“Got it.”

And so, Silia and I moved forward.

A warm breeze began to pass by us.

It feels like a warm breeze is blowing.