TPCF 75

Chapter 75

Before she knew it, snow was falling outside, scattering in the wind. Anita shivered from the cold. The warmth of Rutger’s body, leaning against her shoulder, felt comforting.

He just stared at her as she spoke. His gaze, fixed on her eyes, slowly drifted downward. Realizing where his eyes had stopped, Anita bit her lip without thinking.

Rutger’s hand brushed gently over her lower lip. Before she even realized it, her mouth parted slightly.

This was definitely strange. Anita tried to pull her body back, but Rutger’s unwavering gaze pinned her in place. It felt like she was paralyzed.

“I think I’ll go to bed now. You should—”

Anita never finished her sentence. Before her lips could close, something soft brushed them lightly and pulled away. It happened so suddenly that it took her a while to realize what had just been done to her.

“You—you just….”

Anita was too shocked to string her words together. But Rutger, the culprit of it all, looked entirely unashamed.

His hand flowed naturally to the back of her head. Slipping between her hair, it gently drew her closer.

“Once more.”

Rutger whispered in an ambiguous tone—half command, half plea—as he looked up at Anita, as if waiting for her consent. Instead of answering or nodding, Anita closed her eyes. At that moment, his lips touched hers again.

Expecting another brief touch like before, Anita was startled when something soft and moist pressed against her lips. Her eyes flew open wide. Rutger’s clear green eyes slid downward, avoiding her gaze.

“You have to open your mouth…”

The tips of his ears were red. Anita thought hers must be the same shade. She stared at him blankly, and his face drew close again. Their lips pressed together.

The unfamiliar sensation overwhelmed her.

The hand at the back of her head slid down. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist, making Anita squirm awkwardly. Though she moved only her body, Rutger’s tongue persistently followed hers.

His tongue licked along the insides of her mouth, still tasting faintly of candy. Tracing its way, it finally reached the lemon drop. As Anita froze in shock, his hand soothed down her tense back.

Her breath was running out. She clenched his forearm tightly, but Rutger ignored it, rolling the candy gently over her tongue.

“What kind of perverted thing is this?” Anita thought, opening her eyes slightly. But Rutger’s peridot-green eyes were fixed intently on her.

The candy rolled across their tongues.

Successfully reclaiming the candy he had given her earlier, Rutger’s eyes curved prettily. The thought that what had been in her mouth only moments ago was now on his tongue made Anita want to die from embarrassment. Her face was surely as red as a tomato, so she covered her lips with her hand.

“Should I give it back?”

Unable to speak, Anita slowly shook her head. He had only taken a piece of candy, but it felt like he had stolen the very air from her lungs.

People often say that when you kiss, bells ring in your head or angels blow their trumpets.

Anita’s first kiss? It felt like she would die from embarrassment—
and it tasted like lemon.

Warmth, almost too hot to bear, touched the tips of Anita’s fingers resting quietly on the floor. Startled, she tried to pull her hand back, but his hand slid over hers before she noticed, interlocking their fingers. Staring blankly at their entwined hands, Anita suddenly looked up. Rutger’s face was far too close.

“Aren’t you going home?”

She hadn’t meant to sound so cold. But in a dim room lit only by moonlight, sitting with the boy she had just kissed, it was hard to think straight—especially when she had loved him in secret for so long.

“I should.”

Yet he didn’t release her hand. Rutger drew out his words, carefully studying her expression. Feeling burdened by his gaze, Anita leaned her head back—when suddenly someone knocked loudly at her door.

“Miss Anita?”

She jumped as if burned, twisting her hand free from Rutger’s grip and answering in a flustered voice.

“Yes?”

“Still not asleep? Sleep is important when you’re young.”

It was Laura, the nanny who had raised her and now served as housekeeper. Sometimes she felt more familiar than Anita’s own parents. Hearing the word “young” from Laura’s lips filled Anita with an odd feeling. She was already sixteen, but whenever Laura spoke, she felt like a little child again.

Anita instinctively glanced toward where Rutger was sitting—and froze. He had deliberately stuck out his tongue, balancing on it the lemon candy, now no bigger than a fingernail. Anita’s face burned all the way to her neck. She wanted to throw herself out the window.

“I was just about to sleep. Good night, Laura.”

Her heart pounded as she answered, afraid Laura might open the door. They hadn’t done anything illegal, but still, her chest raced.

“Sleep early, so you’ll grow tall.”

Laura mumbled sleepily and shuffled away. Only when the sound of slippers faded completely did Anita relax.

“See? Sleep early, you’ll grow taller.”

“…Could you not laugh at me?”

She was sixteen—too old to grow any taller. Anita glared at him, but Rutger only smiled wider.

“You’ve always treated me like a kid. What are you even doing here with a child—ah!”

Rutger suddenly grabbed her hand and tugged. She stumbled and fell into his arms. Even he seemed surprised by how easily she came to him; his green eyes wavered for a moment. Pressing against his chest for support, Anita asked worriedly:

“Are you okay?”

She wasn’t exactly light. What if he was hurt? While she fretted, Rutger said something entirely different.

“You talk nonsense sometimes. More than once, I’ve wanted to shut that mouth of yours.”

Anita wanted to snap back, but his expression looked so flustered she stopped herself. She hadn’t even done anything wrong, yet he was the one acting strangely.

“Could you… let go of my arm?”

“Oh—yeah.”

Rutger hastily released the hand he had caught when she stumbled. He tried to act casual, but his awkwardness made Anita feel even more embarrassed. By the time she straightened her posture, neither could meet the other’s eyes.

“I’ll go now.”

He headed for the window again, but Anita tugged at his sleeve without lifting her gaze from the floor.

“Use the stairs.”

At her words, he stepped down from the window ledge and turned toward the door.

“See you tomorrow.”

Passing by her, Rutger whispered softly before leaving the room. Long after he was gone, Anita sank down by the door, dazed.

What on earth had just happened?