TPCF 84

CHAPTER 84………………………

Before she knew it, the last day of the semester had arrived. Anita went to the café where she had been working and told them she wouldn’t be able to work during the vacation. Items that didn’t seem suitable to take on holiday were packed into boxes and sent off as parcels.

What would her parents’ reactions be if, instead of the daughter they naturally expected to return, only boxes full of luggage arrived?

Having not seen her parents for a while, Anita—perhaps recklessly—decided to inform them of her vacation plans with a single letter. It was a short, half-hearted note, but that was fine. By the time her letter and parcels arrived, Anita would already be at Liliana’s villa.

After a moment of hesitation, Anita even slipped her report card into one of the parcels. In a sense, it was a bribe: a way of saying, “I got grades good enough that I shouldn’t be ashamed—so please allow this.”

With her vacation preparations complete, Anita hauled her heavy suitcase downstairs.

“Anita!”

Until she saw Liliana waving at her in front of the dormitory entrance, Anita felt no regret about her decision.

“What’s wrong?”

As Anita descended the stairs with a light step, she suddenly froze as if she had turned into stone. Liliana asked in a puzzled tone.

“Anita?”

She stepped right up in front of Anita, waving her hand. Yet Anita’s gaze didn’t follow Liliana’s hand; it was fixed on something behind her. Liliana followed her eyes and tilted her head in confusion.

“What is it? Scary… is there a ghost or something?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Anita’s eyes were locked on the SUV with a roof. Her hand tightened around the suitcase handle.

“Get in quickly.”

“When was the last time this car was serviced?”

Jeff, the driver, approached to load Anita’s bag into the car. Even as he politely extended his hand, Anita didn’t loosen her grip.

“Hmm… when was it?”

Liliana looked at Jeff. The driver paused, then replied:

“Probably about three months ago. May I ask why?”

“This car…”

Anita closed her mouth before she could finish. Liliana and Jeff stood silently, staring at her. Not wanting to leave them standing there puzzled, she extended her bag toward them.

It would be fine.

Jeff, in his symbolic black uniform, was nothing like Finian, who didn’t even have a license. The car had been checked recently, and the sky was clear without a single cloud.

She couldn’t keep running away like a coward forever.

“What are you doing?”

At Liliana’s prompt, Anita took a step forward—an awkward step even she could feel was clumsy.

Squeaking as she approached the car, she grabbed the door handle and took a deep breath. It wasn’t too late to turn back. She could go straight to the train station, buy a new ticket, and return home. Even if she had to face Nathan, she could endure it silently, just as she always had.

Click.

Even though she hadn’t done anything, the door swung open. Startled, she turned her head. Liliana’s driver was smiling and holding out his hand.

“The step is high. Take my hand and get in.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Without realizing it, she accepted his help and climbed into the car. All her previous hesitation seemed pointless now.

“If we leave now, what time will we arrive?”

“At full speed, we’ll get there in under an hour.”

Anita nervously fidgeted with the window frame. She had gotten in on impulse, but since they hadn’t started moving yet, she could still get out if she wanted.

“Go.”

At Liliana’s command, the car began to move. Anita gripped the window frame tightly, as if it were a lifeline.

“Anita, are you okay? You don’t look well at all.”

“I skipped breakfast. That must be why.”

“I see.”

Liliana nodded in understanding and looked away for a moment. Then she called out again.

“Is it because of what happened back then?”

“Huh?”

Her stomach twisted in pain. To hide her frown, Anita kept her head fixed out the window and asked.

“You know, that crazy guy… the one who caused a scene.”

Liliana avoided mentioning Charles’s name directly, as if even saying it was uncomfortable.

“Ah.”

The memory of that day came rushing back—the image of Charles thrusting a broken glass at her in the banquet hall.

“Well…”

It was nearly impossible to ask Liliana to stop the car now. Nobody wants their weakness exposed, and Anita was no exception.

She couldn’t excuse herself by saying she was tired or had forgotten an important appointment.

If she did, Liliana would think her mind had changed because of the Charles Bennett incident. She didn’t want to see Liliana’s apologetic face.

“By the way, what happened to that guy?”

Unfortunately, Anita wasn’t in a state to answer. She had no interest in the leather seat meant for comfort, nor the ocean passing by outside the window.

At that moment, a loud honk came from behind. To exaggerate slightly, Anita thought a war had broken out.

Turning back with a pale face, she saw another car furiously pursuing them.

“Lily! I thought you’d already arrived since you left first, but you’re slower than I thought.”

Anita stared at the people in the car behind her, then suddenly remembered where she had seen them—they were the women from the freshman welcome party. This time, instead of a flashy pearl necklace, they had scarves around their necks.

“You guys got here faster than I thought,” Liliana shouted, leaning out the window. Anita knew Liliana had no reason to worry, but she wanted to pull her back inside. What if she fell out of the car?

“We’re going ahead!”