TPCF 22

Chapter 22 

Anita stared at the blue butterfly perched on the back of her hand with a troubled expression. The butterfly in the painting looked so vivid that it gave the impression it was staring at her in pity.

Or perhaps it was just her own paranoia.

The hallway was unusually crowded today. She soon realized why. Several students, looking tired but trying to appear cheerful, were handing out invitations to passersby.

Anita, walking by with books tucked under her arm, was stopped by one of them and handed an invitation. She glanced briefly at the envelope, sealed with a melted wax stamp, then tried to slip it into her coat pocket.

As she fumbled with her coat with one hand and tried to keep the teetering pile of books steady with the other, someone suddenly took the stack of books from her.

“Freshman welcome party… It’s basically just a social gathering disguised as a welcome event.”

There had been no one around just a moment ago. The sudden voice from seemingly nowhere startled Anita.

“Wh-why are you coming out from there?!”

She barely managed to keep herself composed, avoiding a scream in the middle of the hallway.

“Beats me.”

Either unaware or indifferent to her bewildered stare, Edmund yawned casually. At this point, she was starting to wonder if he was homeless. Every time she ran into him, he appeared from the most unexpected places.

“What’s that on your hand? Did you get hurt?”

“Ah…”

Edmund gently took Anita’s left hand and lifted it.

“Don’t tell me you bruised from when I grabbed your hand yesterday?”

Seeing the brightness in his face dim slightly, Anita quickly shook her head.

She hadn’t been able to wash off the butterfly painting. Maybe because she only rinsed it quickly with water instead of scrubbing it, it now remained faintly like a faded photograph. If Rutger asked about it, she had planned to say it just wore off somehow. But Rutger Veilan hadn’t shown up for several days—at least not until the butterfly had completely vanished from her skin.

She should have just left the butterfly alone. Whether she clumsily erased it or left it as it was, he probably wouldn’t have cared either way.

“I was practicing drawing, and I didn’t have any paper. Tried washing it off, but it wouldn’t come off well.”

“Want me to wipe it off for you?”

“No, that’s okay.”

She appreciated the offer, but before he could reach out, Anita quickly pulled her hand away.

“Ah. Have you decided which club you’re going to join?”

“Not yet.”

It wasn’t really something that concerned Anita, but for most students, choosing a club was practically the main reason for attending university. That was because students generally fell into two major categories: those who genuinely loved learning and pursued higher education out of passion for knowledge, and those who came with the sole purpose of building elite connections.

She had heard that the latter group tended to be obsessed with social activities.

Of course, Anita belonged to neither. She didn’t have a particular thirst for knowledge, nor did she crave networking opportunities. It was simply the result of her father, Nathan, who—disdainful of an ignorant daughter—preferred someone who could call herself a scholar with firm convictions on society’s problems.

Talk of adapting to a changing world, becoming part of the noble class of intellectuals rather than performing lowly labor… If that was the definition of an intellectual, Anita wasn’t sure she wanted to become one at all.

While she was wrapped up in these rather cynical thoughts, Edmund slipped another suspicious envelope into her coat pocket along with the freshman party invitation.

“What’s this?”

“Club application. Or maybe club registration. Something like that.”

“Thanks.”

She didn’t really need it, but since he handed it over, she thanked him.

“The student council president gives you one application and you’re this touched? Now I’ll feel too guilty to embezzle from the school budget.”

Muttering nonsense, Edmund disappeared down the hallway again.

Domestic and International Politics
She imagined it filled with arrogant guys puffing on strong cigarettes.

Anatomy
Didn’t sound so bad.

Boxing
Perfect for violent types like Rutger.

Cricket
Pass.

Dozens more clubs were listed on the sheet. Horseback riding, tea ceremony, flower arranging, strolling.

Anita stared at the sea of black ink filling the white paper with a tired face, then brushed it aside. As she rubbed her dry eyes, she suddenly heard someone’s footsteps stop in front of her and looked up.

“Anita, why haven’t you contacted me?”

What now? Anita grabbed her throbbing head.

“Sure, back then you couldn’t talk to me because of him, but it’s been days since then.”

It was the upperclassman she had been trying to avoid since last time. He shook his head sadly, as if deeply hurt.

Who’s the one that should be sad here?

Anita felt a wave of despair wash over her. The fact that this nameless guy still hadn’t given up was truly depressing. He had been obnoxiously persistent from the start, and now he was acting like he was her boyfriend.

Had he not heard her tell him to go away? Or had he simply forgotten?

That was the root of the problem—Anita didn’t even know his name. He hadn’t properly introduced himself but had been throwing one-sided affection at her nonstop.

Looking into his needlessly sparkling eyes, Anita’s own gaze turned icy cold.

How should she turn him down this time? No—would he even listen if she did?