TPCF 82

CHAPTER 82………………………

“Anita. Wait a second.”

He tried to pull Anita away, who had buried her face against his neck. But she only tightened her arms around him.

“Let me see your face. There’s something I need to check.”

Her breathing against his neck was rough. If he left her like this, something might happen, so Rutger hurried to coax her.

“I’m not going anywhere. Just lift your head for a moment, okay?”

At his unusually gentle voice, Anita slowly raised her head. Her long black hair, still wet, clung to her cheeks, and her face was pale.

He lifted his hand and brushed the strands of hair off her cheek.

“Why, why are you here….”

A faint voice slipped from Anita’s lips. Her soaked clothes weren’t drying anytime soon, and she shuddered at the clammy sensation against her skin.

“But earlier, I definitely saw you in the marketplace…”

With trembling fingers, Anita clutched at the hem of his clothes. She was shivering so badly from the cold that it was hard to continue speaking.

Rutger, who had also gotten drenched pulling her out of the water, was just as chilled. She knew it would make more sense to sit somewhere warm in the sunlight than to cling to his body for warmth.

And yet, instead of lying on the grass, Anita chose to lean against Rutger’s cold body. Somehow, it felt warmer that way. After clinging to him like that for some time, she finally remembered someone she had forgotten.

She suddenly pulled away from Rutger and looked around in a panic.

“Finian?”

“He’s alive.”

Discarded by Anita in an instant, Rutger gave a curt reply.

On the grass lay someone who looked like Finian Nigel, sprawled out. The water dripping from his clothes had pooled into a small puddle. Just as Anita was worrying about whether he was still breathing, he twitched for a moment before suddenly springing upright.

“Cough, cough. Damn, I almost died.”

Still coughing and muttering in complaint, Finian looked up and met Anita’s gaze. He gave her a faint smile.

“What did I tell you? I said prayer would help, didn’t I?”

“As if.”

Anita snapped irritably at Finian, who cracked jokes right after nearly dying. She felt like a fool for having worried about someone like him.

Perhaps by nature simple-hearted, Finian quickly regained his cheer. Looking around, he spotted a familiar face and greeted him brightly.

“Bailan. What are you doing all the way out here? How did you know we were here?”

“You stole your father’s car again, didn’t you?”

Finian’s smile instantly dropped.

“Stole?”

While raking her tangled hair back with her fingers, Anita frowned.

“Uh, Anita. It’s not like that…”

“Whether you stole a car or drove without a license—I don’t care.”

“……”

“But why’d you bring her along! If you’re gonna do something reckless, you should’ve done it alone!”

Rutger suddenly roared. Standing right beside him, Anita’s ears rang from the outburst and she stepped back.

She thought she had seen him angry before, but maybe she’d been mistaken. Anita had never seen Rutger like this. He looked ready to grab Finian by the collar. His hand trembled as it hovered toward Finian’s shirtfront.

Rutger drew in a deep breath, as if struggling to contain his fury, and lowered his hand. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t bring himself to strike someone who already looked so pitiful.

“Sorry.”

Shaken by what had just happened, Finian pressed his trembling fingers hard against his eyes and apologized to Anita. He didn’t have a license, and he had recklessly given her a ride in a stolen car—but Anita couldn’t completely blame him.

He seemed sincerely remorseful, and he was a victim too.

Looking at him with a tired expression, Anita answered softly.

“Okay.”

Rutger, who had been standing with his arms crossed and glaring at Finian, finally extended a hand toward him. Finian looked at him in surprise, then grasped the offered hand and pulled himself up.

“You alright?”

“I’ll live.”

Finian scratched his cheek. Then, in an instant, his expression darkened.

“Ah. I’m dead. You two better get chrysanthemums ready for my funeral.”

“……”

He turned a gloomy face toward the lake. The surface of the water was calm and still.

“You guys should just go. If going home’s my only option, I’d rather just camp out here…”

“Don’t be stupid. Go home.”

Rutger cut him off without mercy as Finian sagged his shoulders in an exaggerated manner.

“Let’s go.”

Rutger took Anita’s hand. She stared blankly down at their joined hands.

“Wait…”

As she followed along, Anita kept glancing back. Finian still stood where he was, unmoving. Leaving someone who’d just been in an accident like that didn’t feel right.

“What is it?”

When Anita’s steps slowed, Rutger’s did too. Just as he started to turn his head back, Finian, who had been standing dazed, began walking off in the opposite direction.

Seeing him able to walk on his own, Rutger urged Anita forward again.

“He’ll manage. More importantly—what if you catch a cold like this?”

“Well…”

Noticing Anita’s gaze still fixed on Finian’s retreating back, Rutger tugged at her hand.

“Want me to carry you? Tell me if you’re too tired to walk.”