Chapter 20 – What Is She Doing? (4)

“Ah, Vienna. Are you and my girlfriend the same?”

At the lightly spoken words, the atmosphere got dark.

Not only Vienna but both Luss and Lily Noona turned silent too.

It was embarrassing.

“Uh…Why is the atmosphere... Vienna?”

I got goosebumps when I looked at Vienna’s face.

I didn’t know why, but instinctively I knew she didn’t like what I said.

However, Vienna, who would normally frown and shout loudly whenever she didn't like something, stood there with a droopy, blank eyes and a frustrated face.

It was the first time I saw her like that; Vienna looked so weak.

I had a feeling that something big was coming. Something I couldn’t handle.

“Ah… Ah, ah, ah, right. Did I forget to go to the bathroom…?”

I threw away the awkward lie and took refuge in the bathroom.

****

-Thud

When the bathroom door closed, Vienna sat down as if the threads holding her together had snapped.

The tears she had been holding back with all her might flowed profusely.

Even so, she didn't want Starchis to know that she was crying, so she couldn’t make a sound.

“Stop it …Heheuk… Heukke!”

She tried to cover her mouth with her small hands to not make a sound, but it was not easy.

Starchis’s words were playing over and over again in Vienna’s head.

– ‘Are you and my girlfriend the same? Are you and my girlfriend the same?’

No matter how directly spoken Vienna was, even she could understand what it meant; Starchis was more comfortable with his girlfriend, so it was okay. But he and Vienna had a distance between them, so he was uncomfortable.

‘The time we spent… is much longer…’

Her shoulders trembled. Again, the words 'two weeks' lingered in Vienna’s mind.

‘He’s been seeing her only for two weeks… Why am I uncomfortable then…’

Vienna never had a lover. She had no idea that the gap between a friend and a lover would be this big.

If they just hung out from time to time and just crossed their arms, she felt like she had gained the whole world.

She was comfortable in front of him because she could show her real self as she was, without trembling with pretense. Just cooking and feeding him, and laughing at his jokes...

‘I… I was so happy…’

It was her sincerity that she couldn’t put into words.

That was why they lived contentedly even under the Starchis Treaty.

Only now, belatedly, Vienna felt the difference between a friend and a lover.

Friends could be uncomfortable no matter how many years they were together. Lovers were closer even if they spent only a few weeks.

And what she couldn’t do, his lover could.

Little by little, she realized that she had lost him.

It was not only Vienna who was hurt by his words.

Both Lily and Luss seemed to be directing Starchis’ words at them too.

He only mentioned Vienna by name, but it was no surprise that their own names were included too.

Although they could hold back the tears as they didn’t hear it directly like Vienna.

****

It’s been a while since I went to the bathroom.

It was time to leave.

I washed my face once and tried to look like I was drunk.

I knew the last words were a mistake, but I couldn’t figure out why.

No, it was true that a girlfriend should be more comfortable than a friend.

Wasn’t it, Hyung?

My brother nodded his head in my head.

I seemed to have hit the ball too hard. I had to calm down from now on.

The excuse that I couldn’t help it even if I made a mistake because I was drunk wouldn’t work.

I restored the settings of my girlfriend that I had memorized: Her name was Elza, and she had pink hair and pink eyes. She couldn't compare to the three of them in appearance, but she was very kind.

Sigh, I would have drunk less if I had known they would attack me when I was drunk like this.

The alcohol my brother bought me was so delicious that I drank it in succession.

'Is this how one lives when they joined an A-class party?'

I felt something when I shook the water on my pants.

“Oh, right.”

I reached into my pocket and took out the ring.

It was a friendship ring Luss gifted me. Honestly, I liked the meaning and the design I chose.

But if I wanted to avoid getting caught, I had to act. So unfortunately, I had to leave the ring in a drawer in the bathroom.

I felt guilty at the sight of me putting away a friend’s heartfelt gift for a lie.

But whenever I felt guilty, I thought about what happened in the dungeon.

Okay. This guilt was at least better than not lying to them and losing our lives in the dungeon.

“Haah.”

I sighed once and opened the bathroom door.

The three of them were already seated at the table... exuding the same dark atmosphere that had dawned earlier.

I was scared.

However, I did not show any signs and walked toward them confidently.

The seat next to Vienna was empty.

As I was about to sit down, I saw a table with nothing prepared.

“Oh, look at my mind. What do you guys want to drink? I’ll bring it.”

“Sit down.”

“Sure.”

My body reacted on its own to Luss’ cool tone.

I sat down and looked at Vienna next to me.

But at the same time, I tried to check her condition, Vienna’s head turned to the other side and I couldn’t see it at all.

I spoke out in a stiff atmosphere.

“Ugh… Guys, Noona. So why did you… Come?”

They still didn’t answer.

Instead, Lily Noona, who was sitting in front of me, leaned toward me and sniffed.

“… Starchis, did you come here after drinking?”

“…”

The eyes of the cold Luss and Lily noona pierced me.

Even if I drank, so what?

“… Yes, I had a drink.”

-Sniff Sniff

“Judging by the scent… It must be a fine wine from the country next door, ‘Vind’.”

… Yes?

I was so flustered that my eyes showed it clearly.

Lily’s sense of smell was sometimes surprising.

I just drank what my brother poured me, and even I didn’t know what kind of alcohol it was. But she...

“Ah… I don’t know what kind of alcohol it was.”

“I know that this drink is only sold at Tering Restaurant, a high-end restaurant nearby. That’s where you went today, right?”

Luss and Vienna flinched at the word high-end restaurant.

“…you haven’t been there with me…”

Vienna whispered as if she didn't like it.

I answered in her heart that if it wasn’t for my brother, I wouldn’t have gone there either. But I couldn't tell her directly.

“Was the alcohol expensive?”

When I didn’t answer, Lily Noona persisted.

I didn’t know either! I mean my brother bought it for me. So how would I know the price?

I just nodded. “Yeah, it was expensive.”

The restaurant was also high-end, so it must have been expensive.

But Lily Noona bit her lips and asked.

“Is that an amount that can be spent recklessly?”

I couldn’t find anything to say, so I just listened.

But it was clear that I had made another mistake.

“By the way, do you spend that kind of money… For a drink, you don’t even know?”

It was Lily noona who looked very uncomfortable.

Luss’s expression changed as well.

I had to say something before it got any worse.

“That… I don’t know much about alcohol… But I was afraid that my girlfriend wouldn’t be satisfied if I didn't order something expensive… Haha. It’s my first time going to a  high-end restaurant restaurant...”

-Pududeuk

Where did the strange noise come from?

As I searched for the origin of the sound, Luss spoke.

“Chis, Bring me some cold water.”

"Uh? But didn't you say to just sit down-"

“-Cold water.”

Luss’ dark eyes grew darker.

“I'm thirsty.”

Without being able to say anything more, I stood up from my seat.

That’s right, I could take a breather, so it’s rather nice.

Pouring water into a glass, I glanced at the three women.

They were staring down at the table without making eye contact.

Again, so as not to get caught up in the situation, not to panic and say strange things, I recreated the look of my girlfriend in my mind.

Then, I took the water and went back to the table.

“Now cold water. Oh!”

Luss awkwardly grabbed the back of my hand holding the cup...

She smiled and said.

“Thank you, Chis.”

Then she took the cup with her other hand. By the time Luss smiled a little, the atmosphere was a little relaxed.

But then, Luss’ eyes lock on my hand.

“Uh… Uh? Chis, where did the ring go?”

Oh, friendship ring.

“Ah, that… ?”

This time, even Vienna, who had been muttering or turning her head away from me, reacted; She looked at my hand.

It looked like her eyes were red, but I didn’t know exactly.

I was embarrassed and scratched my head, unable to answer.

“We just bought it a few days ago. Oh did you take it off for a while? It’s not something you’ve lost… Is it?”

Luss asked in a worried tone.

I lied with my eyes closed.

“That… my girlfriend didn’t like it, so I took it off… Sorry, Luss.”

Silence fell on my words again.

Even so, Luss’s mood was the reason why a chill ran down my spine.

Luss exhaled with an 'ahaha' sound and gulped down the cold water.

The cup was quite large, and even though the water was very cold, she drank it all the way.

-Bang!!

Then she put the cup down with unnecessary force.

She seemed very angry.

“It’s a friendship ring. What problem could she have with it?”

Even though I had decided not to feel guilty, a genuinely sorry expression came out.

It was an unpleasant feeling to step on a friend’s heart to avoid getting caught in a lie.

“I’m sorry, Luss-”

“-It was a ring to commemorate our friendship. Is our friendship nothing?”

“Our friendship is also important. Yeah, but I can’t help it because my girlfriend doesn’t like it. My friend Luss, do you understand?”

Even if I spoke softly-

“No. I don’t understand.”

-Luss answered firmly.

So I continued to apologize.

“I’m really sorry. Ah! Then… Should I go for a refund? He might still do it.”

Luss’ anger exploded.

“Hey! Why are you refunding a gift!!”

For the first time, she called me ‘hey’ instead of Starchis or Chis.

Luss wrapped her ring around her own left hand and hid it from me.

I knew the money wasn’t the problem, but I was still trying to defuse her anger somehow.

I said sorry but my head was confused.

If I knew she would get this angry, I would've just worn it.

Would I have taken a heartfelt gift off for a lie a few days ago?

How did it happen?

Was it because of the alcohol?

Actually, I didn't understand, but I felt sorry.

Thoughts began to give birth to other thoughts. And at that moment, Lily noona stopped Luss from getting angry.

“… No. Starchis has a point. If your girlfriend doesn’t like it, how can you wear a ring given by another woman?”

“Lily ssi… You…!”

The anger that was directed at me was transferred to Lily.

Vienna also opened her mouth.

But only a squeak came out of it.

“Okay! Whatever! Don't wear that friendship ring. That's right.”

Luss squirmed and her strength sagged.

It was the first time I had seen Luss look that betrayed.

I was genuinely sorry, Luss...

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