"Do you hear me, Mio?" Mom asked me, her eyes blinking anxiously.
"Who said that I'm not alright? Don't worry, don't worry. I'm completely okay, like a newborn baby, Mom," I said in a loud, cheerful voice while staring at Luke, who stood upstairs with both arms leaning on the handrail. This guy—I will kill you. Look at me, and I will kill you. I moved my finger and made a slash in front of my neck, indicating you're dead, Claude. Claude saw my action and smirked at me, not caring about my sign at all.
"What are you doing, Mio?" Mom asked me with a puzzled expression. Dad observed our interaction from time to time and seemed to think that this change was a good start for our new life. I didn't know what Dad was thinking, but my mood was complicated right now. I stared at Mom and said sweetly, "I did nothing, Mom. What did you tell me earlier?" Claude is trying to make me angry. He's testing my patience. I'll prove that I won't get mad in front of Mom and Dad.
"Are you happy, Mio? You'll get the life you've always wanted, and Claude already agreed to this marriage," Mom said, full of enthusiasm while talking about the wedding and everything related to the preparations.
It was already 10 p.m. when Mom finished talking, and I walked toward my bedroom with a tired body. I never expected my enemy to be standing in front of my bedroom. Our bedrooms were too far apart for us to cross paths easily. They were too far away to allow us to pass each other or meet face to face accidentally. Claude never wanted to come to my bedroom, nor did he allow me to come to his.
Our bedrooms were private areas he refused to cross. If we ever met accidentally at the stairs, he would just walk faster without looking at me, acting like I was just a guest who would move out someday. He only acted when his parents were around. When they weren't, he acted like a madman.
Now, here he was, walking up on his own, without reserve or embarrassment. He wore black pajamas and had a pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. He rarely wore glasses—only for reading—and usually took them off afterward. That's why he didn't have any red marks on his nose.
What is this bastard doing here? Does he want to mock me again or tell me to go away? I looked at him with fierce eyes. Claude saw my glare, but it didn't scare him—if anything, she looked cuter than scary. Claude regretted that they hadn't gotten together sooner.
"Why are you here?" I asked in a low but sharp voice.
Claude stood in front of my door with his arms crossed. He looked elegant, like a gentleman—but of course, I knew his real face behind that mask. He was black-bellied, using a gentle appearance as his cover.
Without moving, he answered, "I came to say good night to my future wife," Claude said, his voice soft, like he was speaking to a baby.
Who are you? Are you really Claude from this house? Is he insane?
"Saying good night? Are you daydreaming? Do you even know who you're talking to?" I sneered and looked at him with disgust.
Claude was hurt by my words. His heart felt like it was pierced by thousands of thorns, but he couldn't do anything to fix it. His eyes turned gentler as he spoke coaxingly, "Of course I came to say good night to you, Mio—my dear future wife," he said while gently stroking my hair.
My heart filled with happiness, but my mind was clear: Claude was just teasing me. Claude liked to act gently when he was in a good mood and then completely change when he wasn't. His mood swings were like magic, making it feel like the gentle version of him was just an illusion. Do you think you can trap me a second time? In your dreams, Claude. I'm not the same weak Mio who would accept your affection like it was everything in the world.
"Of course, you're such a gentleman—saying good night to your future wife," I replied in a mocking tone.
Claude pretended not to hear my sarcasm and tenderly rubbed my face.
"See you tomorrow, dear Mio," he said, turning to head back to his room. But then a voice called him from somewhere nearby.
The sound scared me, and I instinctively pulled Claude's arm and dragged him into my room. I pushed him against the door, trapping him between my hands—like a kabedon.
Claude didn't expect such a big reaction from me. He also realized that I was afraid someone might find out about our relationship.
"Mio… hmmm..." Claude tried to reassure me, but I shut him up with my lips before he could say anything. It was the first time Claude had tasted my lips. The kiss didn't last long—it was just a moment.
It scared me. What would I do if someone asked about our relationship?
I took a deep breath and placed my hands on Claude's chest. I opened my eyes wider—and then I realized I had made the biggest mistake of my life.
I kissed Claude.
I kissed Claude.
I kissed Claude.
My head was spinning. My mind was blank.
What did you just do, Mio? Stupid Mio, go to hell.
When I heard no one else calling Claude, I quickly pushed him out of my room and slammed the door shut. I heard Claude chuckling happily as he walked away.
I covered my face with both hands in complete embarrassment.
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