The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Side Story 5

Side Story 5

Briley, wearing an uncomfortable expression, turned to Jasper, who was silently standing next to Rose and asked a question.

“Hey, Jasper. Haven’t you heard anything? You’re probably the person most in touch with Caleb.”

Jasper shrugged without responding.

“He’s not trying to get back with Rebecca, right? I absolutely won’t allow that! Rebecca is already meeting someone. Rose, did you see that person yourself? Count Manel, I mean.”

To calm down the agitated Briley, Rose, with a poison-laden voice, spoke to her while patting her shoulders.

“Yeah, he seemed like a good person. Very kind and gentlemanly.”

“Opposite of Caleb, huh? Do you like him? Oh, how about his face?”

“Oh, his face is handsome…”

At that moment, Jasper, who had been standing still, grabbed Rose’s elbow with an irritated expression. Then, he sharply retorted.

“Did you scrutinize Count Manel’s face?”

“…Huh? Not scrutinize. I just saw his face because Rebecca introduced him.”

“Is he handsome? I couldn’t tell. Isn’t he ordinary?”

“Not flashy, but neatly handsome…”

With a sudden grip on Rose’s arm, Jasper’s hand became tense. 

Briley, looking at the two with lifeless eyes, shook her head and spoke.

“This is why I don’t date. Ugh, I’m tired. Well, you guys, I’ll just be over there. Have fun with your love quarrel.”

With a swish of her hand, Briley disappeared towards the second-floor box seats. Rose alternately looked at Jasper and Briley, then spoke with a bewildered voice.

“Jasper, are you jealous by any chance?”

“Isn’t it a problem for a wife to say another man is handsome…”

Jasper mumbled with a subdued voice. Even if Jasper’s reaction seemed indifferent, Rose found it cute and burst into a light laugh.

“Okay, I won’t do that anymore.”

“…It still feels bad that you remember another man’s face.”

“But even so, you’re the most handsome.”

“….”

“Let’s go inside, Jasper.”

While Rose put her arm into Jasper’s, trying to pull him slightly, Jasper, despite his apparent irritation earlier, followed Rose with no resistance. His face, which had been filled with tension, now seemed softer than before.

As they were about to enter, a tall and sturdy man noticed Jasper and immediately rushed towards him, saluting him smartly.

“Major Conway.”

Jasper, who had been tilting his head towards Rose, turned to look at him. Rose, feeling awkward, tried to pull her arms away from Jasper, but he wouldn’t allow it.

‘Seems like a direct subordinate…’.

In the end, Rose had to watch the brief conversation between the man and Jasper while sticking close to him. The man behaved very courteously towards Jasper.

“As I heard, your fiancée is an incredible beauty.”

Surprised when the conversation turned to her, Rose awkwardly smiled.

“Really? Oh, thank you.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

The man’s attitude was already as if addressing a madam. Normally, a military officer wouldn’t give such treatment, but being seated next to Jasper Conway carried significant power and honor.

“Well then, Major, I hope you and your fiancée have a pleasant time.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Jasper, speaking in a much gruff and subdued tone than usual, accepted the man’s salute familiarly and walked past him. Rose, somewhat surprised by Jasper’s different demeanor, muttered.

“You’re different when you’re with your subordinates.”

“Me? Am I that different? I don’t know.”

Jasper chuckled. Unaware of it himself, as soon as the subordinate disappeared, Jasper’s face softened again. It was a noticeable difference in attitude that was evident even from a distance.

Rose felt the attention of people passing through the lobby shifting towards them. Everyone looked at Jasper and Rose with curious eyes.

A few weeks ago, there had been loud gossip about the rumored breakup of the two. They didn’t particularly deny the breakup rumors, but recently, they officially announced their marriage. It was only natural that the social scene was buzzing with interest.

Rose felt the overt interest following them until they entered the theater. Fortunately, the seats Caleb had invited them to were in a private two-person box. At least during the play, they wouldn’t have to worry about being scrutinized by others.

Seated in the invited spot, Rose immediately scanned the other boxes on the second floor. 

Briley was sitting diagonally across from them, waving enthusiastically as she noticed Rose. Briley’s side seat was still vacant.

‘That must be Rebecca’s seat over there… I wonder if she’s coming.’

Even though Rebecca had already found someone stable in her life, there seemed to be no reason for her to come to watch her former lover’s play. However, Rose found herself enveloped in subtle emotions as she gazed at the empty seat reserved for Rebecca. 

Memories flashed back to the time when Rebecca, still in attendance at Berkley Academy, used to howl in the gardens when she still loved Caleb.

Three years had passed since then, and much had changed as they transitioned into adulthood. Emotions had matured, for better or worse. Suddenly, a firm statement from someone echoed in her mind.

Childhood emotions are immature and insignificant.

‘…Was it something Senior Theo said?’

It had been quite a while since Rose last heard about Theo Lixton. 

Theo had also been involved in the retro wave case, but he chose to surrender early and cooperated with the investigation, which spared him from severe punishment. The last piece of news Rose had heard was that he left for the Republic to find a new job.

Rose harbored no ill feelings towards Theo. He wasn’t inherently evil, and in the end, he followed his conscience. 

The theater lights began to dim one by one, indicating that the play was about to begin. 

Whether Rebecca had arrived or not remained unclear in the darkness.

* * *

Applause echoed throughout the large theater as Caleb’s debut play proved to be successful. 

The actors came out one by one to greet the audience, and finally, the director Caleb himself appeared.

Leaning towards Jasper, Rose remarked.

“It seems like this play will also be a hit.”

“Well… not bad.”

“It was a good story. But… about the main characters, did you happen to feel it too?” 

Rose whispered unconsciously, even though there was no one around.

“What?”

“No, about the main character and the friend, Martha. Their relationship and storyline, it just… Of course, it could be my overinterpretation.”

Jasper chuckled. 

“Similar to Caleb and Rebecca?”

“Well, isn’t it? You felt it too, right? Was it intentional?”

“It was intentional. I heard it from Caleb beforehand.”

“Really? So, did he invite Rebecca today because of that?”

The play wasn’t centered around a love story due to Caleb’s strong inclination towards social critique. However, the romantic subplot between the protagonist and his friend Martha surprisingly resembles Caleb and Rebecca.

Rose quickly turned her head to check Briley’s seat, which had been empty until the play began.

“…Rebecca is here?”

Rebecca was sitting upright next to Briley. Although her expression wasn’t visible from a distance.

“Let’s stand up now.” 

Jasper said, gently grabbing Rose’s bewildered arm. In a perplexed voice, Rose asked.

“Could it be that Caleb still likes Rebecca?”

“I don’t know about him, but he did say this was the last letter he’d ever write to Rebecca.”

In the play, the two lovers eventually part ways. The protagonist longs for her even after the breakup but doesn’t cling to her. He chooses to keep her in his heart for the rest of his life.

Perhaps, Rose thought, the letter from the protagonist in the play might represent Caleb’s true feelings.

“It’s a relationship that doesn’t work with love alone. Not all love is useful. Still, you continue to hold onto it. Like a cherished antique. Even if someone tells you it’s old and useless, you keep it.”

Feeling a strange emotion, Rose came out to the lobby and encountered Briley and Rebecca. Rebecca’s face appeared composed.

Briley, glancing at Rebecca, spoke.

“I think we should greet Caleb. Rebecca, what will you do?”

“Well, I might go say hello.”

Rebecca had a calm face but couldn’t make a decision immediately. At that moment, someone urgently ran towards her and shouted.

“Rebecca!”

It was Count Manel, who was mentioned as Rebecca’s suitor. Rebecca turned to look at the surprised Manel.

“Why is the Count here…”

Manel stopped in front of Rebecca, catching his breath for a moment. He looked quite different from the Manel Rose remembered. He used to exude a neat and gentlemanly atmosphere, but now he seemed extremely anxious, with disheveled hair.

Wiping the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand, Manel spoke.

“For some reason, I felt uneasy…”.

“What?”

“I felt uneasy, so I came. Caleb Sidoor invited you, or so I heard.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes in surprise at the unfamiliar sight of Manel. 

Friends, including Rose, watched them in silence. 

Knock, knock, knock. Excited Briley whispered, poking Rose’s side.

Count Manel swallowed a dry spit.

“It seems like I showed a pitiful sight. Are you disappointed?”

“No, I was just a little surprised. I always thought you were composed.”

“I lost my composure today. I’ve been holding up well until now.”

“…”

“…I already know that your feelings for me are not that great, Rebecca.”

“Count.”

“But that’s okay, give me a chance to worm my way in.”

With a smile, Briley unknowingly pinched Rose’s arm, and Rose suppressed a groan.

Rebecca bowed her head for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. When she lifted her head again, Rebecca took a step closer.

“Guys, I’m going in early today.”

Relief was evident on Rebecca’s face. With slightly flushed cheeks, she disappeared with Manel. As soon as the two completely concealed themselves in the lobby, Briley mumbled.

“I’m glad Count Manel seems like a good person, but… What do we say to Caleb?”

Jasper, who had been silently observing the situation, spoke up.

“He probably expected something like this.”

“What?”

“He said he created the play to tie up all loose ends.”

Rose recalled the hesitation of Rebecca, who had been hesitant until Manel appeared, and Caleb, who passionately declared his love on stage. 

Just looking at the two, it didn’t seem like an immature and childish emotion that would eventually scatter, even if it wasn’t everyone’s first love.

Not everyone’s first love would have a happy ending, but the love fiercely exchanged at the crossroads of nineteen would undoubtedly be valuable in its own way.