To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 30

He acted as if the decision rested with Anita.

“Just go to class.”

Rutger looked at Anita intently, as if contemplating something.

“I don’t want to.”

“….”

“I won’t go.”

And, as always, Anita had no say in the matter.

The rain had stopped, but the streets were still damp. Shallow puddles occupied various spots on the sidewalk. As Anita walked along, one of Anita’s feet stepped in a puddle.

“Oops.”

With a small exclamation, Rutger, who was leading, turned around. He found Anita standing with one foot in the puddle, and he couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth.

“What are you doing there?”

In response to his laughter-infused voice, Anita, who had been checking the ground below, raised her head abruptly. Seeing him standing a few steps ahead, inserting his hand into his pocket as if nothing had happened, she felt a renewed sense of annoyance.

“Hurry up.”

Feeling uncomfortable with every step as her wet sock and shoe sticking and falling off, Anita shivered with each movement. Yet, Rutger wasn’t just an observer of Anita’s comical appearance.

“Do you know you look really funny right now?”

“….”

Not noticing the disapproving glance from the side, he chuckled with each step. Finally, when Anita tried to pass through a seemingly deep puddle, she pushed his back.

Splat.

As Anita expected, the puddle was deeper than it seemed, and Rutger ended up sinking ankle-deep into it. He stood still in that position for a while.

Trying not to laugh at his pitiful state, Anita bit her lip.

“You.”

“….”

“Did you just laugh?”

“No?”

It was a futile attempt to deny it while still holding back laughter. Despite that, Anita persisted. Rutger, once again seemingly picking a fight with Anita, narrowed his eyes and curled one corner of his mouth in his characteristic expression.

“I really didn’t laugh.”

“What do you mean ‘didn’t’? You’re still laughing.”

“Maybe your eyes are weird?”

With that, Anita walked briskly forward, and a meaningless game of catch began. Anita tried to take large step as she could, but Rutger followed leisurely behind one foot behind her.

The fact that he could catch her anytime he wanted sparked a strange competitive spirit. Anita subtly increased her speed.

“Are we going all the way to the border like this?”

“….”

“How about just getting caught obediently?”

“What did I do to be caught!”

Anita’s voice got a little louder, and all eyes turned to her. Suddenly embarrassed, Anita paused for a moment, and Rutger caught up with her.

“Then why are you running away?”

The whispering voice in her ear was oddly persuasive. Anita wanted to say she wasn’t trying to run, but her legs moved steadily forward.

“Why are you running?”

Anita ignored him as if she couldn’t hear him. Somehow, she always felt like she was being pushed around by him.

Lost in thought, Anita didn’t notice what was in front of her. Almost simultaneously with Anita taking a step, she was pulled backward by someone.

“Ugh.”

As the wind tugged at the collar of Anita’s dress, causing a chill to run down her neck, a bicycle zoomed past her on the side.

She shivered at the thought that if she hadn’t moved, her foot could have been under the wheel.

“Where on earth are you looking while walking?”

“….”

Anita, still in a daze, was only rubbing her neck. Rutger, who had not seen what happened, grabbed Anita’s arm and turned her around to face him.

“Are you okay… what happened to your neck?”

“Why? Am I hurt?”

Anita had no way to confirm since she didn’t have a mirror. She could only guess it felt stinging, like a scraped wound.

“Oh. Did I… by any chance…”

Rutger’s eyes widened.

“Sorry, really sorry.”

He took Anita’s hand and pulled her close. Anita ended up halfway in his embrace, and she could only blink her eyes.

“Sorry.”

It was unclear why he felt so sorry when he hadn’t attempted to assassinate her and had saved her from almost having an accident. Amidst Anita’s confusion, Rutger’s hand touched her neck.

Startled by the sudden touch, Anita stiffened like a statue. His hand wrapped around Anita’s neck, and his thumb gently caressed her neck as if trying to erase a reddened mark.

Anita’s mouth gaped open as if she had lost her voice. There was no strength in the hand that held her neck. Despite the weak force, Anita couldn’t say anything, like someone with a sleepy throat.

The throbbing of blood vessels, usually unnoticed, was vividly felt.

Anita cautiously raised her head to check Rutger’s expression. His gaze was fixed on Anita’s neck, but he seemed distant.

“I… I’m fine now.”

After hesitating for a while, Anita finally spoke.