To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 56

She decided to satisfy her curiosity since she had already been caught. In response to Anita’s question, he nonchalantly flipped through the booklet.

“A plausible speech.”

“This time, did you not write on your palm or cuff?”

“Oh, Anita Rodel. Outdoors aside, it’s easy to get caught in this bright indoor setting.”

Edmund’s face as he spoke was comically playful, but his voice was unusually serious.

“So, I have no choice but to memorize it in my head.”

Now that she thought about it, he had a knack for stating the obvious as if it were not obvious at all. Anita, who was briefly impressed by Edmund’s words, quickly became expressionless.

“Oh, wait a moment.”

“……?”

Edmund, who had been leafing through the booklet in a relaxed manner, looked troubled. He sighed while keeping his gaze fixed behind Anita. It was the moment when Anita, curious about why he reacted like that, was about to turn around.

“Could you hold onto this for a bit?”

Without waiting for Anita’s response, he handed over the wine glass that had been in his hand and disappeared. As a result, Anita was left holding a wine glass in each hand.

“What’s going on? Why are you here? Isn’t it boring alone?”

Suddenly, Liliana popped up and spoke to Anita. Anita, who now understood the situation, turned to look at her. Edmund had detected Liliana’s presence again and swiftly escaped, leaving Anita with the wine glasses.

“Why are you holding two glasses?”

Liliana spoke, casually taking one of the wine glasses from Anita’s left hand. Anita hesitated on whether to tell her that the glass belonged to Edmund.

Since it wasn’t clear whether Edmund had already drunk from the glass or not, Anita decided to keep her mouth shut.

As Anita’s gaze remained fixed on the glass she was holding, Liliana, perhaps misunderstanding the meaning behind the gaze, suddenly spoke.

“Rutger won’t come today. Is this glass left out in case that guy shows up?”

Anita briefly contemplated whether to clarify that she wasn’t looking at the glass for that reason or to ask why Rutger was absent.

“Well, there seems to be some reason for it.”

Anita responded, pretending as if she had no interest.

“Hmph. What reason? Looks like he’s just too lazy to come, huh?”

“…….”

“By the way, haven’t you seen Edmund?”

“Huh?”

“Well, never mind. I’ll go look for him.”

Liliana made noises resembling muttering to herself and then swiftly gulped down the remaining wine in the glass. After that, she placed the glass on a passing waiter’s tray and quickly went off to another place.

Alone now, Anita quickly surveyed her surroundings. It seemed like there were no familiar faces around. It was the perfect moment to leave the hall. Anita decided to quietly turn towards the back door.

Out of nowhere, a loud crash and terrified screams filled the hall. Startled, Anita turned to look in the direction of the noise. Then, she almost hesitated to sit back down.

“How dare… how dare you, insult me like this!”

The ominous murmuring came from none other than Charles Bennett. In his hand, he held a wine glass that had shattered and become sharp. While everyone else scattered to avoid him, he stood alone in the middle of the hall. His dark, gleaming eyes seemed to reflect madness.

“I warned you, didn’t I?”

He seemed to have lost his sanity. Charles raised the broken wine glass threateningly, swinging his arm. Those who had been avoiding him scattered in fear. The hall now fell into complete silence. No one attempted to stop Charles.

Anita, observing his actions, took a step back. She considered calling for security or the police, someone who could help. However, the moment Anita started to move, Charles suddenly turned his head.

“You! You, because of you…”

In Anita’s eyes, he seemed completely irrational. The broken glass he brandished pointed directly at her. She thought she should say something, but when it came down to it, no words came out.

She didn’t want to say anything recklessly and provoke him.

“Come here.”

Although he had said to come, Charles Bennett approached Anita step by step. In that short period, Anita pondered intensely. Running away from here was dangerous; she couldn’t see what was behind her and might be attacked unexpectedly.

But standing still and bleeding excessively until death was not an option.

“You, after saying you love me…”

‘When did I ever!’

Anita silently yelled inside her head. She wondered when she had ever said such words to Charles. It seemed like he had an excessive imagination, but she resisted the urge to tell him to go to the hospital.

In the end, unable to make a decision until the last moment, Anita paled and took a step back. The glass he held was the only thing vividly visible. The sharp edge of the glass gleamed under the bright lights.

“Wait! There seems to be a misunderstanding… Oh!”

As Anita hastily retreated, her foot caught, causing her to stumble and fall backward.

“Too late. You should have done it earlier.”

What had she done wrong? Anita felt extremely unjust. The man, ugly and contorting his face, approached Anita and thrust the broken glass towards her. She closed her eyes tightly and used both arms to shield her face.

‘Would it hurt?’

Of course, it would. The broken glass might be embedded in the skin, requiring surgery. Or maybe nerves were severed. But could she still survive before all of that?

“W-what is it?”

Anita, who had tightly closed her eyes, flinched. Along with a dull thud, Charles’s bewildered voice echoed. When the pain didn’t come even after some time, Anita cautiously opened her eyes.

Charles Bennett, who had just threatened Anita aggressively, was now sprawled on the ground. A reddish bruise adorned one side of his face. Anita’s gaze naturally shifted to the person who seemed to have thrown a punch.

“Why, why are you here…”

Anita, surprised by the unexpected appearance of someone she didn’t anticipate meeting today, asked absentmindedly.

“Just go away.”

He said without even turning to look at Anita. Before Anita could intervene, he swung his fist, hitting Charles Bennett’s head, which was writhing on the ground. With a thud, Charles collapsed once again.

“S-stop.”

With a bruised face and blood dripping from torn lips, Charles no longer appeared threatening. However, Rutger didn’t stop; he continued to rain punches on Charles as if wanting to erase Charles Bennett from existence entirely.