To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 77

“Did you skip class today?”

“…”

How did he find out? Rosetta Hall wasn’t such a strict school. They usually turned a blind eye if a student missed a day or two. If it happened too often, they might even visit the student’s home for a serious consultation with the parents.

“Dad, today…”

“Did I teach you to do that?”

“…”

“If you were going to skip, shouldn’t you have at least told me or your mother?”

Even though he wouldn’t have let her skip if she said she didn’t want to go to school. Anita swallowed her dissatisfaction. She already knew rebellion was futile.

“I’m very disappointed in you. You’re sixteen now, shouldn’t you take responsibility for your actions?”

“…”

“That boy was saying something like you weren’t at school because you were sick.”

Anita, who had been keeping her head down to avoid unnecessary criticism, lifted her head at his words.

“You?”

“The boy next door. Your mother’s friend’s son.”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Rutger all day. Did he come to her house? Anita took a step back.

“Where are you going? Come here.”

Of course, she was caught soon enough.

In the end, Anita had to study in his study. Sitting down with a thick stack of papers, Anita sighed as she looked down at the book she had to study.

“Early Philosophy Education for Adolescents”

How could they only provide such boring things?

Anita, who was staring blankly at the thick book, which was clearly over 500 pages, attempted to negotiate.

“Can’t I study in my room?”

Nathan Rodel, who was flipping through thick files while sitting on the chair, raised his eyebrows.

“Add another fifty pages.”

Realizing she shouldn’t have said anything, Anita conceded defeat. Nathan, now in his forties, was a lawyer who believed himself to be a good parent and an excellent educator. He thought using physical punishment or starvation on children was barbaric and that proper mental education was the only solution.

So, Anita had been receiving punishments like this since her childhood.

To make matters worse, the boring and dense book had been boring people since the first page. Anita managed to copy only three pages before glancing out the window. What could Rutger be doing right now?

Thunk.

As Anita glanced out the window, Nathan hastily pulled the curtain shut. Eventually, Anita simply pretended to be busy with the book, absentmindedly moving her hands while avoiding looking at the clock on the wall. Even without looking, she knew the clock hands were moving slower than a snail.

The graceful movement of the pen on the paper suddenly stopped. Anita found herself absentmindedly tapping her chin and staring at the blank paper.

“What kind of relationship do we have now?”

An unexpected question popped into her mind. Lovers? Unconsciously, Anita tightened her grip on the pen. Ink leaked from the crumpled tip of the pen, forming a small puddle. Unaware of this, Anita continued to ponder.

Their relationship was always something that couldn’t be summed up in a single word. Not quite neighbors, but not quite friends.

“Anita.”

“Yes, yes?”

Anita, who had been unconsciously chewing on the end of the pen, hastily spat it out at the sound of her name. Seeing her daughter’s blank face, Nathan sighed lightly.

“You can go now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. If I kept you any longer, I felt like you might use that pen to stab me in the neck.”

Released early for once, Anita quickly left the room before he could change his mind. Back in her room, Anita tore up a notebook page and made a paper ball.

It wasn’t too late, Rutger probably hadn’t fallen asleep yet.

They hadn’t said goodbye properly or even had a conversation yesterday, so she had to say something. Opening the window and about to throw the ball at his window, Anita hesitated. What should she say? That she enjoyed the kiss yesterday?

Or…

However, much to Anita’s dismay, his room light went out. It was a bit late now.

Even though she muttered to herself, her gaze flicked to the clock. It was only 8 o’clock.

***

One deviation from the norm was enough for a day. Anita hung her head with a lifeless expression as she walked to her physics class. In the distance, she spotted a man approaching. At first, Anita thought she would just pass him by, but as he got closer, she narrowed her eyes. There was something familiar about him.

“Oh no.”

Not wanting to encounter someone she’d rather avoid, Anita subtly started to backtrack.

The man, with his raised eyebrows and sharp jawline, appeared somewhat handsome aside from his untrustworthy demeanor, which made him seem like a con artist. Of course, he wasn’t Anita’s type.

“Hey there.”

Anita silently hoped he would just ignore her and keep walking, but the man stubbornly approached her and initiated conversation. His waving hand, as if he had just noticed her from afar and was now greeting her, seemed quite insincere.

“Hi.”

As Nigel, with his swept-back golden hair, looked at Anita with a gaze that clearly showed he was conscious of her, Anita lowered her eyes.