To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 82

“Anita, just a moment.”

He tried to gently pull her away from his neck, but she only clung to him tighter, her arms still wrapped around him.

“Let me see your face. I need to check something.”

His breath was heavy against her, and it felt urgent to him to make sure she was okay. He spoke in a tone that was uncharacteristically gentle, trying to coax her to release him.

“I’m not going anywhere. Just lift your head for a moment, alright?”

With a tender yet firm voice, he finally managed to get her to slowly raise her head. Her long black hair clung to her wet cheeks, and her face was pale.

He gently brushed the damp strands away from her face.

“Why… why are you here?”

Anita’s voice was barely audible as she spoke, her clothes wet and uncomfortable against her skin. She shivered at the damp sensation, unable to escape the chill.

“I was just at the shopping district….”

Her trembling fingers clutched at the hem of his clothes. The cold made it hard for her to speak, each word coming out with great effort.

Rutger, also drenched from rescuing her, was just as cold, but she knew it would be wiser to seek warmth from the sunlight rather than from his icy body. Despite that, Anita chose to lean against Rutger’s cold form rather than lying on the grass. For some reason, it felt warmer to her.

After a moment of this, she suddenly remembered someone she had forgotten about. Panicking, she quickly pulled away from Rutger and began scanning the area urgently.

“Finian is?”

“He’s alive.”

Rutger answered shortly, having been abruptly abandoned by Anita.

On the grass lay someone who looked like Finian Nigel. Water pooled around him, dripping from his soaked clothes. Just as Anita was worried about his condition, Finian began to stir and then suddenly sat up.

“Cough, cough. That was close.”

Finian, coughing and grumbling, met Anita’s eyes as she looked down at him. He gave her a faint smile.

“What did I tell you? I said a prayer might help, didn’t I?”

“Pfft, seriously?”

Anita replied with frustration to Finian, who was making jokes despite having just survived. It felt foolish of her to have worried about such a person.

Finian, who seemed to be naturally carefree, quickly regained his composure. As he surveyed his surroundings, he spotted a familiar face and greeted them warmly.

“Baylan, what are you doing all the way out here? How did you know we were here?”

“Did you steal your father’s car again?”

Finian’s smile instantly faltered.

“Steal?”

Anita frowned as she brushed her tangled hair with her fingers.

“Oh, Anita. It’s not like that…”

“Whether you stole the car or drove without a license, I don’t care.”

“……”

“And why did you involve her? If you were going to do something dangerous, you should have done it alone!”

Suddenly, Rutger shouted. Anita, who was standing right next to him, took a step back, her ears ringing from the outburst.

She had seen him angry a few times, but was it just her illusion? Anita had never seen Rutger this angry. It looked like he was ready to grab Finian by the collar. His hand, which had been reaching towards Finian’s shirt collar, was trembling.

Taking a deep breath as if trying to control his rage, Rutger lowered his hand. It seemed he found it difficult to lay a hand on Finian, despite his anger and the state Finian was in.

“I’m sorry.”

It was clear that the shock of the recent events had affected him as well. Finian, with trembling hands, pressed his eyes and apologized to Anita. Even though he had no license and had taken her in the car without permission, Anita couldn’t entirely blame him.

He seemed genuinely sorry, and he was indeed a victim of the situation too.

Looking at him with a tired expression, Anita replied softly.

“Okay.”

Rutger, standing with his arms crossed and glaring at Finian, extended a hand towards him. Finian looked up in surprise, then took the offered hand and helped himself up.

“Are you okay?”

“Well, I’m fine.”

Finian scratched his cheek, but his expression quickly turned somber.

“Ah, I’m done for. You two should prepare some chrysanthemums for me.”

“…….”

He looked around the lakeside with a gloomy face. The surface of the water was very calm.

“Just go home. I’d rather spend the night here than go back.”

“Stop talking nonsense and go home.”

Rutger cut off Finian’s exaggerated attitude with a sharp retort.

“Let’s go.”

Rutger took Anita’s hand, and she stared at their joined hands in a daze.

“Wait a minute…”

Anita followed Rutger, but she kept glancing back. Finian stood still, rooted to the spot. Even though the accident had just happened, it didn’t seem right to leave him like that.

“What’s wrong?”

As Anita’s pace slowed, Rutger’s did as well. When Rutger turned to check behind him, he saw Finian, who had been standing dazed, start walking in the opposite direction.

Seeing that Finian was managing on his own, Rutger urged Anita again.

“He’ll manage on his own. More importantly, what if you catch a cold doing this?”

“Well, that’s…”

Rutger, clearly irritated by Anita’s unwavering focus on Finian, tugged at her hand.

“Do you need a lift? If you’re having trouble walking, just say so.”