To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 83
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Anita’s hair was dripping with water, just like Rutger’s. Who could possibly ask someone who had jumped into the water to save her for a ride?
After walking for a while, Anita realized she was still holding Rutger’s hand and quickly let go. When she pulled away, a surprised Rutger turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, it’s nothing…”
Although she had been so disoriented earlier that she had even clung to his hand, now that she remembered he had a girlfriend, it didn’t seem right. Still, it didn’t seem appropriate to say, “It feels awkward to hold your hand when you have a girlfriend.”
Anita hesitated, not providing a clear reason.
“By the way, how did you get here?”
“Mr. Rodel doesn’t have a car, does he?”
“Huh?”
“You looked strange in the car.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“……”
“Are you saying you followed us from then?”
Anita’s question, thrown out without much thought, seemed to have made him uncomfortable, as he turned his head away. Not understanding his reaction, Anita pressed further.
“How?”
“…I happened to be driving a car at the time…”
Although Anita didn’t understand why he would be embarrassed about saving her life, she decided not to press the matter any further.
“Oh.”
Anita was startled when she glanced down and saw a long, black streak on the ground. It was like a trail left by the broken-down car she had been in. The sensation of walking over the path the damaged vehicle had taken felt very strange.
“Are you okay? Why…?”
Noticing where Anita’s gaze was fixed, Rutger sighed.
“Don’t look. Just keep your eyes on the front and walk.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Although Anita tried to deny it, her voice lacked confidence and didn’t sound very convincing.
Nearby, a car that appeared to belong to Rutger was parked haphazardly among the bushes. Its disheveled placement gave a clue to how urgently he must have followed them.
“Why just leave it?”
He didn’t even glance at the car and walked past it. Anita looked back and forth between the car and Rutger with confusion.
“We can find it later.”
So, they left the car behind and continued walking. Anita chose to walk a step behind him, worried that walking side by side might lead to an awkward illusion of being a couple.
And her judgment proved wise. Rutger didn’t appear for several days after he dropped her off at her home.
Anita later learned from Finian that Rutger had broken up with Allison Schneider. However, she also heard that Rutger was now seeing someone else instead of Allison.
Since then, Rutger continued to date other women. Anita watched as the woman next to him changed multiple times, but she could not bring herself to say anything. Rutger acted as if nothing had ever happened whenever they met, and Anita continued to behave as if she had forgotten about the past.
Their distant friendship has continued up to now, and Anita has learned to be somewhat content with their current relationship.
It feels like just yesterday that she started at Aberdeen University, but now the end of the semester was approaching.
“Anita, are you planning to go back to your hometown for the break?”
“Well…”
Originally, she should take the train back home, but this time she wasn’t really inclined to do so.
“If you don’t have to go, how about coming to my vacation home?”
“Vacation home?”
“Yes. I’m planning to invite a few friends and have a party. It’s been a terribly dull semester, so don’t you think we should have some fun?
If it were the usual Anita, she would have firmly declined the offer as soon as she heard it. She disliked noisy and crowded places. However, the word “party” didn’t even register with Anita. The hope of leaving the house where Nathan was waiting and staying somewhere else excited her.
“Of course. I’d love to attend.”
Liliana, who had expected a refusal from her, was taken aback by the unexpectedly easy acceptance.
“Are you sure you’re serious?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great. Oh, and by the way, Rutger said he’s too busy and doesn’t want to attend.”
“…Is that so?”
‘Should I ask him to come along?’
The sudden thought was so bold that Anita chuckled to herself. The idea of asking Rutger to join her at Liliana’s villa seemed unthinkable. Even though their relationship had gotten closer recently, especially after the Charles Bennett stalking incident, it was likely only temporary.
Rutger would eventually push her away again.
Anita didn’t want to hasten that timing herself. This level of distance might be just right.
“It seems he must be busy.”
Anita replied in a calm tone, and Liliana shrugged her shoulders, suggesting she didn’t want to discuss Rutger any further.
***