To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 85
The following car sped up and overtook the car Anita was in.
“Jeff!”
Liliana’s friends waved from the front, and one of them even blew a kiss towards the car behind. This seemingly casual action ignited Liliana’s competitive spirit. She called out loudly to the driver, urging him to accelerate.
Anita’s face grew even paler.
Should she just jump out?
Her thoughts veered towards the extreme. She felt breathless and nauseous, as if trapped in an oxygen-deprived space. As she frantically looked around, her eyes caught sight of the vast sea.
The memory of the car speeding towards the lake resurfaced. The car that wouldn’t stop even with the brakes on, the rattling sound, the moment it lifted into the air and then plunged down.
“Anita, Anita! Are you okay?”
Liliana’s face, as she shook Anita’s shoulders and tried to make eye contact, was Anita’s last memory.
A cool breeze tickled her cheeks. She didn’t realize it was the wind touching her face and absentmindedly rubbed her cheeks with her hand.
Tap, tap.
Hearing the knocking sound, Anita frowned.
Knock, knock.
She tried to ask who it was, but no voice came out. Her throat felt scratchy. Anita rubbed her throat with her hand as she sat up.
She then noticed that the sensation of the blanket against her fingers felt strange. Unable to open her eyes due to the bright light coming through the open window, Anita continued to fidget with the blanket.
“Anita!”
“Mmm, yes. Yes?”
The sound of the door opening and the loud voice calling her name finally made Anita’s eyes open.
“Are you awake? How are you feeling?”
With her eyes now open, Anita looked around in confusion at the unfamiliar room and then at Liliana, who was standing in front of her. A woman who followed Liliana into the room handed her a glass of water. Anita, feeling thirsty, took a sip.
“…….”
Anita looked around once more. Seeing her silence, Liliana seemed impatient and decided to speak up first.
“Do you remember fainting on the way? I was so flustered. I never knew someone could collapse so suddenly.”
“Fainting…?”
Anita was in disbelief. Fainting? Who could have…
“Well, at least it happened just before we arrived.”
The memory she had momentarily forgotten slowly came back to her. Realizing she had fainted while trying to act nonchalant in the car, Anita’s mouth dropped open. She felt mortified.
“Anyway, if you need anything or if something feels off, ring the bell. I’ll leave it here.”
Liliana placed the bell on the bedside table. After setting it down, Liliana looked at Anita with concern for a moment before turning on her heel and leaving the room. Once the door closed, the room was filled with silence.
As Anita stared blankly at the spot where Liliana had been, her gaze turned to the woman still standing nearby. With neatly pinned-up hair and a white apron, the woman seemed to be a maid working at the house.
“Please rest. This will be the room you’ll be staying in while you’re at the villa.”
“…….”
Anita was stopped by the woman as she tried to get out of bed.
“Will you be having dinner in your room?”
“No, I’ll eat in the dining room.”
It was a matter of basic etiquette to dine with the host who invited her. It would be rude for a guest staying in the guest room to remain cooped up in their room.
The woman, who had set down a water glass and some simple snacks like cookies on the bedside table, left the room.
Once alone, Anita got out of bed and walked over to the window. The shell wind chime hanging by the window tinkled softly as it clashed together in the breeze. Curious, Anita fiddled with the rough surface of the shell before stepping out onto the terrace.
Liliana’s villa was perched on a sheer cliff. Although Anita’s room was only on the second floor, the sheer drop below made it feel as if it were 100 meters down.
Anita clung to the terrace railing and peered down, feeling dizzy and unsteady. She had never considered herself afraid of heights, but for some reason, looking down from such a height made her uneasy.
Several yachts floated on the pristine blue sea, looking like white specks. The emerald waters appeared inviting, even making Anita, who wasn’t fond of water, briefly consider jumping in.
The sun was setting on the horizon where the sea met the sky. Captivated by the view, Anita found herself resting her chin on the terrace, staring at the horizon for a long time.
It wasn’t until the cold night breeze touched her cheek that Anita realized she had been outside for quite some time.
Knock, knock.
The sound of a knock announced that it was time for dinner.
Anita was led by the housekeeper, who guided her from the kitchen area to the front entrance.
When she had heard that dinner would be served outdoors, Anita had imagined a simple garden meal—perhaps a modest table in the garden, surrounded by a few chairs.
However, the garden she encountered exceeded her expectations. It was far more elaborate than she had imagined. While the white-clothed table and candlesticks resembled an ordinary dinner setup, the garden itself was illuminated with bright electric lights, and violinists played nearby.
Her awe only grew when she saw a fountain with fish spewing an unidentifiable liquid. As Anita approached the fountain, she realized that what was flowing from the fish’s mouths was chocolate.
‘Is that really chocolate?’
As Anita bent down and touched the liquid with her fingertips, someone gently grabbed her wrist and pushed her fingers into the chocolate.
“…?”
Startled, Anita turned around to see who had seized her wrist.
“You…”
The brown hair neatly styled and the deep hazel eyes were unmistakable. Anita’s expression soured at the sight of someone she’d rather avoid.
‘Why is Finian here?’
“My dear Anita, where’s Rutger? Alone, huh?”
Finian’s voice carried a teasing tone as he smirked. Anita had no intention of answering him. Surely Finian knew better where Rutger was, being his close friend unlike her, who merely hovered around the periphery.
Seeing Anita’s silence, Finian seemed intent on pressing her for an answer. He playfully tugged at her hand, causing her chocolate-coated fingers to move towards his lips. Anita recoiled in shock, pulling her hand away.
“Why are you doing this?”