To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 86

“Why didn’t you just answer?”

Despite encountering someone from her own circle in an unfamiliar place, Anita felt no trace of warmth or relief. It seemed she was quite unsettled by Finian’s presence.

“From your expression, it looks like you didn’t expect me to be here?”

It wasn’t so much that she hadn’t expected him, but more that she hadn’t really considered his presence at all. Unable to say this directly, she just gave a slight nod.

“Actually, thinking it over, I should be the one asking the questions, not you.”

Finian released Anita’s hand and handed her a handkerchief. She used it to wipe away the sticky chocolate from her fingers.

“I thought you were opposed to parties?”

While leaning casually against the fountain, Finian called over a passing waiter.

“Cheese crackers?”

“No” Anita said.

He took a plate of grapes from the waiter and dipped one grape into the chocolate fountain.

“Want one?”

Anita hesitated, knowing that the chocolate coming from the fountain was unlikely to be clean. It could have contaminants like insects or fallen leaves. She shook her head, and Finian raised an eyebrow before popping the grape into his mouth.

“It’s really something, though. You’ve always just followed Rutger around. So what are you doing here?”

He continued to look puzzled, as if he couldn’t understand why Anita was at the party.

‘Did I really give off the impression that I was so enamored with Rutger?’

Anita thought she had never given any indication of her feelings for Rutger. She certainly had never followed him around.

“Oh, what’s this? Do you two know each other?”

A voice from the side made both Anita and Finian turn their heads. Liliana, wearing a silver-gray ball gown and with her hair styled in soft curls, was staring at them.

“That’s a question I should be asking. Did you invite her?”

“Yes. She’s a university classmate.”

Liliana’s gaze shifted between her and Finian with an air of curiosity, like a fox eyeing potential prey. Anita instinctively tried to distance herself from Finian, sensing that something troublesome was about to unfold. However, Finian’s movement was quicker as he pulled her closer.

With a casual motion, Finian draped his arm over Anita’s shoulder and spoke with a playful tone.

“Oh, Anita and I have known each other since we were very young.”

While Finian was known for his tendency to ramble, his current demeanor was surprisingly nonchalant. It was hard to believe that he had once been a bother to Anita, but now he seemed utterly indifferent. Despite his arm resting on her shoulder, Anita chose not to resist or push him away.

“Well, since Rutger mentioned you’re also from the same hometown, I suppose you’re familiar with each other.”

Liliana nodded with an expression that seemed a mix of frustration and resignation. Anita couldn’t quite grasp why she was reacting that way.

“He’s obsessed with connections.”

“Hey.”

Liliana’s low, warning tone was directed at Finian, but he ignored it and continued speaking to Anita.

“I introduced Rutger to her too. They’re both in the same art department at the university.”

Anita, who had been glancing away, now turned her gaze directly at Finian. Seeing her attention, Finian’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

“She’s just jealous because I know more people than she does.”

Finian’s words sounded loaded with meaning. On the surface, it seemed like a jab at Liliana, but the way he looked at Anita made it feel more complex. The two of them locked eyes for a moment.

The sudden silent standoff was interrupted by Liliana’s intervention.

“Security! Get this man out of here. He’s not a guest I invited.”

Finian withdrew his arm from Liliana’s shoulder and addressed her with a smirk.

“Isn’t that a bit much? I’m a VIP, you know.”

“I’m the host here. What does it matter?”

“Haven’t you heard? A party without Finian Nigel isn’t a proper party.”

“Doesn’t it embarrass you to say that out loud?”

“Not at all. Why would stating the facts be embarrassing?”

Liliana made a show of rolling her eyes at Anita and then pointed at Finian.

“Anita, don’t even associate with such strange people. Ignoring them is the best way to handle it.”

Uncertain of how to respond, Anita awkwardly forced a smile.

As she looked around, she noticed the number of tables and settings seemed disproportionate to the number of people in the garden. This curiosity was soon resolved as people began to trickle into the garden from seemingly nowhere.

Chefs wheeled out carts filled with food to clear the empty tables. The lively group of new arrivals took their seats at the tables.

Anita’s prejudice about parties was shattered. What she had expected to be loud, chaotic, and tiring turned out to be surprisingly ordinary—like being in a restaurant.

While Finian and Liliana continued their trivial argument, Anita moved quickly to pull out chairs and gently nudged them into their respective seats. The two, absorbed in their dispute, complied with Anita’s subtle push.

Soon, chefs arrived to set up the table with food. As one of them lit the candle in the center of the table, Anita spoke up.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“What for?”

Although her decision to come was partly impulsive, driven by a desire to avoid seeing her father, she felt a thank-you was necessary.

“It’s more enjoyable when there are more people.”

“See, I told you, she’s obsessed with connections.”

Finian continued to provoke Liliana, who shot him a piercing look. Ignoring her, Finian turned his attention away and pulled something from his jacket pocket. He took out a cigarette and put it between his lips.

“Why?”

Anita, who was raised in a smoke-free household, couldn’t understand why anyone would smoke at the dinner table. She subtly moved her chair back to put some distance between herself and Finian.

“Just one for me, too.”

He offered a cigarette to Liliana as well. It seemed that the simple act of sharing cigarettes miraculously restored some semblance of harmony between them.