DSFL | Chapter 101

~Chapter 101~

The awkward café visit was finally over.

After being held hostage by the desserts, Leon looked completely exhausted and apologized to me.

“Bianca, I’m sorry.”

“Huh? No, it’s okay.”

“I should’ve done more research beforehand.”

Meanwhile, the root of the whole mess, Ricardo, looked completely unbothered.

And to make things worse…

“No need to thank me,” he said shamelessly.

“But if you insist, I won’t refuse either.”

“…Ha.”

Leon gave up trying to talk to Ricardo. He must have finally come to the conclusion that Ricardo was an unbearably unreasonable person.

Even Leon, who didn’t back down from Cedric, had surrendered.

“You said you had somewhere to go, right?”

It was actually just an excuse. I felt a little guilty, but since I had been thinking of visiting the Magic Tower anyway, it wasn’t a total lie.

“It’s rude to ignore someone who’s still present,” Ricardo added.

“Sigh…”

Leon, clearly done with him, shut his eyes in frustration.

“L-let’s just head back now.”

“Alright. I’ll write you a letter.”

I quickly responded.

“I’ll write first.”

Because there were things I hadn’t said yet.

Leon looked surprised by my words. His eyes widened.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

After seeing him off, I turned to go my own way.

But only a few steps later, I sighed and looked back.

Ricardo was still there. When our eyes met, he shrugged.

“…Didn’t you say you wouldn’t follow me like some creep again?”

“I had no such thought.”

“Then how should I understand this situation right now?”

“Think of it as a gentleman helping out a lady.”

…This man is truly unbelievable.

“A true gentleman doesn’t interrupt other people’s prior appointments.”

“I was never taught manners, so I didn’t know it was rude.”

He didn’t even try to hide how little he cared.

I glanced at the envelope in his hand.

He must’ve grabbed it when I briefly stepped away at the café.

As I stared at him, Ricardo slowly approached.

He fiddled with the envelope for a moment before cautiously asking:

“…What is your relationship with that man?”

“You already know—we’re like family.”

“Family…”

He repeated my words quietly.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t act like this again. I had something important I needed to say to Leon today—”

“I refuse.”

He cut me off without hesitation.

“What kind of answer is that?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

Still, not a moment’s pause. He continued, expression calm:

“If you’re thinking of abandoning me, don’t bother.”

“…”

“Because I’d prefer it if you ended things here.”

…What on earth is he saying?

Is this because I said I had somewhere to return to?

“I would never do something like that.”

I sighed deeply and shook my head.

Will there ever be a day I can be honest with Ricardo?

“If it’s you, I don’t mind.”

“Enough.”

How can someone be this serious about a joke?

But his face showed no hint of teasing.

As I hesitated, Ricardo changed the subject.

“You said you were going somewhere?”

“Oh, yes. I was thinking of stopping by the Magic Tower.”

“I see. So you’ve taken a liking to magic?”

“No, that’s not it!”

I snapped back, then paused and stared at him.

Come to think of it, he used to be close to Idette, didn’t he?

“By the way, about Miss Idette…”

I spoke without thinking and immediately regretted it.

Ah, no… Why did I bring that up?

It was too late to take it back.

Ricardo’s face went stiff.

“I don’t know anything about that woman. We weren’t close in the past, and it’ll stay that way in the future as well.”

An awkward silence followed.

I told myself it wasn’t a big deal, but I couldn’t get any words out.

Ricardo had never told me what happened.

But I understood now.

…Wasn’t that enough?

I finally understood Ricardo like I’d always wanted.

So why did this feel so heavy?

And why did I keep thinking, was this really okay?

“I-it’s not a big deal. I was just curious about Miss Idette.”

“I’m not blaming you. I just don’t enjoy talking about her.”

…Is he trying to protect me?

But does he know?

That Those apologetic eyes of his only make it harder for me to breathe.

That It’s painful not being able to talk openly.

I know Ricardo did not do anything wrong.

And I also know I turned him away when he tried to explain.

We were both still stuck in that awful day.

But I didn’t even know where to begin to fix things.

I clenched and unclenched my fists before I carefully opened my mouth.

“I’ve become good friends with Miss Idette. It’s not a difficult topic for me.”

Ricardo looked at me like he didn’t understand.

“That doesn’t erase the wrong I did.”

“So you’re just going to be wary around me forever?”

“If that’s what you want, I will.”

Does he really know what I want?

“Isn’t that just the easier path for you?”

“Easier? For me?”

Ricardo swept a hand over his face.

“I figured it was better than giving you empty apologies.”

He didn’t want to keep talking about Idette, so he changed the subject.

“But more importantly, I—”

Strangely, his voice sounded distant, like it was coming from far away.

And that was fine, wasn’t it?

At least we weren’t fighting like before.

This was an improvement… right?

No, wait. Was it really right?

No. I wanted to hear Ricardo’s story.

Not the one written in text, but the one he lived, here beside me.

And now I had the answer.

I couldn’t keep letting things slide like this.

As I stood in silence, his face filled with fear.

“…”

With pale hands, he held out the envelope.

“It’s your favorite chocolate.”

I didn’t reach to take it, so he simply pushed it into my arms.

“And also, for you…”

His voice faded. He looked like he was about to cry.

“Bianca, when you make that face, I really don’t know what to do.”

His cold hand awkwardly reached for mine.

“…You know it too, right? That we can’t keep going on like this.”

He froze at my next words.

“Maybe I should be honest first. I have a place I need to return to.”

I clenched my fist tightly.

“I’ve been so overwhelmed with just taking care of myself that I didn’t want to hear what you had to say.”

I knew it was something he didn’t want to hear.

Something I didn’t really need to say.

But honestly, if I didn’t speak up first, he wouldn’t open up either.

“And yes, I was also hurt when you stayed close to Miss Idette. That’s why I wanted to end our engagement.”

Ricardo stared at me, like he’d forgotten how to breathe.

Still, I didn’t stop.

“It must’ve been hard for you too. Being forced into an engagement with a girl who bullied you as a child.”

“I never thought—”

“You said you wouldn’t lie to me. I know you had your reasons, but…”

Suddenly, Ricardo’s face crumpled like he’d heard something unbearable.

“No matter what those reasons were, they’re just my excuses. You looked like you were on the verge of breaking, and I still tried to justify myself.”

“Listen to me. I did dislike you, but not now!”

“…!”

“I’m not asking for an explanation. I just want to move on from the past!”

My lips trembled.

“If we’re going to pretend like it never happened, then treat me like normal at least…!”

I gritted my teeth and stepped toward him.

“If you can’t even do that, and you keep walking on eggshells around me and biting your tongue, is that really what you want?”