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In a large, luxurious apartment lived Lee Dain, or rather, Rora.
Where did that nickname come from? Not even the girl herself knew. All she knew was that, one random day, everyone had simply started calling her that. It wasn't something that bothered her. In fact, she preferred it.
The girl sat on the long gray sofa in her enormous living room, staring at nothing in particular, completely lost in her thoughts.
Her expression, unlike the peaceful surroundings, was anything but pleasant. Anger was written all over her face, though her eyes looked strangely empty.
Rora had just gotten home from school. She was gripping her messenger bag so tightly that the strap had become wrinkled beneath her fingers.
A long sigh escaped her lips, and she finally let go of the poor bag.
The Korean girl stood stiffly from the sofa and looked directly toward the glass wall of her penthouse. Tall buildings surrounded her, their lights illuminating the night like real stars.
“How ridiculous,” she muttered.
Rora yanked the ribbon holding her hair in a ponytail and tossed it onto the sofa. The maid would clean it up later.
She walked heavily toward her bedroom, passing by plastic Amazonian flowers.
Her eyes remained fixed on her feet, deliberately avoiding the family portraits and paintings hanging along the walls.
It was always like this.
Lee Dain didn't care about her parents or anything of the sort, and the feeling was mutual. As far as she knew, she was simply the heir to a huge animation company.
She opened her bedroom door so forcefully that, if it had been made of cheap wood, she probably would've damaged it.
And with the same force, she slammed it shut.
She quickly grabbed the headphones lying on her desk and threw herself onto the bed.
Rora stared irritably at the open window, but she was far too tired to get up and close it. The curtains swayed in the night's breeze. She grabbed her phone and checked the temperature.
12°C.
“Wonderful,” she said sarcastically, shoving the headphones into her ears.
She closed her eyes and let the music flow through her.
The only thought running through her head was the possibility of going deaf in the future.
A comfortable melody played through her headphones. Rora buried the side of her face into the pillow.
It had been an ordinary day.
Which meant it had been an unhappy one.
Being in her final year, Dain could only think about enduring it for a little longer.
She didn't have problems with anyone.
Actually, she'd never even had the chance to.
At school, she had no contact with anyone. She only spoke to the teachers when she was forced to.
Maybe, just to feel like she was still in control, she pretended she didn't know she was being socially excluded.
She told herself that what she was going through wasn't nearly as miserable as physical bullying.
Of course, she knew the truth.
Her entire class had, even if indirectly, agreed not to talk to her.
She understood.
Someone had to be someone.
And she'd had the misfortune of being chosen.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder—
What had she done to deserve this?
Was it because she wasn't grateful enough for the luck she'd had being born into a wealthy family?
Because she didn't care about her parents?
Because her ideals were different from everyone else's?
Why?
The teenager squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the tears back.
She had this strange belief that she should cry because crying was supposed to make you feel better.
But she couldn't cry.
Her problems weren't important enough.
She tried to comfort herself by thinking that she wasn't doing nearly as badly as that scholarship student who had transferred to the school two years ago.
Rora curled up on the bed, ignoring the fact that she was still wearing her uniform and hadn't even showered.
Tomorrow, everything would start all over again.
At least she wouldn't have to worry about getting dressed.
She already was.
The thought of not brushing her teeth in the morning crossed her mind as well, but she quickly dismissed it.
Even though she never talked to anyone in class, she didn't want to risk having bad breath.
Monologue after monologue, her mind slowly quieted down, leaving room for only one thing—
A dream she would desperately try to remember when morning came.
🕚
The beautiful girl's heavy eyes slowly opened, startled awake by the unbearable alarm blaring beside her head.
Rora turned onto her left side and noticed the maid entering her room, watching her cautiously.
“I was checking to see if you were awake.”
“Now I am,” she answered dryly, sitting up in bed.
The maid looked at Dain with disdain.
“The table's set if you want to eat something before you leave. The driver is already downstairs waiting for you.”
Rora merely nodded, gesturing for the unpleasant woman to leave.
“Creepy,” she muttered to herself.
The girl got out of bed, already wearing her shoes, whose brand she couldn't care less about.
She pulled the headphones from her ears and tossed them onto the bed.
Having that maid be the first person she saw in the morning seemed to have ruined her entire day.
Lee Dain didn't like the employees of that house at all.
She felt as though they all looked at her with disgust, and it wasn't difficult to notice the unpleasant glances they threw her way.
She sighed again, walked toward the table, grabbed a piece of bread, took a tiny bite, and left for school.
—
“We're here,” the driver said.
Rora rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on her bag.
She opened the car door with slightly trembling hands and finally stepped outside.
The driver had insisted on opening the door for her in the past, but she'd always told him she didn't need that kind of treatment while she still had two perfectly functional hands.
The girl walked into the school with her gaze lowered, though not enough for anyone to say she walked around staring at the floor.
She hurried up the stairs and, as usual, was the second person to arrive in the classroom.
She'd already accepted that she would never beat the scholarship student there, even if she slept at school.
Lee Dain walked toward her desk by the window, located in the last row and the very last seat.
She placed her bag on the desk and sat down, resting her head on her folded arms.
*That scholarship student is weird,* Rora thought.
She shifted her head slightly, trying to get a better look at the girl.
The student was sitting at the desk in the center of the classroom.
Her back was perfectly straight, her skin seemed to glow, and she appeared completely absorbed in her studies, paying no attention to Rora.
Which, by now, was routine.
Rora smiled faintly and continued watching her.
More students began arriving, but her eyes remained fixed on that girl, almost as if she wanted to catch her gaze.
Throughout every class, Rora never looked away.
She would hide tiny smiles whenever the girl showed any kind of reaction.
The other students didn't like the scholarship student.
Obviously, it was because she didn't have the same privileges they did.
But Rora found her interesting.
The girl always kept her head held high, and whenever she had a question about something they were studying, she simply raised her hand and asked the teacher.
It was something Rora admired.
She could never do that.
She noticed the looks her classmates gave Asa every time she asked a question.
They mocked her, answering her questions under their breath or saying things like:
“She just doesn't know how to stop interrupting the class.”
Rora always thought that if Asa went to a school filled with normal people, she'd probably be quite popular.
She was pretty, intelligent, and hardworking.
In the class rankings, she always got good grades.
Obviously, she couldn't afford to lose her scholarship.
It had been some time since Rora had started paying attention to Asa.
Probably since the beginning of the year.
It had happened naturally.
She only remembered that, at some point, the girl had caught her attention.
Not because of anything specific Asa had done or said.
It was simply because someone had to be someone.
And that someone had been her.
From that moment on, Rora decided that Asa would be the person who saved her from the monotony of her miserable life.
🕔
By the end of the school day, Rora hadn't left her desk once.
Not even to eat lunch.
Not even to use the bathroom.
She preferred doing those things at home.
Everyone was packing their things and getting ready to leave.
Rora continued watching Asa as she picked up the backpack she'd left on her desk.
One by one, the students left.
As always, only Asa and Rora remained in the silent classroom.
Since Rora sat in the back, all she could see was the girl's back.
Asa slipped her pink, star-covered backpack over her right shoulder and, unexpectedly, turned around.
“I felt you staring at me all day.”
Rora gave her a startled look before quickly replacing it with her usual expression.
“Don't flatter yourself.”
Despite her disinterested reply, her entire body was trembling with excitement.
Her palms were sweating.
Rora had to force herself not to laugh.
Or cry.
She couldn't believe her muse had actually noticed her.
Asa walked between the rows toward the classroom door.
“Get over yourself.”
“I'm pretty sure you were looking at me.”
Asa's voice was confident.
“And what if I was?”
Rora leaned against the doorframe.
“What would be the problem?”
Asa looked down at the floor.
Then at the empty space beside Rora.
And finally, back at Rora.
She seemed to be thinking of an answer.
“None.”
She walked past Rora and hurried out of the classroom.
Rora let out a small laugh.
Something was forming inside her, but she didn't know how to feel about it.
Was she happy that her classmate had finally noticed her?
Or sad because their first interaction had been so rude?
Brilliant Rora had no idea.
But it made her excited.
And that was enough.
It didn't matter.
She had talked to Asa.
The person she cared about so much.
That day, Lee Dain came home happy.
She spent the entire car ride with a peaceful expression, watching the cars pass by with a strange sense of happiness.
Something in the air felt different.
She relaxed on the sofa, allowing herself to enjoy the beautiful view that only her penthouse could provide.
She hummed as she walked to her bedroom, looking at all the fake plants mixed in with the real ones and ignoring her parents' portraits and paintings.
She changed out of her uniform, brushed her hair, and put on pajamas.
The maid seemed to have closed the window today.
Rora opened it again and pushed the curtains aside, letting the night's breeze hit her face.
A long laugh escaped her lips before she threw herself onto the bed.
Her life seemed to finally be on track.
In the days that followed, Rora settled into a routine.
Wake up.
Eat.
Go to school.
Watch Asa.
Go home.
Sleep.
Asa always seemed to know Rora was watching her.
She simply ignored it.
The heiress liked that.
But deep down, she wished Asa would confront her.
So, she decided to make that wish come true.
That day, she chose to leave the driver behind.
Rora began following Asa after school.
She copied the scholarship student's steps, keeping only a few meters between them.
The girls passed through empty areas covered in weeds.
Rora had completely lost track of time.
Her eyes were focused solely on the girl standing in front of her.
She wasn't afraid.
Not even a little.
She knew Asa wouldn't hurt her.
So she'd follow her even if Asa were walking straight toward a pool of lava.
“Can you stop following me?”
“I'm not following you.”
Rora kicked a small pebble, watching it fall into the river below.
They were standing on top of a badly constructed bridge.
“Then where are you going?”
“Just walking.”
Asa turned around, staring at Rora in disbelief.
“You really think that excuse is going to work?”
Rora slipped her hands into the pockets of her skirt.
“You think you're that important?”
“What?”
“You think you're important enough for someone to follow you?”
“Excuse me?”
A strong gust of wind swept through the area, making the old wooden bridge sway.
Asa immediately grabbed the railing, remembering all the times the bridge had nearly collapsed.
The person annoying her moved closer, making the dry wooden planks creak beneath them.
Asa's eyes shifted between Rora and the rotten bridge.
Apparently, this bridge was the only way she could get home without getting wet.
The history of this bridge was actually pretty funny.
Back then, Asa had been forced to lift the long skirt of her elementary school uniform whenever she crossed the dam.
The villagers, tired of dealing with the problem, decided to build a bridge themselves.
It worked for a while.
But it hadn't been properly planned, so it wasn't unusual for someone to walk across it and end up falling into the river.
Lost in thought, Asa suddenly felt something approaching her.
The scholarship student raised her gaze and met Rora's eyes.
Rora stared at her as though she were looking through a telescope.
She said nothing.
She didn't seem hesitant, nor did she appear to be thinking of something to say.
She simply watched her.
Asa, perhaps acting purely on instinct, grabbed Rora's hand and pulled her away from the bridge.
Lee Dain didn't resist.
Asa thought she caught a small smile on the creature's face, but decided she must have imagined it.
After a short walk, Asa stopped in front of a simple house.
It wasn't nearly as horrible as Rora had imagined.
Actually, it was quite comfortable.
A few elderly villagers looked curiously at the unfamiliar girl standing beside Asa.
“You live here?”
Asa seemed to think for a few seconds before answering.
Actually, Rora could pinpoint the exact moment she came up with her answer.
“No. I live in a hole in the ground.”
Rora stepped closer and threw herself against Asa's shoulder.
“I didn't know you were a hobbit.”
Asa immediately shoved her palm into Rora's face, forcing her away.
Rora simply laughed while admiring the fields surrounding the house.
Asa pulled the girl inside, taking off her shoes before entering.
Lee Dain glanced at her shoes.
They weren't worn out.
She'd already noticed that when she'd been spying on her at school.
Asa's clothes were also surprisingly well-made.
If Rora were poor, she would've assumed they were designer clothes.
Imitating the girl in front of her, Rora took off her own shoes and entered.
The living room and kitchen were connected, and the interior of the house was surprisingly pleasant to Lee Dain.
It was a little messy.
But she liked that.
The sofa was tiny, barely large enough for one person.
Pictures of beaches and unfamiliar people decorated the walls.
Rora smiled.
“Your house is pretty nice,” she said, letting her left shoe fall upside down onto the floor.
Asa looked at the Mary Jane Rora had just dropped.
She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
“Did you think I'd live in a shack?” Asa asked, tossing her backpack onto the pink velvet rug.
“Actually, I didn't even think abo—”
Suddenly, the sound of something opening in the hallway interrupted her.
A strangely beautiful person came rushing out, wearing an expression of pure shock.
“Enami Asa?!”
The creature placed a startled hand on Asa and stared at Rora like an owl spotting something in the dark.
She looked incredibly similar to Asa.
Rora assumed she had to be a close relative.
“Is that your sister?”
“Is that your friend?”
…
Rora burst into a small laugh.
It was funny that she and Asa's relative had spoken at exactly the same time.
“Yes, I'm her friend,” Rora answered with a smile.
Asa stared at her in disbelief.
Her expression practically screamed:
*When was that decided?*
Lee Dain simply laughed at her.
“My name is Lee Dain, but I prefer Rora.”
“Lisa.”
“Nice to meet you, Lisa.”
An awkward silence filled the room.
Lisa kept staring at Rora suspiciously.
She whispered something into Asa's ear, causing Asa's expression to sour immediately.
Lisa giggled and pulled Asa's hand away from Rora's wrist.
Rora lowered her eyes to the mark left on her wrist.
She hadn't noticed it.
She hadn't even felt the grip.
It was almost as if the mark belonged there.
“So… Are you staying the night? It's pretty late.”
“No,” Asa immediately answered.
Lisa turned toward her with a look of disbelief.
“Sister, that's not how you treat a guest!”
“She has her own house. There's no reason—”
Lisa interrupted her.
“Would you like to stay here, Rora? Honestly, I was pretty suspicious when I saw you. Asa hasn't had any friends since elementary school.”
“Ah… If it's not a problem…”
Lisa returned the same smile Rora had given her when they met.
She didn't seem like a bad person.
Just insecure.
“Then it's settled!” the woman announced, clapping her hands.
“I'll get a mattress for you to sleep on, Asa. Rora will sleep in your bed.”
“I already said she's not staying here!”
“And since when do you get to decide anything in this house?”
Rora simply watched like an audience member.
Her expression was attentive, almost entertained by the sisters' argument.
Asa glared angrily at her sister.
Rora's presence clearly bothered her, but Lisa didn't seem to care.
After several minutes of arguing, Asa finally gave in with a long sigh.
“Tell your parents, Rora.”
Rora simply nodded with a small smile.
Asa grabbed Rora's wrist and pulled her down the narrow hallway, opening a pink door with a heart-shaped plaque that read:
**“Enami Asa!!!”**
Asa released Rora's wrist with an irritated expression, but Lee Dain could tell she wasn't actually angry with her.
The girl's room was small, but incredibly comfortable.
Lee Dain settled onto a pink velvet rug in front of Asa's bed.
There were paintings in several different styles and posters of celebrities Rora didn't recognize.
A clothing rack was filled with clothes and accessories.
“Your room is nice.”
“Of course it is.”
Asa stared at Rora as she threw herself onto the bed.
“You know, I don't usually bring people home.”
“Hmm.”
Asa rolled her eyes when she noticed Rora getting up from the rug and beginning to rummage through her things.
“Lisa… My sister keeps insisting that I bring people here. Sometimes she even imagines me throwing parties while she's gone.”
Rora burst out laughing, throwing her hair back.
“What kind of sister wants that?”
“Hey! Don't talk about her like that.”
Rora only laughed quietly as she moved the hangers on the clothing rack, examining the clothes Asa wore.
“I think she just wants me to be more sociable? I don't know. She tries really hard to make sure I have a happy adolescence. And, by the way, she has absolutely no idea how to deal with people my age.”
Asa got up from the bed and approached Rora.
“She makes my clothes. Like, all of them.”
“I noticed.”
“Hm? How?”
“The stitching is good, and the fabrics are decent quality. Most brands don't even have quality this good.”
“Are you calling me poor?”
“What? No…”
Asa stepped closer to Rora, forcing her to move backward.
“You think I can't afford designer clothes, so my sister has to sew replicas for me?”
“That's not wha—”
“Then what is it?”
Rora lifted her head.
Something seemed to click in her mind.
She pushed Asa lightly with her right hand, resting it on her trapezius and pulling her closer.
“Calm down, Asa. I'm not calling you poor. I just think your style is really cool. It's hard to find clothes like these, so I figured you or someone you know made them.”
Rora's eyebrows were raised, her expression slightly troubled.
Suddenly, Asa's bedroom door opened.
“What do you two want for dinner?” Enami Lisa asked, sticking her head inside.
Asa turned toward her sister.
Her face seemed to get redder with every passing nanosecond.
Rora looked confused until she finally realized the position they were in.
She was holding Asa's shoulder.
And she was close enough to feel Asa's breath against her face.
Rora immediately let go and pushed her slightly backward.
“Whatever you want. I'm not picky.”
Lisa's lips curled into a huge smile.
“Got it. I won't interrupt you two anymore.”
“Lisa!”
Asa hurried toward the door and grabbed the handle, her head lowered.
“Actually, I was going to order fast food, but now I think I'll go to the little store instead…”
“Stop!”
Rora watched with her mouth slightly open, finding the whole situation hilarious.
“Okay, okay…” Lisa laughed.
“I was like that at your age too. Don't worry.”
Asa looked like she was about to throw herself at her sister.
“You misunderstood!” she exclaimed.
Lisa laughed.
“Rora, don't be cruel to her.”
Lee Dain looked at Asa, who had her back turned to her, holding the doorknob down in embarrassment.
Then she looked at Lisa.
She liked this.
The corners of her mouth curled into a smile, her eyes nearly closing with amusement.
“Okay.”
Lisa whispered something into Asa's ear before closing the door with a smile stretching from ear to ear.
A moment later, they heard Enami Lisa calling from outside, saying she was leaving and would be back soon.
Then came another shout:
“Don't do anything naughty!”
Asa looked like she was about to melt into the floor.
Rora, on the other hand, burst out laughing.
She walked toward Asa and placed both hands on the girl's shoulders.
“Are you embarrassed?” Rora teased, leaning down slightly.
“Rora…”
“Hm?”
“You… you should take a shower!”
Asa stood up, still gripping the doorknob.
She hurried over to the clothing rack and grabbed a purple pajama set, giving Rora a quick glance.
“Do I smell or something?”
“You only shower when you smell?”
Rora crouched beside her with a small grin.
“But then, what am I supposed to wear underneath?”
“Oh, I'll lend you something.”
Asa nudged a pink plastic box with her foot while looking down at Rora.
“I keep them in here. Pick something you think will fit you.”
Asa tossed the pajamas onto the bed.
The Japanese girl watched Rora for a moment, seemingly examining every part of her.
“You're using the same bra, right? I don't think mine would fit you.”
“Ah. Yeah.”
Rora opened the box somewhat absentmindedly and grabbed the first pair of underwear she saw, praying it wouldn't be too tight or too loose.
“I was wondering…” Rora said, closing the box.
“Why do you treat me like this? A normal person would've kicked me out already.”
Asa pressed her lips together and threw herself onto the bed, messing up the comforter beneath her.
“I don't know. Honestly, I wasn't planning on giving you this much attention…”
Rora stood up, brushing her uniform skirt.
“So, I think—”
“You can tell me later,” Rora interrupted with a smile.
“I'm going to take a shower now, and you should too.”
She tossed the pink lace underwear that had accidentally fallen out of the box toward Asa.
“Hey!!!”
🕙
After quite some time, the Enamis and their guest were sitting at a small table beside a window covered in vines, eating fried chicken.
“Everyone likes fried chicken, right?” Enami Lisa said.
Actually, Rora found it a little strange.
She was used to having huge, elaborate dinners. Fried chicken would've been nothing more than a side dish.
She was starting to worry about the sisters' health.
“Yeah, I love it,” Rora lied.
Asa glanced at her, pressing her lips together as she tried not to laugh at the obvious lie.
Asa picked up a piece of chicken with her hands and started eating, finally answering Rora's silent question about the missing utensils.
Rora quickly imitated her and took a huge bite.
“You two didn't do anything weird while I was gone, right?”
Asa immediately started coughing, nearly choking.
“Huh?” she asked, hitting her chest.
Lisa ignored her sister's reaction and turned toward her future daughter-in-law.
“I have to admit, I was a little shocked when I saw our Asa wrapped up in your arms, Rora.”
“But I was also relieved to discover that my little sister is into girls too,” Lisa added.
Rora listened to her in complete shock.
She forced herself to swallow the chicken she was chewing, refusing to become the second person to choke at the table.
However, Lisa's assumptions didn't bother Rora.
If anything, she almost regretted that they hadn't actually done anything.
Well.
It was still too early.
Asa, on the other hand, looked like she was about to strangle her sister.
“It's not like that, ma'am… You misunderstood,” Rora said with a restrained smile.
“Oh, please! You don't have to be embarrassed around me.”
Rora turned toward Asa.
The two seemed to be thinking the exact same thing.
*Maybe Lisa has some—no, several problems.*
In the blink of an eye, the three girls had devoured all the chicken.
Maybe Asa and Rora simply ate faster to escape Lisa's teasing.
But that's only a theory.
It was already late, so Lisa dragged an extra mattress into Asa's room and made her cover it with a pink pillowcase.
“Go to sleep. You have school tomorrow,” Lisa said sleepily.
Apparently, her social battery was at twelve percent.
She had a crochet-covered backpack slung over her shoulder and mumbled something about needing to go somewhere soon, but neither student paid much attention.
Asa threw herself onto the mattress on the floor and grabbed a second blanket from the bed.
“You don't have to sleep on the mattress. Just sleep in your bed, Asa.”
“I sleep in my bed every day. I'm making an exception tonight.”
Rora kicked the mattress, making Asa wobble.
“Get off the floor. I'm going to feel guilty watching you sleep down there.”
“I might not even sleep because I'll feel bad knowing you're the reason I'm uncomfortable,” Rora added.
Her expression was unusually serious, probably because she was tired.
Asa smiled faintly, resting a pillow on her lap.
“Funny. Following me without even talking to me doesn't bother your conscience, though, does it?”
Rora looked directly into Asa's eyes.
Her expression after saying that reminded Rora of a child talking back to her parents for the first time.
Rora brushed her hair back and lowered herself onto the mattress.
“Yeah. I'm shameless enough for that.”
Asa said nothing.
She looked slightly stunned.
The girl stood up, trying to regain her composure, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like:
“What an insufferable girl.”
She walked over to the light switch and turned it off, leaving only the moonlight to illuminate the room.
Asa stepped onto the mattress and climbed into her bed.
“Happy now?” she asked without turning around.
“Very.”
“Hmph!”
Asa pulled a leopard-print blanket over herself, keeping her back turned toward Rora.
Maybe she was a little sulky.
But it wouldn't last.
During the night, one minute with your eyes closed somehow turned into two hours.
Throughout all that time, Rora remained awake.
She couldn't stop thinking with Asa sleeping right beside her.
She couldn't afford to waste even a second.
She blinked as little as possible so she could keep watching her.
Eventually, Asa shifted in her sleep and turned toward Rora.
She could clearly feel Rora's gaze fixed on her.
She hadn't slept for even a minute either.
She kept her eyes squeezed shut, forcing herself to imagine that she was a princess in some fantasy novel.
Nothing worked.
All Asa could think about was how she'd have to make up all that lost sleep over the weekend.
Even though that wasn't really how sleep worked.
Suddenly, Rora knelt on the mattress Lisa had placed on the floor and rested her arms and chin on Asa's bed.
The cold air coming through the open window comforted her.
It wasn't anything like the breeze she felt in her apartment.
Even though it was the exact same thing.
Rora rested her head on her arm, watching Asa with her eyes closed.
A strange light appeared in her eyes.
Rora didn't know what she was supposed to feel while watching the person she had chosen sleep so peacefully beside her.
“Rora…”
“Hm?”
“What I was telling you earlier…” Asa whispered, still keeping her eyes closed.
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Weren't you curious?”
Rora made a quiet little sound.
She placed a hand beneath Asa's ear and gently ran her fingers along it, noticing the tiny holes from her earrings.
“It's enough for me to know you have a reason.”
At that moment, Asa really wanted to open her eyes and see what expression Rora was making.
But she resisted.
She'd rather imagine it.
They stayed silent for several minutes.
Asa simply felt Rora playing with her earlobe.
“I want to tell you.”
“Then tell me. I'm not stopping you.”
“…”
Asa grabbed Rora's wrist, gently pulling her hand away from her ear.
She felt a slight resistance, as if Rora didn't want to let go.
Asa sat up in bed, forcing Rora to lift her head from the mattress.
She opened her eyes.
Her eyelids trembled.
Moonlight illuminated the silky hair of the girl in front of her.
Her gentle expression made her look almost like a goddess.
Asa was fascinated by her beauty.
Now she understood why pirates had willingly surrendered themselves to beautiful mermaids at sea.
She swallowed nervously.
She had never been this nervous before, not even when she'd taken the entrance exam for the school.
“So…”
The mermaid wrapped her arms around Asa's legs, which were hanging over the edge of the bed, and rested her head against Asa's thighs.
Asa turned her head away, pretending she wasn't embarrassed by the girl's presence.
“I noticed you watching me at school a while ago. It didn't bother me or anything, so don't worry.”
“Actually, I was trying to find a way to talk to you, but I was too embarrassed…” Asa continued.
Lee Dain listened carefully to everything the girl said without interrupting once.
But the more she listened, the more pleased she became.
Small smiles appeared on her face.
“I don't have many friends my age. I think I only have one cousin… The rest are kids who live around here.”
Asa placed her hand on Rora's head and gently stroked her scalp, being careful not to scratch her with her long nails.
“So I'm really happy that I managed to make a friend. I'm sorry I was so rude. I thought you were just messing with me.”
A wide smile spread across Asa's face.
Her hair fluttered slightly in the strong wind coming through the window.
Rora didn't answer.
She simply stopped enjoying Asa's touch and stared directly into her eyes.
After a moment, Rora released Asa's legs and climbed up her body as if she were climbing a mountain.
She grabbed Asa's hands and intertwined their fingers as though she had no intention of ever letting go.
She applied enough force to push Asa down onto the bed.
Lee Dain could feel the curtain brushing against her back.
But she didn't care.
“Rora?”
A smile slowly formed across Rora's face.
She liked the sight in front of her.
Asa beneath her.
Completely at her mercy.
“Asa.”
Rora tightened her grip around their intertwined fingers.
“Honestly, I'm so happy you think that about me.”
She brought her knees closer to Asa's.
Her breathing had grown heavier.
She was euphoric.
“However, what I feel for you isn't quite as simple as that.”
“…”
“I like you, Asa.
I chose you.”
Asa's eyes widened.
They seemed even bigger because her pupils had dilated.
Rora let out a quiet laugh.
“I've always found you intriguing. And even if you didn't realize it, you've helped me a lot. I'm grateful for that.”
“And that's why you like me?”
“That too.”
“I don't understand…”
Asa looked confused.
Actually, Rora couldn't quite describe the expression on her face.
But it fascinated her.
Just like everything else about her.
“You're enchanting, Asa. My life isn't exactly great, even if it's better than yours in some ways.”
Rora released one of her hands and placed it against Asa's soft cheek.
She caressed her skin as if she were touching something precious.
The teenager stared directly into Asa's eyes, as though searching for something hidden inside them.
“I don't really know what I feel for you. It's different from what you probably expect from me. But I do know one thing.”
“I want you to be part of my life.”
“Take care of me.”
“And please… don't let me fall back into the abyss I was in before I met you.”
“Would you carry that burden for me?” Rora asked.
Asa pressed her knees together.
She could feel her chest rising and falling, a strange turbulence growing inside her.
“I don't really understand…” the girl admitted, lowering her gaze.
“But if that's what you want…”
Rora's face seemed to light up.
The moonlight reflected in her enormous smile.
Asa suddenly felt like she'd fallen into a trap.
Rora threw herself at her, rubbing their cheeks together.
Her smile was bigger than all of her ambitions.
She held Asa's cheeks and pressed their foreheads together.
“Let's be great friends, Asa.”
Asa could only answer with an awkward smile, pulling Rora closer to her side.
“Go to sleep,” Asa whispered, covering Rora with her blanket.
“Yes, ma'am.”