Chapter 210

EP.210 Meddling #2

Silvia and I met at a coffee shop far from her house.

I should be going back to the doctor and sucking and blowing, but… why did she suddenly want to meet?

If it’s nothing serious, I’ll book you for electric torture.

Not that I’ll get caught.

“What’s the matter?”

With a smiling face, I asked her, and Silvia, who was sitting with her arms crossed, raised her eyebrows.

“Sit down.”

“Yes. Where’s Adeline?”

“She’s resting at home.”

There were two iced Americanos on the table.

I calmly put my mouth to the straw and sipped the coffee.

Silvia, who was looking around, spoke in a low voice.

“You… you’re not stripping Adeline, are you?”

It seems Adeline has told Silvia everything.

And to think she would ask so directly…

The answer was yes. I’m stripping Adeline very well.

So you just keep your mouth shut. I’ve almost finished stripping her.

“What do you mean?”

“Can you stop pretending not to understand?”

“What… you’re suddenly speaking aggressively and saying absurd things, and you want me to stop pretending not to understand?”

With a genuinely wronged expression, Silvia stared at me and then sighed.

“Haah… okay, sorry for being so abrupt. I had a deep talk with Adeline. A very honest… kind of talk.”

“Yes.”

“I heard about what you and Adeline did in Jeju.”

“She… she told you that…? That’s very personal…”

I opened my mouth slightly, flustered.

Silvia chuckled and returned to a somewhat gentle expression.

“Yes. Even those personal matters, we’re close enough to share everything.”

“I feel… exposed. You two are as close as sisters, so it makes sense.”

“Thank you for understanding. Back to the point, Adeline is more innocent and kind than you think. To an extreme. She always considers others’ feelings, is cautious, and is too timid to speak her mind.”

Well… seeing how Adeline is acting towards me now, I can’t say that.

“You seem to be mistaken. Adeline is not as naive as you think. I think you’re overprotecting her…”

“That was… a slip of the tongue. You’re right. Adeline is not naive. I cherish her more than my own life, and I said that out of concern for her.”

“That’s nice to see. Anyway… are you asking if I deceived that innocent Adeline and did such things?”

“Exactly. You might feel bad, but it’s a reasonable suspicion. You haven’t known each other long, right?”

“I understand. To cut to the chase, I swear on everything, I have no intention or reason to deceive Adeline. My feelings are genuine.”

At my firm answer, Silvia’s gaze softened a little.

“Really…?”

“Yes. Do you feel the sincerity in my answer?”

“A little…”

Just a little… not satisfying.

With a bitter smile, I tapped the table with my finger and spoke to Silvia, who was looking apologetic.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

“Okay. Sorry for calling you out suddenly.”

“It’s fine. It’s understandable to be suspicious. Shall I drive you home?”

“I’ll go alone.”

“Alright.”

I stood up, gave Silvia a brief nod, and as I was about to leave the café, I turned back and asked.

“By the way, do you think that if you haven’t known each other long, you shouldn’t love each other?”

Silvia flinched.

She quickly shook her head.

“…No, that’s not it.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“A relief? What do you mean?”

“You should experience fresh emotions too. I said that hoping you’d meet a good person. See you next time.”

“Ah… okay, take care.”

After leaving the café and getting into the car, I stepped on the accelerator hard and sank into thought.

Silvia… that leech-like woman clinging to Adeline.

It’s about time to break their relationship.

I need to act before Adeline falls for Silvia’s cunning words.

And Silvia’s ‘good person’ should be me.

Inspiration is… coming. It feels good.

**

I was staring blankly, not even turning the pages of the Bible.

Adeline cautiously called me.

“Jihyuk.”

“…..”

“Jihyuk!”

I flinched and shook my head several times before looking at Adeline.

“Yes?”

“What on earth are you thinking about that you can’t concentrate?”

“Ah, sorry. I have things to think about…”

“Thinking about other things during sacred Bible study time… I can’t allow it! You’re not in the right mindset as a believer!”

“It’s something important. Please understand.”

“Are you saying there’s something more important than Bible study with me!?”

Adeline exploded in anger.

Pretending to be overwhelmed by her momentum, I lowered my gaze.

And then I brought up the story I had prepared.

“Absolutely not. But it’s related to Adeline…”

“Related to me…? What is it?”

“It’s Bible study time now. I’ll focus.”

“I’ll give you a break.”

A break? I didn’t expect that. She’s quite cunning too.

I glanced at Adeline, making her even more anxious.

As the atmosphere heightened, I opened my mouth.

“Yesterday, on my way home, I got a call from Silvia and met her at a café… did you know?”

“Huh…? Yesterday?”

She still doesn’t know. I cheered inwardly.

This makes it easier.

Silvia made two mistakes.

One was going to the café behind Adeline’s back to check me out, and the other was not telling her about it.

She always brags about having no secrets between them… but she ended up creating a secret herself.

Of course, Silvia probably planned to tell Adeline about meeting me.

If I had stayed quiet, she would have talked to Adeline today or soon.

If Silvia had revealed everything first, Adeline would have just been a little upset and that would have been it.

Or she might have felt grateful to Silvia for doing it for her.

But what if I preempted her and slightly twisted the conversation with Silvia based on facts?

Adeline would react completely differently.

Careless Silvia, I moved faster and seized the opportunity.

The early bird catches the worm.

“Yes. Around 8 PM yesterday.”

“At that time, I had just gotten home and was showering… Silvia said she was going to exercise.”

“No. Silvia met me. I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but…”

“Please, tell me. It’s an order!”

Adeline seemed unable to believe that Silvia had met me behind her back.

Clicking my tongue, I reluctantly opened my mouth.

“Adeline, you told Silvia about what happened in Jeju, right?”

Adeline was visibly flustered.

Her big eyes blinked, and her mouth slowly opened.

Shocking, right? Understandable.

She bravely told Silvia everything, and Silvia lied and went out to mention it to me.

It’s complicated. She must be disappointed.

I gave her a bitter smile and continued.

“I’m not blaming you. The reason I’m saying this is… Silvia asked me yesterday if I was stripping you.”

“Huh…? What…”

“It seems Silvia thought I was deceiving the innocent Adeline.”

“Th-that’s ridiculous…!”

Adeline shook her head repeatedly, trying to deny my words.

I let out a deep sigh and said.

“She said it was a reasonable suspicion since we haven’t known each other long.”

“Silvia… said that…?”

“Yes. Fortunately, I convinced her, but… honestly, it was a bit sad. It felt like Silvia didn’t understand my feelings… And after thinking about it at home, I think Silvia might be right. We met too quickly…”

Adeline slammed the table, cutting me off.

She jumped up from her seat, not caring that the cheap chair at the study café fell over, and shouted.

“No! I know best that Jihyuk loves me! Don’t waver!”

The most intense reaction so far.

Very good. Thrilling.

I quickly apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why…! Why did Silvia meet you behind my back and say such things? I can’t understand it!”

“It was because she’s worried that Adeline is too innocent. She said you always consider others’ feelings, are cautious, and are too timid to speak your mind…”

“Wh-what…?”

Seeing Adeline’s shock, the plan seems to be working well.

How about it? Feeling betrayed?

She meddled in our relationship as adults, shook it, and even poured out negative words.

And she did it behind your back.

I can hear it… the sound of the strong bond between you two cracking.

“Adeline, calm down. I’ve cleared up the misunderstanding.”

“Do I look calm!? Silvia said such… shameless things…!”

“Silvia said she cherishes you more than her own life. So out of concern…”

“Are you defending Silvia now? Well, I guess that makes sense!”

“Huh…?”

“Last time I went to church, you two were watching a movie very intimately! The sofa was wide, but you were stuck together! You like Silvia, don’t you? That’s why you’re defending her!”

She’s even imagining this? The reaction is hotter than expected…

I looked at Adeline with a serious expression.

“Is that what you’re saying now? If I had feelings for Silvia, I wouldn’t have brought up yesterday’s story.”

Adeline seemed to realize her mistake and put her hand to her mouth.

She bit her lower lip and apologized.

“Sorry… I got too excited…”

I approached Adeline, who was still swallowing her anger, and hugged her gently.

Then I spoke softly.

“I don’t want the relationship between you two to worsen. I feel like it’s my fault that Adeline is so angry. So I tried to fix it somehow… I’m even more sorry.”

“…I understand Jihyuk’s feelings… It was my mistake…”

“Adeline, can you promise me one thing?”

“What…?”

“If Silvia brings up this matter, please listen to her as calmly as possible. Judge for yourself coolly. Adeline is considerate and thoughtful, so you can make a wise decision.”

Adeline, who was clinging to me, looked up.

“I’m thoughtful…? Considerate too…?”

“Of course.”

“Silvia said I’m a timid girl who only reads the room…”

“No. Silvia probably thinks the same as me. As you know, her personality is a bit direct. She was probably angry and misunderstood me at the time, so her words came out wrong. She even admitted it was a slip of the tongue when I confronted her.”

“…..”

“I think Adeline knows Silvia better than I do.”

Considering their relationship, the misunderstanding will surely be cleared.

But the lingering feelings of disappointment will remain.

Also, from today onwards, they will not be honest with each other.

Distrust, suspicion. Planting these feelings is the most important.

When these pile up, relationships break down.

“I promise… if Silvia brings it up, I’ll listen calmly. Thank you, Jihyuk…”

Adeline seemed moved by my magnanimity.

My innocent Adeline… I’ll work hard to heal your mind, so don’t worry and fight.

“You thought well.”

“Today is really a shocking day… let’s stop the Bible study. Start the car. Let’s go to the nail shop and then the drive-in theater.”

“What about the escape room?”

“I need to cool my head without thinking.”

Sure. Cool your head.

Think carefully during the date and after going back.

Who cares more about you, me or Silvia.

“Then I’ll cancel the reservation.”

“Okay…”

“Shall we go? Or stay like this for a while?”

“Stay like this. Hold me for 20 minutes. If you move even a step, add 5 minutes each time.”

What a dictator.

I agreed and hugged Adeline’s small body tightly while drawing up a blueprint for future plans.

Now I need to arrange a secret meeting with Silvia.

To further fuel Adeline’s distrust.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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