“From now on, Avira… you’re mine.”
The soft light of the setting sun spilled into the room, casting a warm glow.
In the kitchen, Lucas, his sleeves rolled up, was meticulously washing the fine china used for afternoon tea. His wrist cufflinks shimmered in the light, gleaming like tiny, dazzling stars.
The sound of running water filled the space, droplets splashing with crystal-like clarity.
Suddenly, his sleeve was tugged by a small, pale hand.
Lucas blinked in surprise and turned to see Avira holding onto his sleeve. Her misty eyes gazed at him with an almost pleading expression.
“Do you need something?”
Lucas’s thin lips curved into a gentle smile, as soft and refreshing as a spring breeze.
Avira blinked and said simply, “I need Lucas…”
Her soft, slightly tousled hair brushed against her cheek as she tilted her head. Despite her sleepy expression, her tone was utterly serious, without the slightest hint of jest.
Lucas paused, a flicker of unfamiliar emotion stirring within him.
Avira, seemingly oblivious to his momentary lapse, tilted her head further and smiled innocently.
“I like Lucas. I want to be with Lucas.”
With his ever-present calm smile, Lucas responded quietly, “You like me?”
“Mm-hmm… I do,” Avira replied earnestly, nodding her head. “I like you very much.”
Lucas smiled faintly. “And milk tea?”
“I like it.”
“Cake?”
“I like it.”
“And me?”
“I like you!”
“….”
Lucas let out a soft sigh, an air of exasperation mingling with his calm demeanor.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t be with you.”
“Why not…?”
Avira tightened her grip on his shirt, refusing to let go. “Tell me why!”
“Because what you like is simply the cake I make,” Lucas said gently, his tone unchanging, as though nothing could ever ruffle his composure.
“And that kind of liking… is different from mine.”
“Different… liking?”
Avira tilted his head slightly, clearly confused as she gazed at Lucas. “Lucas’s liking… what is it like?”
Before she could finish her question, Lucas lifted her onto the desk.
Placing his hands on either side of her, Lucas leaned in, his face mere inches from hers.
“Do you want to know?”
Avira blinked, her lashes trembling slightly with unease. “Lucas…”
She barely managed to say his name before her quivering lips were met by his.
“Like this,” Lucas murmured, drawing even closer. His lips brushed hers as he spoke, the soft contact leaving a faint tickling sensation.
“Do you still want to be with me?”
“I…”
Avira’s mind went blank, and the heat radiating from Lucas’s body made her feel dizzy.
She instinctively raised her hand to push him away, but Lucas caught her hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.
In the same moment, he kissed her fully, his other hand locking around her waist, leaving her no room to retreat.
Avira stared at him in shock, momentarily forgetting how to react.
What was Lucas doing…?
They were both boys!
But Lucas’s rationality seemed to have completely dissolved in the passion of the long-awaited kiss. He left no space for escape, kissing her deeply, fervently.
Being less important than cake in your heart—it frustrated me for quite some time.
And now that I’ve crossed the line, I’m sorry… but I don’t want to stop.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally let her go.
Lucas’s rose-colored lips, now tinged with intensity, leaned close to her ear, his voice low and teasing as he smiled.
“So, what’s your answer now?”
Elsewhere.
“This is definitely where they went!”
A group of girls in academy uniforms wandered around a clothing store, their eyes darting toward the fitting rooms.
“Hey, could they be hiding in there?”
“Excuse me, but you can’t do this…”
The store clerk attempted to stop them, but the girls had no intention of backing down.
“We’ll leave as soon as we confirm something.”
One of them seemed to recall something. “Didn’t Orson drag another boy in here just now? If we see two people together, it’s definitely them!”
The fitting rooms were relatively tall, with enough space at the bottom to glimpse the feet of those inside.
After checking all the rooms, they found nothing out of the ordinary. There was no sign of two people anywhere.
