Ch. 4: A Sweet Awakening
A pleasantly cool breeze brushed against my cheek…
OO: "Hn…?"
Suddenly aware of a presence, I slowly opened my eyes.
OO: "…!"
Dulfer was looking at me, so close our noses were almost touching.
Dulfer: "Morning. You look so cute when you’re asleep."
Dulfer giggled right in front of me.
His laughter was light and springy, like a song.
Dulfer: "Ah, I didn’t do anything. I can behave like a gentleman. I was just surprised."
OO: "Eh?"
Dulfer: "It’s kind of selfish of me, sleeping whenever and wherever I like, and I get scolded a lot. But you slept with me…that’s the first time this has happened."
Now I’m embarrassed…
Dulfer: "I was sure, without a doubt, that you’d be shocked when you woke up."
OO: "Well…you just looked so comfortable sleeping there. And…"
[CHOICE]
-
You looked sad (SUN)
-
You looked lonely (MOON)
Then he used his beautiful hand to cup my cheek.
I rocked back in surprise, but there was nowhere for me to go, and Dulfer’s face came closer…
OO: "…"
A light kiss fell on my cheek.
Dulfer: "That is my thanks for spending time with me."
OO: "Your thanks…"
I was flustered and felt my face turn red, and Dulfer smiled with a hint of teasing.
Dulfer: "The kiss? It’s because I’ve come to like you. Don’t you want to eat the things you like?"
OO: "E-eat them…food is different."
Dulfer: "But OO, just now you look like an apple…no, maybe a cherry?"
OO: "…!"
Reconfirming that my face had gone red, I tried to turn away from Dulfer, but he was still holding my cheek and I couldn’t.
OO: "Dulfer, don’t tease me like that…"
Dulfer: "Shouldn’t I? Do you not like them?"
OO: "I like apples and cherries just fine but that’s not…I’m a person not a fruit."
What the heck am I saying…
My head was spinning and I didn’t know what I was even trying to say.
Dulfer: "Hm? You say some interesting things. But I love apples and cherries. We get along pretty well, don’t we."
OO: "…"
After my pathetic response, I couldn’t say anything more.
However…
He said he likes me…
His charming gaze seized hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go.
Dulfer: "You’re so cute. OO, I love you."
He said it so naturally, and I felt a faint stabbing pain in my chest.
Dulfer’s ‘love’…it’s something different. I’m sure he says it to everyone…
That’s what I told myself, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing.
OO: "You looked a little bit sad..."
Dulfer: "…so it’s because you felt bad for me? You were pitying me."
As he said it, I shook my head.
Dulfer: "If it wasn’t pity…then were you doing it out of kindness?"
Dulfer smiled innocently, and that expression was so charming that my heart suddenly gave a leap.
OO: "You just looked a little lonely..."
Dulfer: "Oh? ... you really are a kind girl. Somehow, you're different from the other girls.
OO: "I suppose you know a lot of girls."
Dulfer: "Does that make you jealous? I'm glad."
OO: "T-that's not it."