TSCEIAB Ch. 39

 

But I couldn’t bring myself to ask and swallowed my curiosity.

This was my first time alone with Olive without Melissa, so it was a little awkward.

 

“Is this your car?”

 

“Yes, It’s the one my dad used to drive.”

 

“Nice. Can I borrow the car keys?”

 

“Here.”

 

Olive climbed into the driver’s seat and looked around. Then he got out of the car, opened the hood, and examined the inside closely.

It seemed that Hugo’s words about his knowledge of cars must have been true.

It didn’t take long for him to figure out the problem.

 

“It looks like it’s the wiring.”

 

“Wiring?”

 

“Yes, it’s stretched. I think it needs to be replaced.”

 

Thankfully, it wasn’t serious, he explained.

 

“I’ve done it a few times, so no problem. I’ll bring the necessary parts and replace them tomorrow .”

 

“Really? Thanks. What about the cost?”

 

I had to figure out the cost of parts and labor. I looked at Olive while thinking of the bank account balance.

He was smiling as if he had heard something funny.

 

“I don’t need money. I have plenty of it.”

 

“What? Still…….”

 

I was grateful for his kindness, but honestly, I felt a bit burdened.

Olive paused for a moment before speaking, perhaps reading my mood.

 

“Okay. If you really want repay me, please do me a favor later when I need it. What do you think?”

 

“A favor? What are you going to ask for?”

 

“I don’t know yet. But if it’s too much to ask, it’s okay to refuse.”

 

“Mmmm…….”

 

I figured it would be fine since he said that I could refuse. I didn’t think Olive would make any unreasonable demands.

 

“Okay. I’ll do that then.”

 

I readily agreed, and Olive smiled.

I don’t think there’s anything I can do to help him, but I don’t know why he seemed happy about it.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After that, I thought of Hugo whenever I met Melissa.

I repeatedly gave up on asking her about her relationship with him.

Since I had overheard their conversation, it was hard to bring it up.

Even in the midst of that, my contact with Hugo continued.

 

 

[Alexis: Hi, Haley. Good morning. Did you sleep well? I slept soundly last night for the first time in a while. Did you know our morning classes overlap? I can’t say hello in class, so I’ll say hello to you now.]

 

 

Hugo texted me five times a day.

When I was heading to school in the morning.

After the morning class when I was going to lunch.

When I was heading to afternoon classes after lunch.

When I was going home after all the activities is done.

When I was washing up and getting ready to bed.

 

It was like this five times.

Sometimes I replied and sometimes I didn’t.

Hugo didn’t seem to mind either way.

It was one of those days when we kept in touch with each other in such an ambiguous relationship.

 

‘Hmm…….’

 

In the drama I watched with my dad, there was a story that reminded me of Melissa and Hugo.

It was about the male protagonist and his ex-girlfriend.

Even though I thought it was childish when I saw it, it kept lingering through my mind.

I lay in bed and tried to sleep early, but I couldn’t.

 

“Ugh…….”

 

I tossed and turned for a long time, trying to clear my mind.

 

Buzz-

 

My phone rang. When I checked, it was Hugo’s last text.

 

 

[Alexis: Hi, Haley. I had to do some work today so I’m late in texting you. I’m worried that I might wake you up from your sleep. If so, I’m sorry. You don’t have to reply. Good night and sweet dreams.]

 

 

I didn’t often respond to his texts from school, but I always responded to goodnight greetings at home.

Hugo had added that I didn’t have to reply to this text either.

I stared at his message and then tapped on the keyboard.

I don’t know what I was thinking.

 

 

[Me: Do you know Melissa?]

 

 

It was a random question. I regretted to have sent it, but there was no way to undo the text that had already been sent.

 

‘I shouldn’t have asked.’

 

I was rubbing the corners of his eyes with a little regret.

 

Bzzz- Bzzz- Bzzz-

 

I thought I would get a reply, but I got a phone call instead.

Startled by the vibrations that followed, I jumped out of bed. After hesitating for a moment, I pressed the call button.

 

“…… Hello?”

 

— “Hello, Haley. You’re still up?”

 

“…… Yes. Why are you calling?”

 

— “You asked. I used up all my texts today, so I’m calling. Honestly, I didn’t expect you’d answer.

 

I could hear Hugo’s gentle laughter through the phone. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that he was on the phone with me.

Maybe it’s because of his laughter.

I felt my tension eased. I was dumbfounded when he said he had used up all his texts today and made a phone call.

 

“Ha…….”

 

— “Did you just laugh?”

 

“It’s a little ridiculous.”

 

Hugo’s laughter grew a little louder at my words. I glanced at my phone and asked, feeling a little lighter.

 

“So, do you know Melissa or not?”

 

— “I know. She’s your friend.”

 

“Hmm…….”

 

— “Looks like this wasn’t the answer you were hoping for. Why? What are you curious about?”

 

“Well……. I just thought you two knew each other.”

 

— “I don’t know why you thought so. Did your friend say anything about me?”

 

Hugo’s voice was innocent. Even if he was lying, it didn’t show at all.

I don’t think he would tell me the truth if I pressed him further.

In the end, I glossed over it, saying that it was nothing, that I must have been mistaken.

 

–“Really?”

 

“Yeah, sorry for calling this late. It’s no big deal, so don’t worry about it.”

 

— “I’m sorry. I’m the one who called you at this late hour.”

 

“You called because of me. It’s fine, so I’ll hang up.”

 

Just as I was about to press the end button, I heard Hugo’s voice over the phone.

 

— “Wait, Haley.”

 

“…… What?”

 

— “Just a little longer.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Silence fell. Hugo’s quiet breathing was heard.

It didn’t take long for Hugo to break the silence.

 

–“…… Let me hear your voice a little longer. I want to talk to you more.”

 

“Oh …….”

 

— “It’s been a while. Huh?”

 

“What do you want to talk about?”

 

For a cautious question, Hugo also asked cautiously.

 

— “Just some random stuff. Are you sleepy?”

 

“Hmm, I was going to lie down to sleep, but…….”

 

I jumped up abruptly to answer the call and lay back down. The warm feeling of the cozy blanket was pleasant.

 

— “Let’s talk until you fall asleep. How was your day?”

 

“It was fine. Nothing special happened.”

 

–“Really? That’s a relief. I …….”

 

Maybe because it was night.

Hugo’s voice was unusually low.

A low voice that tickled my ears. A gentle laughter. The sound of quiet breathing in the occasional silence.

They calmed my mind.

As my mind fell more at ease, drowsiness set in.

 

— “Haley, are you asleep?”

 

“…….”

 

I was too drowsy to answer. I thought he’d just hang up.

But Hugo didn’t hang up.

He let out a small cracking laugh, then hummed a lullaby.

With his pleasant humming, I was pulled deeper into sleep.

That night, for the first time in a very long time, I fell asleep soundly without dreaming.

It was such a peaceful night that I couldn’t help but wish every night would be like this.

The snow piled up in my heart was melting, and spring flowers were preparing to sprout.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

A few days have passed after that.

Halloween was just around the corner and the school was buzzing.

Aside from a few kids coming in cosplay, the day went on as usual.

 

“Haley, what are you going to do for Halloween?”

 

Melissa, who was wearing something like a black cape, asked with anticipation.

I took a moment to count the days before answering.

 

“Nothing much, I think. After all, it’s Saturday.”

 

“I mean. It’s the weekend, so let’s have some fun! I ordered the vampire costume a month ago. With fangs. Olive wants to go as Frankenstein. Don’t you think it’ll look good?”

 

Melissa’s chatter had the power to make any listener excited.

I thought about Halloween, which I hadn’t given much thought to.

 

‘Halloween…….’

 

When I was younger, I used to cosplay like other kids.

 

‘Dressed in the fairy wings and clothes my dad made for me.’

 

Ever since “that incident,” I had been holed up in my room, with no energy to care about things like this. And when I started school, I didn’t have any friends to hang out with, so I spent my time quietly.

 

“Haley. Haley?”

 

“Ah. Yeah, hmm?”

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“Oh, nothing…….”

 

“Anyway. Are you going?”

 

“…… Where?”

 

Melissa shot me an exasperated look as I tilted my head.

 

“To Jessica’s party. It’s on Halloween, are you going?”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Let’s go, huh? The last time we went to a party was the last time. Olive also said he’d come if he didn’t have work. So let’s go together.”

 

“No, I….. I don’t have any clothes…….”

 

“Then shall we go shopping? I’m a vampire, and Olive is Frankenstein……. For you, how about a witch? A black dress and a witch’s hat would look so cute on you!”

 

A plan was forming in Melissa’s head.

I don’t know if the combination of a vampire, a Frankenstein, and a witch would go well together.

 

“Are you going, Haley? Huh? Huh?”

 

“…… Yeah. I’ll go. So calm down.”

 

“Wow!”

 

With Melissa jumping around, I also felt excited.

 

‘The last party was okay, so I hope this one will be fun too.’

 

But my wish did not come true.

That day, I couldn’t attend the party.