Chapter 85

### Chapter 85: Fragment (4)

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#7

While walking through the open space, Rubea accidentally spotted her friends. It was just that. If she had run into them, she could have at least greeted them.

However, Rubea, as if she had something to hide, looked for a place to hide. She hid behind the bushes in the garden. For a moment, she felt as if she had been hit hard on the head.

‘Strange.’

Her heart beat more seriously and loudly than usual. Rubea's expression twisted.

Like when she was forced to eat food she disliked. Like when she bit into a cookie that was not sweet but extremely bitter. As if a snake was coiling around her chest, her throat felt stuffy, and she suddenly had an odd sensation of wanting to run away from the world. Perhaps, to deny reality. Rubea didn't know how to define this feeling.

Whenever this feeling came over her, just like always,

She quietly bit her thumbnail.

A warm atmosphere. A cozy atmosphere. Far from cold. But Rubea's blood ran cold.

The one laughing in that spot was not Rubea but Miu. If it had been Yurina or Stella, it might have been different. It might not have hurt so much. But the reality was right there.

Miu.

Ezio's ex-girlfriend.

Even though their relationship had already broken down, why could they still treat each other like that?

What had happened between them? Clearly, clearly. They didn't seem to be getting along that well. When did this change?

‘……’

—Well, that Jude kid. Last weekend, he went shopping with his friend without telling me a word.

I don't know why this memory comes to mind all of a sudden.

Not long ago, Rubea had overheard Daisy, a fellow magic department student, talking about her then-boyfriend.

—A girl?

—Are you asking something obvious? If it wasn't, I wouldn't have been so pissed.

—Why didn't he say anything?

—He went secretly because he felt guilty. The way he got caught was ridiculous. Ceril saw them and told me. I thought he would deny it, but when he was caught, he just buried his head. Annoying.

Daisy, fanning herself as if it were hot, was asked by Rubea.

—Hey, Daisy.

—Hmm?

—Is it a problem that they played together in the shopping district…?

Maybe they could just be hanging out with friends. Rubea approached the topic cautiously.

—What? Of course. How do I know what they were up to without me? There's no way to check. If they just cover for each other and lie, I end up looking like an idiot.

Rubea nodded, thinking, "That's how it is."

—Hey, what was that girl's name?

—Who? The one who flirted with Jude?

—Yeah.

—Clara Sarpin. Third-year, fifth class. Why?

—No, I just need to check something.

—What are you checking?

—No, I'll tell you later.

—What is it…?

—Hey, Daisy.

—What? Why are you asking again?

—If it's a problem that they played together… then not telling me and going out is also a problem, right?

Daisy seemed to be at a loss for words.

—…Okay, Rubea. I know you're a very pure person. But I think this is a different issue.

—Uh, yeah.

—I'm his girlfriend, not Clara.

—That's true…?

—But does it make sense that he prioritized Clara over me? Trust is very important in a relationship. Jude broke that first.

—…

—Even if I can't be his top priority, I should at least be second. Among the girls around him, I should be the first. If not, I'm not his girlfriend anymore.

—…

—The reason not telling me is a problem is because he didn't show me the minimum consideration as his girlfriend. Even if I had asked, he wouldn't have allowed it, but there's a huge difference between telling me in advance and not telling me. It's an important issue that can shake the trust I mentioned.

Daisy, as if giving a very important lecture, stood in front of Rubea and passionately spoke, pointing her finger.

—And, Rubea, you might think that it's okay for a girl and a boy to play together. Ezio Kranil, right? From the Integrated Department. You played together without hesitation since you were young, right? But anyway, it's not a problem for opposite-sex friends to play together as long as they don't have a girlfriend or boyfriend.

If the process of falling in love is a competition and a siege, then after starting a relationship, it's a process of defense. To ensure the flag you planted is not pulled out or broken. To maintain the relationship so that the walls don't decay and collapse. The key is to protect the relationship intact.

—Rubea, this is instinct. The inevitable human instinct of not wanting what you have to be taken away by others. It bothers me. Even if someone eats my snack without me knowing, it's annoying. How would you feel if someone flirted with a guy who already has a girlfriend? Especially when they already knew he had a girlfriend. Knowing and still doing it is even more annoying.

Rubea, who had never experienced the emotion of jealousy, could only tilt her head in confusion after a vague imagination.

If someone snatched away her belongings, she might feel bad. But people are not objects. It still felt confusing.

—That, that's right…

—By the way, I heard Clara suggested they play. What did she want to do with me? That's why I didn't go to the main building today.

Daisy, who was calming down, suddenly continued.

—Rubea, think about it. You have someone you like. ……Since we're on the topic, do you have someone you like now?

—Eh, eh?

—Hey, if I ask you like that, you'll definitely tell me.

—Well, Rubea, you're so expressive. You might get caught. Maybe it's Shuriel-senpai? He took good care of you, right? Yeah?

—Ah, no. Shuriel-senpai is just…

—Come on. Not really. If someone takes good care of you, you can't help but be attracted… What, is it really just a senpai? Just a senpai?

—It, it is…

—No way… Then you don't like anyone now?

—Maybe…?

—What do you mean, maybe? ……By the way, you haven't had a boyfriend in three years, Rubea. What's different about a genius model student? I can't understand it.

—Ah, ahaha…

When asked if she had someone she liked, Rubea couldn't help but think of someone.

One thing she could confirm was that she naturally imagined someone's face, following Daisy's words.

Ultimately, because it was impossible to give a deep explanation without a specific subject, Daisy, who had roughly brushed off the question, suddenly said:

—But, hey, Daisy. Can I tell you something?

—What?

—I know Jude and Clara went to the same elementary school. I remember they dated for a while in sixth grade and broke up. I thought you didn't know. Did you know?

—…

—Daisy?

—…Where is that Jude now?

Even though it's just a kid's relationship, it can be a very sensitive issue depending on the situation.

After that, the story of Daisy and Jude, which didn't seem to have a good ending, eventually became publicly known as a happy ending after resolving their misunderstanding.

Indeed, human affairs are unpredictable.

“……”

Anyway, it was just a story. A short conversation that happened during a class break. Why did Daisy's story come to mind at this moment? Rubea couldn't figure out the exact reason.

Daisy was angry because her boyfriend was with a friend she didn't know about. It was because Ezio was her boyfriend.

A precious lover.

Not just a regular friend, but someone with the potential to become a future partner and spouse. Someone who might build a happy family like Rubea's parents. The very intimate first step.

Ezio was not her boyfriend.

So why was something she had heard from middle school friends happening to her?

The guy was fine. Gabriel, right? She had seen him hanging out with Ezio a lot. She had thought about being that close, but that was all. It didn't hurt this much.

On the other hand—

Yurina, Stella, and Miu.

Maybe Iris too.

Including Yurina and Stella, who were her friends, and Miu, who was sitting on the bench with them.

Seeing these clear opposite-sex friends with Ezio, playing together so intimately. In places she didn't know. In a spot where she should have been. She was very curious about what they were talking about and what kind of interaction they were having.

So, this is a wrong feeling.

She had to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Ezio was not hers. He belonged to no one now. So she shouldn't feel jealous. Wanting to get closer to Ezio again but not being able to, seeing others get closer to him first was just as frustrating. Rubea only thought that much.

And,

And…

—What you're saying… is too late, Rubea.

It was really too late.

She was just realizing it now.

—……

—……

Watching Ezio and Miu, who were talking in even softer voices from a distance.

“…Ugh.”

Gripping her slightly aching chest, Rubea turned her back.

“What are you doing here?”

“Kyaa—!”

Suddenly, Iris appeared, and Rubea, startled, fell on her butt.

—…A scream?

—…

At the same time, Ezio and Miu, who were on the other side, turned to look at Rubea. Rubea, who had accidentally made eye contact with Ezio, quickly turned away.

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