MCFWC Chapter 02

Chapter 2

A tired, scolding voice came from behind us.

While Hares and I were still pulling at each other’s hair, his older sister Haine walked up, shaking her head.

“Hares, you can’t just grab a girl’s hand like that. Let go.”
“But she’s the one who won’t let go of my hair, sis!”

At that, I quietly released his hair — leaving him awkwardly still holding my hand and wrist by himself.

“Sis~,” I said pitifully, knowing that Haine always took my side.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she ran up and smacked Hares hard on the back.

Slap! Slap!

The sharp sound echoed as her palm hit his bare skin.
“Argh!” he cried, instantly letting go of me.

Then he shouted in protest, “Hey! Why are you hitting me? Rize started it!”

“Don’t give me that! You’re standing there half-naked in front of her! No one wants to see that! Put a shirt on before Rize’s eyes rot!”

“What? Sis! Everyone would kill to have a body like mine— Ow!”

Haine didn’t let him finish and smacked him again.

“Rize’s a girl! You’re both adults now — don’t you think she gets uncomfortable when you walk around shirtless all the time? You’re too careless!”

I had to agree with her — women understand each other better.
Because yes, I do get uncomfortable when he’s shirtless. Extremely.

I couldn’t even look at his face properly just now.
It wasn’t that I hated seeing him — quite the opposite.

His well-built body was one of the main reasons I had started seeing him as a man.
At first, it was just curiosity — he looked so different from me as we grew older.
But that curiosity turned into attraction.

No matter what, anyone could see Hares had an amazing body.
Of course, I couldn’t say that aloud — I just stayed quiet.

Then he said something that made my heart sting.

“Come on, Rize is like my little sister! Even if we were both naked, she wouldn’t care.”

I shook my head slightly, but he didn’t stop talking.

“She’s not even a real girl! Stop saying weird things!”
“Other people don’t see it that way! If they misunderstand and it ruins Rize’s reputation, will you take responsibility?”

“Responsibility? What, am I supposed to marry my little sister or something? That’s crazy!”

Each word — though he said it without meaning to hurt me — felt like a blade cutting through my chest.

So that’s what I am to him. Just a sister.

I bit my lip hard.

I already knew that’s how he saw me — like family.
He’d always protected me like an older brother.

Since I was an only child and my eccentric parents were rarely home, I spent most of my childhood next door, practically living with Hares’s family.
They treated me like one of their own.

So to him, I was just family — someone it would be strange to feel attracted to.

That thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Still, I knew there were benefits to being “family.”
With my parents always abroad, Hares had become my unofficial guardian — accompanying me to events, watching out for me.

People often assumed we were engaged.

“Hey, you’re going tomorrow, right?”
“Huh?”
“The ball. You’re going to the ball, right? If you’re not going, I won’t either.”

“I’m thinking about it,” I said.
“Then I’ll pick you up. Or just stay over tonight.”
“It’s literally next door.”

I refused and stood up — it was already late.

Now I understood why Haine worried about people’s opinions.

“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

It was just next door, but he came along anyway — his broad back still red from his sister’s smacks.

I could have said no, but I didn’t want to.
That was the real problem.

One day, I’ll have to give up this spot next to him to her — to Eve. Until then, I want to stay here as long as I can.

I could easily picture them together:
the enchanting beauty Eve walking beside the tall, strong, handsome Hares.
They’d look perfect — like a couple out of a storybook.

Meanwhile, I looked childish and plain, my clothes simple and careless.
No one saw me as a woman.

At first, society thought we were engaged, but after watching us bicker constantly, they now just saw us as lifelong friends.
Some even joked, “They’re more like siblings than lovers — no need to worry.”

That’s it. Tomorrow at the ball, I’ll dress up like Eve. Maybe then…

“What are you thinking about?”

We were almost home when Hares leaned in close to look at my face.
I jumped, startled, and pushed his cheek away.

“You scared me!”
“You’re quiet today. Usually you’d be yelling at me by now.”

I didn’t reply.
We’d been teasing each other since we were kids — it was a habit now.

And because of that, there was no way he’d ever see me as a woman.
Love needs mystery, discovery — but we already knew everything about each other.

“Hey, I—”
“Hm?”

He bent down, tilting his head, watching my expression closely.

God, he was unfairly handsome.
If I weren’t his childhood friend, someone like me wouldn’t even get to stand beside him.

My heart sank a little.

“…Do you think I’m ugly?”

His face froze. For a moment he looked shocked — then burst out laughing.

“What, did someone say that to you?”

Of course. I should’ve known.
I turned away, embarrassed.

“Forget it! I was just curious what guys think, that’s all!”

I shouted, pushing past him, walking faster.
Behind me, his laughter faded, and he finally sounded serious.

“Wait, were you serious?”
“Forget it. You’re not even a guy — never mind.”
“What do you mean I’m not a guy? You won’t find anyone more handsome than me! You should appreciate this face while you can.”
“Yeah, right. Go away.”

He laughed and wrapped one strong arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest.

It was summer — hot enough that he often walked around shirtless at home.
And every time he did, I felt like I might die of embarrassment.

He might not see me as a woman, but his scent — that mix of warmth and sweat — was so male.
Instead of being unpleasant, it was intoxicating, almost sensual.
And I was sure he knew exactly what effect he had.

“So why’d you ask something like that?”
“Shut up.”

I turned my face away, holding my breath — my heart was racing so fast it hurt.
If our eyes met, I knew I’d blush and ruin everything.
And if things got awkward, I might lose even this fragile friendship.

I wasn’t ready for that.

“Hey… wait. Don’t tell me…”

Is he going to ask if I like him?

I clenched my fists, nervous —
but instead, he said something completely different.

“Do you have someone you like?”

“What?”

“My sister says when girls fall for someone, they always start asking if they look pretty. You just did that.”

Of course. I should’ve known.

Should I be relieved or disappointed that he didn’t even consider that I might like him?

I sighed deeply and tried to push his heavy arm off my shoulders.
But he was too strong — I couldn’t move him.

“What are you doing?” he asked, amused.
“Let go.”
“I will — if you answer.”
“Answer what?!”

He laughed quietly.
“Do you have someone you like?”