Chapter 148…………………………………………………………………
“Why?”
Per held out his hand to me, the corners of his eyes curling in a teasing smile.
“Could it be… jealousy?”
“Jealousy?!”
The moment I heard him say that, I shivered and shook my head vehemently in denial.
Of course, I was a little surprised.
I couldn’t help but wonder… who had danced so gracefully with Per before?
Had Per always been this skilled, or did that person teach him manners like this? I was incredibly curious!
But no, I wasn’t jealous! Absolutely not!
“Tch, friends don’t get jealous!”
“Well, maybe not.”
Per continued to look straight at me, a faint smile still playing on his lips.
“And isn’t it possible to be jealous between friends? You’d feel bad if your best friend played with someone else.”
“W-well… that’s true.”
I realized belatedly that even between friends, jealousy could exist.
With that late realization, I slowly blinked my eyelashes.
Throughout this, Per had patiently waited for me to place my hand in his palm, all while speaking with a mischievous expression:
“Actually, denying it so vehemently… that’s pretending not to know your own heart.”
“N-no! That’s not it! It’s not!”
“Hmm.”
“D-don’t look at it like that—l-let’s just dance!”
If this continued, I’d get completely caught up in Per’s teasing.
I shook my head, then finally placed my hand in his.
Immediately, Per, as if waiting for this, began to lead me.
His dancing skills were utterly unbelievable for someone so young.
Had I not learned how to waltz from Harzen’s dad beforehand, I would have surely stepped on Per’s feet multiple times.
“Y-you…”
I followed his smooth lead awkwardly, stealing glances at him.
I had to ask—if I didn’t, I wouldn’t sleep at night for sure.
“Did that person teach you this dance too? You’re really skilled.”
Per spun me around in place, answering playfully:
“Well, you could say that.”
He kept giving ambiguous answers, as if dodging the question.
“Then, um…”
I glanced quickly between his feet and face, continuing my questions.
“Did the person who taught you dance… come from your family?”
Like I learned from Harzen’s dad, had Per learned from his family too?
If so, then I’d basically be jealous of his family—a silly thing to do.
“Family?”
Per raised one eyebrow at my question, then smirked and turned it around.
“Do I look like I have a family?”
I mumbled, hesitating:
“W-well… how am I supposed to answer that…”
By the time I said it, the answer was already obvious.
How could I possibly say “You don’t look like you have one”?
Even Kyle’s dad, who isn’t exactly known for his tact, wouldn’t answer that way.
“…Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”
I realized my questions might have been touching on a sore spot, so I clamped my mouth shut.
Per looked at me and let out a small, soft laugh.
“You could still ask more.”
“But—”
“You still have tons of questions. Was the person who danced with me my age? Maybe a girl? And…”
His distinct red eyes reflected me under the lights, curving into a crescent smile.
“Could that person have been my first love?”
“N-no! I don’t want to know!”
I shook my head vigorously again, denying it immediately.
But there was one problem—this time, unlike before, I was actively dancing.
Shaking my head back and forth while dancing? Of course my balance faltered!
“Ugh, ugh!”
At this rate, I’d fall on my rear!
“Better to fall alone than take him down with me!”
With that thought, I let go of his hand and shut my eyes tight.
A sudden breeze brushed against me—
“Careful.”
Per’s bangs softly grazed my eyelashes.
Those blazing red eyes were closer than ever.
Only then did I realize he was holding my waist, steadying me.
I had let go on purpose, and yet he had noticed and supported me.
“Th-thank you.”
I straightened myself with his help, my heart thumping rapidly—probably from almost falling.
A little embarrassed too…
“I’ve been thinking about something.”
Per smiled naturally, leading me smoothly again.
My heart hadn’t even calmed down, and he was already smiling like that.
No wonder Per could charm someone so easily—it wasn’t surprising at all.
“You really can’t dance,” he said.
“No, I can!”
Saying that with such a cute smile… hearing that scolding somehow brought me back to my senses.
Earlier, my heart had been pounding, my head spinning.
“I need to stay focused.”
Even though I considered Per a friend, when he came at me like this, it was hard not to be startled.
For the sake of our friendship, the dads’ peace of mind, and Per’s own well-being, I had to be careful.
“You’re making me confused. I usually dance well,” I muttered, quietly scolding myself.
Per tilted his head, still smiling gently.
“What did I do? I just answered your questions and held you up when you were about to fall.”
“Anyway… that’s something you don’t need to worry about.”
I snorted, then tensed my legs.
I may look small, but I, C.C., am a waltzing prodigy in early childhood education.
If I focus, dancing as skillfully as Per is not impossible!
“Next is left foot, then spin like this…”
I recalled the steps from before and moved with precision.
I didn’t even look at Per, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor.
Insulting my dancing skills would be like insulting Harzen’s dad too.
I would waltz perfectly from now on!
“C.C.”
Time passed.
As the soft melody began to draw to a close,
“Lift your head, look up.”
Per deliberately pulled my right hand toward him.
“Up?”
I finally raised my head, as he said, and looked up at the sky.
And just then—
BANG!
Massive fireworks exploded in the sky with a roar.
“Wow!”
Fireworks!
I remembered the novel also described fireworks at the end of the festival.
I never imagined I’d see them for real.
“So beautiful…”
I forgot about dancing and stared at the sky, mesmerized.
Even if the dancing had been a bit messy, today felt like a perfect day.
Meeting Grandpa Aaron, watching the play with Mom…
Dancing while watching fireworks too…
“Do you know, C.C.?”
At that moment, beneath the dazzling fireworks, Per spoke calmly.
“They say if you confess your feelings under these fireworks, your heart will last forever.”
I turned to him, mesmerized.
And at the same time, a feather-light touch brushed my cheek.
“Whether as a friend… or something else.”
Even as the fireworks burst continuously, Per’s voice remained strangely clear.
“…Huh?”
“Interpreting it is up to you.”
