Chapter 52
Arm in arm with Chester like affectionate lovers, we walked toward the place where I usually took my strolls.
After wandering around a bit, we ended up at the greenhouse.
I planned to have dessert there. Of course, Chester didn’t particularly like sweets, but I did, so nothing had to change.
Today’s dessert was a strawberry parfait—simply because I wanted it.
As we sat at the tea table in the greenhouse, the strawberry parfait was brought to us promptly.
I was almost finished with my parfait when I noticed Chester staring.
“Uh… hmm, Chester.”
“You really like sweets. You didn’t even glance at me until you finished it all.”
“…Are you mad?”
“Do I look like someone who would get this angry?”
“No!”
Chester smiled faintly and placed the strawberry parfait that had been in front of him over in front of me.
Blinking, I signaled him to explain, not realizing his intentions.
“I don’t actually like sweets.”
“Really? Is it okay if I eat it?”
“Yes. I don’t eat sweet things.”
I hesitated slightly, but I didn’t refuse his kindness and eagerly took a bite of the strawberry parfait.
Still, it was hard not to notice Chester’s gaze.
As I ate, I kept sneaking glances at him. Whenever our eyes met, it was entirely my responsibility to be startled and look away.
“Hmm… Chester, do you want some strawberry?”
Chester looked at my face silently.
I poked a piece of strawberry with my fork and extended it toward him.
“Do you want it?”
“Hmm…”
“Not going to eat it?”
Chester gently took the hand holding the fork and placed the strawberry directly into my mouth.
So he just wanted me to eat it?
“Since you’re giving it to me, I won’t refuse.”
“Huh?”
At first, I didn’t understand what he meant, but soon I realized his intention through his actions.
Chester leaned closer, pressing his lips to mine.
I instinctively knew the strawberry in my mouth wasn’t his target.
Chester was really cute at times like this. I wanted to play a little.
I pushed the strawberry in my mouth onto his with my tongue, then pulled back and let our lips part.
“Strawberries taste good, right?”
“Hmm…”
As expected, Chester looked slightly dissatisfied, as if his actual goal was my lips.
That look made him even more adorable, and a smile spread across my face.
“I’m not sure, Yulia.”
“Then how will you know?”
“I think I’ll know if I taste a bit more.”
Chester chuckled, gently cupping my cheek with his hand, and kissed me again.
His tongue slid between my teeth, going deeper than before.
It felt like he was exploring my mouth with his tongue, savoring every part. Our warm breaths mixed chaotically.
He swept his tongue across my palate and pulled back with a satisfied expression.
“Haah…”
“It’s delicious. This is the best strawberry I’ve ever tasted, Yulia.”
Chester sat back, looking at me intently. It was a bit overwhelming, but I didn’t dislike his gaze.
I finished the parfait completely, letting the sweetness linger in my mouth.
Holding Chester’s hand firmly, we left the greenhouse. I liked being together, but walking side by side was nice too.
We walked arm in arm, but then I ran into someone I didn’t want to see.
“Yulia.”
“….”
It was my older brother. Without thinking, I hid behind Chester’s back.
I wasn’t ready to face my brother yet. Although my feelings had been somewhat sorted, I was still afraid to see him and my father.
I knew the weight of the words I had spoken.
“Yulia. Can we talk for a moment?”
“…I have nothing to talk about with you.”
“Can you… spare just a little time?”
I still wasn’t ready to talk.
But how long could I keep avoiding him? Eventually, either I would go to him, or he would come to me. And before I could go, he had come to me—so why was I trying to avoid him?
“Chester. Can you wait for a moment?”
“Yes. How could I not?”
“I’ll wait in my room!”
“Yes.”
I sent Chester upstairs first and faced my brother alone. Seeing him felt awkward, the first time since that day.
“I took my medicine. I’m okay now.”
“…Yulia, I’m sorry.”
“I thought things were okay… but I guess they weren’t. Still, thank you for saying that, brother.”
“I… did everything wrong, Yulia. I’ll spend my life… making it up to you…”
His expression, on the verge of tears, and his words, barely coming out, made my heart ache.
“It’s okay. I’ve been selfish until now, right? Tell dad too.”
I wrapped my arms around my much taller brother to calm him and whispered softly,
“You can let go of your guilt now.”
“Yulia, you can be selfish if you want.”
“No, really, it’s okay. I’m sorry for letting my emotions get the better of me… that shouldn’t have happened. I want you to live your life, brother.”
“….”
“I think I held onto you and dad too tightly. You don’t need to suffer over the past anymore.”
He hugged me, but the trembling in his body made it impossible for me to say anything. He seemed so unstable, as if he could collapse at any moment.
“The last words mother left… were to treat you well, to love her only child—you. I’m sorry I neglected you when you needed me most… and hated you… I should spend the rest of my time looking after you.”
Why can’t we escape the past? Even when I try to forget, memories surface.
My brother’s obsession with me is because he’s still trapped in the past. And I was the cause.
This is all my karma.
“Brother.”
I let go of his trembling body and held his cheeks firmly, meeting his gaze.
“I’m not that child anymore.”
“Yulia.”
“I’m no longer a powerless, lonely little sister relying on you.”
His violet eyes trembled like mine.
“I’ve met a man who loves me, and I will forgive you and dad for the past.”
“Yulia…”
“I understand you and dad. So don’t be bound by me or mother’s shadow.”
“….”
“I’ve found happiness. I want you and dad to be happy too.”
I had said everything I wanted to say.
I didn’t want to carry my father’s guilt or my brother’s regret anymore.
I wanted to remain a beloved daughter to my father, a cute little sister to my brother. Not their pain, but their precious family.
“Yulia. I… haven’t fulfilled any of mother’s requests.”
“It’s okay. Mom wanted me to be happy. So you just need to wish for my happiness too.”
“But…!”
“Hmm? That’s enough for me. I want the people I care about to be happy.”
I let go of my hands from his cheeks and passed by him. He didn’t turn. That was fine.
“I’ll see dad soon. If you want to look after me… don’t do it because of mom, do it because I’m family.”
“…Yulia.”
“I’ll go now. I just want dad and brother to love me simply because I’m family.”
“…Okay.”
Hearing his answer was enough. I fully left him behind and moved on.
Chester would be waiting, after all. He loved me for who I am—precisely, as his girlfriend.
I expected him to be waiting in the room, but Chester was sitting on the stairs.
“Did your conversation go well?”
“Yes, it did… but why are you here? I told you to wait in the room.”
“I thought our walk wasn’t over yet… Was I mistaken?”
“No, that can’t be.”
He stood and approached me, gently caressing my cheek like he was about to kiss me.
“Chester?”
“Close your eyes.”
He whispered softly, smiled faintly, and leaned down to kiss me.
It wasn’t the usual deep, teasing kiss with his tongue—just a brief brush of lips.
Opening my eyes, the tender lover I expected was gone, replaced by a mischievous, playful lover.
“Y-you… brat!”
“Do you want me to do it as usual?”
“No… it’s not that I hate it! It’s just… usually, it’s fine when we’re alone…”
“There’s no one here right now.”
Chester smirked mischievously and pressed his lips against mine again.
