Chapter 134
Theodore, stunned by Sylvester’s absurd remarks, was about to respond, but Sylvester beat him to it.
“What makes you think you’re so special? What’s so great about you that you think you can just mull things over by yourself, come to your own conclusions, and not tell anyone? You’re actually an idiot, aren’t you?”
Finally losing his patience, Theodore opened his eyes wide and stepped toward him.
“And what about you? What are you trying to do right now? Did you really drag me here just to give some lame advice?”
“Advice? Yeah, you could call it that. But it’s definitely not for your sake. I’m saying this because I feel sorry for Celina, who doesn’t even realize that her boyfriend is doubting her.”
Sylvester glared at Theodore once again, his expression full of bitter mockery.
“I don’t know what’s been going on between you and Celina, but when problems arise, you shouldn’t just stew over them like an idiot by yourself. You need to at least try talking to the other person. This problem isn’t just yours—it’s yours and Celina’s. So why are you trying to solve it alone?”
“……….”
“Of course. You’ve never had a proper conversation, so you probably got scared and let negative thoughts take over, didn’t you?”
Sylvester’s condescending attitude, as if he knew everything, made Theodore’s golden eyes flash with anger. He grabbed Sylvester by the collar.
“So what more do I have to do here? No matter what I say or do, Celina keeps avoiding me! What more do you expect me to do?”
“From what I see, it’s not just that—you’ve also been thinking some weird things, haven’t you?”
Trembling with rage, Theodore eventually released Sylvester’s collar. He wiped his face with a deeply conflicted expression.
“Celina suddenly started avoiding me a week ago. When I try to talk, she cuts me off. When I try to hold her hand, she subtly pulls away. Now she even avoids staying near me.”
The stress and anxiety that had been building inside him were spilling out. Theodore pressed his contorted face into his palm.
“This relationship started because Celina reached out to me. If she suddenly says she doesn’t want it anymore, then… I have no choice but to accept it.”
“……….”
“Our relationship isn’t even better than when we were friends. I’m anxious wondering whether she’ll break up with me today or tomorrow. I’m worried it might become worse than a friendship—don’t you understand how I feel?”
Sylvester watched Theodore’s outburst silently.
“I don’t even know if Celina really likes me. She might have confessed in the heat of the moment. Maybe she just wanted a boyfriend and confessed to anyone…”
Thunk!
Speaking with despair, Theodore staggered as a heavy blow landed. Sylvester had punched him.
The flushed, angry face and trembling fist showed Sylvester’s rage clearly. He clenched his teeth and threw another punch, but Theodore hurriedly dodged it.
“What are you doing?!”
“I hit you because you’re even dumber than an idiot.”
“Why did you hit me?!”
“Why did I hit you? Why did I hit you?!”
Sylvester grabbed Theodore by the collar again, so close that their noses almost touched.
“You… you, Celina’s boyfriend—or rather, her childhood friend—still don’t understand her heart?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No matter how angry you were, does she look like the kind of girl who would confess to just anyone?”
For a moment, Theodore’s golden eyes trembled.
“She has feelings for you. Even a little bit. That’s why she chose you, you idiot! You have no idea how desperately she prayed that my name would come out of her mouth!”
Sylvester’s face twisted as if about to cry. Even though both men cared for the same girl, one could be by her side while the other could not. A small but huge difference created the gap between them.
“Fine, just give up. If you can’t trust Celina and will spend your life doubting and worrying, then just leave her side. I’ll fill that void.”
Sylvester roughly let go of Theodore’s collar. Theodore’s pupils shook as if struck by a huge shock.
Sylvester looked at him with disdain. He was furious that someone so paralyzed by imagined fears and assumptions could be the one Celina chose.
Just as Sylvester wondered if he should hit him again, a familiar voice called from afar:
“Theo! Sylvester!”
Celina was running over, probably having heard something from Silvia and Chris. Seeing her, Theodore’s eyes wavered again.
If it were him, he would have done whatever it took to continue the relationship. But this pathetic excuse for a man…
Tsk.
Sylvester clicked his tongue and lightly punched Theodore’s face again. This time it wasn’t as strong, but it was enough to scare Celina from a distance.
“Sylvester! What are you doing?!”
Celina’s anger was obvious as she shouted at him. Though it hurt her to be angry at him over another man, Sylvester ignored his feelings and moved toward her.
Celina flinched, surprised at his approach. Her face was a mix of anger and confusion.
“I heard you two were going to fight, but I didn’t think you’d actually…”
Her violet eyes, full of disappointment, pierced Sylvester. He smiled sadly and decided to do as he pleased.
“That guy deserved it.”
“No matter what!”
Even though Celina was angry, Sylvester leaned in, forcing her to step back slightly.
“If he does something stupid again, tell me.”
“What? Stupid? What do you mean… Sylvester! Where are you going?!”
Sylvester quickly stepped back from Celina’s grasp and left. She called after him, then quickly turned when she heard a groan behind her.
“Theodore, are you okay?”
Theodore cupped his swollen cheek, checking if his mouth had been injured. The spot Sylvester hit had apparently made it worse.
Celina hovered nearby, unsure what to do. His left cheek was swollen, clearly needing treatment immediately.
“I should have brought Luna… Let’s go to the nurse first. Oh my, how could he do this to your face! That Sylvester…”
Seeing Theodore’s swollen cheek, Celina’s anger surged. She turned toward where Sylvester had disappeared.
Then Theodore grabbed her.
“Celina.”
“Hm? Does it hurt a lot?”
“Why have you been avoiding me lately?”
“……Huh?”
Celina froze, caught off guard by a question unrelated to the current situation. But unlike when he was with Sylvester, Theodore’s golden eyes were steady and fixed on her.
“Answer me. Why are you avoiding me?”
“Theo…”
“Have you started disliking me? Or am I not what you expected?”
“……….”
“I don’t know what to do when you avoid me. I like you so much… but it feels like you don’t like me…”
“No, that’s not true!”
Hearing Theodore’s voice tremble, Celina quickly grasped his hand tightly. His violet eyes, filled with confusion, stared into hers.
“…Then tell me why you avoided me all this time.”
Celina hesitated but saw Theodore’s hurt expression. He seemed more wounded by her avoidance than by Sylvester’s punch.
Her unnecessary actions had caused a huge misunderstanding.
“I….”
Though embarrassed to say it out loud, she couldn’t put it off any longer. Celina shut her eyes tightly.
“I couldn’t face you! Whenever I see you, my heart races, and I feel strange…”
“…Hm?”
Theodore thought she meant she hated seeing him, but what came next made him doubt his ears.
“When you’re next to me, my heart races. I get so nervous I can’t even talk properly. My hands get sweaty… and my heart feels like it might jump out of my chest!”
It was a more passionate confession than when she first asked him out. Theodore stared at her, dumbfounded.
Her face flushed bright red, her small hand sweaty as it held his, her shoulders trembling slightly. She looked just like someone in love, standing right before him.
“I’m sorry for causing the misunderstanding. But I really didn’t mean it. My body just moves on its own. I won’t do it again…”
Celina stopped talking. When she opened her eyes, Theodore was crying. It was so sudden she couldn’t process it.
“Why are you crying? Don’t cry…”
Celina gently wiped the tears. The warmth of his moist, swollen cheek transferred to her fingers.
“…I thought you didn’t have feelings for me.”
Theodore overlaid his hand on hers and rubbed his eye with her palm.
“I thought you confessed in a fit of wanting a boyfriend.”
“Theo…”
“I can’t do without you, but you can do without me. I was scared you’d let go of my hand…”
“Theodore.”
His tear-streaked golden eyes lifted to meet hers.
“I like you.”
“……….”
“Honestly, when I first confessed, it was impulsive. Everyone else had a partner and I didn’t. I wanted to experience love too.”
Theodore’s heart sank, but Celina’s steadfast violet eyes reassured him.
“But even so, I wouldn’t choose someone I didn’t care about.”
Just like Sylvester had said.
“I can’t say from the beginning that I felt the same as you, but the more time I spent with you, the more my feelings grew.”
“…Celina.”
“I like you, Theodore. Sorry I’m telling you so late.”
Tears gathered in Celina’s eyes. She scanned Theodore’s face, gently held it, and slowly leaned closer.
Theodore closed his eyes as her violet ones approached.
Their lips met softly.
The brief contact slowly deepened, cautiously exploring each other. The new sensation sent shivers through their fingertips, all their nerves focused on the other, emotions overwhelming.
The long yet fleeting moment ended, and their hot breaths mingled. Opening his eyes, Theodore saw the lovely woman smiling shyly before him.
Seeing her smile, all the worries he had felt until now seemed foolish, and every concern vanished.
