The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend - Chapter 202

“I’m still fine. I’ll go when it’s time.”

“No, you can go ahead of time. It’s good to be prepared.”

“Are you saying that because you’re worried I’ll have too much time and follow you around?”

He’s quick to catch on. I grumbled to myself but outwardly tried to sweetly convince Kir.

“It’s better to prepare in advance, that’s all.”

“This is serious.”

Kir’s muttering puzzled me.

“What is?”

“Now that you say it, it makes me want to follow you around even more aggressively.”

“What are you going to do, follow me around!”

I couldn’t help but jump at that.

“Observation? I can see what kind of expressions you make when you study something difficult, how you act when you’re annoyed, and how much you’ve changed from before.”

That sounds like surveillance! If the Kir of the past was like a goldfish following its owner, the current Kir seems more like he could become a stalker. I felt goosebumps on my arms and frowned seriously.

“Don’t even joke about that. It’s creepy.”

“It’s a shame you dislike it so much.”

It’s natural to dislike it, so don’t say it’s a shame!

Kir leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs and resting his clasped hands on them. His expression as he looked at me was serious and appeared arrogant. Don’t get serious over such things.

“Then, Aren, instead of me following you around, just do one favor for me.”

If he’s not going to follow me, I should be willing to do something for him!

I was about to eagerly nod in agreement when I realized something was off.

Not following someone is normal, yet here we are, creating a strange situation where he’s using that normalcy to get what he wants.

It was such a bold and nonsensical request that for a moment, I almost got fooled.

Is he a con artist? Is he a thug?

“What nonsense! Who negotiates with something that obviously shouldn’t be done?”

“It’s because I have something I want that much.”

If his expression was playful or arrogant, I might have cut him off, thinking he was just teasing me. But Kir, leaning back casually, was infinitely calm. His violet eyes glowed softly.

It’s not like he’s throwing a tantrum like a child. Yet, I could read a deep longing in Kir’s eyes. And when Kir gets that serious, my resolve weakens. This is how bad habits get reinforced.

“What is it?”

Understanding it as the shortcut to spoiling one’s child, I find myself giving in, embodying the heart of a parent. A faint smile lingered on Kir’s lips.

“Aren, let’s live together.”

I thought he was going to ask for something seriously significant. I was ready to accommodate Kir’s request, fueled by a maternal instinct that had surfaced after a long time apart, regretting what I couldn’t do for him.

Then he comes up with this utterly preposterous demand.

“What? Live together, you say? Make some sense.”

“Why not?”

“Do I really need to explain? It’s bizarre to even suggest I move here. I’m perfectly comfortable living with my teacher. I see no need to move.”

“It’s not strange at all. And I don’t like that.”

Kir’s mumbling, seemingly irritated, sharply grazed my ears.

“Don’t like what?”

I looked at him in surprise, but Kir’s expression remained unchanged, as if he never showed any irritation.

“You’re an adult now. How long do you plan to mooch off your teacher’s home?”

“I’m the only student. It’s not odd for me to stay in my teacher’s mansion.”

Though Mr. Hafterry doesn’t teach exclusively to me, my status is close to that of a traditional student, so staying at my teacher’s home isn’t unusual. However, Kir’s comment made it seem as if I’m being demeaned for still living at my parents’ house despite my age, which infuriated me.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“What did?”

“That intention you’re thinking of.”

Swallowing the surprise that had begun to form due to Kir’s accurate read on my thoughts, I wondered if he had mastered some form of mind-reading.

“I just wish you were a bit more comfortable.”

I’m already living comfortably, so I don’t see what Kir is worried about.

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