The Villainess Just Wants to Study

Chapter 32 ~ Love Triangle

"We have similar taste in alcohol," said Laikin, and lifted his glass to hers.

The warmth of the alcohol filled her as she gratefully gulped down the brown liquid. Dylan chose to drink because of her inability to cope with being left behind again. It made her feel less lonely.

"Fate is a bitch," she said with slurred words, setting her empty glass down on the counter. "Maybe the universe is trying to make me walk down that path."

She had never thought about it before—why the universe kept pushing her into a corner of hatred and loneliness. It was almost as if the universe was trying to force her into her role as a villain. It seemed like everyone's motive was to break her beyond repair. 

"You're talking nonsense," Laikin said, swirling the liquid in his glass. "The only one who gets to decide what path you walk down is you, Dylan."

She groaned, resting her head on the cold counter. Was that really the truth? Her headache pulsed and she felt hot from the alcohol, but her eyes were as clear as day. If she could, she would sprint down that path and get as far away from here as possible. 

Laikin's gaze shifted absently to Dylan's flushed face. The girl was indeed pretty. A lot of rumours floated around about her looks—some of which were spread by the swordsmanship club members. But Dylan wasn't simply another pretty face.

He liked her lovely wit, her clever mind, her perceptiveness. He liked it all the way a child liked their favourite toy. But most of all, he liked the way there was something in her eyes. Was it hope? Desperation? Longing? It was definitely something that attracted him to her. It was like being drunk, but on a person, not alcohol. 

"Let's get you back before we get caught," said Laikin, pulling out a few coins to pay for their drinks. "We have class tomorrow, so it's not wise to stick around any longer."

He helped her to her feet. 

"You said you were older than me, right?" Dylan asked, gratefully accepting the help.

"I'm nineteen," he explained. "I'm in my third year at the academy."

'You're the same age as Axil and Lucas. Now that I think about it, Cas is the only male lead the same age as Grisa.'

"Old perverts," she muttered sleepily.

He chuckled softly and tugged her close. "Who's an old pervert?" he asked.

"NooneyupI'mnotsayinganything," she replied, her words tumbling from her mouth in a stream of barely distinguishable syllables. It almost sounded like an entirely new language.

He tugged her hood back over her head and glanced at darkness beyond the bar windows. "We should go," he said with a sigh, "it really is getting late."

***

"Are you sure it's here?" Laikin asked her.

Due to the alcohol, the night had suddenly become a blurry fever dream, so it was a lot harder for Dylan to remember where she snuck out from. The gates had locks on them so that they couldn't be opened without a key. Dylan had come across the hole by chance when she was looking for a way out. 

With a frustrated growl she said, "How did you get out? Why can't we just go back in your way?"

He pointed to the sky. "I climbed over the fence," he explained. "Can you climb like that?"

Dylan swallowed down a sob. Her vision was blurry and she had a hard time staying upright. She was far too drunk to attempt climbing over a fence.