"I knew it."
Perci looked at my face, which was still flowing with tears.
"P-Perci...."
"There's no need for you to explain, I get it," Perci said.
He pointed the umbrella at Lucio.
"You've been forcing her to be in a relationship with you this entire time."
Lucio smiled for a moment. Then he started to laugh maniacally.
"Hahahaha! What are you talking about?"
"Don't deny it. It's pretty clear."
"Oh really, then where's your proof?"
"I don't need proof. I've witnessed it myself."
"Witnessed it? What are you saying?"
"I never left the resort today. I was actually watching both of you throughout the entire day."
"Huh? That doesn't make any sense. Weren't you supposed to be with Alex on the hunting expedition? He was supposed to be watching you."
"I decided to back out. Alex persistently asked me not to, but Agnes was able to convince him to let me go."
Agnes did?
"But, even if you didn't join him, the staff would have noticed it. They didn't tell me anything. Nice try, but I can see right through your bluff," Lucio said and pointed at him. "You're just making things up!"
"It's not a bluff," Perci smiled. "I was merely just hiding in plain sight."
How is that possible?
"Plain sight? You sound ridiculous!" Lucio said. "I would have noticed it myself!"
"No, no one would have recognized me," Perci said. "After all, who would suspect a panda?"
Lucio widened his eyes in realization.
"Impossible....you can't possibly be the panda!"
"Don't tell me...the panda mascot today....was...you?" I muttered.
"The guy wearing the panda mascot was burned out for so long. He was kind enough to give me the costume when I offered to replace him for a single day," Perci said.
Lucio placed his hand on his head and laughed once more.
"I never saw this coming! Dressing up as a panda to spy on us? Ah...I underestimated you. I knew you were smart, but I didn't think you could come up with such a ridiculous idea!" Lucio said.
Even a genius couldn't predict such a bizarre play...
"I know how you treated Ori. You forced her to wear all those outfits in public and made her feel uncomfortable. You're the person who made her cry," Perci looked coldly with his indigo eyes.
"Huh? What are you talking about? Ori is perfectly fine with everything, right?"
Lucio held my waist and whispered into my ear.
"Don't you dare say no...."
"I........"
"Ori!" Perci said. "Stop lying to yourself! I know you don't like being with him! I can see it right through your face!"
"Perci...."
"Don't listen to him, Ori," Lucio said.
"I've seen the way you look when you're with him. It was an expression of a person dying on the inside. Stop forcing yourself to endure everything! You don't have to do this alone. Your eyes are telling me you want to be saved!"
YOU ARE READING
Gentleman of the Apocalypse
Romance"Men are trash." This was Ori's absolute philosophy in life. Every encounter she's had with them always seems to end in disaster. It was because of them that her life had been filled with despair, to the point that she had become the most unpopular...
