Blood In Rose

Chapter 33

Rupert's lips touch my forehead...
... Not. Just a second before that, I pushed him away.

"The human mind is more complicated than you think."
"... Shoot. You are back to your usual self, aren't you, Mina?"

I glared at Rupert chuckling.

"I own my own feelings. I'll decide who I fall in love."
"I'll decide how I'll live my life myself."
"You can't tell me what to do!"

"You are so tough..."
"Huh?"
"I envy you. I wish I were as strong as you are..."
(Rupert...?)
Rupert smiles sadly.

"You seem fine, so I'd better go now."
"Ah, Rupert..."
Still smiling sadly, Rupert leaves my room.

"Thank you for bringing me back here..."
I thank Rupert from behind, but he doesn't look back.
Feeling a sense if uneasiness with his sad smile, I mull it over my mind for a while in my room alone.

*******

*Flashback*

"No matter if you come to love him or not, you are never going to be his No.1"

*Flashback ends*

With that Rupert told me repeating over and over even in my dream, I woke up.
(What did he mean by that...?)
Rupert's word weigh on me more heavily than the fact that they had seen me as nothing but a tool.
(What am I going to do...? No, what do I want to do...?)

"I should ask them."
(First of all, I'll have Rupert explain to me the meaning of the words.)
With that resolve in my mind, I left my room.

****

(Whoa...?)
I happen to see Daniel in the hood at the entrance.
(I've seen the back of the person talking to Daniel somewhere...)
(... Jack?)
(I was looking for Rupert, but I'm so curious about them as well...)

I stare at them in surprise because I had no idea that they were acquaintances.

"Heeeey, Mina!"
Seeming to notice my gaze, Jack turns around.
He overly waves his hands at me with his usual broad smile, and I end up missing an opportunity to evade him.

"You wee sending me a passionate gaze just now, weren'tcha?"
"Hey, hey! You fell for me?"
"NO. I was just curious because you were talking with the hotel guest..."
"Eh, you rejected me so clearly. The hotel guest... Ah! You mean Daniel☆"
"Do you know him?"
"Yeah, he's been staying here quite a while. It's only natural to get to know him."
"Even more, he has absolutely no sense of direction. I still can't believe how bad he is at finding rooms!"
"He has no sense of direction?"
"Nope. I was telling him which way to go just now. I can't remember how many times I've helped him. Over and over and over and..."

(Hmm... I couldn't imagine Daniel getting lost.)
I can't help but laugh.

"Let's not talk about Daniel already. Anyways..."