Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 46

Arc's hand, still holding the makeshift ice pack, lowered slightly as he watched me, his dark eyes searching mine. I tried to focus on the practicalities—to remind myself of the situation we were in—but his intensity was disarming, pulling me into a conversation I wasn't sure I was ready to have.

"Arc," I began, my voice firmer now, though a hint of hesitation crept in, "coming to my room last night was a mistake."

"No," he said immediately, his tone sharp yet earnest. He leaned forward slightly, setting the ice pack on the table. "It wasn't a mistake. I couldn't stop myself."

I blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. "What do you mean you couldn't stop yourself?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he sat back on the couch. "마지막 대화가 끝난 후 나는 당신을 머릿속에서 지울 수 없었습니다. 나는 그것 때문에 고문을 받았습니다. 당신에게 진정하고 생각할 시간을 주고 싶었지만... 더 이상 기다릴 수 없었습니다. (After our last talk, I couldn't get you out of my head. I've been tortured by it. I wanted to give you time to calm down, to think things through, but... I couldn't wait any longer.)"

His confession left me momentarily speechless. My throat felt dry as I finally managed to ask, "What are you saying, Arc?"

"난 아직도 네게 끌린다고 하던데 (I'm saying I'm still attracted to you)," he admitted, his voice steady yet tinged with vulnerability. "너에 대한 생각을 멈출 수 없어, 라일라. 나는 우리의 마지막 대화를 형편없게 처리했다는 것을 알고 있으며, 그 이후로 나는 그 일 때문에 나 자신을 발길질해 왔습니다. 하지만... 상황을 바로잡을 기회를 드리고 싶습니다.(I can't stop thinking about you, Lila. I know I handled our last conversation terribly, and I've been kicking myself for it ever since. But... I want to ask for a chance to make things right.)"

I frowned, still trying to piece together his words. "A chance? What kind of chance are you asking for?"

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he held my gaze. "I don't want to suppress this... this between us anymore. I want to explore it."

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay grounded. "What's the point, Arc?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm. "We'll be separated after two months. Why even start something?"

"Even if it's just for two months," he said, his tone resolute, "I still want to try. I don't want to regret not even giving this a chance."

I bit my lip, torn between logic and the emotions swirling inside me. "What are you asking for, exactly?" I pressed. "If you're suggesting we become... I don't know... sex buddies or something, then the answer is no."

His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in protest. "No," he said firmly, cutting me off before I could say more. "그것은 내가 묻는 것이 아닙니다. 라이크, 연애 한번 해보고 싶어요. 나는 당신을 내 여자 친구로 만들고 싶습니다.(That's not what I'm asking. I want to try dating you, Lila. I want to make you my girlfriend.)"

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling heavily between us. "A two-month girlfriend?" I asked, my tone laced with incredulity.

"If that's all we have, then yes," he said, his voice softening slightly. "적어도 두 달 동안은요. 뒤돌아보며 노력하지도 않은 걸 후회하고 싶지 않아요.(At least for two months. I don't want to look back and regret not even trying.)"

I sat back, his words echoing in my mind. Two months. That was all we had. A part of me wanted to argue, to point out how ridiculous it sounded. But another part—the part that had been fighting its own feelings since the moment we met—couldn't help but find the idea enticing. Two months. Two months of memories. Two months to feel something real before we inevitably returned to our separate lives.