Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“Hey, come here.”

Kirsec called out, glaring in displeasure. The eight-year-old had such a terrible aura about him that my body trembled.

“You. Come and say hello.”

I felt the fight go out of me as I walked forward to greet him. I was embarrassed about being caught. But technically, I hadn’t done anything wrong. So I decided to persevere and politely said my greeting.

“Hello.”

At that moment, a palm pressed against my head, preventing me from straightening my back, and Kirsec’s face popped down from the side. Though the face was definitely cute, the voice that came out of it reverberated with a tone of betrayal and made my heart pound.

“Are you avoiding me?”

***

In my previous life, I had used the term ‘omg!’ a lot when chatting with my friends. But right now, somehow, all I can think of is that.

‘Omg, omg, omg, omg…,’ my brain kept chanting endlessly as my eyes trembled and I stood frozen in front of Kirsec.

(T/N: The original term is ‘ㅎㄷㄷ,’ which is an abbreviation of 후덜덜 (shiver). This was the best English equivalent I could find.)

Self-centered as he was, Kirsec seemed to be convinced that I was trying to avoid him. Since I wasn’t strong enough to resist, I held my breath even though my neck and waist were starting to ache.

I was breaking out in cold sweat at such a young age!

“Answer me. Were you avoiding me?”

“No.”

It was not until he had repeated the question was I able to answer it.

Only then did Kirsec’s palm, which was pressing me down heavily, release me. Just before taking his hand off, he tapped my head twice, as if signaling me to raise my head.

When our eyes met, Kirsec smiled lightly with a look like he was about to chop me up. It was a smile filled with wickedness. A smile like that at the age of eight is not fair. I want to run away.

“But then why do I feel like you’re avoiding me, huh?”

He asked in a tone so sweet it was scary, and I stood there trembling. It didn’t feel like a child’s threat.

I gulped, and started dishing out the nonsense that came into my head calmly and politely.

“If you ask me why you think I’m avoiding you when I didn’t avoid you, I can only say I’m not avoiding you.”

When my answer was over, Kirsec blinked.

“…… What are you saying?”

I have no idea. But, I swallowed the words and blinked up at him innocently.

“Were you really not avoiding me?”

Fortunately, he’s just a little boy, so he’s already half convinced.

“Of course not. Why would I avoid you?”

I opened my eyes wide open as if surprised at the very notion. However, Kirsec’s expression remained suspicious.

“Then why couldn’t I find you neither in the dining hall nor anywhere else?”

Doesn’t it sound like he was looking for me?

“Have you been looking for me?”

“No!”

Kirsec shouted as if I’d hit the nail on the head.

No wonder your face looks so red. Was that question a bit unfair?

“It’s not true! There’s no way I’d look for you!”

When I tilted my head, Kirsec jumped up and shouted once more.

You couldn’t find me, you said? I’m sure you were looking for me to harass me. It must be your first time harassing someone of your age group. That must be why you’re interested in me.

Contrary to my sarcastic inner thoughts, I nodded my head to show that I understood. Kirsec narrowed his eyes in displeasure.

However, I already have a successful acting career of seven years. I’ve been acting like an innocent, kind kid for seven years. I have successfully deceived many adults. There was too much of a difference in experience for this eight-year-old to call my bluff.

I gave Kirsec my sincerest look. Yes, you didn’t look for me.

There was no way he could find fault with me like that. Still, Kirsec looked displeased and shook his head.

“But, what were you doing?”

“What was I doing?”

“What were you so busy with?”

Look at this! I can’t control my temper. I’m getting angry again.

“I was studying.”

“Studying? Every day?”

It seemed Kirsec was wondering how one does that boring thing every day. I understand how you feel. I used to be like that, too. I never wanted to study when I was young.