Chapter 187 - Goodbye Kiss

"Do you know any plan?"

Iesa asked as she cleaned up the dining table. She already know the answer but still asked to see if Teren had any.

"Not really..."

Teren timidly answered. He was close to sighing, ashamed that he have no idea what to do in these kinds of situations. Just like what Iesa said, even though she didn't have any prior experience too, she knows the basics of it.

Teren began to think that the facade he put up back then about having a mental illness was actually more than just a topic of conversation and depressing train of thought.

"Then listen to me well."

Iesa confidently and cutely said while she cheerfully dropped onto the couch next to Teren.

...

Sunday came. First time in a while, Teren went out of Iesa's apartment all dressed up. 

'Dressed up' but actually, he was wearing something semi-formal that anyone could see youths wearing on the streets.

"Now that I think of it, this perfectly fits me too as I move. Where did you get this outfit for men?"

"I just conveniently have it," Iesa wiped her drool away, "But that's not important! Keep in mind what I told you, okay?"

Teren nodded with a small smile.

"Well then, good luck and get her!"

Iesa pumped her fists.

"Okay, I'll be back before night and tell you the news."

Teren waved but after he turned around, he stopped, raising Iesa's eyebrows. He slowly turned back and walked to her. He then grabbed her hand which surprised her.

Without warning, he kissed her on the cheek. In a blink of an eye, Iesa heats up from embarrassment as she looks away.

"... s-sorry- I should be used to it now considering how many times we did the last step already!"

She frantically explained while her eyes looked around. But once she glanced at him, Iesa noticed that Teren was the same as her while he scratched his cheek.

'What am I doing?!'

"Muah..."

Teren almost felt his heart jump out of his chest when Iesa repeated what he just did. He didn't know why she added a sound effect but he didn't complain that she did, in fact, it was the opposite.

Afterward, Teren reluctantly released her hand after momentary eye contact.

"I was just thinking of a goodbye kiss so..."

"Y-yeah, I know..."

Iesa replied with her head greatly lowered. Her mind was filled with questions about why she added a sound effect to her kiss.

"Then, I'll get going..."

"...mhmm..."

Iesa nodded and glanced upward before lowering her head again. But it didn't seem like Teren was satisfied with a kiss so Iesa unexpectedly received a hug and a stimulating whisper.

"... I love you, Iesa..."

Afterward, without waiting for a reply, he turned around and ran away, leaving a baffled Iesa. Both hearts were wildly beating. If they stayed connected like that, they would've felt their hearts synced up.

"..."

In a daze, she looked at Teren's leaving figure. Only when he was gone that she asked herself.

'What is this?'

She went inside the apartment, closed the door, and sat down on the couch. Slowly, she held her chest before slowly breathing in and out.

"Calm down..."

"... am I crazy?"

"... it was not the first time he said that but..."

Iesa was dumbfounded by herself.

Soon, regret sank in as she bit her lips while her face sour.

"Grr... I should've replied back...! What if he thinks I don't feel the same!?"

That's impossible but she said it just because.

"Ahhh~!! I can't believe this is possible! Oh my god, I love him so much!"

Then she shrieked, lovestruck.

After abrupt changes in her emotions, she looked at what Teren left there at her apartment. No, not his scent nor the spoon he just used to it. It was not his used clothes either, it was his school bag.

It was the small bag that he always bring even if his destination is not the school.

"He brought his phone and wallet, right?"

Iesa asked herself...

She didn't even have the slightest conscience that stopped her from thinking of taking a look at it. As if it was natural, she slid on the couch toward the bag and grabbed it.

Inside, she surprisingly has a knife... it looks like a kitchen knife but longer. From its appearance, Iesa found nothing special about it.

After taking it out and inspecting it, she sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness, I didn't have the urge to cut myself using it... I guess I'm not that deviant."

A great deal of relief was released from her chest. This was in her mind all this time. Is there something wrong in her head? She fell in love with a murderer and deeply at that. Therefore, she was constantly worrying that she will have, not just weird, but plain-out disturbing urges.

However, after looking at the knife, she didn't have the urge to cut herself with it.

But she still wants to treasure it. Of course, she ignored that thought. That knife is Teren's possession. Unless Teren gave it to her, she wouldn't have any more thoughts of wanting to keep it.

"... what?"

Iesa then felt something weird. It came from the knife. It was an indescrivable sensation. It's not anything negative though, yet, it felt like the knife was calling her... no, it was as if it was telling something to her. This was a familiar feeling whenever she finds meaningful symbols in everyday life.

She 'found' something from the knife.

Iesa didn't know what or how but she had the drive the 'read' the knife. Inspect it but not with the eyes.

After a while, she placed the knife back and sighed. It was a bit tiring that it made her lie back onto the couch.

"So that's why Teren always uses it. Of course, he wouldn't always use this if it's not an incredible weapon."

And as she spoke of his name, she smiled and had a great idea.

"Should I meet him outside after his date with his sister?"

Although she said that, she dressed up and went out several hours earlier than planned.