Tilia's heart began to race as she nearly fell headfirst onto the marble floor. A delayed sense of danger made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end before they calmed down.
- Be careful.
There was a familiar smell behind her, as if she had entered a forest.
-You bruise easily.
The deep voice that echoed in the humid air lingered a little longer in the empty space.
Tilia felt the warm hand holding her slowly move away. The remaining warmth on her shoulder lingered like a fading glow on her thin shirt.
- Let's go. I think there are people there.
For a moment she was taken aback. The sound of the freshmen's shoes quickly moving away, like an alarm, brought her back to life.
Tilia took a step back and turned around, as if waking up from a dream.
She then looked warily at the man who grabbed her shoulder.
The sunlight streaming straight into the old library was filled with shiny dust particles floating in the air.
In the middle of it all stood Ilex, his blue-gray eyes appearing lighter under the bright light.
They seemed distant, like faded glass beads that had been sitting in a display case for a long time.
"Yes, those eyes."
Tilia looked at him and almost instinctively bit her lip again. She felt his gaze, as if under the influence of some force, reaching for her lips.
The problem was those unreadable, anxious eyes.
Despite their cool gray-blue color, there was something warm about them that seemed out of place.
Suspicious to the point of becoming alarming, Tilia even felt the urge to gouge out those eyes to see what was hidden behind them.
Although she was sure that if she did look, she would be disappointed by the emptiness.
“Ilex Davenport,” Tilia said, letting go of her bitten lip as a sharp sensation came over her.
His dull gray eyes rose to meet hers. Looking into his eyes, Tilia quietly ordered:
- Follow me.
***
No matter how rich the history and traditions of the library, its dilapidated condition was undoubtedly a problem.
When questions arose about the building's design, the building committee decided to keep the existing central library as a memorial and build a new one.
As a result, the right side of the library, which once served as a recreation area, turned into a construction site.
The dust and noise scared people away, and Tilia sighed and turned her back to the deserted corner of the building.
She looked at Ilex, who stood some distance away, her green eyes filled with irritation.
She thought she had chosen the least problematic target. Who knew he would be such a big obstacle?
She even wanted to go back in time and slap herself for thinking she had made the right choice.
While Tilia was wondering where to start, she remembered the box that had remained untouched in the corner of her room and opened her mouth.
“A week ago, a box of medicine was delivered to the hostel.
Her eyes casually scanned her target.
- You sent her, right?
There was no answer. He didn’t need to say, Tilia knew the answer.
Among all the medicines packed in the box was an ointment for deep wounds.
It was a medicine that could only be sent by Ilex Davenport, who was with her that day. He was the only one who could know about the injury in such a deep place.
- Take her back. I don't need her.
Tilia continued, her expression full of irritation.
“And I thought I had already made it clear, but since you don’t seem to understand, I’ll say it again.”
Ilex Davenport was silent. But Tilia didn’t need an answer from him.
“I'm not going to let the past tie me to you.”
-...
- And I hope you feel the same.
Tilia looked down at the floor, as if asking herself why she even needed to say this, then sighed and raised her head.
“I just want everything to go back to normal, as if nothing happened.” Do you understand what I mean?
For some reason, saying this made her feel like some kind of rubbish.
“Well, it doesn’t matter when the other party is trash too.”
Tilia thought casually and looked at Ilex.
- So, can you stop following me?
It was not at all like a simple stream of words like before.
This time she needed a precise answer from him. An assurance that he would no longer hang around her or sneak glances in her direction wherever she went.
She couldn't influence him laughing and talking about her with his friends, but at least he didn't have to interfere in her life.
Tilia looked at Ilex Davenport, demanding an answer.
But he still didn't answer.
The silence between them was broken by the noise of the construction site.
Under the bright sky, the wind mixed with gypsum dust and pollen hurt Tilia's eyes.
- Ha.
Finally, Ilex's expression changed.
“...Is he laughing?”
But this was not the answer Tilia expected.
Ilex looked down at her, grinning as if he had heard the most ridiculous story in the world.
- You must be mistaken.
His deep voice became even more cynical compared to last week. A hint of irritation, similar to the one in Tilia's eyes earlier, lingered in his gaze.
- I never stalked you.
It took Tilia a moment to process his words, and a crease slowly appeared on her forehead.
- What?
- I said I never stalked you.
Tilia despised Ilex for suddenly starting to deny everything.
- Oh, really? So this is your ghost I've been seeing around me all last week?
- I really don't understand what you're talking about.
Ilex shrugged, as if he was making something up.
“It’s probably a coincidence that our paths crossed. Is there a law that says I can't go where you go?
Coincidence?
This seemed so absurd to Tilia that she almost laughed.
Even Judy, who knew nothing, noticed how he hovered around her. And here he is, acting as if nothing happened.
- I went to the lecture building to meet with the professor, and came to the library because I needed a book.
- Oh really?
- Yes. Also, I heard that this library is being funded by donations from the Davenport family.
But his childish argument was just beginning.
“If you really want to argue, shouldn’t you leave instead of me?”
Hearing him openly say, “My father built this place, so you should leave,” Tilia was speechless for a moment.
- …What?
- Exactly what I said.
Ilex simply looked at the half-finished new building and crossed his arms arrogantly.
- This academy is not your property, is it? So why do you act like you're the only one allowed to use it?
With this statement, one of Tilia's definitions of Ilex Davenport collapsed.
She considered him an annoying person, but also someone who tried his best to maintain his pride.
“So this is how low you can go?”
- Do you... do you...?
Tilia looked at him, stunned, and before realizing it, she blurted out:
-Are you eleven years old?
She saw the corner of Ilex's mouth twitch slightly. It was clear from his expression that he was holding back a laugh.
- Tilia.
Still crossing his arms, Ilex spoke like a bully teasing a girl he likes.
- If I were eleven, you would already be in prison.
- What?
- Think about it. If I were underage, wouldn't you be in trouble right now?
What nonsense.
Ilex whispered to Tilia, who looked puzzled:
“And I think I’ve already proven enough that I’m a grown man.”
The moment she found the sly curve of his lips unpleasant...
- Hey, you...
Tilia flinched and growled, realizing the meaning of his obscene joke too late.
-Can't you shut up?
Despite her annoyance, she lowered her voice and quickly looked around to see if anyone was nearby. At her embarrassed behavior, Ilex finally laughed.
His pure laughter echoed in the thick air. In that brief moment, even the deafening noise from the construction site could not drown out the living sound.
“What is he laughing at?”
As Tilia stared at him, her brows furrowed deeply, she suddenly realized that this was the first time she had seen him laugh.
And somehow it made him look older than he usually did when he had a bored expression on his face.
“...older than his years, hmm.”
But what does it matter if he's just laughing at his own dirty joke?
Tilia returned to her usual stern expression, suppressing any other feelings that tried to surface.