"No," I whispered, looking up at his face. "I can't."

"Maybe you're right." He whispered, his tone desolate. When I looked over, the color of his eyes seemed to darken.

I changed the subject. "What time can I see you tomorrow?" I asked, almost frustrated to think that he was leaving now.

"It depends...... It's Saturday and you don't want to sleep in? He proposed.

"Nope." I answered too quickly. He stifled a smile.

"Well, the same time as usual." He decided. "Will Chuck be home?"

"No, he's going fishing tomorrow." I smiled at the thought of how things had turned out.

His tone suddenly sharpened. "What would he think if you didn't come home?"

"I don't know." I replied coldly. "He knew I was going to do the laundry. Maybe he'll think I've fallen into the washing machine. ”

He grimaced at me, and I glared at him with a strained face. His anger was even more contagious than my own.

"What are you going to hunt tonight?" I asked when I was sure I had lost the glaring race.

"Any prey we can find in a national park. We won't go far. He was a little stunned because I was so casually mentioning the fact that he was secret.

"Why are you going with Milani?" I skeptical.

"Milani is the most ...... Support me. He said, frowning.

"What about the others?" I asked shyly. "How are they?"

At that moment, his forehead wrinkled: "Doubt, most of it." ”

I quickly peeked at his family behind me. They sat there, staring in different directions, very much like when I first saw them. But now they were four of them, and their handsome, copper-haired brother was sitting across from me, and there was no peace in his golden eyes.

"They don't like me." I guessed.

"Not really." He denied it, but his eyes looked too innocent. "They just don't understand why I can't leave you alone."

I grimaced: "Again, I don't understand. ”

Roger shook his head slowly, rolling his eyes at the ceiling. Then he looked at me again. "I told you - you don't know yourself clearly at all. You're unlike anyone I've ever met. You fascinate me. ”

I glared at him, convinced that he was making fun of me right now.

After reading my expression, he smiled. "The advantage I have," he whispered, stroking his forehead cautiously. "It allows me to better grasp human nature. The human heart is easy to guess. But you ...... You never play my cards according to my rules, and you always amaze me. ”

I looked away, and my eyes wandered to his family, embarrassed and dissatisfied. His words made me feel like a science experiment. I wanted to laugh at myself, but I was still expecting other possibilities.

"This part is easy to explain," he continued. I felt his gaze fall on my face, but I couldn't look at him for fear he would see the distress in my eyes. "But there's more...... And it's hard to put into words—"

As he spoke, I was still looking at the Wright. Suddenly Alice, his charming blonde sister, turned to look at me. No, not looking—glaring, glaring at me with gloomy, cold eyes. I wanted to look away, but her gaze kept me moving until Roger interrupted his sentence in the middle of his sentence and let out a very low voice of rage. It was almost a boo.

Alice turned her head, and I was relieved. I looked back at Roger—I knew he could see the confusion and fear that was spreading in my eyes.

His face tensed, he explained. "I'm sorry for that. She's just worried. You know...... It's dangerous, and not just for me, if, after spending so much time with you so openly......" he hung his head.

"What if?"

"If the result is ...... Not good. He buried his head in his hands, just as he did that night at Port Okuxiang. His distress couldn't be clearer. I wanted to comfort him, but I was confused and didn't know how. My hand reached for him unconsciously, but soon, I withdrew my hand under the table, afraid that my touch would only make it worse. I slowly realized that his words should have scared me. I waited for the fear to come, but all I could feel was empathetic heartache for his pain.

And frustration - frustration at Alice interrupting what he was about to say. I don't know how to bring this up again. He still had his head in his hands.

I tried to speak in a normal tone: "Do you have to go now?" ”

"Yes." He lifted his face, and for a moment his expression was still grim, but then his mood changed, and he smiled and said, "This may be the best outcome." Fifteen minutes left of the damn movie we're going to watch in biology class - I don't think I can live with any more time. ”

I looked up. Milani—her short black hair was messily wrapped around her delicate elven-like face like a circle of light—suddenly stood behind him. Even as she stood motionless, her slender figure still looked so slim and so elegant.

He greeted her, but didn't take his eyes off my face. "Milani."

"Roger." She responded. Her soprano-like voice is almost as attractive as her voice.

"Milani, this is Imia - Imia, this is Milani." He introduced us to each other, nonchalantly gesturing with his hands, and a crooked smile appeared on his face.

"Hello, Imia." Her bright, obsidian-like eyes have an elusive look, but her smile is friendly. "It's nice to finally see you."

Roger glanced at her gloomily.

"Hello, Milani." I whispered shyly.

"Are you ready?" She asked him.

His tone was rusty. "Almost. See you in the car. ”

She left without saying a word. Her walking posture was so smooth, like flowing water, I felt a wave of jealousy.

"Should I say 'have fun,' or is that the wrong emotion?" I turned back to look at him and asked.

"No, 'have fun' applies in any situation." He grinned.

"So, have fun!" I tried to make myself sound sincere. Of course, I still couldn't fool him.

"I try." He still grinned. "You have to do your best to keep yourself safe, please."

"Being safe and sound in Victoria – what a challenge."

"It's a real challenge for you." His jaw tightened. "Promise me."

"I promise to try to keep myself safe." I recited. "I'm going to do the laundry tonight—it should be dangerous."

"Don't fall in." He scoffed.

"I'll do my best."

Then he stood up, and so did I.

"See you tomorrow." I sighed.

"It seems like a long time for you, doesn't it?" He said thoughtfully.

I nodded sullenly.

"I'll be there early in the morning." He assured, smiling. He reached out and stroked my face across the table, once again caressing my cheekbones. Then he turned and walked away. I watched him go.

For the rest of the day, I was tempted to skip class, at least PE, but an instinctive warning stopped me. I knew that if I disappeared now, Jack and the others would think I was with Roger. And Roger was worried that we were spending too much time together in public...... If things go in a bad direction. I refused to dwell on one last thought, instead focusing on what made him safer.

I knew intuitively - and I sensed from his demeanor - that tomorrow was going to be critical. Our relationship will not continue to be balanced in this way, it is already on the cutting edge. We either fall to this end or to the other, and it's all based on his decision, or his instinct. I had already made up my mind, even before I made a conscious choice, and I would be steadfast in my quest to the end. For nothing frightens and torments more frightening and torturous to me than the thought of leaving him. It's an impossible event.