Free Web NovelChapter 3: Studying Together...? No Hypnosis, Right?
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the station.
Liam sprinted through the crowd.
Please... don’t let me miss it again.
Up ahead, a train was just about to leave, its cars already packed with passengers. Without wasting another second, he slipped through the closing doors.
Made it.
If he’d missed this one, he’d be stuck waiting another few dozen minutes.
Letting out a tired sigh, Liam grabbed one of the overhead straps and relaxed.
Today had easily been the most shocking day of his life.
His childhood friend had actually tried to hypnotize him using some sketchy app she’d apparently downloaded from who-knows-where.
Of course, it hadn’t worked.
He’d simply decided to play along.
And somehow...
The childhood friend he thought had grown completely cold and distant still cared about him just as intensely as she had back then.
If anything...
Those feelings might’ve only gotten stronger.
Liam rubbed his temple.
The realization alone was enough to give him a headache.
He honestly had no idea how to deal with affection that overwhelming.
Bump.
The train lurched, and another passenger accidentally shoved into him.
Caught off guard by the sudden inertia, Liam stumbled forward and instinctively braced himself against the wall.
Unfortunately...
That also meant the girl standing in front of him suddenly became very aware of his existence.
"I’m sorry," Liam apologized immediately. The last thing he wanted was to be mistaken for some creep.
"...Shut up."
The soft voice was painfully familiar.
Liam blinked.
The girl whose back had been facing him finally turned slightly.
Long hair.
Elegant posture.
It was none other than his childhood friend.
Miria Anjolie.
"W-Wait... aren’t you usually picked up by your family’s driver? Why are you taking the train?"
"The car’s in maintenance," Miria answered flatly. "So I had no choice."
That was a complete lie.
The car was perfectly fine.
She’d simply wanted to meet Liam.
Yesterday, she’d even had someone investigate his daily routine—what time he left school, which train he usually took, and the average time he arrived at the station.
Then she’d deliberately boarded the train first.
Just as expected...
A few moments later, Liam showed up right behind her.
After realizing how close they actually were, Liam couldn’t help remembering everything that had happened inside the Student Council Office.
Act normal.
Just... act normal.
Silence settled between them.
The only thing breaking it was the steady rumble of the train.
Since the carriage was crowded, Liam was occasionally pushed toward Miria whenever the train swayed.
Each time it happened, he caught the faint scent surrounding her. freewebnσvel.cøm
Warm.
At one point, his face even brushed lightly against her silky hair.
It felt unbelievably soft.
"Can’t you stop bumping into me?" Miria whispered.
"Or are you doing this on purpose, pervert?"
Liam nearly blurted out,
"Pervert? Says the girl who kissed me aggresively!"
His memories from the Student Council Office flashed through his head.
Instead, he sighed.
"Come on, it’s a crowded train. This happens all the time. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
Uncomfortable?
Quite the opposite.
Every accidental bump felt like a tiny blessing to Miria.
Several minutes later, the train finally arrived.
The two of them stepped off together.
Miria walked ahead without sparing Liam a single glance.
How does someone switch personalities this fast...?
Liam couldn’t stop wondering.
He followed her out of the station.
Just as they reached the exit...
Miria suddenly stumbled.
Seeing that, Liam instinctively rushed forward.
He caught her by the waist before she could fall.
A split second later—
Her face buried itself against his chest.
The position was... undeniably awkward.
Several nearby pedestrians smiled knowingly.
"Ah, youth..."
Liam wanted to scream.
Why do I always end up in rom-com situations like this?!
Still...
Why did Miria seem so... comfortable staying in his arms?
"Miria?"
His voice finally snapped her back to reality.
She’d been so absorbed in the warmth of Liam’s embrace that she’d completely frozen.
Quickly, she straightened herself and returned to her usual poker face.
Though...
Liam could’ve sworn the tips of her ears had turned red.
"You should be more careful getting off the train."
Miria turned her head away and resumed walking.
"I would’ve regained my balance on my own."
"You just wanted an excuse to hold me."
Liam’s expression completely broke.
His eye twitched.
Is this... seriously the same girl from earlier today?
The same person he’d caught acting completely different just hours ago?
"...Whatever."
He walked past her and picked up his pace.
"I’m heading home. See ya."
Before he could take another step—
Miria grabbed his wrist.
"..."
"I already told you."
She smiled.
That cold, elegant smile of hers.
"You’re coming to my house today."
"We have something to discuss."
A chill ran down Liam’s spine.
Right.
She had invited him over.
With everything that had happened today, he’d completely forgotten.
"...Right."
Giving up, Liam nodded and followed her down the sidewalk.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The evening sky had turned a warm shade of orange.
With the sunset painting everything in soft light, Miria somehow looked even more ethereal walking ahead of him.
"...Is your mom home?" Liam finally asked.
"Why?"
"I mean... isn’t it a little weird inviting some guy over?"
"You’re not some guy."
She answered without looking back.
"You’re my childhood friend."
"And besides, you used to be close with my mother."
A brief pause.
"She even called you her future son-in-law."
Liam scratched the back of his head.
She wasn’t wrong.
He’d been very close to Miria’s mother.
Still...
It had been over a year since they’d last seen each other.
He couldn’t help wondering if it would be awkward now.
"You don’t have to worry," Miria continued.
"My mother’s away on a business trip overseas."
"You know how busy she is."
"So when we get home..."
She glanced over her shoulder.
"It’ll just be the two of us."
...Just the two of us?
Oh, no.
Liam suddenly felt like he was voluntarily walking into a tiger’s den.
Who knew what Miria was planning this time?
Please don’t tell me she’s going to pull out that hypnosis app again...
After walking for quite a while, they finally arrived.
A magnificent villa stood before them.
Its two-story European-style architecture and towering roof made it look more like a mansion than a house.
The security guard immediately opened the front gate the moment he saw Miria.
Liam couldn’t help comparing it to his tiny apartment.
The difference was almost depressing.
No matter how many times he visited, the place always made him think,
...Whoa.
Miria quietly opened the front door.
The interior matched the grandeur outside.
Elegant sofas decorated with gold accents.
Expensive paintings hanging across every wall.
Every corner practically screamed wealth.
...My childhood friend is ridiculously loaded.
"Come in."
Liam nodded.
Miria slipped out of her shoes and into a pair of fluffy pink bunny slippers.
The exact same pair she’d owned years ago.
Some things never changed.
She then walked over to one of the maids and quietly said something.
Liam couldn’t hear the conversation from where he was standing.
"What are you spacing out for?"
Miria called without turning around.
"Hurry up and come inside."
Liam finally walked over.
"So... why exactly did you invite me here, Miria?"
Please.
Anything but hypnosis again.
"What else?"
She answered matter-of-factly.
"We’re going to study together."
"I’ll go take a quick shower first."
She pointed toward the living room.
"Just wait on the sofa."
With that, Miria headed upstairs toward the bathroom.
Watching her disappear from sight, Liam let out the biggest sigh of relief he’d breathed all day.
...Thank God.
