Chapter 4 – Operation Failed

Chloe sat, tense. In her neatly clasped hands was the love potion she’d received from Chacha. Sweat from her nerves made the tightly held vial slippery.

‘Just one week…’

Chloe tried to calm her pounding heart. The effect would last exactly one week, Chacha had said. If everything went back to normal after a week, it meant there was truly no hope, and she would give up. She couldn’t hang on to Dante forever if he never noticed her feelings.

“Chloe.”

Suddenly, a voice called, and Chloe’s head snapped up. Dante approached with his usual smile.

“Welcome, Dante. Sorry for calling you out so suddenly.”

Maybe because she was nervous, even her own voice seemed awkward. Chloe slipped the potion into her pocket and scratched her cheek sheepishly. Dante shook his head and sat across from her.

“No, I was thinking of taking a walk anyway. So, who is it this time?”

“Huh?”

“You called me because you have a new boyfriend, didn’t you?”

There was something pointed about his question. Chloe flinched and waved her hands.

“No. We don’t have to meet just to talk about boyfriends.”

“Then?”

“Just… sometimes we can meet like this. Do you mind?”

Chloe asked carefully. She’d always brought up her fake boyfriends when they met, worried he’d see through her feelings, but now she realized it might have been obvious. Still, Dante seemed pleased with her answer.

“Of course not. You haven’t ordered yet, right? Hot chocolate again today?”

“No. Just… a warm cup of chamomile tea today.”

What Chloe needed now was calm, not sugar. Her mind was filled with thoughts about the potion Chacha had given her. As time passed, her heart beat faster, her fingers stiffened, and she couldn’t do anything.

‘…Just one drop.’

In her current state, she couldn’t even open the vial, let alone drop anything in. Chloe bit her lower lip and clenched and unclenched her fists a few times. Dante watched her carefully.

“Are you feeling sick?”

“…Huh?”

“You don’t look well.”

Before Chloe could shake her head, a large hand covered her forehead. The sudden warmth made Chloe flinch.

“You don’t have a fever.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Chloe smiled awkwardly and waved her hand. Was her face red? Could he hear her heart pounding? Even her forced smile seemed to tremble. Dante tilted his head, dissatisfied.

“…Is it because of that guy?”

His blunt words made Chloe blink in surprise. ‘That guy’? Who? Dante, seeing her confusion, muttered softly.

“Guess you really liked this one.”

“…”

Chloe was still confused, then realized a beat late that ‘that guy’ meant her last fake boyfriend, Pierre.

“No, it’s not because of him. I just…”

“Yeah.”

“I’m just… tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Hm.”

Dante stared at Chloe, stroking his chin. His gaze seemed to ask, ‘Did you lose sleep over breaking up with that guy?’

To be honest, Chloe hadn’t slept well, but it was because of Dante, not Pierre. After their date, she’d tossed and turned in her dorm bed. Chacha, who usually listened to her troubles, had passed out after finishing her research, so Chloe had spent the night alone.

Five failed attempts—or rather, five fake relationships and five fake breakups, so ten failures in total. They say even the hardest tree falls after ten chops, but Dante hadn’t budged at all. Maybe it had been hopeless from the start. Or maybe he knew about her clumsy schemes and pretended not to notice because it was awkward.

Even when she went to find Chacha in the lab after sunrise, Chloe felt like she was digging her own grave. Dante, sitting in front of her, didn’t even realize he was the cause.

“If you’re tired, want to go home early?”

Dante asked, looking a bit puzzled and maybe a little annoyed. Chloe glanced at him.

“Um… Dante, are you busy? If you are, it’s okay…”

“I’m just worried you’re tired.”

“If I go back now, I’ll just sleep. Then I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I’ll wake up hanging out with you and go to bed early tonight.”

Chloe smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Dante rested his chin in his hand and stared at her. Feeling his gaze, Chloe blinked.

“…Why?”

“Just. You look pretty.”

His blunt words made her ears heat up. Chloe searched for a reply, then giggled, pretending not to care.

“What, you sound like a flirt.”

That was the problem—he’d sometimes throw out comments like that. Pretty, cute, cool—whenever he praised her, hope would bubble up in her chest.

Dante just smiled silently and beckoned the server. He ordered two hot teas and some dessert, then slowly stood up. Chloe watched him, surprised.

“Where are you going?”

“Sorry, just a minute.”

Before she could stop him, Dante turned and left the teahouse. He disappeared outside, leaving Chloe blinking in confusion.

‘Did something urgent come up? Did he forget something at home?’

While Chloe sat, bewildered, the server approached with a tray. Plates of dessert and cups of yellow tea were placed one by one on the table.

“…”

Chloe swallowed and fiddled with the vial in her pocket. When a cup was set at Dante’s seat, her heart, which had calmed a bit, started pounding again.

‘…Should I really put it in?’

Chloe stared at Dante’s cup, thinking. She knew this was her chance, but now that she was about to do it, her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest.

‘It’s only natural to give up something small to gain something big. If you throw away your tiny, cute conscience, you might get him.’

Chacha’s voice echoed in her ears. Her mouth was dry, and her fingers twitched. Chloe took a deep breath. Okay, do it. Just do it. She couldn’t keep dragging this out forever.

Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and opened the vial. The yellow tea in the cup was calm and still. Chloe held her breath and raised her trembling hand. If she just did it quickly, it’d be over. Even if everything went back to normal after a week, Chloe wanted to see Dante loving her, if only to make up for all her lonely heartache.

Finally, a single drop of pink potion fell from the tiny vial. As ripples spread in the tea, Chloe quickly shoved the vial back into her pocket and covered her face.

“…Ugh.”

She’d done it. She’d really done something crazy. What if someone saw? Chloe glanced around. But no one seemed interested in her table. She relaxed, leaning back and clutching her chest. But then—

“Chloe.”

“Ahh—!”

Startled by the sudden voice, Chloe jumped. Her heart thudded again.

“D-D-Dante.”

“Sorry. Did I scare you?”

Chloe gaped at Dante. 

‘Had he seen me put the potion in?’

Feeling guilty, she was on edge. But Dante just reached behind his back and revealed what he’d been hiding. Chloe’s eyes widened at the bouquet of red roses.

“What’s with the flowers?”

“Just wanted to give them to you.”

Dante smiled gently. Chloe imagined him handing her the bouquet and confessing, saying he’d liked her all along, asking her to stop dating other guys and look at him.

Even if it was a cliché, if Dante said it, she’d be so happy. But the words he actually spoke were nothing like what she wanted.

“Those guys never gave you anything like this, right?”

“Ah…”

“You’ll do what you want, but if you’re going to date, pick a decent guy. Graduation’s coming soon, isn’t it?”

Chloe couldn’t answer. She’d hoped and been disappointed so many times, but she still felt a fresh wave of disappointment.

He’ll never ask her to date him. He just feels sorry for his friend who never got a bouquet after five fake relationships.

She wanted to say she’d actually received bouquets before. All four guys who’d confessed to her with real feelings had given her flowers. So she wanted to tell him not to confuse her by giving flowers out of pity.

But Chloe couldn’t say anything. She knew she’d been relying on his sympathy all along. Whenever she broke up with a fake boyfriend and went to Dante, she’d secretly hoped he’d treat her like a lover on their dates. The more she thought about it, the more pathetic it seemed.

“…Thank you.”

Chloe tried to smile brightly as she accepted the bouquet. No matter how sad or miserable she felt, the scent of flowers in her arms was wonderful. Dante sat across from her.

“Go ahead and drink. The tea must be cold by now.”

“No, it just came out.”

Chloe placed the bouquet on the chair beside her and replied. Dante touched his cup and smiled, saying she was right. Chloe watched him blankly as he picked up his cup. The cup with Chacha’s love potion was in Dante’s hand. After drinking that tea, he’d love her for at least a week.

Guilt and anticipation swirled inside her. She felt bad that he’d love her because of a potion, but also wished he’d pine for her for just a week, even if only once.

No matter what happened, putting the love potion in his tea meant she was giving up on their current relationship. She’d either gain Dante as a lover or lose him as a close friend.