Reina gave a bitter smile at the thought. No matter how true it was, she didn’t want to say anything so cruel in front of Zephion. She didn’t want to be the kind of adult who carelessly says things a child could never forget.

‘Or maybe I should just call him my enemy.’

That wouldn’t be wrong. In fact, it was the truth: clear and unshakable.

If ‘enemy’ seemed too strong, ‘the person I’ll take revenge on’ might be a better description.

But even that wasn’t something she could say to someone as young as Zephion. If he acted on such words out of childish impulsiveness, it would only cause trouble.

“We’re just… close.”

“What does ‘close’ mean?”

“It means we live in the same house.”

At that, Zephion’s golden eyes spun thoughtfully and he tilted his head to the side.

“Then you and I are close, too?”

“I suppose we are.”

Reina replied with a faint smile.

She simply nodded. In response, Zephion fell into a serious silence, his expression tightening as he lost himself in thought. It was always hard to read his thoughts.

“Do you kiss people you’re close to?”

“Hm?”

“You kissed Kaelid!”

“Ah.”

A short sigh escaped Reina’s lips. Right. He had seen them kiss before — at least a few times. She now recalled that, consumed by jealousy, Kaelid had deliberately kissed her in front of Zephion, as if to make a point.

As she tried to come up with an acceptable explanation, Zephion spoke up first.

“My teacher said you’re only supposed to kiss someone you like.”

“Really? Your teacher’s right.”

“So, does that mean you like Kaelid?”

“Ha…”

Her head throbbed. How was she supposed to explain this?

That sometimes adults kiss even when they don’t want to?

That people have s*x without love?

“The kiss with Kaelid was…”

Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t bring herself to admit that she liked him.

“So you do like him?”

Zephion’s eyes widened and his voice trembled. Was it just her imagination, or did his golden eyes look suspiciously glassy, as if he was about to cry?

“When you’re an adult, sometimes you kiss.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re an adult.”

“Do adults just kiss anyone, then?”

“No, not just anyone. But sometimes you have to.”

“Even if you don’t like them?”

“Yes.”

The boy’s brows furrowed tightly. He was clearly confused, but Reina couldn’t think of a better way to put it — she was being as delicate as possible.

“So you kiss Kaelid because you’re both adults?”

“That’s right.”

Reina let out a quiet sigh. Zephion seemed to be lost in thought for a while before lifting his head.

“Does that mean you wouldn’t kiss someone you liked?”

“If there were someone I liked, I suppose I would.”

“Who is it?”

“Hmm… no one yet.”

The idea of liking or loving someone came with too many responsibilities. Even if she had feelings for someone else, could she ever be completely honest with them?

How could she ever put into words the fact that her stepbrother, Kaelid, had repeatedly violated her by manipulating and using her to push her into situations with Yuta? How could she expect anyone to hear that and still choose to stand by her side?

Just then, Zephion’s eyes widened and he beamed. It was the happiest, brightest smile in the world — one that could melt even the coldest heart.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because I like you, Reina!”

Reina laughed out loud for the first time that day. Surprised by her reaction, the boy’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

“Do you like me, Reina?”

“Well, it’s not that I don’t like you. “

“Not disliking me… means you like me, right?”

“The world isn’t always so simple.”

His small face twisted with mild confusion as he struggled to understand.

“Do you dislike me?”

“No.”

“Then… do you like me?”

“No.”

“Then do you kind of like me?”

She could see how hard he was trying to coax a ‘yes’ out of her. Once again, laughter bubbled up from her chest.

“OK, I think I kind of like you.”

“Then that means you like me!”

“Alright, let’s go with that.”

Reina let out a soft chuckle and replied with a relaxed smile. Zephion fidgeted with his fingers, then lowered his head.

‘What is he trying to say?’

She wondered, watching him silently.

After a moment’s hesitation, he finally looked up, determined.

“I like you, and you like me too, right?”

“Mhm, I suppose so.”

She replied somewhat half-heartedly, absentmindedly massaging her injured leg. The child had insisted on rubbing her leg so often, asking if it still hurt and offering to help, that now, without his usual fussing, the quiet left an odd sense of emptiness.

‘So this is what it means to get used to something.’

She smiled dryly to herself.

‘It hasn’t even been that long, and yet I’ve already grown accustomed to his little gestures of kindness. Who knew how much longer he would continue?’

As she stared at her knees, Zephion suddenly stepped closer to her.

Reina looked at him with mild curiosity. Not long ago, he’d been noticeably shorter than her, even when she was sitting down. Now, however, he was nearly at eye level with her.

“I… I want to kiss you too.”

“…..”

Her mind went blank.

She stared at him in stunned silence, completely unprepared for such an unexpected comment. The boy’s cheeks were flushed bright red.

“They say you’re supposed to kiss someone you like.”

“……”

“Then it makes sense to kiss the person you like, right?”

For something that a child had figured out independently, it was surprisingly logical. Reina let out a breathless laugh.

His golden eyes were fixed on her, unblinking, as if he wouldn’t back down until she agreed.

‘How was she supposed to respond to this?’

She’d never encountered children like this before, and she found herself feeling flustered. As she opened her mouth to speak, Reina decided to exploit Zephion’s one weakness.

“Kissing is something you do when you’re an adult.”

“Why?”

“Because when you’re grown up, you’re supposed to save your first kiss for the most important person in your life.”

“You always say I have to wait until I’m older.”

“Because it’s true.”

“So, is it bad to kiss when you’re little?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“When you grow up and meet someone truly special, you’ll want to save your first kiss for them.”

“But is a first kiss really that important?”

“It is. It’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

The boy pouted, pushing his lips out in frustration.

“But I want my first kiss to be with you, Reina.”

“You can’t.”

“You just said it’s something you remember forever.”

“Exactly. That’s why you shouldn’t.”

She was sure he would regret it one day.

Seeing the boy’s face twist with emotion, Reina gently stroked his hair. The soft strands brushed pleasantly against her fingers.

“Then, when I grow up, can we kiss?”

Reina let out a laugh. There he was, just ten years old, already making big plans for the future. He had so many things he wanted to do. Conversations like this would surely vanish from his memory within a few months. And when he finally became an adult, he’d probably cringe at the very thought.

“If you still want to kiss me by then, I’ll consider it.”

“Not consider — you will kiss me.”

“All right. If you still want to after you’ve grown up, then I will.”

“Promise me.”

He held out his little finger, looking very serious. Smiling softly, Reina hooked her little finger around his without hesitation.

That alone seemed to satisfy him — Zephion grinned bashfully. But he wasn’t quite finished. After glancing up at her mischievously, he leaned in a little closer.

A warm, small palm cupped her cheek. Then, something soft and damp brushed against her skin and pulled away with a gentle kiss.

“There. We made a promise.”

Seeing the joy on his face, Reina pulled him close and pressed her hand against his warm, soft cheek.

“All right, it’s a promise.”

She kissed his flushed cheek lightly in return and whispered quietly.

She didn’t know what the future would bring. But, in this fleeting moment, she thought.

‘This is something I can love.’