Perry could even predict the first words she would hear once the curtain fully descended. Something bittersweet like ‘You really did well’ or ‘So it finally ends.’ She would bid farewell to her first lead role, feeling the solid bond among those who had completed the work together.

But—

“Hum, Humble?”

“Leave her alone.”

Even Perry didn’t know what would happen next. Though she had traveled to theaters large and small, playing everything from bit parts to lead roles—she had never left the stage before the curtain fully descended.

Her focus didn’t waver. Perry rushed straight toward her target, just as a country bumpkin seeing a play for the first time in their life might. She was too fast for her fellow actors to catch and too desperate in her gaze to be stopped.

Clack, her high heel caught on the edge of a step, but it didn’t matter.

“Perry……!”

Because someone was there to catch her.

The white veil sparkled finely under the low-intensity lighting. Perry pulled down the neck of the person who caught her. Clean scent of soap and familiar perfume. Black hair caught between each finger joint.

“You’ll get hurt.”

Ah, kind concern.

Yuan, who carefully set Perry down, furrowed his brow slightly and whispered rapidly.

“How can you run without looking at the floor? What if you twisted your ankle? You’ve fallen and gotten hurt before. Those heels seem too high anyway, does it hurt—”

“Yuan.”

What a consistently excessive attitude from someone who had been asleep all winter. Her palm, with its scattered calluses, caressed his white cheek. Though they were already close enough for their shoe tips to touch, Perry leaned her upper body forward, trying to get even closer.

“Not that.”

Her long upturned eyelashes trembled. Her rose-colored lips moved playfully.

“Not that, Yuan.”

Some realization flashed in his blue eyes. His large hand supported Perry’s back to prevent her from falling. Unlike that rainy evening, the theater lights revealed their expressions without shadows.

Heated earlobes and forehead, rising and falling Adam’s apple, moving lips. Yet his gaze remained steady.

“I…… revere you.”

The fool, smarty-pants, idiot who had kept Perry Humble awake for so long. The boy who had appeared in her dreams through the seasons confessed with the face of a full-grown adult.

“You’re right. I like you.”

His downcast eyelids were so white. Perry reached out and touched his forehead, chin, cheekbones, eyes, shoulders, and arms in no particular order. As if trying to distinguish between dream and reality.

“……I’ve loved you.”

The one who docilely offered his body concluded firmly.

“For a very long time.”

Why didn’t you do this sooner—Perry suddenly felt angry with him, but only for a moment. There was no time to waste on pride-based quarrels. However……

“I’ll answer later.”

“……What?”

“You just confessed to me. Said you love me.”

Tap tap, her face showed mischief as she tapped her shoe toe and pretended to be distracted. With her chin held high, Perry declared as if putting on airs.

“I’m not giving you an answer right now. After you’ve said everything you didn’t say all this time, then I’ll answer.”

In short, she would only listen for now, so he should just keep confessing his love. At these meaningful words, Yuan, who had been tense, nodded with more relaxed eyes.

“Gladly.”

The hand supporting Perry’s back slowly smoothed out her tangled hair.

“A glorious wait.”

His cool eyes curved deeply as if receiving an award. Perry unconsciously curled her toes. Being with Yuan always made her throat inexplicably dry, but—something felt subtly different.

It was ticklish, anxious, tender, fluttering…… The woman who had been blankly staring at that feverless smile stretched out both hands and pulled his broad shoulders closer. Their gazes met—

And almost simultaneously, their lips collided.

The veil, elaborately woven with her hair, flowed down Yuan’s collarbone. By the time Perry pulled her lips away, Yuan was no longer smiling. It wasn’t befitting of a capable pilot, but it perfectly suited the fool who had wandered lost for over ten years. Perry didn’t hold back the laughter that leaked out as she spoke.

“Hmm, a token of promise?”

“Perry……”

“Unlike someone, my pledge not to lie.”

“Really……”

“I want to answer your confession quickly too. That’s, well…… up to you, Yuan.”

You know? The mischievous question remained unfinished. His rough lips gently pressed against Perry’s. Because heat rose all the way to the crown of her head. Because moisture welled up in her eyes.

A sophisticated director would click their tongue, calling it a classic and clichéd ending. But it didn’t matter at all. They weren’t standing on a stage—and the actor who had been playing the lead role just minutes ago was now simply Perry Humble.

Neither a successful actor nor an unremarkable woman,

Just Perry Humble.

And, to add, one whom Yuan Bellium deeply loved.

P.S. It’s All Your Fault

[Dear Yuan

May I leave just one piece of advice for a confused friend?

You like me.

You like me, you idiot!

Oh, of course your head must be filled with many thoughts. Those aimed at refuting this proposition. I won’t say “Those d*mn thoughts!” If you have so many worries and concerns, I don’t know how you came up with the bold plan to write me letters, but if you had used even a quarter of that courage, by now we would—

Oh my, what am I saying.

Yes, I was petty with you. I’m not sorry. But if I had known you were such a timid person, I would have talked more carefully—probably? As you know, I was extremely excited that day. The troublesome thing we had covered up between us suddenly went ‘boom!’

I don’t want to question what happened that day. Especially not now…… I was so busy being angry that I forgot, but I don’t think I told you this.

Listen, Yuan. If you hadn’t sent that fan letter, if that ‘deception’ hadn’t happened, I would have quit acting. Really. I was definitely planning to quit.

At that time, I was tired of my unrequited love for the stage. I loved the stage so much, but I was rarely rewarded. No matter how spirited you are, it’s hard to keep throwing yourself against a wall that won’t even crack, right? So,

That day was my retirement performance. I didn’t tell anyone—more precisely, I had no one to tell—but I planned to lose all interest in theater and find another job. Something that suited me better, could sustain my livelihood, and wouldn’t keep me anxiously awake at night.

But then you sent that letter.

I could have never known, but by letting me know someone was watching me…… I couldn’t quit as I had resolved. How could I give up when it was proven that my voice had reached someone, that my acting wasn’t just a cry into the void?

It’s all your fault.

Yuan Bellium, you blocked my plans. So you have to take responsibility. Don’t you agree?

—Perry.]

P.S. Thank you for seeing me so favorably, but in the whole world, only one… no, two people see me that way. I’m not that brave either. If I were, I wouldn’t have sent you letters while crying at dawn, nor would I have pretended not to know your lies for nearly two years while only beating around the bush.

You don’t know. Why I didn’t immediately point out your lie. Why do you think? To laugh at you alone with a “let’s see how far this goes” attitude? I’m not that petty. Just……

I was afraid. Afraid you would hide again if I showed I knew. Afraid we would grow distant again after finally connecting.

Looking at what I’ve written, this is all your fault. You should reflect.

P.P.S. Where does this “always shining” Perry live? Do you know how nervous I was when I first added “dear” to my letter? Yet you wrote it so casually. Dear Perry, dear Perry, all the time…… How do you think I felt when I wrote “beloved Yuan”?

A conventional expression? Yes, that’s right. That’s how others would send it. But not me.

Not me, Yuan Bellium.

P.P.P.S. My cheeks only turn red when I’m with you.

P.P.P.P.S. I didn’t mean it when I said I hoped you would fail that day. I’m sorry.]

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Curly hair tickled his angular elbow. Yuan answered while folding the worn-edged paper along its creases.

“The letter you gave me.”

“Letter? What…… Oh. That one again?”

“It’s good for steadying my mind.”

“Such a fuss……”

Despite her gruff tone, she didn’t seem displeased. Perry, who had been tickling his long finger joints, seemed to lose interest and strode across the spacious bedroom. Her movements, steadying herself by touching the edges of shelves, looked familiar.

Well, Perry had visited his residence more than ten times now. Considering it was usually Yuan who crossed city boundaries whenever time allowed, ten visits was a number that represented her best effort.