Chapter 4.2

“Is it really okay to touch?”

In her blurry vision, the teacher looked like a work of art. Could she dare to touch that angelic face? So, she hesitated before his fair cheek. It looked so precious that it was difficult to carelessly reach out her hand.

“Of course.”

The teacher spoke as if it was natural, but she was afraid she might accidentally scratch him. If she left a mark by mistake, she felt she would be punished by God for daring to touch God’s son.

“Teacher.”

“Yes.”

Her mouth moved of its own accord, reciting her thoughts.

“Did you come from the heavens?”

The teacher blinked as if interpreting the meaning of her words.

“What if I die from touching you?”

“…What a terrifying thing to say.”

“I read about it in the scriptures. They say humans die immediately if they see God. So wouldn’t I die if I touch you, an angel?”

Saying it out loud made her truly scared. But perhaps she could leave without regret, having seen something beautiful before dying.

“…Miss, perhaps we should postpone the lesson…”

“No! I’m definitely going to touch you today. We promised.”

She shook her head a few times to shake off the sleepiness and gathered all her strength into her hands.

The teacher looked at her and suddenly burst into laughter. 

Did my determination seem funny to him? 

She puffed up her cheeks and repeatedly chanted, “I can do it.”

…but she kept raising her hand with determination only to lower it weakly again.

“May I start with your hand?”

“My hand?”

“Yes, I want to start with your hand. It seems better.”

Since it was fine when her hand brushed against his, she thought if she started by holding his hand, she might gain confidence. And she felt she wouldn’t be punished just for holding hands.

It might seem like an arbitrary standard, but that’s just how she felt.

“Then here it is.”

The teacher readily extended his palm. Though she had observed his hand thoroughly before, seeing it again, it seemed beautiful.

How could a person not have an unattractive part? Ah, except for the organ. That was more impressive than pretty.

She raised her finger and gently touched the tip of the teacher’s finger.

The moment their fingertips touched, her skin seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.

Oh, as expected, it wasn’t bad. For some reason, her chest felt strangely ticklish, but that was probably because she was sleepy.

It seemed okay to muster a bit more courage.

The teacher’s hand was very large. As she slowly placed her palm against his, her hand felt very small, like a child’s. The teacher’s fingers were two joints longer than hers.

“Miss, your hand is very warm.”

“You too, Teacher.”

The soft warmth spreading through her palm made her body feel relaxed. She folded her fingers and interlocked them with the teacher’s, making their hands look like they were hugging.

It reminded her of holding hands with her father when she was young. The teacher wasn’t like her father, but the warmth spreading through her body brought back those memories.

Come to think of it, it had been eight years since she held a man’s hand.

She, who was famous for being a fortress in social circles, was now holding hands tightly with the teacher. She thought she could finally end the days of being compared to Diana and called the polar opposite sisters.

“Wow… I did it.”

Feeling suddenly emotional, she shook their clasped hands from side to side.

“Well done.”

The teacher smiled contentedly.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze. The space turned gray, and only the teacher was visible. Like Felix she had met in the alley as a child. Her gaze was fixed on his smiling lips.

Her heart dropped with a thud.

‘What is this?’

She touched her chest to check her heartbeat. Thankfully, her heart was in its place. She really thought she was going to die from punishment.

“Miss? Is there a problem?”

“Wow… Teacher, I definitely died and came back to life.”

“What are you saying?”

Heat gathered in their clasped hands, and sweat began to form. She finally released their interlocked fingers and withdrew her hand. She couldn’t soil the teacher’s precious hand with sweat.

Warmth lingered on her palm. The sensation was so peculiar that she brushed it with her thumb.

“Touching really requires great determination.”

“That will become familiar over time.”

The teacher tapped her on the back of her hand.

“Do you think you can touch my face now?”

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

“Try, indeed.”

The teacher chuckled. Following his laughter, flowers began to bloom one by one around them, and a field of flowers unfolded in her vision.

She thought her sleepiness had vanished when her heart fell earlier. But perhaps not. She rubbed her eyes, and the illusion disappeared.

Would I start hearing hallucinations at this rate?

She forced herself to act normal, opening her eyes wide and gathering energy in her hands again.

She felt definitely more courageous than before, and her hand reached the teacher’s face.

The teacher’s cheek was smooth and soft like fine fabric. She carefully wrapped both hands around his cheeks, afraid she might scratch the flawless skin with her nails.

With his face in her hands, she felt playful. She had already touched him. Wouldn’t it be okay to play a little prank? So she gently pressed his cheek, causing his lips to pucker slightly like a fish. His already full lips became even plumper.

She felt an impulse to grab and stretch them.

“Teacher, I just died and came back to life earlier.”

“Why do you keep talking about dying?”

The teacher furrowed his eyebrows. She rubbed that area with her thumb, but it didn’t smooth out.

“I won’t let you die, so please don’t say such things.”

“But…”

She really wanted to pull those lips.

They say when people can’t sleep, they don’t think properly and act boldly according to their instincts. That was exactly her situation. At this moment, she forgot her fear of contact with men.

The way the teacher’s fish-like lips moved when he spoke was cute. Her desire to feel that texture grew stronger.

“Miss, today’s lessㅇ, ugh.”

Finally, her fingers, shaped like pincers, grabbed the teacher’s lips. The teacher opened his eyes wide and called her with muffled pronunciation. 

Miss, Miss. 

His voice was pleasing to her ears. She listened to him speak but didn’t stop her hands.

“So soft.”

It was better to touch than Felix’s magical sensory play tools.

Her heart felt healed, and her eyes gently closed.

That was the last thing she remembered.

* * *

Felix looked at Erica with a bewildered expression.

“Miss?”

“…….”

No matter how much he called, there was no answer. Erica had truly drifted off to dreamland.

Just minutes ago, she said she was afraid to touch. Erica had fallen asleep while pressing his lips.

It was cute yet disheartening.

Approaching her as a teacher to ease her wariness was a good idea. But Erica truly only saw him as a teacher.

There wasn’t even a hint of awareness toward him. Erica was focused solely on advancing toward her goal, step by step.

Of course, it was ultimately for their engagement, and it was good for her to become familiar with the body.

But he hoped she would be a little sexually tense.

His desire for her to be comfortable with him and to be aware of him fluctuated.

Felix gently held the ends of Erica’s hair. He felt a mischievous urge to stroke her hair and steal a kiss while she slept. But he didn’t want to become unscrupulous, so he held back.

So he carefully removed her hand from his lips without waking her and quietly admired Erica’s sleeping face.

“Miss, don’t talk about dying again.”

“…….”

Erica probably spoke in jest. But he was scared for a moment.

Afraid he might lose Erica and drive her to death like before.

Just thinking about it was too terrifying. Felix’s eyes burned darkly.

This time, he would definitely protect her.

“Just wait a little longer. It’s soon.”

Felix whispered quietly and watched Erica until Selly arrived.