Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 28

I tightly shut my eyes.

“……”

‘Boom!, Boom!’

A loud sound echoed in the darkness.

When I heard the ear-piercing noise, I slowly opened my eyes.

In the night sky where Ray’s back was turned, various colors of dots began to appear densely.

“Ray, Ray! Look over there! Fireworks!”

Ray turned his head slightly to follow where my gaze landed.

‘Boom!, Boom!’

Successive fireworks vigorously rose up and scattered like snowflakes in the center of the night sky.

Perhaps the recent power outage was for this fireworks display.

The shouts of people were heard, breaking the silence.

The crowd at the market was quickly gathering around us.

We had unintentionally taken over a prime spot.

My gaze instinctively turned towards the sky.

Ray and I were standing side by side, and we looked at the same place.

He cautiously pulled my waist towards him.

As his touch reached a sensitive spot, I unknowingly held my breath.

Instinctively, I tensed my body.

Thanks to the sound of fireworks exploding everywhere, the loud pounding of my heart was drowned out.

As small yellow fireworks scattered like mist flowers, a single large red firework stem split into multiple branches and spread widely.

The blue fireworks delved among warm colors asserting their own hue.

But even with the dazzling fireworks, they fell short of capturing my attention.

My mind was entirely focused on our intertwined hands.

* * *

‘Thump.’

When the night sky turned dark once again, the lights of the market lit up one by one.

The pitch-black darkness disappeared.

As if nothing had happened, the world returned to normal.

Only then did I let go of the breath I had been holding.

‘I guess I was tense without realizing it.’

The market regained its bustling and busy appearance.

It was a time when the people who had found the prime spot scattered around.

In the busy crowd, I could see a familiar figure from behind.

“Dermian…? Why is he here…?”

“What’s wrong, Daisy?”

“Ray, I think I saw my brother.”

I said, looking up at Ray.

Then, holding his hand, I began to follow the familiar figure from behind.

Ray walked alongside me, matching my steps while holding my hand.

“Dermian… is that you?”

Dermian turned his head at my voice.

“Huh? Sis?”

“Yeah, what are you doing here…?”

Dermian glanced at me for a moment and then spilled the juice he was drinking all over himself.

“Oh…! What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“Dermian, what’s wrong?”

At that moment, a silver-haired boy popped out next to Dermian.

The boy dropped the skewer he was holding to the ground.

Wait… why are they behaving like that?

The boy with silver hair who had just appeared was a man I knew very well.

He was Delian’s one and only brother, her half-brother, Ian Ruina.

“Ian!!”

“Dermian…, that’s Sister Daisy, right?”

“Yeah… seems like it.”

“What on earth is that thing on her head…”

“Yeah… I want to pretend I don’t know her.”

Dermian and Ian were conversing with stern faces.

“Hey, what are you guys doing here? Wasn’t it just kiss time?”

I was someone without prejudice. But I can be curious, right? Prejudice and curiosity are different things.

Those guys… always sticking together every day… could it be…!

Dermian and Ian didn’t answer my question. They just stared at me with stern faces.

“Look at these guys…? You’re really suspicious, okay? What’s up, you guys. Why are you two alone here? And Dermian, it’s way past curfew, what are you doing here?”

“What misunderstanding are you making, seriously! We came to see the fireworks festival! But why on earth are you wearing that dreadful thing on your head?”

Suddenly, Dermian’s gaze turned behind me.

It seemed like he had finally noticed Ray’s presence from behind me.

“…It surprisingly suits you well?”

“Oh, right. Hey guys, say hello. This is Duke Croit, my partner for today’s party. Everyone knows, right?”

“Of course. How could we forget…”

Dermian and Ian greeted Ray respectfully.

“Ray. This is my brother, Dermian. You met him last time, right? And the cute one next to him is Delian’s brother!”

At that moment, Ray’s eyebrows noticeably twitched.

“I see. Nice to meet you.”

The three men exchanged very awkward greetings. It seemed like I needed to lighten up this dull atmosphere.

“By the way, Ian. You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you?”

I approached Ian and said.

“Of course. Sister, I’m also an adult man now. My height is similar to Dermian’s now.”

“Yeah. I used to worry when you were short as a child, but I’m relieved now.”

Ian shrugged at my words.

For now… it’s probably best to pretend I didn’t see Delian today…?

“How… is Delian doing? It seems like it’s been a while since we met. I’m curious how she’s been lately.”

Ian lowered his head in response to my question.

“Well… Sister… doesn’t really meet me well either. It’s been a while since I saw her too.”

“I see…”

I approached Ian a little closer. Then I reached out my arm and naturally stroked Ian’s head as he lowered it.

Ian’s body trembled slightly at the touch.

“It can’t be helped. You know that, right? I trust you. I hope you understand.”

“Yeah… I know. I understand.”

Ian said to me with a somewhat lonely look in his eyes.

“Yeah. You’re the only one who thinks about Delian. You’re very reliable.”

I looked at Ian proudly.

“But Ian, it’s a bit burdensome now if I keep stroking your head, isn’t it? Can you lower your height a bit? Then I think it would be more comfortable to pat you.”

The corners of Ian’s lips slightly raised at my joke.

He had dimples on his cheeks that looked just like Delian.

“Is that okay? Here! Is this more comfortable?”

Ian bowed his waist and offered me his head.

With Ian closing his eyes and quietly offering his head for me to stroke him more, I continued to run my hand on his silver hair.

“Yeah. Good. Then go have fun and go back soon. Don’t stay out too late. Understand?”

“Yeah!”

Ian nodded obediently in response to my words.

The golden-haired and silver-haired boys, with their heads lowered, gradually moved away.

“Sorry, Ray. I suddenly met some familiar faces. Especially Ian, it’s been three years since I saw him.”

I smiled at Ray.

“It’s okay.”

Ray said in a low voice, avoiding my gaze. His expression seemed somewhat stiff for some reason.

An inexplicable silence flowed between us.

“Um… Ray, are you upset?”

“Why would I be upset with you?”

He definitely seems upset…

In an instant, my gaze fell on the cute gray rabbit headband that was wrapped around his black hair.

Ah… that’s why…!

It seems like he felt embarrassed showing the headband to someone else.

“Um…, Ray. If the headband is uncomfortable, would you like to take it off? You don’t have to wear it anymore. Really.”

“Daisy.”

Ray met my avoided gaze again and called my name in a low voice.

“Yes?”

“I remembered the gift I want from you.”

“Really? What is it? Just say it. I’ll buy everything…”

“Just sleep for a day. With me.”