Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 43

The last day I spent at Ray’s mansion was strange throughout.

Ray didn’t eat lunch. He prepared lunch for me and immediately got up, saying he would prepare dessert soon.

-Aren’t you eating, Ray?
-No. I’m not really in the mood.
-It would be nice to eat together though…
-Enjoy your meal. I’ll prepare the dessert.

So, I sat alone at the dining table and filled my stomach.

When I had just managed to empty the dishes after fiddling around for a while, Ray came back.

He made pancakes sprinkled with maple syrup and waffles decorated with ice cream.

There was a golden and sweet scent. But even so, it didn’t stimulate my appetite.

Ray still acted kindly.

-Is it delicious?
-Yes. It’s delicious. The pancakes are really good. They’re fluffy and perfectly baked!
-That’s good to hear.
-You’re not eating, Ray? You hardly had a proper meal…
-No. I don’t really like sweets.
-Oh, right… I forgot…
-Daisy. Here, you’ve got syrup on you. Use this to wipe it off.
-Oh, okay…

Ray handed me a tissue, suddenly noticing cream on me while I was eating the pancake.

‘What… He’s not wiping it off today.’

It’s not that I particularly wanted Ray to wipe the cream off my mouth himself.

But…

Maybe because his demeanor had strangely changed, I felt odd.

I didn’t feel good. But it was hard to pinpoint exactly what emotion it was.

In the afternoon, we took a walk in the garden.

He walked ahead of me throughout the garden stroll.

-Daisy. Follow me well, don’t get lost.
-I… Let’s go together, Ray.
-Okay. I’ll go slowly.

There was a time when he wouldn’t even allow my feet to touch the ground, carrying me around like a princess.

Now he’s walking ahead of me without looking back!

I was bothered by his strangely changed attitude, but until that incident happened, it wasn’t enough to upset me.

It was just a little while ago.

It happened in the study.

-Do you want to read a book?
-Uh… That one seems good…, and this one seems okay too…
-Oh. Sorry.

When our fingers accidentally touched in mid-air.

He recoiled from me as if he had touched something he shouldn’t have.

And then I saw it at that moment.

The deep wrinkles etched between Ray’s brows and his fiercely twisted eyebrows.

I felt as if I had become an insect.

When would he naturally take my hand…

Since waking up this morning, he hasn’t moved a finger towards me.

He even recoiled with such displeasure from an accidental touch.

I don’t know the reason…

Even if there is a reason, there’s no need for the atmosphere to change so drastically in just one day…

Empty conversations devoid of substance were all that passed between us all day long.

-Daisy. What are you thinking?
-Ah, nothing. Nothing at all.

That was all there was to it.

I wanted to honestly spill all the thoughts scrambling through my head in response to his question about what I was thinking.

But contrary to my feelings, I couldn’t bring myself to express my disappointment.

Ray treated me kindly all day. But his voice and expression were somehow dry.

What disappointed me the most was his attitude as if he had completely forgotten about yesterday’s event.

After we had been kissing for a while in each other’s arms…

How could he act as if it was nothing?

I felt spiteful because it seemed like I was the only one concerned about Ray.

So, I pretended not to care as well.

As time passed, various complex emotions accumulated, making it hard to manage my expression.

I sat on the sofa and pretended to read a book. I covered my face with the book, fearing he might see my expression.

It was then, while I was buried in my thoughts with my head in the book.

“Is there anything else you want to do? You have to go tomorrow.”

Ray was sitting on the opposite sofa, leaning back and reading a book. He seemed focused on reading for a while but suddenly spoke to me.

I glanced down at him from behind my book. Ray still wasn’t giving me any attention.

Ray’s gaze remained on the book in his hands.

Surely until yesterday… after clinging persistently…

‘Did I initiate it? Or did he…’

No.

What’s the point of arguing about it now?

It wasn’t forced.

I accepted it… So, there’s nothing to say, right…

“No. Reading is nice. This book is interesting.”

“That’s good.”

My words came out more curtly than I intended.

-Do you like me?
-Yes. I like you.

Was that also a lie…?

Or just carried away by the moment…?

With his attitude becoming strangely cold, complex emotions began piling up inside me.

What exactly is he thinking, that man?

I cautiously observed him and started talking.

“Do you find that book interesting, Ray?”

“Yes. It’s one of my favorite books.”

Again.

The few conversations we did have were abruptly cut off and hardly continued.

It wasn’t just a strange change.

Ray was consciously avoiding me now.

I felt neglected.

* * *

Night came.

After showering and coming out, Ray was lying slanted on the sofa, covering his eyes with the back of his hand, deep in thought.

“Are you tired? Go to sleep.”

“Yes…”

Ray still didn’t look at me. He continued to cover his eyes with his hand.

I hesitantly went to the bed and sat down awkwardly.

For a while, I just fiddled with my hands aimlessly.

Thinking Ray would soon come to bed, he remained motionless, lying slanted on the sofa.

“Are you not going to lie down?”

“I’m going to sleep on the sofa today.”

“The sofa…? Why all of a sudden?”

“It’s probably too cramped for us both.”

This bed is cramped?

Ray spouted nonsense.

It was a bed wide enough for about five adult men to lie down side by side.

Moreover, because he always hugged me tightly and held onto me while sleeping, the bed felt so empty…

I approached Ray, who was lying on the sofa at an angle.

“Um… Ray.”

I said, looking down at Ray.

Suddenly, Ray’s hand moved slightly, and his red eyes revealed themselves.

“I won’t do anything today, so don’t worry and sleep comfortably in bed.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Are you uncomfortable because of me? If that’s the case, don’t worry. I won’t touch you, Ray. Really.”

Ray looked up at me for a moment and stared.

Then he let out a deep sigh.

Did I… perhaps make some mistake?

While thinking that, Ray called my name.

“Daisy.”

“Yes…?”

“Who is worrying about whom right now?”

Ray spoke to me in a smooth voice.

It was a cold gaze and tone, devoid of any warmth.

“Did I… do something wrong yesterday?”

I managed to say the difficult words. Because of the embarrassment, I found myself fiddling with my hands unknowingly.

“……”

“Just… if there’s anything, you can comfortably tell me. I’m a bit slow… Ray seems to be in a bad mood today… I wonder if it’s because you’re uncomfortable with me.”

“……”

“Home is a place to rest comfortably, it wouldn’t be right for you to be uncomfortable. Since my parents haven’t come back yet… I can go home quietly even now.”

“Daisy. It’s not like that.”

“But… I keep worrying… Did I make a mistake yesterday…”

Ray still looked at me with an indifferent gaze. Soon, his strong grip pulled me towards him.

Ray laid me down diagonally on his chest.

I could hear the thumping of his heart from his chest.

Ray’s soft voice began to be heard from above my head.

“I promised not to ask you difficult questions.”

“Why bring that up suddenly…”

“I don’t know what’s in your heart.”

“……”

“It’s not right for me to keep bothering you.”

“……”

“What if I approach you out of my own desire and you run away again like before.”

“……”

Ray gently patted my back with his broad hand.

I couldn’t respond to his words.

I was neither in a position to define this relationship right now nor was I sure about my own feelings.

“So. I’ll wait.”

Without saying anything, I just slowly nodded my head against his chest.

“You should go to sleep early since you have to wake up early in the morning.”

“Yes……”

Ray patted my back for a while, soothing me. It was a warm and gentle touch.

‘So, it wasn’t because I couldn’t kiss that he avoided me… It wasn’t because he thought I would pounce on him…’

The sad feelings that had built up all day began to slowly settle down and disappear like melting snow.

But for now, I decided it was best to keep this distance.

What my feelings for Ray are…

I still wasn’t sure.

‘Last night. If I accepted him just because I was carried away by the moment…’

I didn’t want to hurt Ray again with uncertain and ambiguous feelings.

“Then. Good night, Ray.”

My voice echoed through his broad chest.

Soon, I carefully got up and headed towards the bed.

The bed felt even more spacious and emptier than yesterday.

I wasn’t sure about my feelings, but suddenly thought,

‘Should I just not go to the South…? I suddenly don’t want to go.’

  
* * *

  
A bitter laugh leaked through the gaps.

-Are you uncomfortable because of me? If that’s the case, don’t worry. I won’t touch you, Ray. Really.
-Did I… do something wrong yesterday?
-But… I keep worrying… Did I make a mistake yesterday…

Unbeknownst to me because it wasn’t obvious.

Was Daisy, all day long, being careful around me?

I wanted to tease Daisy, who was hesitantly fiddling with her small hands.

“‘I won’t touch.’…”

Daisy was having quite a cute thought with her small and delicate body.

“Should I say it’s cute, or should I say it’s foolish…”

In fact, it was me who wanted to climb onto that bed right away and burrow into her.