About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Chapter 8: The Real Commotion Starts Now

After the day we parted our ways, after drinking coffee together at Antris, I met Tobias Miller once more.

We sat on the terrace of a quiet restaurant and chatted while eating sandwiches. To say that I was the kind of person who could sit in front of an unfamiliar man and eat well. It’s surprising.

When he finished eating, he said, ‘Did you know that the Royal Academy Gardens are great for strolling?’

That’s how we ended up walking side by side inside the academy fence. There were many times when I passed by on my way, but it was my first time visiting in person, so I felt new.

I unconsciously thought about Alan Leopold, who was once a student here. The nickname of the Academy’s top honour student followed him throughout his school days. It was last year that he quit because he was helping his father’s business, maybe.

There was a time when I dreamed of entering the academy just because Alan was in the academy. It’s been a few years already, but seeing the beautiful building as beautiful as the palace directly and the fresh garden lined with evergreen trees made me envious of the students here again.

But I am a realistic person. I am well aware that I will never be admitted here. This is because my mother’s theory that a woman needs only enough education to marry a good man is so strong.

Of course, the tuition fees itself is not at a level that we can afford, anyways let’s stop thinking about

this…..

Through two meetings, I learned quite a lot about Tobias.

He is the son of a pastor who is in charge of a small parish and is currently attending the Royal Academy He said that he came to the capital city during the time for admission to the academy last year.

In other words, he was a pretty late student, but I thought it was worth it. Maybe it took a few years for him to make the decision to enter the academy. It’s rare to find a person to be as cautious as Toby.

Oh, he is twenty-six years old. He was six years older than me, but he was so considerate that it was okay.

‘If you suddenly ask me why he is considerate, I can explain it like this. I’ve never felt that I couldn’t communicate with Toby, who is neither my age nor my interests.

I just acted like usual, and it is self-evident that all of this was due to his consideration.

“Oh my gosh, that’s so good!”

When I talked about Toby, Viola always applauded and welcomed me. The reason why it feels strange is that the reaction of Viola is surprisingly the same as that of my mother.

“So, so? So? Did you have feelings for him?”

“….. What are you talking about, we’ve only met twice.”

When I answered while pretending to be calm, Viola hugged me.

“My Melissa! I’m so proud of you!”

“What are you talking about….”

“You’re flustered, aren’t you? What are you talking about? You forgot everything else, right?”

“…….”

……It would’ve been right to be embarrassed. This situation itself doesn’t matter when I’m talking about being with a man.

“Mel! Don’t do that, tell me more about him.”

“…… That’s all I said earlier. He’s learning trade at the academy, his father is a pastor, and he has a caring personality.”

Viola became very excited.

“The family must be quite relaxed, seeing that he went to the academy at a late age. He’s perfect to be your groom.”

“Nothing ……”

Once again, I almost gave the same answer, but I quickly covered my mouth with my hands. We’ve only met twice, so what groom?

“He must have a gentle personality because he’s the son of a pastor! It suits you perfectly!”

“When I’m with him, I don’t get nervous and I feel comfortable…… It’s fascinating.”

“Oh my god!”

Despite my plain answer, Viola squealed as she bounced up and down. Because of the recoil, even my body, which I was sitting in bed with, shook wildly.

“Viola! Be careful……!”

“What about appearance? Handsome? Tall? Is his physique strong? What do you think?”

“Ask me one by one…….”

I felt like my face was about to burst. I became shy for talking about someone for so long who isn’t even my lover

“I think his physique and height are okay….. His face is normal. An innocent impression.”

“Mel, you’re not saying he’s normal because you’re used to sir Alan’s face, are you? When I see him I hope he’s handsome.”

“It’s not like that…….”

As I stretched my words, Viola blew me away with a playful look. Like someone whose only hobby is weaving Toby and me.

“So, when are you going to meet next time?”

“I don’t know yet. Since it’s exam season soon, I think we’ll meet again soon…..”

“Ah! I can’t wait!”

Why are you…

“I have a feeling, Mel. On the third day you both will meet, something is bound to happen!”

Viola clasped her hands and her eyes lit up. Somehow I felt strange. I can’t believe that meeting a man is such a hot topic.

“……. Making such a fuss. Even if we meet, there’s nothing much. Just talk about this and that……”

“What do you mean, nothing special? He has a strong crush on you, Melissa! You’re pretending you don’t know, right?

“In addition, he isn’t a bad guy either. However, in my opinion, that is not the case, right?”

It is not easy to deceive an old friend’s eyes.

“He’s not bad…….”

Tobias wasn’t a bad person. He’s a really good man.

Of course, there was no such thing as love at first sight, as I had with Alan. However, he said that he has a crush on me. Unbelievably.

I heard that you wrote a letter just because of my eyes….?”

‘…..No way. The elegant and modest appearance was beautiful, Miss Collins. As soon as / saw you, I fell in love with you.”

My heart beat uncontrollably thinking that I was like Alan to him. I wondered if this was really possible.

I have never known that even ordinary people like me can shine like stars in someone’s eyes.

Of course, no one knows how long that person’s heart will last. Love is not as solid as you think.

Nevertheless, this feeling of being fully loved is quite addictive.

I felt a powerful force from his friendly eyes that even my long sense of inferiority died down. I feel like a part of me that I didn’t even know is finally awakened. I feel like I’m truly alive…..

I couldn’t even imagine. That a stranger who I had known for less than a month would give me such great feelings.

“Your face is so red, Mel! Don’t you really like Toby?”

“…No, that’s not it.”

“How can you guarantee that? You’ve never been in a relationship.”

Cheeky Viola stretched my cheeks without hurting me, but there was nothing to refute.

“I think it’s possible enough. You were just shy and naive and didn’t realize it.”

“When you see him next time, do whatever you want!”

“What do you mean, whatever I want…?”

When I blushed in embarrassment, Viola shrugged.

“You are an adult. Who cares?”

I sometimes tearfully envy the pride and shamelessness of Viola. If I were Viola, I would have forgotten Alan a long time ago.

Tobias Miller is thoughtful and delicate. He also speaks with beautiful words. Is that all? He even gave me amazing feelings.

So I can’t deny that I feel a human favor beyond gratitude to him.

However, I don’t love Toby. I’m sure of it. My face is burning and my heart is beating faster because of the overwhelming feelings he has made me feel, not because of him. (T/N: ugh this is a bit confusing ig(?) She means that she is feeling like this because of the feelings that Toby made her feel and not because of him, it doesn’t makes sense because she is justifying herself in a nonsensical way, she doesn’t want to admit she likes him, ig)

If I say this, Viola might run wildly, saying what kind of contradiction is that. But it’s so obvious. Tobias can’t make my heart flutter.

Right. This is it.

“Viola, I know.”

“What do you know? How do you feel about Miller?”

She’s really…

“……. That person can’t make me excited. So, I don’t like that person.”

“Melissa.”

Viola laughed. I didn’t know the meaning of the laugh, so I tilted my head.

“Think of it like a fruit. Then it’s easy.”

“What fruit?”

Viola patted my shoulders lightly.

“It’s just freshly formed and it’s still green, but if you think you want to eat it, that’s weird.”

“But it’s all formed, right? If you work hard while giving the sun and water, it will ripen red. You know what I mean, right?”

“…..you mean that I’m going to like him?”

“Yes.”

Viola stretched and answered. There was no bandage anymore around the legs that stretched forward with her slim arms.

“Not all love falls at a single glance like lightning strikes. Many of them, often happen slowly, like a fruit ripening and a blooming flower.”

I somehow liked her words.

“When I see you now, I think you can grow this fruit well in the end, so I’m saying this.”

“Is that possible…. I don’t know.”

“You’ll find out if you watch it!”

Viola laughed. Adding with a pleasant voice.

“By the way, isn’t that person such a perfect guardian

angel?”

“Guardian Angel? It is true that he has a good influence on me, but….”

“He hasn’t appeared since then, did he? That stalker.”

“Ah!”

Only then did I realize that I had completely forgotten about the stalking commotion.

Of course, the commotion may have been caused by Greg’s illusion, but it was true that I had never felt strange since that day.

“It’s faster to show a reliable man to such a gloomy

man.”

What did I say? Viola said with a proud voice,

But then we didn’t know. That this terrible commotion is not over yet.

*

*

*

It had been less than a week since I met Tobias again. Toby, as always, has set time and place with respectful correspondence.

After meeting this time, I would not be able to meet him for a while due to his exams. Perhaps because of that thought, I arrived at the Antris coffee shop much earlier than the appointed time. It was the first place where we met.

When I realized that waiting for Toby wasn’t very boring, I finally thought that he and I could become lovers someday.

How long has it been? Toby ran to me, sitting in the terrace seat and enjoying the sun.

“Melissa!”

“Toby…”

The fact that we decided to call each other by name belatedly made me blush.

“You came early. I also came early.”

With a wistful smile, he sat down on the opposite of me.

“Is your friend already gone?”

“….. What do you mean friend?”

I couldn’t understand what he was saying suddenly, so I vaguely asked back.

“The person standing right behind you…… Wasn’t he an acquaintance of yours, Melissa?”

“What…”

“I saw it from a distance. A tall man with long red hair. His face was covered by hair so I couldn’t see him

well.”

“Toby…”

Toby looked worried when I suddenly began to tremble.

“Are you okay? Your face…….”

“L……”

I definitely didn’t feel any signs, but how…….

“I feel like I’m being stalked.”

Comments from Korean readers

She looks so beautiful just by looking at the picture. Isn’t it just the female character who thinks like that?

This is a real romance thriller. There are times when I’m scared, but I’m totally into it. Even though it’s my second time watching it… The supporting actors are all vivid, and I like viola and Melissa. 5. Both of them are cute.

Red-haired Alan, the person who was at the cafesiblings, or himself…

The best writing skills….