CH 9

I visited Clyde every night after that.

But now that I take it every day, I thought it would be okay to cut down on the amount but unexpectedly…

Perhaps it’s because he’s a growing boy, but it seemed like he could eat almost two servings every night and still not feel full.

‘It’s pretty amazing that he grew up so well even after starving like this….’

In the original novel, Clyde was well over six feet tall and in great shape.

His ‘lethal physique’ was often depicted in stark contrast to the small and slender body of the heroine in the R-19 scenes.

Of course, with his current appearance, it was hard to imagine such a future.

‘Well, it’s a rule in romance novels for the male lead to be handsome and have a perfect body…’

He used to devour the food at lightning speed, but lately, his eating speed noticeably decreased.

When I asked if it didn’t taste good, he said it wasn’t the case.

In fact, he may eat slowly, but he doesn’t waste anything.

As the meals got longer, so did the length of time I stayed.

Visiting hours, which used to last no more than thirty minutes, had doubled recently.

The longer I stayed in the lab, the greater the risk of being discovered by my father.

I couldn’t deny feeling anxious, but at the same time, I didn’t want to rush Clyde to eat and finish quickly.

I kept my fingers crossed and hoped for the best.

Then one day, I missed a day of going to Clyde.

I usually just lay in bed and pretend to sleep and wait for time to pass, but that day, I actually fell asleep.

I had been researching the method to break the barrier continuously, so I had only been sleeping for a few hours a day. And because I had been waking up every dawn for almost a week to visit Clyde, fatigue had accumulated in my body.

When I woke up in the morning, I realized my mistake, but it was too late.

I thought to myself, “Well, I’ve been going every day lately, so maybe I’ll be fine to miss one day… right?”

That night, I went to visit Clyde.

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?”

Clyde’s expression was grim as he looked at me.

“I’m sorry. I accidentally fell asleep.”

I hesitated, but then I came clean.

I’d already told him so many lies, and I didn’t want to tell him any more than I had to.

“….”

Upon hearing my words, Clyde remained tight-lipped and said nothing.

“Are you mad? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that….”

“You promised me you’d come every day. Why did you say that if you couldn’t keep it?”

“….”

Clyde’s voice was low, but shaking with anger he couldn’t hide.

I honestly felt bewildered.

This was the same Clyde who hadn’t complained when I kept him waiting for a week last time.

I never imagined that he’d be so angry because I hadn’t come for a day.

“I never told you to come every day, did I? No, I didn’t. It was you who said you would. But why didn’t you come?”

“Clyde…”

“Whether it’s every other day or every three days, it doesn’t matter. Just come on the day you said you would. But if you don’t come on the day you said you would… I will spend the whole day…”

Clyde couldn’t finish his sentence and bowed his head.

Even in the darkness, it was evident that he was trembling faintly.

「If you don’t come on the day you said you would, I will spend the whole day…」

The anxiety, fear, and loneliness in those words seemed to hit me like a ton of bricks.

It was the first time he had ever shown me his vulnerable side.

‘Yeah. He’s only a teenage boy, there’s no way he’s not scared to be stuck in a place like this all by himself, and I’m sure he’s waiting for me to find him….’

“I’m sorry, I promised so irresponsibly, and it was 100% my fault I couldn’t make it yesterday, but you never know when something might happen, just like last time….”

“…That’s enough.”

I kept waiting and pleading, but Clyde never looked back at me.

Eventually, I had no choice but to leave the lab with a basket full of food.

The next day, I felt restless all day long.

I couldn’t sleep properly the night before either. Even though I had gotten back from the lab early and had more time to sleep.

‘I was so inconsiderate,’ I thought to myself. ‘He didn’t say anything when I didn’t show up for a week, so I thought he’d be fine for a day….’

Even if he didn’t say it, he must have been scared and lonely, and it was only later that he broke down.

‘What if he’s still angry today…’

With lingering concerns, I went to see Clyde again that night.

Clyde still refused to look at me, his face stiff.

I hesitantly spoke up.

“You know, Clyde. Yesterday…”

“Don’t apologize.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t apologize. I was also at fault.”

I looked up at Clyde, startled by the unexpected words.

“So you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“…I wasn’t mad at you in the first place.”

“I wasn’t angry.”

“You’re angry again.”

Clyde looked at me with a frown.

I chuckled softly.

“You’re finally looking at me.”

“…?”

“Good, because I didn’t want you to still be mad at me, so I brought a bribe.”

“A bribe?”

“But since you’re no longer angry, I guess I don’t have to give it to you.”

“…”

As I rambled on, Clyde’s pupils wandered aimlessly, seemingly lost.

“What is it?”

“You said you were no longer angry?”

“Stop doing that.”

“What do you mean, stop?”

“Ah, really!”

I giggled and opened the basket, spread the cloth, and placed something flat and round wrapped in paper.

“What’s this?”

Instead of answering, I unwrapped the paper, revealing a pumpkin pie with a golden-brown color.

Clyde narrowed his eyes.

“Is this….”

“That’s right, it’s a peanut pumpkin pie.”

“…”

“You don’t seem very pleased.”

“…I used to like it when I was a kid, but not so much now.”

Clyde quietly reached out of the bar and picked up a piece of pie, then lifted it to his mouth.

“How is it?”

Clyde finished the slice without speaking, then wiped the corner of his mouth.

“It tastes different from what I remember.”

“Not good?”

Clyde shrugged his shoulders.

“I wouldn’t say it’s bad, but … Just different. Your cook must have never made it before.”

“I made it.”

“…”

Clyde flinched for a moment, then stared at me with narrowed eyes.

“You’re joking again, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not. I’m serious.”

“Don’t lie to me. You said you’d never cooked before.”

“Yeah, that’s why I asked our household chef for help and guidance.”

“…”

“It’s true. The chef helped with the preparation, but I did everything else, like kneading the dough and all.”

“…”

“Is it really that bad? The chef said it was fine… If you don’t like it, you don’t have to force yourself to eat it.”

I reached out towards the pie, but before my hand could touch it, Clyde quickly pulled the pie towards himself.

“…When did I say it was bad?”

“You said it wasn’t that good. Well, not really bad, just so-so…”

“That doesn’t mean it’s bad. Well, it’s edible enough.”

He gulped it down, barely chewing it, and quickly picked up a new piece.