Leon's POV
Professor Rose was guzzling down an entire bottle of alcohol like it was water. She'd already drained three bottles, while I was still nursing the first one she'd handed me, barely halfway through.
The stench of booze clung to her, thick and pungent, like it was seeping from her very pores.
"Being an adult is a fucking pain in the ass," she slurred, her words heavy with drunken frustration. "I barely get any sleep, my back's always killing me, and when I wake up, I'm still tired as hell. I can count the hours I sleep on one hand—maybe two fingers if I'm lucky. And then, you gotta slap on a presentable face, make everyone think you've got your shit together. But it's all bullshit.
I miss how things used to feel when I was younger," she mumbled through hiccups, her voice thick and sloppy with the alcohol that had her completely wrecked.
I gazed up at the shimmering stars and the sprawling night sky as I took a deep gulp from the bottle. "It really does seem like a fucking pain in the ass," I said. "Sometimes, I wish I could stay young forever. No responsibilities, just endless opportunities."
"It's that intoxicating sense of freedom that makes you think like that," she slurred, her voice thick with the effects of the alcohol. "Once you're older, you're shackled by work and barely have any time for yourself. Sometimes, I escape by getting plastered and shouting into the abyss from this cliff."
Her words echoed memories of what my sister used to say. After our parents died, she had to shoulder everything alone. She'd always insist I needed to savor my youth, to seize every chance and live fully without regrets. She wanted me to pursue what I desired because she didn't want me to face the same burdens she did. She was my anchor, always reaching out to keep me grounded when I was at my lowest.
"I wanted to go back in time and do it all over again," she said. "Back then, I dreamed of having a grand house all to myself, and maybe even having a prince charming sweep me off my feet, so we could start a family. It all feels so childish now, but our minds back then were driven by different fantasies than we have now. Who would have thought someone like me would have such fantastical dreams?"
"It isn't that hard to believe, honestly," I replied.
"Eh?"
"I mean, everyone has their own wild fantasies. Like me, wanting to conquer the world and hold it in the palm of my hand."
"That... You saying things like this to me. I don't want to get caught in a mess. I despise trouble, and my job is already a fucking mess. I don't want to find myself tangled in a complicated situation."
"If you really need to let it all out, you can always shout it here," I said, my voice low and steady. "This place has a way of helping you release everything, right? That's why you keep coming back here when things get rough."
She let out a shaky breath, her voice quivering with emotion. "I'm serious, Partner. I don't want to get into trouble, so please, don't say any more of those strange things to me."
Professor Rose's heart was breaking at a pace I hadn't realized was possible. If I pushed any further, her emotions might spiral out of control, leading her to do exactly what she wanted to avoid.
I reached out and gently touched one of her hands resting on the ground for support.
Her hand twitched for a moment before she turned her head toward me. Our eyes locked, and I saw the conflict within her.
"I don't... really want to get in trouble..."
"If you really want to do it, then it's okay to get in trouble every now and then," I said softly. "Just like what we're doing right now. I mean, I'm definitely breaking curfew by being here, but I'm doing it because I want to be with you, Professor."
Discover exclusive tales on m,v l'e-novelhall.net
In that moment, I saw something shift in those deep green eyes. Without another word, she let go of the glass bottle. Her hand moved to my cheek as she leaned in, closing the distance between us.
Her lips met mine.
The beer splashed as the bottle hit the ground.