For Your Failed Unrequited Love

He stared at Lucy with more persistent and curious eyes.

Lucy hurriedly greeted the two seniors and turned around. She walked faster and faster toward the stairs. Later, she heard Felix’s voice asking Adrian what her name was, Lucy began to run.

Around the corner, Lucy stopped when the twins were out of sight. Standing against the wall, she breathed heavily.

Why did you pretend to be Adrian to me? Why did you ask for my name? Do you remember what happened in the nurse’s office?

When she thought of that, Lucy’s heart began to pound like large flower buds bursting out of her chest.

It was really strange that the feelings she felt at that moment were excitement, not shame or anxiety, even though she might fall in a difficult situation.

* * *

Since Lucy became the second year book manager, she has had a lot of things to discuss with Adrian, the third year book manager.

The problem was that whenever she visited Adrian, Felix was often with him. Each time, Lucy approached them with great nervousness.

One thing that was different from before was that whenever she spoke to Adrian, Felix’s reaction was visible.

Normally, he didn’t show any interest when Lucy was around. However, since the day she handed over the book club’s list, he had stared at her with strange eyes whenever she visited Adrian.

Felix’s gaze, which rarely moved away, made Lucy sweat, and her heart pounded violently. Then, when the conversation with Adrian was over, she left as if she was running away. She was puzzled and perplexed since she could not see why he was suddenly staring at her like that. 

His mysterious behavior lasted until the end of the semester. But that wasn’t the end. Felix confused Lucy as well as all the students with another questionable act.

After the summer vacation, he returned to the academy and appeared with his long hair cut short.

Why so suddenly?

With the same appearance and the same length of hair, people often confuse the Berg twins. 

Lucy took special care not to make the mistake of speaking to Felix as Adrian for no reason. Unfortunately, however, such efforts were wasted in an instant.

“The History of Murinen hasn’t been returned yet?” asked a female student, standing in front of the return table looking annoyed. She was also a sophomore like Lucy and had already visited the library for the third time.

“Y… yes. It was due yesterday.”

All of the students who took Arkel’s class mourned after he assigned a task about the history of the Kingdom of Murinen. This was because the Murinen Kingdom had little historical records and it was difficult to find other materials.

For this reason, students even searched not only the Academy library but also the bookstore in the town to find a book called History of Murinen, which had well-organized materials. However, all the students who visited the library to get the book had no choice but to return empty-handed. Someone had borrowed the book a week earlier.

Lucy rummaged through the loan card to find the person who borrowed the book. Soon she picked up a card and identified the borrower’s name.

Felix Berg.

To her surprise, it was Felix who borrowed the book and didn’t return it.

“Then when can I get the book?”

She was staring blankly at Felix’s name when she heard another annoying voice in front of her. The girls, who had already failed three times, seemed to be very angry.

“I even made a reservation to check out the book. I need that book!” 

Lucy had a hard time calming the girl down. Not only the girl, but also a few more sophomores who took Arkel’s lessons, came to ask Lucy. She would rather run away from them.

“Why aren’t they returning it on time?” Rita complained next to her.

“I think we should go and get the book ourselves. Otherwise, we will have to listen to Mitchell Barnes’s annoyance tomorrow.” Then she winked at Lucy.

“Huh?” 

Lucy tilted her head and Rita gave her another look.

“Do you want me to go?” Lucy asked and faltered back.

Rita shrugged and replied, “I have to go to class right away.”

“But I…….”

While Lucy hesitated to make any excuses, Rita was already ready to pack her bag.

“Well, then,” 

Rita left the library without looking back.

“Wait, Rita……!” Lucy called, but she didn’t answer.

“Shall I go?”

Then a lively voice was heard behind Lucy’s back. It was Noel Roman, a freshman. He stood, as usual, with a friendly smile and radiant energy.

“This kind of errand is supposed to be done by new members. I’ll go.”

Noel’s words gave Lucy a deep sigh of relief. “Will you?”

“Yes.” Noel soon saw the name “Felix Berg” on the loan card and smiled brightly. “Wow, Felix Berg! I really wanted to see him up close!”

His eyes glistened brightly.

“Adrian-sunbae is really cool so I think Felix is too. I’m sure he’s smart, kind and gentle, right?”

Lucy just smiled awkwardly at Noel’s expectation. She wanted to tell him that he might not be what he expected him to be, but she stopped herself. She was afraid that Noel would change his word and wouldn’t go to collect the unreturned book.

“Well, I’ll go ahead.”

“Wait, Noel!” Jemima called Noel who was about to leave the library. She stood groaning while holding a book that seemed to be heavy.

“You’re supposed to organize the books here!”

“Oh, I’ll do that!” Lucy tried to approach Jemima quickly. 

However, Jemima shook her head and loudly said, “No, you can’t! This is an encyclopedia! A weakling like you won’t be able to lift it.” 

Then she turned to Noel. “Come on, Noel!”

“…I’m sorry, Lucy-sunbae. I don’t think you can carry those books.” He spoke with a sullen face and trudged to Jemima.

Eventually, Lucy was the one who had to go to Felix to get the overdue book. She stared hopelessly at Jemima and Noel and left the library.

* * *

It was really strange.

She knew from the beginning that he was really strange, but at this moment she couldn’t understand him at all.

Lucy, now sitting on the edge of the bench where Felix was sitting, glanced at him sideways. He was opening the book with a really shameless face.

He told her to wait until he had finished reading the book, and it seemed that he was really going to sit next to Lucy and read it.

How shameless are you to ask me to wait? You’re the one who missed the return due date by two days, causing the book to be delayed.

Shouldn’t you apologize first?

Grumbling inward about the grievances that she could not bring out of her mouth, Lucy waited for him to return the book quickly.

With a pitiful heart, she poked the ground with her shoes, and touched a nearby leaf. Then she glanced to her side and saw that Felix was reading really leisurely.

Lucy seemed to be the only one who was confused. Reasons why he was doing this to her came one after another. 

He must have remembered what happened with the Limosium medicine and nurse’s office. That’s why he’s trying to get me into trouble!

Then why aren’t you saying anything? 

Or did I make any other mistakes? 

If not, are you interested in me?… I don’t think so.

A number of speculations came to her mind, but none of them were certain. On the contrary, her mind only became more confused.

As she was thinking, a noise was heard from a distance. They were third year boys. They found Felix sitting on the bench and began to approach him straight away.

Lucy looked at Felix with uncomfortable eyes as more than one or two male students walked loudly. He hadn’t finished reading the book yet.

The bench, occupied by Felix’s friends, was very hectic. In addition, Felix, who was reading a book, looked completely distracted. A boy wrapped his arm around his shoulder and clung together, then he pushed him away in a fit of irritation.

Lucy, who was crouching away from the rough movements of the boys, rose quietly. She couldn’t sit there any longer. She might as well ask Adrian to take the overdue books.

She changed her plans and left the bench.

The next day, however, Lucy regretted her decision. She thought that she should have waited a little longer to get the book. As soon as the library was opened, students who visited for the book “The History of Murinen” came in one after another.

“I, I don’t know why they’re so angry with us!” Jemima said, glaring at the second-year students leaving the library. “We didn’t intentionally tell him not to return the book!”

“It can’t be helped.” Lucy got up from her seat. “I must get it this time.”

Her face was quite grim when she said those words.