The Gap Between You and Me - Chapter 101

The brown liquid in the glass gave off a strong scent of alcohol. It must have been a drink made just to get people drunk. If they drink three or four glasses, even those who claim to be strong against alcohol will not be able to stay awake.

‘It’s just right.’

Edwin took a sip of it with a self-deprecating smile. A hot, tingling sensation like burning his throat. Unlike the past, when he didn’t like the feeling and didn’t get close to alcohol, now he drinks alcohol almost every day to get that feeling. He couldn’t even close his eyes for a short while without drinking.

Edwin lowered his gaze, feeling a warm aura spread through his body. He knew he was getting sicker and more self-destructive. But now it didn’t matter anyway. He was willing to give up a limb if it could alleviate the pain of his rotten heart.

[A small cabin on top of a round hill.
A girl with green eyes full of freckles.
A skirt one size too big fluttered in the wind.
Red shoes worn on both feet, walking often.]

Suddenly the woman was singing a song to her brother. She had lowered her voice, perhaps because she was worried that it might be overheard by the people around her. But Edwin, who had better hearing than others, could hear the song quite clearly.

[Come, come come to me.
That beautiful flower you have.
Though your flowers will wither over time.
My gold never loses its light.]

It wasn’t a fancy song. Rather, it was a calm and peaceful song like a lullaby. Nevertheless, Edwin continued to listen to her singing. Even though she was singing without an instrument, and in the middle of a noisy store, it didn’t feel lacking or annoying at all.

He was feeling a bit drowsy. His heart, which had been tangled like a ship in a storm, gradually sank. The feeling of his body floating away from being trapped in a reality full of pain. His mind flew back to a moment in the past, retracing the flow of time that had already flowed.

‘Edwin.’

And there was a woman there.

‘Since we’re bored, shall I sing a fun song?’

Like her song was the panacea for all, a beautiful woman hummed a tune with a goofy smile whenever she felt like it.

Edwin closed his eyes.

‘I hope it doesn’t end.’

He hoped that the unknown woman would continue to sing her song. It was a little peace that he hadn’t gotten in a very long time. Even this small peace felt so sweet to him who was fighting against the terrible loneliness in the endless darkness.

So that was why. The reason why he reacted much more sharply than usual when a certain man got drunk and made a loud fuss.

Edwin reacted emotionally, forgetting that he should be careful not to attract attention as much as possible. He kicked a chair and threatened the man’s life.

Lionelli and Theodore, who were sitting next to him, were greatly surprised by his sudden action. People’s eyes were focused on him, but Edwin didn’t care. Had the situation worsened a little more, he would have drawn his sword and decapitated the man.

“You don’t look like Lord.”

Lionelli said with a serious expression. She was taken aback because she had only seen her superior act like an emotionless doll. Edwin did not offer any excuses. In fact, he also couldn’t understand his actions a moment ago.

“Please leave first. I will pay the bill and leave.”

Lionelli said as Edwin got up to leave the store. She nodded her head.

Untidy and noisy surroundings. It was as if nothing had happened. Still, there was a thick fear in the air. Edwin knew that it was because of him.

“Sister! Sister Ciella!”

Hearing the boy’s cry from the side, Edwin stopped his steps for a moment. A hoarse voice as if something was not right. When he turned his head, he saw the brother and sister having a conversation.

‘Ciella.’

It was an uncommon name. Edwin’s gaze naturally turned to the woman. Left-handed, the cup from which she was supposed to drink was placed to her left.

“I just had something to think about. But I won’t anymore.”

The woman who had been singing her song a while ago seemed bewildered that she had done something wrong to her brother.

Edwin stared blankly at the woman for a moment. The figure of another person overlapped on top of the woman’s back as she sat with her back turned to him. His eyes darkened even more.

It was so weird. There was little resemblance between the woman sitting in front of him and the Herietta in his memory. Her voice, name, and even being left-handed were different from Herietta’s.

Still, for some reason, he thought they resembled each other. For no particular reason, she reminded Edwin of Herietta.

Herietta that was more precious than anything else. But as much as she was precious, so was the fear. What if he gets rejected? Because of that vague fear, he hesitated and eventually couldn’t even confess his feelings.

Cowardly idiot. That was Edwin.

The days when he became the most miserable existence in the world. Who would have known that he would miss those days so deeply.

“Okay, what song do you want to hear?”

The woman asked the boy. It seemed she was trying to sing one more song for her pouting brother.

Edwin took another step. He wanted to stay there a little while longer and hear her sing, but he soon suppressed the desire.

Now, even if he recalls and chews on the memories of the past, nothing would change. The past is the past. All that was left for him was the hellish reality he had to face.

Just like that, it was around the time Edwin reached for the door.

[Lance. That summer we carved a secret.
Under the maple tree in the forest, where no one knows.
The day that the afternoon sun was so dazzling.
The promise that started as a joke was engraved there.]

A soft singing voice came from behind. Edwin, who was about to push open the door and step outside, paused.

‘That song…… ?’

At the same time as he thought it was impossible, his heart sank with a thud. It felt as if someone had hit the back of his head hard with a heavy piece of metal.

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