After our discussion about the Eclipse wrapped up, we naturally drifted to the romance genre. It was as if talking about it was second nature for us both. He mentioned that he’d read the novel I’d recommended, which was a nice surprise.
I decided to steer the conversation in a new direction.
“Can I ask you something else? Something completely unrelated to romance or the Eclipse?”
“Sure thing,” he responded.
“I don’t want to air issues about someone who isn’t here and hasn’t given their consent for their problems to be discussed, but her situation is getting pretty messy.”
“Okay, so what’s this person’s problem?” he asked.
“I’m not quite sure how to put this…” I said, then met his gaze. “You’re currently in a relationship with someone, right? I’ve heard you’re dating the Princess of the Bethlan Kingdom.”
“That’s right,” he confirmed with a nod.
“I haven’t been in any relationships myself, so I’m not sure how to navigate this. Just to clarify, I’m not talking about my own problems. This is actually about my best friend’s situation. Since you’re in a relationship, I thought you might have some useful advice.”
“So, it’s a relationship issue,” he mused thoughtfully.
“Exactly,” I confirmed. “Like me, my best friend has never been in a relationship before. She opened up to me about her struggles with a guy who disappeared on her after… well, after they had sex. She’s feeling pretty messed up about it.”
“Hm. That definitely sounds like a serious issue,” he said thoughtfully. “It seems like she’s been ghosted.”
“And the worst part is, my best friend is still running after him…” I said, gripping my hair in frustration as if it were a lifeline. “I’m worried she’ll end up hopeless. Is there anything I can do to help her?”
Leon shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure if there’s much either of us can do. It’s really up to her to decide if she’s going to keep chasing him. It’s best to wait and see if she goes too far before stepping in. For now, it’s better not to do anything reckless and just keep an eye on her.”
“Is that really the best way to handle it?”
“As far as I can tell, we have no real business interfering,” he said with a thoughtful expression. “At least, that’s my take on it. Besides, these emotions might be the push your friend needs. A wound can be a sign of growing strength. But, of course, it depends on whether she can pull herself out of this mess or not.”
That actually made sense, but I couldn’t shake the gnawing discomfort about leaving Irene to deal with this alone. Was it truly the best way to handle it? For now, I guess I’ll have to trust Leon’s judgment.
***
“Your car looks absolutely stunning,” Leon said, his eyes roving over my vehicle with genuine admiration.
I couldn’t help but smile wide at his praise. It felt like someone was complimenting my beloved baby. After all, my car was practically an extension of myself, so that feeling was only natural.
“Of course, this beauty is my pride and joy,” I said, running my hand along the sleek roof of the car. “With this baby, I don’t need anyone else to make me happy.”
Leon chuckled, his gaze still fixed on the car. “You really are a picture of independence,” he said, sliding into the passenger seat while I settled into the driver’s.
“Before I drive you back to the academy, would you like to make a detour somewhere? Although, considering it’s curfew time, it might be best to head straight back, huh?”
“It’s fine. Breaking curfew isn’t a big deal,” Leon said with a casual shrug. “Besides, I doubt it’ll have much impact on my standing at the academy.”
I let out a chuckle.
“Well, buckle up then,” I replied with a grin.
With that, I eased the car into motion.
***
I rolled down the window, letting the wind whip through the cabin, making it feel exhilarating. The rush of air was intoxicating, blending perfectly with the smooth hum of the road beneath us. The tires seemed to glide effortlessly, making it feel like we were floating instead of driving.
“Driving at night really is the best!” I shouted over the rush of the wind, exhilarated by the freedom of the road. “Ugh, I could really use a drink right now. I’ve got some chilled alcohol in the trunk, but…”
“Don’t drink and drive,” Leon reminded me. “Isn’t that what they teach you in Leonamon?”
“Yeah, I know,” I said with a sigh. The instructors had drilled into me the dangers of drinking while driving. It could lead to accidents, and I’d rather not risk my life—or my car. My baby deserved better than to be wrecked because of a stupid mistake. I’d sooner crash anything else before I’d let something happen to my precious baby.
“Where are we headed, Professor?” Leon asked, curiosity clear in his voice.
“Somewhere I go when I need to unwind at night,” I said. “This spot is where I release the stress from my job. Teaching can be a real pain sometimes.”
“Teaching really can be tough, can’t it?” he remarked, his tone understanding.
“You have no idea,” I said.
After a while on the road, we finally reached our destination—a cliff overlooking the road. I parked the car and we made our way to the edge. The moon shone brightly above, casting a serene glow over the landscape. The view was breathtaking, with the moonlight shimmering across the dark, open sky.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I said, letting the stunning view sink in. The moonlight cast a silver sheen over the landscape, enhancing the tranquil beauty of the night.
“It really is,” Leon replied.
I clasped my hands near my mouth and shouted into the night, “Fuck the Administrators for dumping so much work on me, and fuck my father too!”
The weight of my stress—crushing work demands, relentless teaching duties, and the constant strain of being an agent—was all coming out now. These assholes were responsible for the overload.
“Aaaah! I could really use a drink right now!” I cried out, the frustration evident in my voice. I strode over to the trunk, grabbed the chilled bottles of alcohol, and brought it back to the edge of the cliff. The cool bottles felt satisfying against my hand.
“You want some alcohol?” I asked, holding up the bottle. “This one’s the best, you know.”
Leon gave me a sidelong glance, then took the bottle from my hand. “I guess it’s fine,” he said.
