Chapter 156: Lovers End Up as “Sisters”
“You… that’s too much.”
“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m serious, what do you think of me?”
With what had just happened as leverage, Elise was now very used to pressing Peiya like this. In a way, it felt a bit forceful. But for Peiya, things were already more or less settled, Elise’s attitude wasn’t going to change anytime soon.
“You’re… pretty good. You’re a good person.”
“That kind of answer isn’t enough. I think you’re still not telling the truth. If you won’t say it, then I’ll really do something. Do you like me?”
“Th-this… is that direct?”
Peiya had imagined many possible questions and answers in her mind, but she never expected it to be this straightforward.
But thinking about it carefully, it really did sound like something Elise would ask.
“A little bit…?”
Peiya blinked, not daring to meet Elise’s eyes. Even admitting that much already made her feel conflicted.
She was completely at a disadvantage now.
Not to mention, Elise was still holding her firmly, clearly not planning to let her escape.
“Really? Or are you still thinking about becoming my mom’s goddaughter? If that happens, we’d really become sisters. Miss Peiya, if you hesitate too much when you speak, it can backfire.”
Peiya bit her lip. Of course she knew that, that’s why she had only admitted a tiny bit.
“I already told the truth. It’s just a little. I didn’t lie. Why does that make me the bad one?”
“Liking someone should be like this.”
Elise suddenly leaned in and gently pressed a kiss on Peiya’s lips, then slowly pulled back, a bit unwilling to leave.
“This is what it should be like. What you said earlier doesn’t count.”
Caught off guard, Peiya was shocked. Then she quickly realized that the clothes she had just changed into… were now meaningless.
“Mmm… you’re so mean.”
“What else? Do you still think we’re just friends, or close friends? Miss Peiya, both your body and your words are showing that you’re lying.”
Elise didn’t give her any way out, which made Peiya feel a bit annoyed. She tried to push Elise away, but it only made her look more like she was acting cute.
“Hmph, I have no choice. If I don’t act like this, someone won’t be honest.”
“But we’re both girls. There won’t be any result…”
Peiya tried to resist, but it didn’t seem to work. Elise gently pinched her nose.
“So what?”
“……”
“I like you. And you like me, that’s enough.” Elise held Peiya’s face. “Or do you not like me, Miss Peiya? You don’t want to be my little sister, right?”
“……”
Peiya hid herself under the blanket, but Elise hugged her from behind again.
“Running away won’t solve anything.”
“I need some quiet… you’re being too much.”
Peiya couldn’t fully understand what was happening. How did it suddenly turn into a confession? She had thought about this moment before, but… it came too fast.
And she could feel Elise’s weight against her. Thinking about it carefully, she realized that keeping Elise hanging like this wasn’t a good idea either.
“So, have you made up your mind yet?”
“No. You’re really annoying.”
“Yeah, I am. But I’m afraid of losing you. You’re beautiful, you cook really well, you smell nice, and your magic is strong.”
Elise nudged her lightly. Peiya’s body reacted, and she looked at Elise with teary eyes.
“Did you already know?”
“Yeah. I noticed just now.”
Elise gently patted her. “So, are you still going to pretend? If you keep resisting, I’ll really take action.”
Wow… she’s really going for it.
“I never said I wouldn’t accept it. You’re just too impatient.”
“Fine, I am impatient. If you still want to keep things ‘pure’ like before, I can go along with it. But next time you have strange ideas, don’t expect me to help you out. So choose, do you want to take the initiative, or just go along?”
“Is there no third option? Forcing things won’t end well.”
“I think you should choose your words carefully. Right now, you’re the one at a disadvantage~”
Peiya fell silent. Elise was right, she really was the one with no advantage right now. And more importantly, she couldn’t even explain herself clearly anymore. After hesitating again and again, she bit her lip.
“I… I like you, okay? Back when you brought me things, I already had a good impression of you. But we’re both girls… don’t regret it.”
After saying that, Peiya turned her back to her.
“Of course I regret it, regret not hearing you say this sooner. Saying it out loud is so much better. No need to hide anymore. You’re just not honest enough.”
Peiya moved her lips slightly, unsure if she felt happy or sad, or maybe both. Her feelings for Elise were real, but she didn’t expect to say them out loud like this today.
“We already spend time together every day. I don’t understand why you insisted on hearing me say it.”
Peiya buried herself under the blanket, not wanting to come out.
“Of course it matters. Because it came from your own mouth. And I didn’t expect that you’ve been wearing the necklace I gave you this whole time.”
Elise’s gentle voice sounded right beside her ear. To Peiya, it felt almost overwhelming, like being underwater, with voices coming from all directions.
“Oh, and you’re wearing the ring I gave you too.”
“Yeah. That’s when I realized how you felt. Just like my mother said, you’re very outstanding, so I like you a lot. But that’s not the only reason. If I had to say… maybe from the day I met you, I couldn’t let you leave my sight anymore.”
“Wow, that’s so cheesy. I’m not playing with you anymore.” Peiya tried to escape. “I was really fooled by your appearance. I thought you were quiet before. Why are the things you say even more outrageous than mine?”
Tonight felt like both of them were throwing emotional “attacks” at each other, but the effect was quite clear.
Peiya was completely overwhelmed by Elise’s “verbal offense.”
Elise’s “loud attack” was very effective.
Her voice was so intense that Peiya’s ears almost hurt, this girl really didn’t hold back at all.
“No, I’m still me. It’s just that after we got closer, time seemed to move faster, and your perception changed. Actually, you’ve changed me a lot too. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably still be somewhere recovering, suffering again and again because of the ice vein inside me…”
“...But you helped rewrite my fate. So I’ve always been grateful to you. When I say I like you, there’s nothing mixed in. This is simply how I’ve felt over these past three years. I won’t force you into anything or push our relationship forward. I just want to express what I feel…”
“...If you’re willing to carry this with me, I’ll stand by your side and face everything. Those outside opinions won’t reach you. But if you choose to refuse, I’ll keep these feelings in my heart as a beautiful memory. No matter what, meeting you is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Peiya… you’re the best.”