### Chapter: 331
“Haring.”
At the sound of her name being called, a girl with black hair and shimmering lavender highlights looked up.
There, standing before her, was a face she hadn’t seen in ages.
“Oppa.”
It was Aring Lagrain.
The older brother whom Haring had admired and followed dearly.
He was always caring and reliable, smiling at her from across the field.
Without thinking, Haring ran towards him and reached out, hugging the brother she loved dearly.
“It’s been a while! How have you been?”
Aring smiled and affectionately ruffled Haring’s hair.
The sunlight pouring down from the sky was incredibly warm.
Aring’s embrace felt just as warm as the sun.
Is this a dream?
Haring couldn’t tell.
But in that moment, she felt a deep sense of peace.
“Yeah, I’ve been well. Too well, in fact.”
Now a grown adult, Haring had turned 17.
Once lost in deep-seated grudges, Haring had changed.
She owed this transformation to a boy who had resolved all her resentments.
“Oppa, there have been so many things that have happened while you’ve been away.”
Haring slowly shared her experiences with her caring brother.
Ironically, the longest tales came from the past two years.
Her life at Rahern Academy had inadvertently become the most significant period of her life.
It was astonishing.
So much had happened in just two years, and she had changed so drastically.
And it brought her joy.
In the past, if she saw Aring, she would have burst into tears instead of smiling.
She would have daily sought forgiveness from him for his tragic fate and wept tears of blood.
But now, things were different.
Looking at Aring, Haring felt she could talk endlessly about all she had experienced.
She was more stable than ever before.
And she was acutely aware of who she had to thank for this transformation.
A gentle smile appeared on Haring’s lips.
Seeing that, Aring smiled back.
“Seems like this Kraush kid is quite the catch.”
“Yeah, it’s the first time I’ve felt this way about someone.”
In her heart, Haring recalled the image of Kraush that nestled deeply within.
The moment when Kraush had faced the rabid beasts, Haring felt she would rather die in his place, desperately trying to protect him.
Even if she were to vanish from this world, it was enough for him to live on.
Somewhere along the line, Kraush had become an immense part of Haring’s life.
Thus, she regretted nothing about fighting fiercely that day against the rabid beasts and pouring out everything she had for him.
On the contrary, she would have regretted not doing more.
“I’m feeling a bit jealous. Who would have thought my pretty little sister could fall so hard for a guy?”
Aring chuckled, stopping his head pats on Haring.
“So wouldn’t it be nice to put a lid on those feelings?”
“……”
When Aring saw through her inner thoughts, Haring bit her lips.
As he said, she had tried hard to suppress her feelings for Kraush.
But even she knew these feelings couldn’t be hidden away.
“But Kraush has Bianca. I just want to pay back my debt to him.”
“Haring, you know you can’t bottle it up anymore.”
Haring hung her head.
She knew.
That’s why her heart ached so much.
She had known for quite some time that she couldn’t control these feelings.
Even so, she tried her best.
But on that day, the thought of possibly losing Kraush made her heart burst freely.
“So I guess it’s time to say goodbye.”
Haring lifted her head.
Aring’s form began to dissolve like stardust, slowly scattering away.
“Take care, my sister.”
Even amidst the stardust, Haring felt warmth as she slowly opened her eyelids.
A strange ceiling above her.
The sharp scent of disinfectant hinted that she was likely in the medical ward of Rahern Academy.
Haring slowly sat up.
“You’re awake?”
At that moment, a familiar voice reached her ear.
Turning her head, she saw a boy with dark blue hair.
The moment the boy saw Haring, a smile spread across his face.
It was that smile— the one Haring cherished.
“Kraush.”
Haring called out his name.
Kraush, looking at her in her half-awake state, was about to speak, but Haring beat him to it.
“I like you.”
The words that had been bottled up tumbled out before she could even think.
Kraush froze.
Haring knew too well that her confession would make him uncomfortable.
But it was too late now.
Once spoken, those words couldn’t be taken back.
“I like you. I really, really like you.”
Her true feelings flowed out uncontrollably.
Before she knew it, Haring was crying.
Her emotions ran high, and with them, the tears came freely.
Surely, she shouldn’t have blurted that out.
At that moment, she knew they could never return to how things were before with Kraush.
He loved Bianca and had even married her.
But emotions aren’t always within our control, are they?
Her feelings had erupted like a dam bursting.
“I know I shouldn’t, but even though I tried to suppress it, I just couldn’t.”
Haring’s tears showed no sign of stopping.
Was there ever such an ugly confession?
She was terrified to see Kraush’s reaction.
If she saw his expression now, she felt she might just shatter into pieces.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced—her mother’s words before she passed, sharing a dark family secret.
The Lagrain lineage carried a potent poison.
It was a poison that had been passed down through generations.
Love.
Once you fall into this poison, a Lagrain can never escape its grasp for the rest of their lives.
They can only cherish one person in their hearts forever.
It was devastating, and yet…
The Lagrains could love that person more than anyone else.
As the recollection struck her, Haring understood.
She would be unable to love anyone but Kraush.
She felt both happy and sad about this reality.
“Haring.”
She heard Kraush’s voice.
Still teary-eyed, Haring lowered her head.
She was still too afraid to look at his face.
Suddenly, she felt Kraush gently stroking her hair.
His tender touch melted Haring’s heart in an instant.
It felt good.
Just that small gesture was more than enough for Haring.
She had been content with that.
But today, everything had crumbled.
Kraush looked at Haring, opening and closing his mouth, finally managing to speak.
“Bianca told me something. I’ve been contemplating it for quite a while.”
Bianca had said she wanted more people around Kraush.
“But today, hearing you…”
Kraush’s path is fraught with danger.
And Bianca alone couldn’t support him through all of it.
He would continue to face many crises, and might need support every step of the way.
So Bianca told Kraush that it was okay if he had another wife besides her.
“If I turn Haring down today—”
He knew Haring would be devastated.
Kraush recognized just how much Haring relied on him psychologically.
“No, wait. This is all just excuses.”
Kraush took a breath.
He thought about their time together, intertwined with the past he had shared with Bianca.
Aring Lagrain, a girl in a perilous situation he hadn’t intended to get embroiled in.
And though it hadn’t been his original plan, Kraush had deeply involved himself in Haring’s life.
It went both ways; Haring had carved her way into his life in return.
He had received countless aid from her, and their paths had intertwined more often than not.
Naturally, Haring held a significant place within his heart.
Kraush felt particularly weak when it came to her.
While he had entangled himself with Bianca, he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt every time he saw Haring trying to suppress her feelings.
But now that her emotions had come pouring out, Kraush finally realized.
Haring was also an irreplaceable person for him.
He didn’t want to see her cry anymore.
Haring was someone who shone brightly with a beautiful smile.
As a friend and as a romantic interest, Kraush wished for her happiness.
“This is my responsibility.”
Kraush clenched his fist.
He couldn’t just leave Haring alone, crying bitterly due to her love for him.
After much deliberation, Kraush finally reached a decision in his heart.
He didn’t mind being called selfish for it.
In the end, he was the one who chose this path, and thus had to take on the consequences.
“I like you too.”
With determination, Kraush voiced those words.
Haring’s body shuddered.
She slowly began to lift her head.
Her face, stained with tears, was a sight.
It looked like her eyes might swell up by tomorrow.
Kraush cupped her cheek with his hand.
At his touch, Haring shivered delicately.
“I know things are about to get complicated now.”
Kraush wiped Haring’s tears away with his thumb.
“I’ll take on everything. So please stick by me.”
Haring stared up at him, still bemused by his words.
This had truly been her emotional outburst.
Her feelings had swelled up to the point where they burst through the dam.
But Kraush took it all in stride.
She felt thankful for him. She felt guilty.
And she couldn’t shake the feeling of embarrassment about what had just happened.
But despite all that, her heart was racing.
She had never realized how blissful it was when someone reciprocated her feelings in a way she hadn’t expected.
Her eyes brimmed with fresh tears, almost threatening to overflow again.
Her heart raced, eager to burst forth.
She had already harbored plenty of desire, but she wanted just a bit more.
“……Kraush.”
Haring grasped at his collar.
“Can I, can I kiss you?”
Her face was flushed, bright red.
Her eyes were wet with tears.
Her breath was hotter than usual.
She had definitely pushed her luck a bit here.
Embarrassed, she felt as though her face might combust.
Kraush blinked at her, chuckling lightly before pinching her cheek.
Then, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
The soft sensation sent a spark through Haring.
Her eyes widened to their limit before slowly closing.
And thus, this day became the happiest memory engraved in her heart.
