An Early Engagement - Chapter 24
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Then can’t you just watch me?”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by his sudden words, Shirley looked at him with wide eyes.
“The shade near the lake is cool. I’ve even brought some fruit and champagne.”
“……”
“You’ve always been by my side before. It’s no fun without you.”
Every time they came to the summer villa, Damian would swim while Shirley read books, snacked, or napped nearby.
It had been a natural part of their routine, but today, for some reason, it felt unbearably awkward.
“…Fine, then.”
At her words, Damian immediately took her hand and led her away. His hand, just out of the water, was cold.
Like a broken doll, Shirley stumbled along as Damian pulled her toward the lakeside. When they sat down on the picnic mat laid out there, Damian smiled and poured her a glass of chilled champagne.
As Shirley sipped from the glass Damian handed her, he walked back toward the lake.
*Splash.*
Watching Damian dive into the lake, creating a large splash, Shirley stared blankly.
*Splash.*
She had seen this scene countless times—last year, the year before, and even before that. So why did it feel so unfamiliar now?
After a while, Damian emerged from the water and waved at her. Shirley waved back instinctively, and he quickly disappeared beneath the surface again.
How many times had she watched him swim back and forth across the lake?
“Damian?”
Suddenly, Shirley realized it had been too long since Damian had last surfaced.
“Damian!”
She didn’t even notice the champagne spilling onto her lap as she abruptly stood up.
Shirley hurried closer to the lake. She flinched and stepped back when the water lapped at her feet, but something far more terrifying gripped her heart.
“Damian! Damian!”
She called out desperately, but the surface of the lake remained eerily still.
Damian was nowhere to be seen. Should she go get help? A sob threatened to burst out of her.
“Damiaaan……”
It felt like her mind was going blank.
*Splash.*
“Ahhh!”
A dark figure surged up from the water right below her, and Shirley collapsed in shock.
Dripping wet, it was none other than Damian.
“Da… Damian?”
Standing tall, casting a large shadow, Damian looked down at Shirley.
“Huh… huh…”
Meeting his gaze, Shirley’s face twisted.
She had been scared. Even though she knew Damian was a strong swimmer. Just imagining him never resurfacing…
It was horrifying. Terrifying.
For just a brief moment, she had imagined Damian drowning, and the worst-case scenario had played out in her mind.
*I’m sorry, Shirley. Did I scare you?*
He reached out toward her, looking flustered.
“You… you jerk…”
“Go away!” Shirley pushed him with all her might, but Damian didn’t budge.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take the joke that far.”
His wet body enveloped her, and Shirley broke down into loud sobs in his arms.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m sorry, Shirley. I won’t do it again, okay?”
But the more he tried to comfort her, the louder her crying became.
***
“It’s a good thing it’s summer. At least you won’t catch a cold.”
“Yeah.”
As the maid vigorously dried Shirley’s hair with a towel, Shirley let out a short sigh.
“How did you end up so soaked? You don’t even like swimming…”
“I don’t know.”
Shirley recalled what had happened at the lake. For a moment, she had truly thought Damian was dead. Even though she knew perfectly well how good a swimmer he was.
How stupid.
She had burst into tears. The thought of how foolish she must have looked made her want to crawl into a rabbit hole and hide.
“I’m going to take a nap.”
Shirley walked over to the couch and flopped facedown onto it.
“Should I bring you a snack?”
“Don’t bother. Tell everyone not to come in.” Shirley waved her hand dismissively, sending the maid away.
*Knock knock.*
But soon, the sound of knocking made Shirley’s eyes dart toward the door. Why did they keep bothering her?
“Shirley, it’s me.”
The voice outside belonged to Damian. Shirley was so startled that she nearly rolled off the couch.
“Can I come in?”
What should she say? She wasn’t ready to face Damian without any preparation.
Shirley picked up the mirror from the side table and looked at her reflection.
Her cheeks were marked from pressing against the cushion, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were disheveled. In every way, she wasn’t in a state to meet her fiancé.
But what if Damian left while she was hesitating? As she thought this, Damian’s voice came again.
“I’ll just come in for a moment, Shirley.”
As soon as she heard the doorknob turn, Shirley quickly buried her face in the cushion she was holding.
At the same time, the door opened.
*Creak.*
The sound of hinges was followed by careful footsteps entering the room.
“Shirley, are you already asleep?”
She could feel him approaching closely. A faint scent of soap wafted from Damian, as if he had just washed up. For some reason, her skin tingled.
Damian quietly looked down at Shirley, who didn’t respond. When he reached out and placed his hand on her pink-haired head, he could feel her trembling body.
“There’s a festival in the nearby village. Don’t you want to go?”
“……”
She flinched. Even though she was pretending to sleep with her face buried in the cushion, it was hard to hide anything from Damian from the start.
“If you don’t want to, I won’t bother you anymore.”
The hand that had been gently stroking her head pulled away. Shirley felt a strange sense of loss and opened her eyes. It was the moment Damian was about to stand up and leave.
“Wait.”
“……”
Damian’s gaze fell downward. His blue eyes fixed on Shirley’s hand, which was clutching his sleeve.
Worried that she might pull away, her tightly gripping hand was so endearing that Damian couldn’t help but suppress a smile that threatened to spread across his face.
“You’re awake.”
At his words, Shirley’s cheeks flushed red. Though her face was a mess from being buried in the cushion, she was still beautiful.
Seeing her like this, showing this side of herself—it was something only he could witness, making it all the more precious.
“So… the village festival?” Damian nodded quietly.
“What… what do they do there?”
“They dance, eat delicious food… and there’s a market too, I hear.” At Damian’s words, Shirley’s ears perked up like a rabbit’s. It seemed she couldn’t resist her curiosity.
The two of them had attended countless parties, balls, and social events in the capital’s glamorous social circles to the point of exhaustion. For them, the chance to experience a quiet village festival was rare.
“But if you’re not interested…”
“Since when?”
Shirley quickly cut him off. Damian’s smile widened, and Shirley’s cheeks grew even redder.
Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Damian’s sleeve, then loosened it, repeating the motion. Watching her, Damian moved closer and sat down beside her.
“Are you feeling okay?”
