Please Forget Me - Chapter 120
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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“I met him.”
I answered honestly, as I needed to relay what the Major had said to Johann.
“The Major caught the flu and was quarantined with the other patients in the barracks.”
But I lied about where I had encountered him.
“Is he bothering you again?”
Johann asked as if he assumed that the Major had been harassing me, even though I had never complained about it. I only shared what he needed to know.
“He kept bothering me while badmouthing you.”
“Tell me more.”
Johann turned me to face him, his expression warm as always, but his gaze was colder than usual, causing my mind to freeze in apprehension.
“You….”
But as I started to speak, I forgot my nerves and burst into laughter at the absurdity of it all.
“He said you’re a fake who stole the identity of my dead husband and pretends to be my husband.”
“…….”
“The delusions are really too much. Isn’t it ridiculous? I guess the fever has scrambled his brain.”
Isn’t it a funny story? Yet, Johann did not laugh.
“Tell me exactly what the Major said and how you responded.”
“Um….”
As I recounted the events as best as I could, Johann still didn’t smile and asked,
“What’s the basis for thinking I’m a fake?”
“He didn’t say that. Should I ask?”
Johann paused for a moment, then shook his head.
“As I’ve requested, avoid talking to him as much as possible.”
I nodded vigorously and asked,
“But is there really a reason to worry about such absurd delusions?”
Surely, no one would believe it and they would laugh it off like I did, so why was Johann taking it so seriously? Was there something I was missing? The unusual glint in Johann’s eyes made me anxious as he continued to gaze at me in silence.
…Could it be?
“…Johann?”
“Yes. It’s a ridiculous delusion.”
That’s right. It makes no sense.
Only then did Johann manage a smile, but I couldn’t return it, as it felt like a reassuring gesture.
“There’s no need to worry. It’s just… the Major’s persistence in pestering about me is exhausting.”
“Ah….”
It probably wasn’t funny for someone on the receiving end. I realized I had been shortsighted. I wrapped my arms around Johann’s waist and nestled into him, apologizing.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“If I hadn’t caught the Major’s eye, you wouldn’t have to deal with this….”
Warm breath brushed over my forehead before his soft lips landed there.
“Being pretty is not a fault. It’s my weakness that’s the problem.”
“You’re not at fault. It’s all that devil’s doing. If the Major hadn’t appeared, we would have been happy….”
As I sighed in lament, Johann suddenly whispered in my ear,
“Shall I kill him?”
I was taken aback by his unexpected words. It meant he could commit murder if I turned a blind eye.
“No, please don’t. I don’t want you to end up in prison or hell because of such a trivial person.”
I wished the plague would take care of him instead.
“I’m fine. We’ll be okay.”
We embraced each other, sharing a comforting kiss. After a while, Johann asked,
“Was there no other conversation?”
“Ah….”
Right, I was in the middle of relaying what the Major had said.
“He asked if you had mentioned leaving. I told him you hadn’t. Then he questioned how that could be possible, saying that if we left, we’d be fugitives.”
“Good job.”
Johann praised me, gently stroking the back of my head. I hoped he would commend me again as I shared what I had learned.
“He asked if you hadn’t caught the flu, and I told him no.”
“Good job.”
“Then the Major insisted that you should definitely catch the flu… but it felt like he was saying that because he knew about your tuberculosis and that you were a deserter.”
I whispered even lower, knowing no one else could hear us.
“It worries me that it sounds like he knows.”
“Rize.”
Johann’s voice calling my name felt ominous.
“…Yes?”
“Were you trembling in front of the Major like you are now?”
“No, I wasn’t trembling in front of him.”
“Good job.”
Even though I had remained calm in front of the Major, Johann was now soothing my shaking body, which showed no signs of stopping. At that time, I had been solely focused on escaping without arousing the Major’s suspicions, but now I could feel the danger of our situation in my skin.
But why wasn’t Johann trembling? Why wasn’t he surprised that the Major was aware?
“Johann, did you know the Major had caught on?”
“I don’t think he has.”
“Really?”
“He’s just poking around without any evidence….”
“Of course… that makes sense.”
“Exactly. So don’t worry, just act like you don’t know anything, like you are now.”
“Okay.”
After that, Johann fell silent. The hand that had been stroking me had stopped long ago. I felt relieved that he denied it but then grew anxious again.
