Chapter 140: Augustine’s honest confession
"You... you only ever think about that," Anne muttered, pouting as she crossed her arms. "I wasn’t talking about that at all. I wanted to ask you about... your schoolboy crush on me."
Augustine’s grin only widened, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "Eager, aren’t you?" he teased. "I wasn’t lying, you know. I really did follow you around quietly."
"Then why didn’t you ever come talk to me?" Anne was genuinely curious.
"Because I was a coward back then," he admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone.
His cheeks warmed slightly as memories flooded back — memories of standing at a distance, stealing glances at her, feeling a surge of jealousy whenever she smiled at another boy.
"I saw how you threw away all those love letters from other guys. It scared me. I was sure you’d reject me too, without even a second thought."
Anne grew quiet, lowering her gaze to her hands resting on her lap. His fears hadn’t been entirely wrong. Back then, she had been so caught up in her one-sided love for Denis that she had been blind to everyone else. She had dismissed every boy who dared approach her, without ever noticing the quiet, brilliant boy who admired her from afar.
She had admired Augustine for his sharp brain and perfect grades, but love?
Back then, she hadn’t even considered loving anyone other than Denis. Now all her illusions had shattered. Her youthful dreams about Denis had crumbled, leaving scars that had shaped the woman she had become. There was no going back to that foolish, blind girl.