Chapter 147
Suzy remembered—Gloria had indeed mentioned earlier that she would bring dinner.
At this hour, most people had already eaten. It was about time.
"You can just give it to me," Suzy said with an awkward smile.
Gloria glanced at the clothes in her arms and shook her head. "Let me walk you to the door."
"It’s not that heavy," Suzy replied with a smile.
She knew what Gloria was thinking—worried she might be carrying too much.
"It’s fine. I just want to walk with you a little longer."
Gloria turned her head slightly, stealing a glance at her before smiling.
The soft warmth of that smile lit up her delicate features, her bright eyes fixed on Suzy.
For a moment, Suzy was taken aback. Then she nodded. "Alright."
The distance wasn’t far. Before long, they arrived outside the office where Suzy was staying.
Remembering that he was still inside, shirtless, Suzy decided not to invite Gloria in, worried it might make her uncomfortable.
"This is fine," Suzy said.
Gloria had clearly thought of it too and didn’t insist.
"Okay. Then, here’s your dinner." She handed over the bag.
It was heavy—she had packed quite a lot for them.
"Thank you," Suzy said sincerely.
Gloria pouted slightly. "Come on, I told you... you don’t have to be so polite with me."
It was rare to see her act so childlike. Suzy found it unexpectedly endearing.
She freed one hand and instinctively reached out, intending to pat her head—like she would a child.
But halfway through, she realized Gloria was about the same height as her... if not taller. The gesture would look a little strange.
As if sensing her hesitation, Gloria leaned down on her own, blinking playfully.
Suzy understood immediately and rested her palm on her head, gently ruffling her hair.
"You’re actually going along with this?" Suzy teased.
"Of course!" Gloria straightened up at once.
"Alright, then. Get some rest after you eat. I’ll head back now."
"Okay."
Gloria waved goodbye.
Suzy watched her disappear down the corridor before turning to open the office door.
Inside, she found Thomas sitting by the window, staring out in a daze.
She set the things in her hands on the table. "What are you looking at?"
He slowly turned his head, his gaze settling on her face. There was a faint trace of something in his eyes—something almost... resentful.
"I was checking if the acid rain has stopped," he said.
"Has it?" she asked.
"Not yet. Looks like we’ll be staying here tonight."
Suzy thought to herself—hadn’t that already been decided?
She picked out a shirt from the pile and tossed it to Thomas.
"Here. I found this for you. Try it on, see if it fits. It’s the largest size they had."
His back was still injured. Even with the spirit spring water, it wouldn’t heal overnight. A T-shirt would be inconvenient, so she had chosen a button-up shirt instead.
Just as she finished speaking, she realized—
In his current state, he couldn’t exactly put it on himself.
She walked over to him.
"I’ll help you."
He paused, holding the shirt.
Suzy stepped closer and took it from his hands.
"Lift your arm," she said.
He raised his uninjured arm, letting her guide it into the sleeve.
The movement pulled at the wound on his back, and he frowned slightly, but said nothing.
Suzy moved behind him, carefully adjusting the fabric, doing her best not to touch the injured area.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, leaning forward to peek at him.
He shook his head. "No."
Even if it did, it was well within what he could tolerate.
"Alright."
Suzy stepped back around to face him and began fastening the buttons of the shirt.
Starting from the bottom, she worked her way up... only to realize it was getting tighter and tighter.
"Is this shirt too small...?" she muttered under her breath.
It wasn’t really the shirt’s fault—he was simply too broad, his muscles too well-built for the fabric to accommodate.
She managed to button it up with some effort, but the shirt was visibly strained, the buttons looking as though they might pop off at any moment.
"Tight," he admitted.
"Then there’s no helping it." Suzy quickly undid the buttons again. "This was the biggest size I could find."
The shirt she had just put on him was promptly removed.
"So what now?" she asked, looking up at him.
Thomas shook his head.
"Forget it. We’ll eat first, then I’ll go look for something else later. For now... just leave it like this."
"Alright."
With nothing that fit, he had no choice but to remain bare-chested.
Suzy, naturally, didn’t mind that at all.
"I wonder what Gloria brought us."
She turned and walked over to the black bag the girl had delivered.
Inside were some bread rolls, compressed biscuits, and two bottles of water.
"That’s pretty generous," she said, a little surprised.
In times like these, this already counted as a luxury.
With her back turned, she quietly slipped a can of luncheon meat from her storage space into the bag.
Then she carried it over to him, handing him the water and bread one by one.
She kept the compressed biscuits and a bottle of water for herself.
Tearing open the packaging, she took a bite.
He looked at the bread in his hands, then at her, but didn’t move.
"Eat," she said through a mouthful, slightly muffled. "What are you waiting for?"
Instead of responding, he reached into the bag, took out the can, opened it, and pushed it toward her.
A silent gesture, telling her to eat it.
She waved him off. "That’s for you."
Thomas paused.
Looking down at the opened can, then at the dry, crumbly biscuits in her hand, his brows drew together slightly.
"For me?"
"Yeah." She crunched another bite, the sound crisp. "You’re injured. You need proper nutrition."
He didn’t speak again. He just looked at her.
After a moment, he drew in a breath and let it out slowly.
"Why are you being so good to me?"
She had given him the soft bread, the canned meat... while she herself ate those dry biscuits. It didn’t sit right with him.
And beyond that... There was another feeling.
Faint, unfamiliar. Something that tingled and spread quietly through his chest.
What was she trying to do?
Why treat him this way?
"You’re injured. I’m just taking better care of you. Is that a problem?" she shot back.
"...Is that all?" he asked.
"What else would it be?"
He turned his face slightly away. "...There’s no need."
Suzy tilted her head, then asked, almost casually,
"Then what if I said... I like you?"