“Sorry, but you can’t get rid of me.”

* * *

“You know… I think it’s time we got officially engaged.”

At seventeen, now officially an adult, Piera shyly whispered her confession to Dario, her childhood friend and longtime crush.

She believed he felt the same way—that he’d happily accept her feelings.

“Engaged? Who? You and me?”

With widened eyes, Dario repeated her words in disbelief—then burst out laughing like he might fall over.

“Pipi, please, I’m begging you. Don’t say such horrifying things, even as a joke.”

Even in that moment, as she voiced her feelings,

Piera had no idea her confession would be so brutally trampled.

* * *

Now, just thinking about Dario didn’t make her heart flutter anymore.

‘That tiresome one-sided crush—it’s over.’

While Piera thought this was for the best, Dario didn’t seem too pleased about her change in attitude.

Even though he was the one who drew the line, saying they were just friends.

* * *

“Pipi, I don’t plan on staying away from you anymore.”

“If this is about what happened, you don’t need to worry.”

“Yeah, part of it is because I’m worried—but mostly, I just want to be by your side.”

“Why? Are you messing with me again?”

Dario reached across the table and gently pulled her hand toward him, curled up like a little ball.

“Because I like you. I want to be more than just friends.”

“…”

“I want to be the closest person to you—the one you rely on most.”

Then, before she could pull away, he quickly kissed the back of her hand,

smiling warmly at her angry expression.

“Dario.”

But to his surprise, Piera called his name—seriously.

“I don’t like you anymore.”

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