Page 102 of Everdoll

So perfect, so far away.

“Wait here, I’ll go find it.”

As I frantically began rummaging through the clothes, he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

“You’re going to choose us couple outfits?” he asked in a teasing tone.

“Yes. What’s wrong?”

“Seriously?”

Seeing his surprise, my face fell. “What’s wrong?” I repeated. “You think it’s stupid?”

I was about to give up, but I couldn’t let him know that.

“Of course not, my love.”

He smiled and came over to me. I smiled back. I had grown accustomed to this life in an instant. I once thought if we began dating, our relationship would become awkward. But I was just realizing we had been acting this way for years. We were already like a couple since the very beginning.

And I felt a little uneasy about this. I always wanted Remi to stay by my side, but I wasn’t sure if it was a romantic desire. There was no problem with kissing or hugging him, and I understood there was no problem with having sex either. But for some reason, I was still unsure of what I felt.

Raymond Loxton, who was once my guardian robot, had fallen in love with me somehow. And somehow, again, I found myself reciprocating his feelings. I couldn’t convince myself what I wanted mattered. It seemed impossible there could be any other possibility. He had everything. He was perfect. He was very different from me, too perfect. He was handsome and wealthy. No. He was the person I opened up to the most. He had been there for me in my worst times. The loyal person I had always sought and wanted.

Then why… was there discomfort inside me? For some reason…

It was not a safe place. I wanted to escape.

Where’s the deception? Who am I deceiving? When it comes to me, isn’t there always deception?

“There they are!” I smiled to myself. I was overthinking. I should’ve lived in the moment.

I showed Raymond the outfit in my hand, and waited eagerly for his reaction. I wanted to buy this two-piece set for myself for a long time—a gray checkered skirt and a pink blouse. I found the color coordination very cute, and now I saw something similar for men too. A long-sleeved pink shirt and gray fabric pants… It would look great on him. At least it would stop him from looking like a devil who would lick and swallow you in the filthiest corner of hell.

Seeing him still smiling at me, I took his hand and led him to the fitting rooms. I hesitated for a moment and looked at him.

“If you don’t like it, we can find something else.”

His gaze flickered to the clothes in my hands, a hint of amusement in his blue eyes. “We’re both wearing the same colors, then?”

I smiled proudly. “Of course.”

“Mmm… but my Mina is getting greedy. Isn’t pink the color of kings?

“Really?”

“It’s a shade of red, after all, associated with royalty.”

“King Remi!”

“Queen Mina.”

He leaned down to kiss my forehead, making my laughter fade. My face flushed when I noticed a few people in the store looking at us. By the time we hurried to the fitting room, my cheeks were still burning. I fanned myself. When I caught him throwing his head back in laughter, I frowned with mock irritation.

“Remi!”

“What is it? Feeling sick? Want me to cool you off?”

Now my cheeks were even warmer. “It’s make-up! You’re seeing things!”