Chapter 8

From the day Huey left me with that sorrowful face, I hadn’t been able to sleep properly.

While awake, I forced myself to act cheerful so Mom wouldn’t worry.
I had no appetite, but I ate every meal put in front of me.
To keep my thoughts from wandering, I threw myself into housework, busier than ever.

The exhaustion from those days made it easy to fall asleep the moment I lay down.

And the dreams came right away.
Ah… no. Not this dream again.

Huey was with a girl.

Right there, in front of me, they gazed at each other with burning eyes.

Stop! No! I don’t want to see this!

But my cries didn’t reach anyone.

Their faces drew closer, closer…

“—Noooooo!!”

I woke to the sound of my own scream.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst, my whole body slick with a cold, clammy sweat.
Panicked, I looked around the dim room, desperate to confirm this was reality, not a continuation of the dream.

That was how I lived, day after day.

“Today’s weather is especially lovely. Mimosa, open the window, won’t you?”

“Okay.”

I answered Mom, dragging my heavy, sleep-deprived body to the window.
Outside, the sun shone warmly.
If only my heart could feel this bright… I thought, as I pushed the window open.

“…!!”

At once, the air of mating season—so restless, so charged—hit my nose and ears. Reflexively, I slammed the window shut.

The crash echoed through the house, and Mom rushed in.

“Mimosa, what’s wrong!?”

“Sorry, I just got a little dizzy.”

This time, holding my breath, I opened the window again.
The moment that air brushed against me, my emotions prickled.

All across the village, couples were savoring the season even now.
Huey… he must be with some girl, too…!?

“Mimosa, you look pale…”

“Mm… I stayed up too late last night. Guess I’m sleep-deprived. It’s so warm, I’m getting drowsy… Maybe I’ll go take a nap!”

I fled to my room, away from Mom’s worried eyes.

Alone at last, I could drop the forced cheerfulness.
The relief made me drowsy all at once.

But I was afraid of sleep. Afraid of the dreams waiting for me.

Even so, the relentless pull of exhaustion won out.
The moment I lay down, I was asleep.

This dream felt different—only one shadowy figure. I relaxed a little.

But when I looked closer and saw who it was, I froze.

Huey and a girl, together like lovers.

Right before my eyes, they teased and tangled with each other.
And Huey’s face—so melted with bliss, a look I’d never seen—pressed closer against hers—

A silent scream ripped through me.

At some point, I realized my eyes were squeezed shut.
If I opened them, maybe I’d wake up from this nightmare. Please, let it be so.

Slowly, I opened them.

In the dim room, Huey’s face looked back at me—wide-eyed, startled.

Why… was he looking at me?

As I registered the situation, I realized—I was straddling him, pressed over his body as he lay down.

No… this isn’t reality. This is still the dream!

I looked around, pale with panic. The girl clinging to Huey just a moment ago was gone.

Relief washed over me—and at the same time, shame at how base my dreams had become. A twisted smile tugged at my lips.

When I looked down at Huey, he kept opening and closing his mouth, like he wanted to speak but couldn’t. His wide, stunned eyes bore into me.

Compared to his silence now, the heated way he had acted in my dream was so starkly different—something inside me snapped.

“What? Dissatisfied because I’m not the girl you were with just now? Is it that I can’t do what she did for you?”

“…Huh? I—I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

His weak, bewildered reaction only stoked my anger.

What the hell? This is my dream, isn’t it!? Then why does this part feel so real!?

“You were always flirting with other girls right in front of me! No matter how many times I said I hated it, that I didn’t want to see it—you never listened! I don’t want to watch you fawn over some girl, Huey! I hate it, I hate it, I’ve said it so many times and still—!!”

I couldn’t hold it back anymore, and tears spilled over.

Frustrated, I wiped them away roughly, but the falling drops landed on Huey’s clothes, leaving dark stains.
When I realized they had fallen onto his stomach, I gave a dry little laugh at the absurdity of it all—why was I crying while straddling Huey like this? What kind of dream was this supposed to be?

“…Is this… just some convenient dream of mine?”

Huey muttered like it was delirium.

Why was it only me, so swept up in emotion?
The gulf between us made me grind my teeth in frustration.

“That’s right, this is my convenient dream! I’ve been dragging you into my dreams every single night! It’s disgusting, isn’t it? Sorry about that!”

“…What kind of dream is this? I’m the worst…”

Huey hid his face in his arms.

Still trying to run away?

Remaining on top of him, I grabbed his arms and pushed them aside, forcing them away from his face. He resisted only a little, and then his arms fell away.

When I looked down, his eyes were moist. The sight made my heart jolt.

“I—I said all that, didn’t I? Don’t you have anything to say!?”

“…I’ve been dreaming about you every day too, Mimosa.”

He mumbled it like a confession, as if he’d finally given up.

Once the words started flowing, it was like a dam bursting. His emotions came rushing out.

“That’s right, I saw you in my dreams every single day. I did whatever I wanted to you in those dreams! And worse, I told you I thought of you as a little sister, told you to rely on me—then the same day we’d talk, I’d use that as fuel to get myself off! When you called me a liar, Mimosa… you were right. That’s exactly what I am! I’m the worst kind of guy! Even after my symptoms started, I hid them, and kept coming to see you, right up to the edge of losing control. I’m just a filthy man in heat! …Damn it, what even is this dream!?”

A single tear slid down from Huey’s eye.

Drawn to it, I leaned close and traced its path upward with my tongue.

“…nngh!”

The soft groan that escaped him sent a heat through me—different from anger.

Dim as it was, I realized this must be Huey’s room.
Surrounded by his scent, I felt my chest go hazy and warm.

“…Haah… Huey, your smell… it’s so good…”

My voice quivered.

Wanting more of him, I pressed my face into his neck and inhaled deeply.
Catching sight of his reddened ear, I flicked it with my tongue, then nipped it gently.

“Ahh—!”

The sound of his gasp thrilled me, and I bit at his throat hungrily.

I ran my tongue slowly along the faint ridge of his Adam’s apple and over the line of his collarbone where his shirt had come loose, nipping again and again.
From his clenched mouth slipped high, trembling sounds.

I wanted more. More of that voice stripped of control.

At some point, as I buried myself against his chest, a hot hand cupped my cheek.
He pulled me back firmly, yet gently.

I looked up in protest, but the heat burning in his blue eyes made me flinch.
His arms followed, pulling me in tight.

His tear-bright gaze pinned me.

“…Mimosa. Is this what you want?”

A voice thick with desire.

The moment I heard it—

I snapped back to my senses.