My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 43

Aemerus’s words were true.
The Golden Retriever plush that should have been resting peacefully on my bed had vanished.
“My Goldie!”
I cried out, staring at the empty bed.
When I woke up, I had sensed something was off about the bed, but I couldn’t quite place it.
I’d simply assumed I’d knocked the plush onto the floor in my sleep.
I never imagined Aemerus had stolen it!
I should have caught on when he started picking a fight over my blonde hair.
I huffed indignantly and searched for my phone.
My urgency made the search take far longer than it should have.
I pulled my phone from the jacket pocket of what I’d worn yesterday and immediately called Aemerus.
Several messages from Jessie had accumulated, but I overlooked them entirely.
Even if I had seen them, I wouldn’t have replied immediately.
Reclaiming the plush that Aemerus had taken was far more pressing.
“Aemerus!”
He picked up almost immediately, as if he’d been waiting.
-You’re finally awake? Impressive.
His casual tone, as if he’d known I would call, only infuriated me further.
“Give me back my plush!”
Even as I shouted at him without preamble, he merely laughed.
-Why would you look for your plush with me?
He even had the audacity to turn the question back on me.
I snorted like an enraged dragon, my breath hot with fury.
“You said you were holding it hostage!”
-Did I?
“Are you messing with me right now?”
Unable to contain my temper any longer, I erupted, and Aemerus burst into loud laughter.
-Of course I was. Open your wardrobe.
“My wardrobe? Why would—”
I opened the wardrobe as he instructed and fell silent.
There, resting peacefully inside, was the Golden Retriever plush I’d been searching for.
-Found it?
“Yeah…”
-Seems you forgot to say thank you.
“You hid it in the first place, so I’m not grateful at all.”
I replied petulantly, but my anger had already dissolved the moment I found the plush.
The fact that she had fallen for such a childish prank was simply astounding.
She let out a hollow laugh before speaking in a noticeably calmer tone.
“Why did you just leave without saying goodbye? Did something urgent come up?”
-Nothing urgent. I thought your parents might feel uncomfortable having a guest over on a Saturday morning.
At least it was a relief that nothing urgent had happened.
“So you’re home now?”
-Yeah. I woke up early, went for a swim, and now I’m planning to grab lunch at home before heading to Hockey practice.
“You’re busy even on weekends.”
-Can’t help it until the league ends. What about you?
“I’m just going to rest at home. Dad said he won’t go to the Restaurant today and will spend time with me instead.”
-That’s great.
“Right?”
Harry, who had been conversing so naturally, suddenly stiffened.
‘Isn’t this the kind of conversation people in a relationship would have?’
The thought crossed her mind that sharing each other’s schedules was something only lovers did.
‘No, friends can do that too.’
There was no rule saying only couples could do such things.
Harry nodded, finding her own reasoning quite sound.
“Anyway, enjoy your lunch. And if the Police Officer calls with any updates, could you let me know?”
-I will.
“Thanks.”
-You enjoy your lunch too.
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Harry carefully laid the doll on her bed and headed back downstairs.
Talking with him had made her realize she was getting hungry.
[Dad, I’m hungry.]
[So now you remember Dad after playing with your boyfriend?]
[No, he’s really not my boyfriend!]
Harry didn’t realize her father was teasing her on purpose and bristled every time he brought it up.
[Alright, Aemerus is ‘definitely’ not your boyfriend. So what should I make for lunch?]
Her father dangled the bait like someone waving a toy in front of a cat, and Harry couldn’t help but take it.
[…Chow mein.]
[Chow mein? I wonder if we have any flour left at home.]
Being able to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted—wasn’t that one of the perks of having a chef for a father?
Harry stopped pestering her father.
Instead, she sat down at the Island Table and contentedly watched her father cook.
[All done. Let’s eat while it’s hot.]
[Wow, thank you for the meal!]
Harry picked up her chopsticks, then suddenly thought of something and grabbed her phone.
She took an appetizing photo of the chow mein with steam rising from it and sent it to Aemerus.
Since my parents had invited him to dinner, I wanted to get a sense of his tastes beforehand.
「Today’s my lunch」
「Looks delicious, doesn’t it?」
「Seafood stew?」
「No, I can see noodles.」
「Seafood pasta?」
「Close enough」
「Do you handle spicy food well?」
While exchanging messages with Aemerus, my father immediately launched into a lecture.
[Don’t look at your phone while eating.]
[Yes, Dad.]
After all, you should always listen well to the person who cooks for you.
I obediently flipped my phone over.
Responding to Jessie kept getting pushed back.

***

After lunch, I went for a walk with my father to the Green Market, which opened every weekend.
The Green Market was where farmers sold directly, offering a diverse range of products from freshly baked pies to cheese and wine.
I accepted samples one after another as they were offered, and when I finally came to my senses, my father’s hands were full of purchases.
[Your mother’s going to scold me when we get home.]
[That’s not my problem.]
[Daughter, are you really going to be so cold? You said you wanted to show Robin these things too.]
[I never said that.]
I chuckled as I unloaded the groceries from the car.
Despite what I said, I was already thrilled that my father would probably prepare another wonderful meal for dinner tonight.
‘It’s nice spending time with Dad after so long.’
I felt somewhat melancholy wondering why such a thing had to happen to me yesterday.
Though it’s strange to say it was a blessing, spending intimate time with my usually busy father was wonderful.
I felt even closer to Aemerus after facing the crisis together….
Perhaps this is what adults call the ‘irony of life.’
While smiling at such thoughts, I was startled to see Jessie standing in front of my house.
“Jessie? What brings you here?”
“That’s what I should ask. Why haven’t you responded to my messages? Why is your phone off?”
“Ah….”
Only then did I realize why Jessie had come all the way to my house.
The fact that I hadn’t thought about him at all until he showed up.
“I’m sorry. My phone battery died, so I left it charging.”
“Do you know how much I’ve been…!”
「Hmm.」
Harry’s Father interjected with a clearing of his throat.
“Are you getting angry with my daughter? Right in front of me?”
“No, sir.”
Jessie, realizing they weren’t alone, took a step back and composed himself.
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Yes. Please, let me carry the bags. I’ll help you.”
“It’s fine.”
Harry’s Father seized her luggage as well, as if to flaunt his vigor.
‘Male pride, truly….’
Watching her father lead the way, I shook my head discreetly.
“Jessie, have you been waiting long?”
“Yeah.”
Oh no, I’d made him wait after he’d been filming until late last night.
I felt terrible about it.
I tried to say something more to Jessie, but Father was quicker.
“Lili, come open the door for us, would you?”
“…Yes.”
I had no intention of bickering outside, so I quickly unlocked the door and stepped in.
“Go sit in the living room. I’ll just organize things and be right back. What would you like to drink while you wait?”
“Let me help you organize.”
“No, don’t. It’ll really be done in a moment.”
I ushered Jessie toward the living room, then organized the groceries we’d bought today with Father, putting them away in the refrigerator and pantry respectively.
With Father and me working together, the task was finished quickly.
“Jessie, would you like some coffee?”
“That would be nice.”
“Got it.”
As I was preparing coffee and some light snacks for Jessie, I heard a sound from the foyer.
It was Mother and Robin.
[Your father must have brewed coffee. And then later tonight he’ll complain he can’t sleep again….]
Mother was about to launch into her usual nagging when she spotted the unexpected guest and jumped in surprise.
“Jessie’s here? It’s been a while.”
Robin, who had been following Mother inside, also noticed Jessie and came to an abrupt halt.
“Hello.”
“Hello to you too. Robin, your favorite Jessie is here?”
Jessie hadn’t been able to come yesterday on Halloween.
So surely he’d be happy to see his face now.
Mother assumed as much and turned to look at Robin.
But Robin didn’t throw himself into Jessie’s arms as he usually did.
Instead, he glared at him with resentful eyes and dashed off to his room.
“My goodness, why is Robin acting like that?”
Jessie answered with a bitter smile to Harry’s Mother, who looked bewildered.
“It seems she’s quite angry with me. She said if I break my promise again, she won’t see me for the rest of her life.”
“Ah. But don’t be too depressed about it. It’s actually fortunate you weren’t here. Something really serious happened last night.”
“What?”
“Some drug addict illegally broke into the neighbor’s house.”
Harry’s eyes widened as I brought coffee for both Jessie and Harry’s Mother.
“A drug addict? Has the culprit already been caught?”
“Wait, hold on. What on earth are you talking about?”
Jessie looked genuinely confused by everything.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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