Chapter 40: Delicate Flower (Part 2)

That afternoon, Pete did what he assumed was preparing for a date. He tidied up his house, sweeping the wooden floors and straightening the furniture, though it still felt like a place meant only for one. He made a bowl of popcorn, hoping it was the right kind of snack for the occasion.

After chatting with Elli earlier, he had learned that their favorite show was called My Dear Princess. The problem was, he didn't ever actually watch it. The show diddn't exist in his other life. Not wanting to risk suspicion, he had spent the last few hours reading up on the show, memorizing character names, and trying to understand why it meant so much to her.

Despite all his efforts, doubt crept in. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "What am I doing? I don't have a clue how to be a boyfriend."

But he didn't have time to dwell on that thought. He glanced at the clock—Elli would be arriving soon. Whatever happened tonight, he would just have to figure it out as he went.

Soon enough, a knock echoed through the small house. Pete took a deep breath, checked himself in the mirror one last time, and made sure his breath wasn't bad. Then, with a steadying exhale, he opened the door.

Elli stood there in a simple yet adorable casual dress, the soft fabric swaying slightly with the evening breeze. The fading sunlight cast a warm glow on her face, making her look even more radiant than he remembered. Pete had to admit—she was beautiful.

"You look pretty," he said, the words slipping out before he could second-guess them.

Elli's cheeks flushed pink, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks," she murmured, stepping inside.

As she entered, she slipped off her shoes at the door, her gaze drifting around the small house. A pleased smile formed on her lips. "Wow, Pete," she said, crossing her arms as she looked around. "You actually cleaned."

Pete chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well… I try."

Elli gave him a knowing look. "Mmm-hmm. I doubt you did this all on your own." She turned back to him, her expression softening. "Still, I'm impressed. Maybe I should come by every now and then to help out—just to make sure you're keeping up with it."

Pete forced a smile, unsure how to respond. He had no idea if the old Pete had needed help keeping his home in order, but judging by the way Elli spoke, she had done this before. He simply nodded. "Yeah… that might be nice."

Elli wandered further into the house, her eyes scanning the space with a familiarity that made Pete uneasy. Without hesitation, she stepped into his bedroom, where the television sat in front of the bed. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she climbed onto the bed, settling in comfortably against the pillows.

Pete froze. His heart pounded in his chest. He had never had a girl in his room before—at least, not in his original life. The closest thing had been Popuri back in Flowerbud Village… but she had been married to a completely different variation of Pete. That had been different.

His palms felt clammy, and a wave of uncertainty crashed over him. Desperate to regain his composure, he quickly excused himself to the kitchen, grabbing the bowl of popcorn he had prepared earlier.

"Relax, Pete. You can get through this," he muttered under his breath, gripping the bowl a little too tightly.

As he made his way back to the bedroom, he sighed. "This would be so much easier if this were our first date," he thought bitterly. "Then she'd be just as nervous as I am." But she wasn't. She was completely at ease—like she belonged here. And that was the part that scared him the most.

As they sat together on the bed, the flickering light of the television casting a soft glow over the room, they reached into the bowl of popcorn, their hands occasionally brushing against each other. Each accidental touch sent a jolt of tension through Pete, but he forced himself to remain still, careful not to flinch. If he reacted too much, Elli might start to notice—might start to question.

Elli, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. She sat close—too close—her shoulder pressing against his in a way that felt almost possessive. The warmth of her body against his own made his muscles stiffen. He felt trapped, unsure how to navigate the unfamiliar intimacy.

His mind raced for a distraction, for a way to keep things exactly as they were—no more, no less. He wasn't ready for more. He wasn't sure he ever would be.

So he did nothing. He sat frozen, focusing on the television, pretending that the steady rhythm of the show, the crunch of popcorn, and the warmth beside him weren't slowly suffocating him.

On the screen, two warriors clashed, their swords ringing out in a fierce duel. One was the legendary hero, draped in silver armor, his blade gleaming under the torchlight of the grand hall. The other—a tall, imposing figure with piercing red eyes—was the Demon Lord, standing confidently in his dark robes, exuding an aura of power.

The scene was tense. The princess stood between them, watching with wide, uncertain eyes as the battle unfolded. The Demon Lord had invited her to his castle, not to imprison her, but to prove his strength. If he could defeat the hero, he believed he would earn her admiration—perhaps even win her heart.

Pete squinted at the screen, trying to make sense of what was happening. "Wait… which one is the Demon Lord?" he whispered.

Elli turned to him with an exasperated sigh. "Shh! Just pay attention," she said. Her attention returns to the show, her eyes never leaving the screen again.

Pete muttered a quiet, "Right," sinking deeper into the pillows. He hadn't expected watching a simple show to feel like a test.

As the episode reached its climax, the hero lay defeated on the ground, his sword knocked from his grasp. The Demon Lord stood over him, his own blade poised for the final strike. But instead of delivering the fatal blow, he stepped back, his crimson eyes filled with something unreadable.

"You fought well," the Demon Lord said. "Go home. Tell your king whatever you must, but do not return."

The hero, battered and ashamed, clenched his fists. But he knew he had no choice—he had lost. Without another word, he picked himself up and staggered toward the exit.

Then, in a shocking turn, the princess stepped forward. With a determined look, she reached down, slipped off her high heels, and grabbed a ceremonial sword from the wall. Without hesitation, she lifted the blade and, in one swift motion, cut through her long, flowing hair.

Pete's eyes widened. "Wait, what is she—"

"Shh," Elli hushed him again, her gaze locked onto the screen.

The princess turned to the hero, her expression fierce. "Go," she commanded. "Tell my father I am dead. If he dares send another to retrieve me, they will meet the same fate."

The hero's eyes were full of pain, but he obeyed, disappearing into the darkness beyond the Demon Lord's castle.

As the doors shut behind him, the princess turned to face the Demon Lord. For the first time, her lips curled into a soft smile.

"I have made my choice," she said. "My place is here—with you."

The Demon Lord stepped forward, his usually unreadable expression shifting to something gentler. "Are you certain?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Without another word, he took her hand in his, their fingers intertwining.

Then, just as the moment deepened, the words "To Be Continued" flashed across the screen.

Pete blinked at the television. "That's it?" he said, still trying to process how abruptly the episode had ended.

Before he could say anything else, Elli leaned forward, slipped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his.

His entire body went rigid. A jolt of panic crackled through him like lightning, instinctive and blinding. "This isn't right!" He told himself

He didn't think—he reacted. His hands shot out, pushing her back. He stumbled away, nearly upending the bowl of popcorn, his breath suddenly sharp and shallow. He backed away until his spine hit the edge of the dresser, needing space, needing air, needing something that made sense.

When he finally dared to look at her, the expression on Elli's face hollowed him out. Horror, confusion, hurt blooming like a bruise. Her lips parted, searching for explanation, for reason, for anything—but all that came out was a small, trembling whisper.

"Pete… why did you push me away?"

Pete froze. His mind raced, grasping for anything to say—some excuse, some explanation that wouldn't shatter everything in an instant. But there was no answer that would make sense. Not the truth, at least. That he wasn't the man she fell in love with. That the woman he did love existed somewhere in another timeline that had ceased to exist. That this life, this relationship, was built on memories that weren't his.

His silence only made it worse. Elli looked away, her fingers twisting together in her lap. "Do you… not find me attractive anymore?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No! That's not it!" Pete blurted, stepping toward her, his heart hammering against his ribs. "I just… I think we should take things slower."

Elli turned back to him sharply, and the expression she wore—hurt, confusion, disbelief—cut deeper than he was ready for. "Take things slower?" she repeated, her voice shaking. "Pete, we've been together for four years. You proposed to me last year! Did you forget?"

Pete's breath caught in his throat. "What?!" His chest tightened as pure panic crashed over him. "I proposed to her?" he thought. He had no idea. No memory of it. No way to fake his way through this. And from the look on Elli's face, she already knew something was very, very wrong.

Elli hopped off the bed, her movements stiff, her face turned away from him. She refused to meet his eyes. "I need to go," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

"Wait, hold on. Elli, I'm sorry!" Pete took a step forward, reaching out as if he could somehow pull the moment back, fix what he had just broken.

But it was no use. Elli slipped on her shoes in silence, her fingers trembling as she tied the laces. She didn't look at him, didn't say another word. And then, just like that, she was gone.

The door shut behind her with a soft click, but to Pete, it felt as final as a slammed door. He stood frozen in place, his mind spinning. He had screwed up. Badly.

This wasn't just about rejecting a kiss—this was about everything. He had spent the entire season of Summer avoiding Elli, keeping her at arm's length, and now, when she had finally reached out, he had shoved her away. And the worst part? He had no idea what he was even running from.

"I proposed to her?" he repeated. The thought alone made his stomach twist. How could he have gone all this time without realizing that?

So many questions flashed through his head. Exactly when had it happened? Where had it happened? Had she accepted? Did they celebrate? Were wedding plans already in motion? And the most unsettling question of all—why didn't anyone else know anything?