Episode 50

Kyle took a walk around Ingdberry Cathedral since he was already there. After making a full round, he was heading toward the seminary when he spotted a mail carrier at the front gate.

The mail carriers were permitted to enter the first-floor hall of the dormitory, where the mailboxes were located, so there was no reason for one to be loitering outside.

A newcomer? Maybe they don’t know they’re allowed inside.

Kyle immediately approached the mail carrier.

“Are you here to deliver a letter?”

A nod was the only response. The mail carrier had pulled their flat cap down low, obscuring their face. Shy, perhaps?

“Follow me.”

Kyle took the lead, walking a step ahead to be considerate. The dormitory was close, and they arrived at the mailboxes in no time.

“Just find the recipient’s name and drop it in. Safe travels back.”

Kyle gave the carrier a polite nod before turning toward the staircase. He climbed up, heading to his room. The empty hallway was utterly silent. Graduating students had been given a short break to visit their families, while the younger students were in class.

Kyle shook off his restless thoughts and grabbed his doorknob.

“This place is old. Do they not have the budget for repairs?”

A woman’s voice—clear, melodious.

Startled, he turned sharply to the side.

The mail carrier was standing right there.

Wasn’t that a boy just now?

More importantly, they were clearly human, so why hadn’t he heard their footsteps? He had thought a ghost had appeared beside him.

“You’re not supposed to be in here.”

The moment he spoke, a strange sense of déjà vu struck him. That voice… it was familiar.

Not just a passing resemblance—it really sounded like Rosanna.

But she couldn’t possibly be here—

“Would it be more convincing if I did this?”

The flat cap came off.

The moment burned itself into Kyle’s mind—strands of long hair cascaded down like a peacock’s tail feathers, fanning out as they fell.

A black tide.

“Rosanna?! Why are you here—no, how did you even—?”

“You led me here. I only followed.”

Rosanna tilted her head, gazing up at him, completely unbothered.

“You were dressed as a mail carrier! Of course I thought… you were here to deliver a letter!”

“You’re far too trusting. You didn’t even question it.”

That beautiful face showed no signs of dropping its playful smile.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from below. Someone was coming up the stairs. The noise grew closer.

At this hour, it could only be the dormitory warden.

Kyle’s eyes darted between the staircase and Rosanna. This was bad.

If the warden saw this, there would be nothing but trouble.

A senior theology student, on the verge of ordination, sneaking a woman into the dormitory while no one was around? The scandal would be immediate.

“Get inside—quick!”

Keeping his voice low, Kyle hastily opened the door. Rosanna let herself be dragged in without resistance, and the moment they were inside, Kyle pressed his back against the closed door, letting out a small sigh.

The footsteps faded away.

The warden must have gone down the opposite hallway.

“My heart is going to give out at this rate.”

“Isn’t it fun being with me?”

“There’s certainly no time to be bored.”

Relief loosened Kyle’s posture, and he let out a breathless laugh.

“But if you keep this up, I really might not survive.”

“I’m not joking. I did come to deliver a letter.”

Rosanna held out a sealed envelope, bound with a delicate flower stem.

“Baby’s breath.”

“It reminded me of you.”

“People usually compare flowers to women.”

“That’s just a stereotype.”

Her pale blue eyes wandered around the room before finally landing on him.

“When I saw baby’s breath, I thought of you. That means it resembles you.”

Rosanna flashed a bright smile before walking past Kyle and heading deeper into the room. She had always entered through the window before, so seeing the room from the official entrance felt new.

“You sleep on this bed, right?”

As soon as she perched on the edge, she lay down without hesitation. Kyle, who had only been watching from a distance, suddenly stepped forward, clearly startled. He hadn’t expected her to make herself so comfortable so easily.

“Sit in this chair instead. No, actually, the weather’s nice. Let’s go outside and talk.”

“So this is it. The bed you dreamt of me in.”

“We agreed not to bring that up….”

Rosanna rolled back and forth across the mattress, like an animal marking its territory. And, of course—

“I’m leaving my scent here. You’ll dream of me again tonight.”

Good Lord. Kyle swallowed a sigh and covered his face with his hand.

“This is cruel.”

“What was the dream about, anyway? You never told me the details, so I have no idea.”

“Don’t make me think about it again.”

Resting her chin on her palm, Rosanna stretched out her words as she asked why. Kyle clamped his mouth shut.

“Oh, I think I get it. If a perfectly healthy adult man were to—”

“Stop. That’s enough!”

Kyle tried to put an end to the conversation, but in the process, a small accident occurred.

Rosanna pulled him down, toppling him over.

They ended up lying in the same bed.

“You planned this, didn’t— wait, why give in just to take it back?”

“You need to look at me. The letter can wait.”

She plucked the letter from Kyle’s hand and tossed it over the bed’s headboard. A soft thud followed as it landed on the desk. Then, without hesitation, she squirmed her way into his arms.

“Satisfied now?”

“I’m not the only one enjoying this, am I?”

“…….”

“Not denying it, I see?”

Rosanna let out a laugh as clear as glass.

“Let’s just stay like this. Just lie down.”

Kyle made a compromise within the limits of what he could allow. A simple embrace was fine. As long as the woman nestled in his arms didn’t try to stir anything more.

Finding his peace, Kyle stroked Rosanna’s back. Just floating through idle time with the person he wanted to be with was enough to make him feel full. He didn’t need to do anything. He didn’t need to eat. Just this was enough.

How long had he been savoring the moment, eyes closed?

Suddenly, the woman burrowed against his chest struck his neck.

She grazed at his collar, teasing at the fabric wrapped around his throat. For Kyle, even that was too much. Her breath, warm and slow, reached just beneath his chin.

“…Why do you always go for my neck?”

“Because it’s the best part.”

“Your taste is— ngh.”

A soft moan escaped as her teeth grazed his tender skin. Kyle clenched his lips shut. Telling her not to do something only made her more determined to do it, so trying to stop her would backfire. All he could do was endure.

Perhaps his strategy had worked, because Rosanna lifted her head, ending her mischief.

“Why is it so quiet? Feels like the whole dormitory is empty.”

“Actually…”

Kyle was about to tell her that his ordination interview had gone well and that the results were practically confirmed. But since the official announcement had yet to be made, it was best to keep it to himself for now.

“The graduating students get a short break. I’m the only one left.”

“Is your roommate not coming back tonight?”

“No.”

Rosanna lightly brushed his lower lip with her fingertip. It was like a knock—a playful, teasing kind of touch.

“Then let me stay over.”

“Outside guests aren’t allowed here.”

“You already broke that rule. If we keep it a secret, no one will find out.”

Kyle stared at her.

The more he gave in to her, the more she acted like a spoiled child.

And yet… seeing her that way made him wish she would rely on him even more. Was he completely hopeless?

Silence stretched between them. Rosanna leaned in closer, whispering as if to sway his indecision.

“I’ll just hold your hand. No, I’ll just sleep quietly in your arms. No tricks. I promise.”

“You said you came to deliver a letter.”

“I never said that was the only reason I came.”

Kyle reached out, running his fingers through her black hair. He grasped a handful of it before loosening his grip, letting the strands slip through his fingers.

It felt as though he was watching something intangible slip away.

If only he could hold onto it—onto her.

But that was nothing more than a foolish fantasy.

Rosanna was not someone to be owned. She was the kind of person who did the owning.

Even so, he wanted her.

That desire frightened him a little.

Was there even a bottom to these ever-deepening emotions?

Just as Kyle was about to drown in his own thoughts, he met her gaze.

Rosanna was looking at him with a pleading expression.

“Are you going to throw me out? Just because of some dorm rules?”

“How could I? You wouldn’t leave even if I told you to.”

“Exactly. Don’t waste your energy.”

Rosanna wrapped her arms tightly around him, holding him close.

For tonight, this was all she intended.

But Kyle didn’t know that.

“This still isn’t right…”

He kept telling himself he needed to step away, that he should put distance between them.

But he didn’t move.

His desire to stay won out.

That was why he felt like a sinner.

And Rosanna? She shattered his guilt in an instant.

“It’s fine.”

Her voice was firm, absolute.

Kyle’s expression shifted into quiet resignation.

“It’s not even nighttime yet. Are we just going to lie here all day?”

“Do you have something better to do?”

“Hmm… Actually, there’s something I’d like to do with you.”

Kyle flashed a bright, cheerful smile.

The kind of smile no one could refuse.

And just like that, Rosanna found herself falling for it.