The house was unnervingly quiet, as if no one were there at all. The four of them sat at the table, the silence pressing down on them like a heavy weight. No one dared to speak. Despite the tension in the air, it felt as though the world had paused. At last, Jean let out a deep sigh and turned to Arthur, who was clearly confused.

“So, you were friends with Matthew,” she said, breaking the long silence. “I knew he was a soldier, but I never imagined the two of you knew each other.”

Arthur nodded in agreement. “Yes, and I never thought that you two were friends either. What a small world,” he replied, his tone carrying a note of surprise.

“WE’RE NOT FRIENDS!” Jean snapped immediately, her face twisted in irritation.

Matthew chuckled, clearly amused by Jean’s reaction.

“Of course, we’re not,” he said sarcastically, further irritating Jean. She clicked her tongue in frustration.

Alice, sensing the growing tension, clapped her hands together with a nervous smile. “Alright, everyone. We didn’t expect this turn of events, but both Arthur and I are a bit confused.” She paused, glancing at Arthur, and they nodded in unison. “We’d like to know what kind of relationship you two have,” she said, her voice tinged with an awkward, nervous laugh.

Matthew turned to Jean, his face wearing an annoyingly smug expression. “What are we, Jean? They’re curious about our relationship,” he teased, his tone full of mischief.

Jean could no longer hold back her frustration. She stood abruptly and began walking toward the door. Before leaving, she glanced at Alice.

“Thank you for making time for me. I’ll be going now,” she said curtly, and without another word, she exited the house.

Both Alice and Arthur were left completely confused. Suddenly, Matthew burst into laughter, making them even more bewildered.

“She’s mad at you, isn’t she?” Alice asked, her voice a mixture of irritation and concern. “Why are you so happy about it?”

Matthew shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “She’s always been like that, ever since we were kids. I’m used to it.”

Arthur leaned forward, placing his hand on the table. “I think it’s about time we learn about your relationship with Jean, Matthew,” he said, his curiosity now overwhelming his usual composure.

Matthew’s expression shifted instantly. His usual playful smile faded, replaced by a serious look.

“Actually, we’re childhood friends,” he said, his voice suddenly grave. “We were very close back then, but because of how close we were, our families arranged a marriage between us.”

The atmosphere grew heavy, and Alice was taken aback. She had known that her friend was engaged, but she hadn’t expected to meet the groom so soon.

“Well, should I say congratulations?” Arthur teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Matthew smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in it. “Thank you,” he replied, sighing deeply.

Alice, sensing the weight of the moment, asked quietly, “Are you not happy with it?”

Matthew looked at her, noticing the seriousness in her eyes. He frowned, the sadness in his expression deepening.

“Of course I’m happy,” he said, his voice sincere. “I’ve liked her since we were children. Knowing that I’m engaged to her brightens my world. But seeing her unhappy with it, struggling because of it, makes me both sad and angry at the same time.”

He paused, clenching his fist, biting his lip in frustration. “I want her to be free, but I also want her to be mine.” His eyes were full of genuine emotion, sparkling with intensity. “I’m conflicted. My mind and heart aren’t on the same wavelength. What should I do?”

His voice broke with the weight of his inner turmoil. Arthur, moved by his words, patted him on the shoulder.

“Are you trying to comfort—” Matthew started to say, but his words caught in his throat when his gaze landed on the woman standing near the door.

Jean. Her face was flushed bright red, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She tried to compose herself, but the effort was in vain. Without a word, she turned and ran out of the house, her footsteps echoing in the quiet.

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Matthew stood up, unsure of what to do. His heart pounded in his chest.

“I think what you should do right now is chase her,” Alice said, her voice calm yet firm.

Matthew lowered his head, conflicted. He was paralyzed by fear.

Arthur stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You need to stop running away from your feelings any longer. It’s about time to face it wholeheartedly. Your very first step is to tell her how you feel, and I think it is the right thing to do.”

“I’m scared,” Matthew admitted, his voice trembling.

“Scared of what?” Arthur asked, his tone sharp, not allowing him to spiral into doubt.

“I’m scared of rejection. What if she already likes someone else? What if she hates me?” Matthew’s words tumbled out, but before he could finish, Arthur lightly tapped his head.

“Enough with the ‘what if’s.’ Think of this as progress. Who cares if you get rejected? At least you faced it like a man, like a soldier. This isn’t about being accepted; it’s about moving forward without any regrets in the future. You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t tell her how you truly feel.” Arthur’s words were laced with an unexpected seriousness that took both Alice and Matthew by surprise.

Matthew felt a surge of motivation, his hesitation evaporating. He ran toward the door, determined. Alice smiled, watching him go.

“You sure know how to talk smoothly,” she said, amused by the scene.

Arthur glanced back at her. “You think so? I only pushed him a little.”

With that, he walked through the door and closed it behind him.

Matthew ran as fast as he could, his heart pounding wildly. It felt as though his body was moving on its own, dragging him closer to her against his better judgment. Despite his hesitation, his feet wouldn’t stop. Yet, even after sprinting through the village streets, he still couldn’t find her. Frustration welled up as he bit his lip, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Then, a memory surfaced—of a place they used to visit as children. A place they had always loved. His eyes lit up with hope, and he pivoted, heading straight for it.

When he arrived, the sight before him momentarily took his breath away. The garden was alive with vibrant, blooming flowers, their colors bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. The light danced across every petal, creating a scene so mesmerizing it felt almost unreal. For a moment, he stood frozen, stunned by the beauty surrounding him.

But it wasn’t the garden that captivated him—it was her.

There she was, standing among the flowers, her delicate fingers brushing against the petals. Her hair swayed gently with the breeze, catching the sunlight like strands of silk. She was beautiful, more beautiful than he had ever allowed himself to admit. He could have stayed like that, watching her forever, and never grown tired of the sight.

Then, as if sensing his presence, Jean turned toward him. Her gaze met his, and she smiled—a soft, gentle smile so unlike her demeanor from earlier.

“You knew I’d be here,” she said, her voice calm, almost serene.

He nodded, his eyes locked on hers. “Why wouldn’t I? This was our place. We used to play here all the time,” he replied, his tone serious, unwavering.

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of surprise in her expression. “I see. You still remember. I thought you’d forgotten about this place,” she said softly. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed the intensity of his stare. Flustered, she turned away quickly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping closer to her, his voice tinged with concern.

“A-About what y-you said earlier... is it true?” she stammered, her nervousness evident.

He stopped in his tracks, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves. “Yes,” he said quietly. “It’s true.”

She hesitated, then turned back to face him, her expression shifting to one of hurt. “Then why?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Why did you bully me back then? Why did you make fun of me—pulling my hair out of nowhere, teasing me all the time?” Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued. “And why didn’t you say anything to me when you joined the military? You say you love me, but your actions have always said the opposite. Tell me the truth!”

Her voice was resolute, demanding answers.

Matthew scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. “W-Well, haven’t you ever heard that boys tease the girls they like to get their attention?” he mumbled, his tone sheepish.

Jean blinked, taken aback by his answer. Her face turned crimson as she struggled to process his words. “W-What is that even supposed to mean?!” she exclaimed, her voice rising slightly in disbelief.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, a small, nervous smile tugging at his lips. “But back then, I always wanted your attention. Maybe that’s why I kept annoying you. It was the only way I knew how to get close to you.”

Jean’s expression softened slightly, but her confusion remained. “Then why didn’t you say anything before leaving? Why did you join the military without even telling me?”

His smile faded as he lowered his gaze. “Because I’d already made up my mind to join. It was my dream to become a soldier for this country. But... I knew that if I saw you that day, it would change everything. I wouldn’t have been able to leave. My love for you would have kept me here. That’s why I avoided you. And for that... I’m sorry.”

He stepped closer to her, his voice filled with regret. Jean frowned, her thoughts racing as she tried to comprehend his words. “I-I don’t understand at all. What are you even trying to say? I don’t get it,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

As he reached her, he gently took her hand in his, his other hand softly cupping her cheek. She gasped, startled by his sudden action. “W-What are you doing?” she stammered, her face as red as a tomato.

“Please, Jean,” he said, his voice tender, his eyes filled with sincerity. “Believe in me. I want to make you happy. I want you to be mine, and mine alone. Put your trust in me, and I promise to make you the happiest person in the world.” He paused, his heart racing. “Please... marry me.”

Jean stared into his eyes, searching for any trace of doubt, but all she saw was unwavering honesty. Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, unable to speak.

Matthew stood frozen for a moment, stunned. He couldn’t believe it—she had actually accepted his proposal.