My Soulmate Is I (Patreon)

Chapter 16: The Devilish Laphae

(Night)

At night, I actually slept together with Laphae.

It’s the normal sleep, not the other one, and there's nothing strange about that. It's been quite common for us to do it since we were young.

Whenever we took naps at school, Laphae would always stick close to me and sleep together.

At night, she often stayed over at my house too.

However, today is a bit different because Laphae's mood is completely off.

What happened today was really intense, and for Laphae, who has always held the position of being my childhood friend, she's feeling that her position is threatened—though her insecurity is directed towards me rather than her parents, it's understandable.

From childhood to now, I'm hardly any different from her father.

So, tonight, I need to comfort her emotions properly.

I lightly pat her body with my right hand as I try to soothe her to sleep.

Kids are like this; a good night's sleep can do wonders to their feeling.

— But Laphae's eyes remain wide open, fixed on my face.

"Aren't you sleepy?"

Even If you're not sleepy, I sure am. It's almost 11 o'clock already. If you're not going to sleep, how can I? We have important things to do tomorrow, you know!

"…" Laphae remains silent.

I can't help it; I continue to pat Laphae gently, my hand sore but not stopping.

After a while, when it's almost midnight, Laphae finally speaks. It's as if she's been pondering something important during this time and has finally reached an answer within her heart.

As she speaks, she raises her hands and grips the front of my pajamas.

"Night, do you really like Yue that much?"

Do you really like yourself that much?

In my mind, that's what Laphae's question boils down to.

So, how am I supposed to answer such a bizarre question?

"…"

Silence.

Apart from silence, I have no words to offer.

Because it feels like no matter what I say, it'll be the wrong answer.

However, my silence seems to have… obviously been misunderstood by Laphae.

In the darkness, I can't see the tears in Laphae's eyes, but I can hear her sobbing.

"Night… You…You said you would want me… You… You said you would always be with me…"

"…Yeah, I said that."

This girl actually remember something from such a long time ago? Your memory is quite something, huh? Are you planning to tie me down with that sentence forever? Are you really planning to marry me in the future?

Actually, I don't mind, but I just don't want to have any unnecessary expectations.

Laphae is still young and doesn't understand much about what she is saying. There's still a long way to go before she grows up, and the time I (Night) will have interactions with her will only decrease.

She's a genius, highly regarded even in the Royal Academy, recognized as one of the super geniuses who's very likely to step into the Cradle Institute, one of the destined young leaders of our country's future.

And me (Night)? I'm just an ordinary human.

Our living environments have long been worlds apart.

And this difference will only become greater.

I (Night) don't have any feelings of inferiority toward my female self, of course, and there's no reason for me to be inferior. But I'm well aware that children's emotions don't last long. In a few more years, Laphae will probably forget about her current feelings.

Although I (Yue) will always be there as a friend for Laphae, I (Night) can't do that kind of thing.

One day, our lives will become completely parallel with each other.

Therefore, I don't want to hold onto unnecessary emotions.

As for marriage, let's consider that when the time comes for it. It's too early to think about it now.

After all, I don't really understand what kind of feeling liking someone romantically is, so thinking about it now is pointless, right?

Only mothers and mother figures would make a fuss about it.

—While I was thinking like this, Laphae was still sobbing, sobbing, sobbing.

Then, suddenly, she tightened her grip, held me tightly, and said firmly, "So, even if Night likes Yue and is together with Yue in the future, you must not abandon me."

Huh?

My brain went blank for a moment.

"...What are you saying?"

Hold on a moment, what on earth are you telling me?

Wait, wait, I'm a bit confused right now. I feel like I've seen this kind of plot on TV before. What does it mean when a woman says this to a man?

Laphae didn't say anything else, she just held onto my body, buried her face in my chest, and after sobbing for a while, she seemed to gradually fall asleep.

As for me, I couldn't sleep at all because of what Laphae had just said. What did she mean by that?

Is that something a child can say?

No, is that something a child should say?

Why do I have to go through this romance drama before I'm even ten years old!?

—The next day, when I woke up with dark circles under my eyes after a night of restless thoughts and prepared to face negotiations with my father, I finally realized.

Damn it, is this the way Laphae is punishing me?

After a few months studying in the capital, this girl has turned into a demon!!