Chapter 0 – Prologue

I hoped.

I hoped that the star floating high in the sky would come to me.

I hoped that one day, I would be able to reach that beautiful star.

Even though I did not know what it meant at that time,

I was so naive that I just wished for it.

* * *

Herietta, who was lying on the field, looked at Edwin. Even though there was no way he couldn’t have noticed her gaze that mercilessly stabbed the back of his head, he didn’t look back until the end.

She pouted.

You’re so stubborn.

His demeanor was absolutely unacceptable. Herietta opened her mouth to say something to him.

But she closed her mouth again without saying anything.

His fine hair that sparkled like gold fluttered in the wind and his straight neckline that led to his broad shoulders seemed to embrace the whole world. And whenever he moved, the well-defined muscles hidden under his thin clothes danced and rippled.

It didn’t matter that she was only looking at his back. She knew him well enough to draw his face on paper with her eyes closed if she wanted to. His face, which featured eyes that were as blue as sapphires, was hard to describe with words alone.

A beautiful man.

To Herietta, Edwin was always shining like a star and was like a mirage that she would never reach. How much she hoped and longed for her image to be reflected in his two eyes. How desperate she was when she thought that no matter how hard she tried, their lives would never intersect.

Herietta reached out and looked at Edwin. She knew that she was far enough that the gap between them would never come closer, but she didn’t care.

Again, her faintly trembling fingertips couldn’t reach him, and it merely hovered forlornly in the air.

Today, just like yesterday.

And tomorrow, just like today.

Herietta slowly took her hand back. She felt as if she had swallowed a handful of dry sand. Her throat throbbed. She felt like she was about to cry, so she buried her face in her hands.

“Miss Herrieta?”

A soft and calm voice, like a spring breeze, called out to her.

“Miss Herietta. Are you okay?”

Was it strange that the sudden change in atmosphere calmed her down? Edwin hurried to Herietta’s side. She grinned while she hid her face.

What is it? He always noticed and reacted like he had seen a ghost, no matter how small the change was with Herietta. Thinking about it now, she must have been very annoying, but he couldn’t pretend he didn’t know her until the very end.

Everyone looked at him and said he was cold and aloof, but he was just a person with a warm and tender heart to her more than anyone else.

“If you are teasing me, please stop. Otherwise, I might get really mad.”

You’re not going to get mad at me, you’re just saying that.

“Raise your head. Is it because I’m too blunt? Is that why you did it?”

Look at that. Your voice is already falling apart.

“I must have acted too harshly. I’m just worried…I’m sorry. I was wrong, so please don’t feel bad.”

His tone was rather business-like at first. However, it did not take long for him to give in as always. It didn’t matter how it began or what the reason was. He was always careful around her as if he were holding his breath.

At first, she was thrilled, but now it was just sad.

Can I leave him alone without letting him know about my feelings? Is that even possible? The more he valued her, the more he brought out her heart, which broke little by little even though she thought that it had already been broken.

“Miss Herietta. please…”

Edwin, who was unaware of Herietta’s intentions, once again fervently asked.

“Please show me your face.”

They stood close enough to feel each other’s breath. It wasn’t that difficult to reach out and caress her if he wanted to. Still, he didn’t place a single finger on her.

A gap that could not be narrowed no matter how close it was.

A gap that will never be closed no matter how much you want it.

Herietta lowered her hand. Then, she saw Edwin looking at her worriedly. The star, as beautiful as when she first saw it, was even more beautiful than ever.

Edwin. You know, I… you, I…keep you…

Herietta managed to swallow the words that were threatening to come out of her mouth. It was painful as if her head had been submerged in water, but she endured it. She took a deep breath and suppressed the overwhelming emotions. She then laughed as she forced up the corners of her lips that kept going down.

“It’s a joke. Have I fooled you again? Don’t keep on ignoring me.”

No man could reach the stars, and no moon could reach the sun. But it was fine. Even though her heart couldn’t accept it, her mind head was able to understand. That day, Herietta decided to bury a piece of her heart that was lingering in her mouth somewhere deep inside her.