"Why?"
When she said this, it felt like there was a dagger that was being stabbed in my heart.
That was because the voice that she said this in was filled with endless sadness.
It was as if she had been betrayed by the person that she saw as the one closest to her, which was why she just couldn't hold herself back anymore.
There were even tears that appeared in Long Tang Tang's eyes as she said this.
I quickly reached out, but she moved back to avoid my hand.
With a sigh, I said, "I know that this is a large opportunity and I know why you're doing this, but I just can't accept it." Then I quickly added, "It's not because I can't accept your feelings, it's just that my pride won't allow me to accept it."
"What does your pride matter? You should already know that this is how this world is." Long Tang Tang once again tried to persuade me, though it was much more forceful than before.
It seemed that she had completely lost control of herself at this point.
I once again stepped forward with my arms reaching out and she didn't step away this time.
"Perhaps that is true, but I have a way to overcome it and I want to give it a try. Not just for my sake, but also yours."
As Long Tang Tang heard this, there was a tremble that came from her.
Then she slowly looked up at me and said, "I don't care about that."
"But I do." I said as soon as her voice fell.
Then with a firm look on my face, I said, "You and I both don't want me to be known as that person that relied on you to get into the Sacred Academy, right?"
She lowered her head once more and moved forward to put her head up against my chest before saying, "But I want you to be with me."
This time, I didn't say anything.
This time, I hesitated for a second before reaching my arms out around her and holding her tightly.
With a deep breath, I said, "I have a way of becoming stronger, but I just need time."
Slowly, Long Tang Tang looked up at me when she heard this. As she looked up, I could see the look of doubt that was in her eyes, but I wasn't surprised by that.
I would have had the same look if I heard the same thing.
There was another moment of hesitation from me before I said, "I have a secret that I need to tell you. I hope that you will keep this secret for me."
Long Tang Tang slightly knitted her brows when she heard this, but then she gave a slow nod.
With that, I told her my secret.
When it was over, she asked, "Are you sure of this?"
I just gave a simple nod in response.
Long Tang Tang fell silent with a thoughtful look on her face, as if she was thinking about what I told her.
Eventually, she looked up and said, "Alright, if that's the case, then I'll believe you."
As I was about to say something, she suddenly asked, "But what are you planning to do if you don't want to go to the Sacred Academy."
"I have an idea." I said in a sort of mysterious way, as if I was trying to hide it from her.
Since I didn't say anything, Long Tang Tang understood what I meant by this and didn't ask any further.
Instead, she lowered her head and said with a blush on her face, "Then how long will you keep me waiting? You should know that a beautiful girl like me will be chased after by a bunch of people and I won't be young forever."
A faint smile appeared on my lips when I heard this before I said, "A year. I promise that in a year, I'll come for you."
She looked up at me with a surprised look, but then she lowered her head again and gave a nod.
When I looked at her closely, I could see that there was a blush that went all the way to her ears.
I might have thought of us like this before, but I had never thought of going this far since both of us had been concerned about our future. But now that she had taken the first step, it was only right that as a man, I should…
Taking a deep breath, I raised a hand to her chin and lifted her head up.
A surprised look appeared on Long Tang Tang's face, as well as the blush growing darker.
Seeing her like this, my heart couldn't help beating faster and faster.
But after taking another deep breath, I leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead.
A kiss on the lips was a bit too much for me after all.
There was a trace of disappointment that appeared on Long Tang Tang's eyes when she felt this, though her face did turn even more red after I placed that kiss on her forehead.
I turned my face away as a hot feeling filled my cheeks as well before I said in a soft voice, "I'll leave the rest for next time."
Though I didn't look at her, she still said in a soft voice, "Un."
That was the promise that we made with each other.
As a man, this was the least that I should do.
As a man, I didn't feel like I deserved to be with her if at least I didn't do this much.
I wanted to be able to stand by her side with my head held up high.
So this was what I had to do or else I would never be able to raise my head.
There was a determined feeling that filled my heart as I was even more certain of what my future path would be.