A Love Longed for the Tiger Lily (GL) - Chapter 00

“Sayo, take it off—”

I gripped her clothes tightly.
Her hand suddenly seized my arm with force, her short nails digging in.
Her fingers sank into my skin, sharp pain blooming along with the pressure.

The room was dim, and I couldn’t clearly see her face.
I had no idea what expression she was making now.

But maybe that was for the best.

If I saw her face, I might lose my resolve…
or worse, I might not be able to control myself.

The only sounds in the room were our breathing.
The stillness stretched even beyond the walls—
as if we were the only two people left in this world.

I said those words like I was in control, but the truth was—
my hand, clinging to her clothes, was trembling.

“No…”

Her quiet refusal cut through me without hesitation.
Of course, she wouldn’t agree to what I’d asked.
My plea was brushed off without a second thought.
But—I knew the words that could keep her from running away.

“Don’t you want to be cured?”

Honestly… it was cowardly.

To use such a tactic on a younger girl, someone years beneath me…
It was disgraceful, especially for an adult.
And yet—at that moment, it was the only thing I could do to stop her from slipping away.

The strength in her grip began to fade.
I told myself it meant she was willing to let me in.
That she had given me permission.

Back then, I was hanging onto the thread connecting us—
thin and frayed as it was—desperately trying not to let go.

My emotions were like sludge, formless and overflowing.
But even so…

Even in that ruined state, I wanted to stay by her side.
Maybe she didn’t feel the same.
Maybe this feeling was entirely one-sided.

But that didn’t matter to me.

I was a selfish adult.
I’d keep using my head, doing whatever it took to make sure she wouldn’t leave.
So she’d always stay with me.

Even if what we shared couldn’t truly be called love, Even if it was too distorted— This was the story of us, shaped into something so twisted, it could never be undone.