[TaroTre] My Blind Date is My Childhood Friend - Chapter 16

Tregear stood at his doorway, watching the Taro father-and-son duo depart. Sometimes, he wondered if there was any point in holding on. Every time he felt his resolve waver, the scene of Taro’s wedding from years ago would flash through his mind.

Back then, he had sat among the guests, forced to look up as Taro held someone else’s hand and swore a vow of eternal devotion to the officiant. He often thought that if only he had been able to make up his mind back then, things wouldn’t be as they were now.

Tregear recalled his mindset when he originally agreed to this blind date; it was a desperate, last-ditch effort. If it failed this time, he would truly let it go. A first failure could be called a missed opportunity, but a second would mean they were simply never meant to be.

Taro, you…

Forget it. What am I trying to ask? To confirm if he loves me? Don’t be ridiculous. If he liked me, we wouldn’t have dragged things out this long without being together.

A long-term companionship, it seemed, was unlikely to ever blossom into romance.

Sometimes Tregear wondered if he would even be granted the chance to become part of Taro’s family. After Taro married, Tregear had made a conscious effort to distance himself. As long as he didn’t see him, he could pretend Taro was just away on a mission or too busy with work, rather than dwelling on the fact that he had become someone else’s partner.

During the examinations, he couldn’t be Taro’s teammate. At the wedding, he couldn’t bear to face Taro as a groom, and thus couldn’t be his best man. And now, after Taro had been widowed, he felt he couldn’t become Taro’s next partner.

Taro needed someone to help him raise his child and live a peaceful life and Tregear wasn’t that person. As long as he was with Taro, his eyes couldn’t help but follow him. As long as he was with Taro, he couldn’t restrain his heart from racing.

If that fluttering heart remained unrequited after they were together, he would surely lose his mind.

Therefore, the lock on his cage had to remain shut. A prisoner who craves the sun is better off never stepping out of the cell if they can never truly possess that light.

Tregear waited until the two were completely out of sight before turning back into his house and closing the door just like the cage he had re-locked deep within his heart.

With a long sigh, he threw himself onto the soft sofa.

After resting for a while, Tregear finally regained some energy. He opened his communicator, intending to send Marie a message explaining the situation and suggesting that there wouldn’t be a second meeting. However, he noticed a red dot next to Marie’s avatar, indicating an unread message.

Tregear tapped on the chat box.

Marie: Tregear, how was your time with Taro and Taiga today? Both of them said they had a wonderful time when they got back! They even mentioned wanting to see you again soon~

Marie: But for the next meeting, Taiga shouldn’t come along. After all, this is a blind date between you and Taro; Taiga’s presence is a bit of a distraction for the two of you.

Marie: Have you thought about the time and place for the next meeting? Taro said he’ll leave the decision to you he said he wants to go wherever you want to go.

Marie: Ah, my son is rarely this considerate. Every time he came back from a date before, he looked like he was about to die. He looked so happy when he came back this time. If I’d known he liked you this much, I should have put you first on the list to save us all this trouble.

Marie: Didn’t Taro say you were home already? Why aren’t you replying? Did you miss it? Please get back to me as soon as you see this! Sending love, Auntie Marie ( ` ) ♡

Tregear wondered if he was hallucinating that must be why he was seeing a message from Marie saying Taro liked him so much.

The heart that had just been bidding itself a final farewell began to beat wildly once again.

“I’m truly defeated,” Tregear muttered, lying back on the sofa.

The communication interface remained open on his conversation with Marie.

Tregear had not yet replied.