The stars in the night sky brightened.
Most of them were quiet in the barracks but he often hear their bursts of laughter.
Cassian would roll his eyes upon hearing them until they ended.
He and Yernia were casually holding hands and taking a walk together, but he already have a big hole in his heart so he didnât like the sound of merriment.
Instead, he just walked quietly when he realized his venting was too childish.
âAh!â
Yernia, who had been walking next to him, slipped.
Cassian quickly pulled Yerniaâs waist and wrapped her in an embrace.
Her body, which seemed to fall at any moment, got closer so that he could smell her sweet scent.
Cassian glanced at Yernia in his arms when she raised her head.âOh, thank you.â
As usual, Yernia pulled away from Cassian as if nothing had happened.
It was only natural for her to do it but unfortunately, the impulsive action hurt Cassian.
The hurt felt like a long needle poking at his heart, but his expression hardened as if he was determined not to show it.
What the hell was she thinking?
Cassian couldnât understand Yernia.
On their previous cruise trip, she seemed to be jealous of Vihani and he swore it wasnât an illusion.
Since then, she hadnât rejected kissing him as guidance which made him assume his love for her had already swayed her so he thought Yernia liked to guide him in her own way.
âI will not know what to do if you tell me you like me. Iâll be glad if you said no.â
He felt like he was back to square one.
The dark sky was no different from what he felt now.
Cassian was depressed.
Every time he prayed to God for her to like him, that wish had never come true.
There was no sign of it happening.
âCassian, letâs go over here.â
The monstersâ location wasnât the forest that Yernia had pointed at so he acquiesced.
As his mind calmed down, a chilly tone came out even if he didnât do it on purpose.
âWhy?â
However, Yernia held his sleeve, clinging to him as they walked to avoid falling down.
She didnât seem to care about his attitude.
âI just want to go here.â
Yernia looked so cute that Cassian felt like he was in big trouble.
He wasnât in the mood to take a walk or enjoy himself now.
It wasnât that important so he was determined not to show it again.
To enter the forest Yernia had pointed at, they had to go over a large rock.
After releasing her hand, Cassian stood on the rock and stretched out an arm to make it easier to crouch down and bring Yernia upward.
âHold my hand.â
âDonât let me go.â
âI wonât let you go even if you tell me to.â
When her small hand settled on his open palm, he clutched it and pulled her with strength.
When Cassian pulled Yernia up, she lost her balance and grabbed Cassianâs waist.
âSorry. I didnât mean to.â
âWhy are you apologizing now? We have done a lot more than this.â
Sure it was, but why isnât she shaken?
Maybe, his methods were wrong?
As he thought about it, Cassian couldnât feel Yerniaâs gaze on him.
He glanced at Yernia again when she sneezed.
âAh-choo!â
âLook! I told you it would be cold out here.â
It was chilly outside even if he had worn a coat over his military uniform.
Cassian, who was about to take off his coat for Yernia, paused.
Even in this situation, his head turned.
âCome here. Iâll keep you warm.â
âHuh? No. Itâs alright.â
He tugged at Yerniaâs arm and hugged her.
Yernia was smaller that she fit snugly in his arms.
Just hugging her made him smile and caused his bad mood to subside.
When she put her hand in his pocket and pressed his coatâs opening tightly to prevent him from taking it off, Yernia raised her head in his arms.
âAre you angry?â
Cassianâs eyebrows raised at her question.
He was angry?
Him?
Yerniaâs insensitivity merely broke his heart.
Did it seem like he was the one being angry?
Oh.
It could have been.
Cassian knew it, too.
It wasnât like he had a gentle appearance so being expressionless might lead to a misunderstanding.
In addition to that, he was being cold with his words and tone.
When Yernia, whom he assumed that she didnât care much about him, actually cared about his feelings, the melancholy that remained in Cassianâs mind was lifted.
âIâm not mad. Why am I mad at you?â
âItâs not it? Iâve been thinking about that too, but I donât know why. Itâs like a rat in my head.â
âThatâs all you thought about?â
âYes.â
Suddenly, Yernia tightened her hold around his waist.
The unexpected attack made him stop breathing for a moment.
âI was thinking about guiding you because I havenât done it lately.â
Yernia was cruel.
She absolutely had no idea what the guy she was holding right now was thinking inside.
He was pondering that moment when Yernia asked if he liked her.
He intended to confess his feelings, but he didnât want to take it lightly in that situation as if it was a joke.
At the same time, he was fully aware that their future relationship could change depending on his response.
Because of that, he couldnât make a hasty decision.
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