CH 56

Episode 56

“Yerine, are you going to the library? Let’s go together.”

I was on my way to the library to return the book, and in the distance, Cassius found me and ran with a bright face.

He seems to really have a radar on me, how does he know where I am every time?

“Yes, it’s good. But you know we can’t go and talk there, right?”

“Of course we’ll go and come out and talk. I’m not a person who causes such an inconvenience.”

“Okay, then let’s go.”

That’s how I got to take Cassius to the library.

I have to return these books quickly and borrow new ones again. Eugene and I usually train at night as we have to take classes during the day, and the library closes at night. So, thanks to hearing Eugene’s ear-worn nagging to lend the book beforehand, it’s become a habit of borrowing the necessary books in advance.

While returning the book and looking for a new one to borrow, Cassius kept his mouth shut.

But today his attitude was a little strange.

‘……what’s wrong with him?’

Apparently, he said he wouldn’t talk to me in the library, but he kept glancing at me with anxious eyes.

Furthermore, there was no sound, but in between, he opened his mouth as if he had something to say, and then shut up again.

It was clear that there was something he wanted to say to me.

I thought that he might have been looking for me instead of meeting me by accident on my way to the library in the first place.

He was waiting for me on the way to the library when our friends told him that I had gone to the library.

After all, unable to resist my curiosity, I spoke to him as soon as I left the library.

“Cassius.”

Sure enough, Cassius, who was looking out the window, looked back at me in surprise.

He soon erased his surprised look and accepted my words with a calm smile, but I could tell at a glance that he was slightly surprised.

“Yes, why, Yerine?”

“Do you have anything to say to me? You looked at me like you had something to say in the library.”

To my question Cassius dodged my gaze, scratching his cheek with his awkward fingers.

“Oh… did you notice?”

“Yes, you’ve been looking at me while I was choosing a book. I thought it would be weird not to know.”

“Was I too obvious?”

Cassius burst out laughing and looked at me with shining golden eyes.

For more,

“Hmm? No, I haven’t decided. We’ll have to decide and prepare soon.”

“Really? I see.”

“But why are you asking?”

After I said that, Cassius sneaked out of the way as soon as his eyes met me.

‘Oh, look at this?’

It’s very rare for Cassius to avoid my gaze or be embarrassed, so I thought I wanted to make fun of him a little more.

So deliberately, I pushed my head toward the direction he was turning his head and said a joke.

“What’s wrong, Cassius, why do you keep avoiding me? And why are you asking about my clothes?”

“Oh, no, just curious.”

“Really?”

But the slightly red face of Cassius was not the face of anyone who asked out of curiosity.

“That, it’s not something strange.”

Eventually, at my urging, he sighed and opened his mouth.

“I was looking forward to it. …It’s my first time at a ball or a performance.”

Cassius, who said so, had his face turned aside so that our eyes would not meet, and his ears were reddened.

“Uh…”

For some reason, his attitude and words seemed to heat me up as well.

“Oh, but are you a little worried?”

“Worried? Worried about what?”

“You can’t let other people look at you, right?”

‘Cancel. Bring my excitement back.’

The heat that had been gradually rising from Cassius’s words subsided, and my mind was restored to its rationality.

“Don’t say such nonsense……. who could see it.”

“But on that day, a lot of people come from outside.”

“You think everyone in the world is like Cassius?”

Nevertheless, Cassius flashed his golden eyes, saying, “If I dress up and perform on that day, there will be more people to target me.”

“So I’ll be in the front row of your performance that day. And let’s keep going with me after the performance.”

Only then did I know what Cassius was up to.

“You’re going to stick me around the ball all the time, aren’t you? I can take care of it without Cassius. Next time, bring some less obvious excuses.”

Cassius had a sallow look on his face and spoke in a melancholy voice.

“Did I get caught?”

“Yes, and frankly, I think it’s the most dangerous thing to go around with Cassius.”

“That, that’s a bit harsh.”

Then Cassius, who scratched his head awkwardly, looked at me again and spoke.

“By the way, no one’s coming to you these days?”

“Coming? I don’t think there’s anyone else but Cassius.”

“……okay.”

To be honest, Cassius seemed to be the only one who openly expressed his favour.

Erica was as likeable as I could tell, but not as burdensome as Cassius.

“No, it’s just, it’s about to be a ball, so everyone seems to be looking for a partner to dance with.”

“Oh, that’s right. I also heard it from Astra and Rachel.”

“Really? What did you say about it?”

The wind flowed through the crack in the window, so I turned over my fluttering hair and answered in an indifferent voice.

Not on the inside.

‘I can’t believe he brought this up again.’

The last time I heard Cassius’s request to become a partner, I was confused and ran away. Since then, Cassius hasn’t said anything about it, so I just passed it over.

‘I don’t know how to dance.….’

To dance along with Cassius, I feel like my heart is going to explode just thinking about it.

To hide it, rather, with an indifferent expression and voice, I replied to Cassius’s words.

“Well, I just said, there are many students who think it’s romantic.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Looking ahead in reply, Cassius spoke in a low-key voice.

“I wondered if some people might have asked you to become their partners, too.”

Cassius, who was saying this, turned his head slightly, made me not see his face well.

At this point, however, it was difficult to pretend not to know.

“…none.”

I didn’t say ‘other than Cassius’. If I add that, it’s obvious that I’ll be more concerned.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Fortunately, Cassius’s reaction was surprisingly mediocre.

Then for a while when he didn’t bring up anything, I breathed a sigh of relief into my heart.

I thought we were just going on.

But when we entered the third-floor staircase, Cassius opened his mouth again.

“But there could be a few more coming.”

“What?”

That was the only thing I could say when I didn’t understand him at first.

“…because Yerine is popular.”

Even in the shadow of the corner of the stairs, the two eyes of Cassius, who said so, were glittering with gold.

“Oh, no. That’s not true.”

“I can count the number of members in your fan club and I can tell it’s not true.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean that my fan club member must ask me for a partner.”

Then came a pleasant laugh from the side.

Looking back, Cassius was smiling softly, with his eyes as white as the moon.

“Well, do you think?”

I don’t know, what the hell does he want to say?

It’s like he’s seducing me.

In one atmosphere,

“You really don’t think there is?”

Only then did I realize what he meant and felt my face burning again.

Maybe that’s why I couldn’t readily strike Cassius’s hand, which was holding my hand.

“Yerine.”

Of all things, there was no one in the hallway and the stairs.

In the space, where only the wind-shaking curtain was heard, Cassius’s low voice brushed past my ear.

“I haven’t given up yet.”

“…….”

His hand, which was wrapped around my hand, was rough, but its touch was soft and tender.

“I’ll ask you again. Won’t you be my partner?”

He really didn’t give up.

I never imagined he’d apply again.

“Yes, what do you say, Yerine?”

His gentle twinkling golden eyes showed me fully looking up at Cassius.

How am I supposed to reject what you say with such a look on your face?

What shall I do?

“…… can’t I?”

Cassius seemed to have tried not to feel that way, but I could tell at once. That his voice is visibly drooping. And the strange desperation was buried in his words.

“Well, I’m not saying no.”

“So you’re saying I can?”

I laugh at his fast-changing attitude.

“I didn’t say yes, yet.”

“Then?”

“If a partner means someone who dances with me at a ball, I may find it difficult.”

I spoke with my arms folded, looking firmly at him.

“As I said, I can’t dance, well, you said it doesn’t matter if I’m not good at it, but I’m not sure if I can afford to dance after the performance that day. So I don’t think I can make an appointment recklessly.”

I gave reasons why I couldn’t say that I would dance together in my own way.

Of course, in reality, the reason that my heart seemed to burst out when I danced with Cassius at the ball was a bigger factor…

“……I see.”

Cassius unexpectedly nodded easily and seemed much disappointed, but no further persuasion.

Stretch out a finger at him like that, and add one more thing.

“Instead,”

At the words, Cassius looked at me with a startled look like a dog that pricked its ears.

‘If it’s not dancing after the performance, but just hanging out at the ball that day, I think it’ll be fine.’

“……really?”

When I saw Cassius with his eyes glistening like a child, I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, really.”

His face, smiling gladly with one hand clasped tightly to me, seemed pure and warm like a sunflower looking at the sun.

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