I Became a Guide For My Childhood Friend - Chapter 70-2

Twenty-one-year-old Cassian was forced to marry her as a guide when he couldn’t find a mate.

Now, he was twenty years old.

However, Cassian didn’t want to marry another woman even if he was the male lead.

Before all of that, he must meet Herena.

That meant he would meet Herena within this year and perhaps, soon——

Then it would be Herena, not Yernia, who would stand next to Cassian.

Herena might be the one who would celebrate his birthday with him.

“Shall we go out and play on that special day? You always hold your birthday inside the mansion.”

Yernia didn’t want to yield Cassian’s birthday celebration to Herena because just imagining it made her feel like she was deprived of the precious day she spent together with him every time.

Even if Cassian’s heart would move towards Herena, she wanted to be greedy on his special day.

“We shouldn’t.”

As always, Cassian was adamant.

“Why? Is it because you don’t like snow? I’ve been curious about that for a long time but I think you’re doing well right now.”

“It’s not that I don’t like snow——”

As he turned his head, his eyes met Yernia the instant she looked up at Cassian.

It was Cassian who avoided eye contact first.

“I’m afraid you’ll get sick.”

“What?”

“You can’t stand the cold.”

The mug brought warmth to her hands but this time, it felt hotter somehow.

She never thought that she was the reason why he spent his birthday inside his mansion.

Dazed, Yernia almost dropped the mug when she lost strength in her hands.

She hurriedly applied strength to her grip when the cup almost slipped, but the cocoa slightly spilled out of the cup when she accidentally titled it a bit.

“Ah.”

“Are you alright? Are you alright, Yernia?”

Yernia was the one who almost hurt herself but why was Cassian panicking?

“Give me your hand. I must see if you’re hurt.”

“No, I’m fine.”

He hurriedly picked up a cloth and wiped Yernia’s hands thoroughly.

It wasn’t the same rough handling of a childhood friend but a gentle treatment of a lover who saw her as something precious.

As Yernia bit the inside of her cheek as her heart fluttered, she pulled her hand out so that Cassian couldn’t hear her heartbeat.

The back of her hand reddened as if the spilled hot liquid had burned it.

Every time a man’s hand, which was much bigger than hers, touched the back of her hand, it felt like sparks were shooting out of their skin.

She knew it wasn’t because she was sick, but Yernia was afraid to reveal her feelings.

She smiled to show him that she was alright as she held the back of her injured hand.

“I’m fine. I thought about something else for a second.”

“What were you thinking while talking to me that you almost dropped your cup?”

“I just thought that you’re being considerate of me more than I thought.”

Yernia had no idea why Cassian insisted on spending his birthday in the mansion before.

She just assumed he wanted to stay there because he didn’t like snow or he didn’t want to go out.

There was a time when she thought it was really weird.

However, Cassian said that he would be willing to spend this special day only held once a year in a familiar and warm place while thinking about Yernia.

It might not be a big deal for someone but to her, it felt special.

Was she more special than his birthday?

Why did that sound like a confession?

“Should I say it’s a relief that I know now?”

Cassian laughed.

Yernia sometimes resented her thoughts even though it couldn’t be a confession.

“I always think about you.”

Cassian had no idea of the countless thoughts swimming in her head with those five words.

Yernia stood up straight and hid her expression by drinking cocoa.

“Me, too. You’re the only friend I have, so it makes sense.”

Her words came out smoother than she thought.

Yernia also knew that she had become strange these days.

However, as soon as she admitted it, she was afraid that their relationship would change significantly.

Above all, she couldn’t shake her premonition of being hurt.

The best thing to do well with Cassian in the future without people getting hurt was to ignore her heart.

She was willing to do it.

“Friend. Yes.”

Cassian smiled and drank coffee.

He seemed to be grimacing somehow but Yernia didn’t care.

Something suddenly interrupted the awkward silence.

The burn at the back of her hand still hurt so she put her mug down the table and patted the sore spot.

As Cassian’s long finger stroked the back of her injured hand,  he suppressed the urge to speak.

The back of her hand trembled at his cool touch and the more he caressed it, the cooler it felt that it stung.

Their eyes met several times before his gaze narrowed in an instant and the atmosphere became strange.

“Cassian. Have you ever liked anyone other than me?”

The impulsive question was already asked before it could be processed into her brain.

She regretted it a little, but it was too late to bring it back.

Yernia, who got anxious for no reason because of Cassian’s silence, stuttered and added.

“So… you had a girlfriend. Did you really like her?”