SBTSML

seventy-one.

"I said I wasn't going...!"

Cassis stopped speaking.

I stared at Cassis with my body stiffened.

His face was exceptionally close. He suddenly turned around and I couldn't defend myself.

Big blue eyes were all I could see. His expression was very funny.

It looks like your face is close to mine.

"Hyuk!"

I stepped back in surprise. This was unexpected.

Cassis had stiffened as if he had become a stone.

I grabbed my fluttering heart and covered my lips.

I-I almost touched him!

I was just trying to surprise him. I didn't expect Cassis to raise his head like that.

"Ah..."

Cassis touched his lips and let out a shallow groan when he saw me covering my lips.

Then his face was about to turn red.

I think he misunderstood my behavior. I tried to patch things up and quickly said.

"N-No! They didn't touch!"

Cassis's face turned red, and I was about to turn red too. I fanned my hot face with my hand.

"They didn't touch?"

Cassis asked hesitatingly. I tried to nod my head vigorously, but I hesitated.

Was it really not touching?

"I-I, I think so!"

I decided to insist on it for now.

It was an accident, and I quickly stepped back, faster than anyone else, unlike anyone else.

Cassis's face turned red like a tomato again at my ambiguous answer.

His skin itself is so white that his red cheeks seemed even more prominent.

Why is your hand on your mouth?

I buried my head. I'm dying of shame. So I abruptly shouted at Cassis.

"Hey! Don't turn red!"

"...S-Sorry!"

Cassis quickly turned at my command. And he took a deep breath, but his ears still remained red. He seemed as embarrassed as I was.

I wanted to bang my head against the pillar if I could.

Should I? How would that be?!

If I just say yes, that makes it sound like a real lip touch!

I was shrieking inwardly, and turning a blind eye to this terrible atmosphere.

I said I wasn't going...!

Suddenly, Cassis's irritated words passed by my mind.

Paul was just getting out of the study, so maybe he mistook me for Paul.

Which means you had a little bit of a scuffle with Paul until then... Where are you not going?

I called Cassis carefully, who was still breathing deeply and trying to relax.

"Cassis."

"W-Wait a minute. My face is still burning..."

Then Cassis stuttered in a visibly agitated voice. It was the first time he had been that flustered.