Chapter 125: Caught

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As soon as Sugar returned to her room, she started packing her things first.

She put the lantern and the eyeball back in the drawer and placed the paper bag next to the bed.

Then, she immediately took off her clothes and entered the shower. A ritual cleansing. Cleaning her body, dirtied with sweat and dust. Nothing should come between her body and the white shirt.

After washing with a reverent heart, Sugar completely dried herself and stood in front of the paper bag.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the contents. The white shirt that Riley had worn. She carefully draped it over her body.

“Ah…”

The white fabric brushed against Sugar’s fair skin. The fabric that had touched Riley’s skin all day. The cotton deeply imbued with his scent. It gently wrapped around Sugar’s arms, shoulders, and back.

It clung to her.

It enveloped her.

Just putting on the shirt made her heart race. Every time it brushed against her, she was startled, and a small “ah” escaped her lips.

After fully putting it on, she stood in front of the mirror.

‘Riley… you’re this big…’

For the petite Sugar, it was like a mini dress. It reached down to her thighs and hung loosely on her.

Ah. Ah. She had felt the difference in their sizes when they hugged but experiencing it through his clothes gave her a different sensation.

She brought the loose, flowing sleeve to her nose. Taking a deep breath, she felt intoxicated by the satisfying scent, her eyes softening. The shirt was unbuttoned, revealing her chest, and the stiff tips brushed against the fabric. A strange, tingling sensation ran through her.

‘Maybe I’m cold after showering,’ Sugar thought, quickly buttoning up the shirt and putting on her panties.

She felt somewhat dazed. Maybe it was because Riley’s scent mixed in with every breath she took. The fact that she could enjoy him indirectly, even though he wasn’t there, excited her.

Lying on the bed, Sugar brought the sleeves to her nose and closed her eyes.

‘Riley’s scent… I like it…’

It wasn’t unpleasant. Maybe because he had a clean personality, it just felt warm. A cool, masculine cologne faintly lingered in the scent. It calmed her heart.

She wanted to keep smelling it.

‘Riley…’

She imagined him hugging her. It wasn’t hard, since she was wearing his shirt. The scent of Riley emanating from her body added realism to her imagination. Right now, they were lying on the same bed, herself in his embrace, falling asleep.

‘Hehe. It’s so good.’

Even though there was no real Riley, no heartbeat or breathing, she could at least feel the mood, and that was enough. The corners of her mouth turned up, and her chest felt warm. Everything felt so good, like her body was floating.

As she dozed off, she fell into a thought.

Why? Was it because it now seemed silly to have made such a meticulous plan just to get a man’s shirt? Or was it because she felt unfair about how obsessed she was with him?

‘I wish you liked me as much as I like you…’

It was a thought she wouldn’t normally have. Sugar, who usually interpreted her feelings for Riley as familial love or friendship, positioned herself as the older one. She had more life experience, so she placed herself in the position of giving unconditionally.

She decided to accommodate Riley’s desires. Because she cared for him as a younger sibling, she would embrace him. It was a love that flowed downward.

There’s a saying, ‘There is downward love, but no upward love.’ It means that while parents can love their children, it’s hard for children to love their parents equally.

She had approached it with that mindset. She thought it was okay if she didn’t receive the same amount of affection from him. As long as she remained his ‘most important friend,’ it was enough, even if the feelings weren’t reciprocated equally.

But lately, she kept having different thoughts. Maybe it was since she heard Riley’s almost-confession during the holiday.

When she was screaming to gather magic for the third bombardment. The misery. The resentment. The steps she took to send Riley away were so heartbreaking that she wanted to collapse on the ground.

‘I don’t want you to leave my side.’

Me too. I feel the same way.

Do you like me as much as I like you?

She kept feeling expectations.

The heart is invisible. Even if she asked, he couldn’t answer. What would she do if he said yes? What if he said no? She couldn’t know if it was true or false. It’s something abstract that can’t be measured.

Simple yet complex, it’s always difficult. It’s sweet, then bitter. Like a warm spring breeze that suddenly turns into a biting cold wind, it’s a strange existence.

You can’t force it, and it doesn’t move as your head wants. Defining the heart in a single word is even more difficult.

‘But still. If Riley is like that…’

If he has as much affection for her as she does for him.

If he could prove it in some way.

“…”

Sugar closed her eyes.

Holding her pounding chest, she took deep breaths and buried her face in one of the sleeves.

She didn’t know why she was expecting anything. She just felt expectations. Even just imagining it made her heart melt like sugar.

She knew it in her head.

But so what?

Even if Riley had that much affection, even if he proved it, nothing would change. Sugar likes Riley, and Riley likes Sugar.

We are still each other’s best friends.

Childhood friends so precious we’d risk our lives!

“-Ah…”

But still, her heart kept racing. A wistful sigh escaped.

Sugar held the shirt tightly, trying to calm her heart. After absentmindedly fiddling with the hem for a while, her exhausted mind finally shut down.

It was the first proper sleep she’d had in a week. She slept soundly without any dreams.

**************

“Hi, Riley.”

Her smile was as bright as the morning sun. Her fair skin glowed with vitality. Sugar, who had just come out of the dormitory building, had the brightest expression she’d had in a while.

Riley looked down at her with a slight tilt of his head.

“…You seem better now.”

“Yeah! I rested all day yesterday, so I’m feeling better.”

Sugar smiled brightly and hugged Riley tightly, then quickly let go, afraid of getting a demerit.

“But where are Ian and Leon? They didn’t come with you.”

They usually gathered together to have breakfast. But today, they weren’t there. Riley replied, ‘They said they had something to do, so I sent them ahead.’

Actually, it was Riley who had made up an excuse to have some time alone with Sugar.

“Really? Then it’s just the two of us for breakfast today…”

Unaware of this, Sugar giggled happily.

“We have some time now. Should we go to a cafe and eat?”

“Huh? Should we?”

Usually, Riley would go along with whatever Sugar suggested, but today he was the one proposing it. Sugar readily nodded. The shopping district was more relaxed than inside Steele, so it was even better.

The warm spring weather was filled with a refreshing air that felt good on her skin. After a good night’s sleep, her body felt light, and she was in the best condition. She felt like singing. A hum naturally escaped her lips.

As she walked down the street, humming, Riley chuckled.

“You seem to be in a good mood. Did something exciting happen?”

“Hum hum… Not exactly exciting. It’s just nice.”

“Is that so?”

‘It’s good that you’re in a good mood,’ Riley whispered, interlacing his fingers with hers. His tone was gentler than usual, and Sugar’s eyes widened.

“Where should we go to the cafe? You can pick.”

“Huh? Um… How about that place? They have good egg tarts…”

“Sure. Let’s order whatever you want.”

As Sugar pointed, Riley eagerly led the way.

They entered the cafe and sat side by side. Usually, they would sit across from each other, but today they sat right next to each other without letting go of their interlaced hands.

Sugar felt puzzled as she looked at Riley.

Why is he acting like this today?

Is it because he knows I’ve been sick lately, so he’s being extra kind?

As she stared at him, Riley gently smiled and stroked Sugar’s hair. He caressed her head, pinched her ears, and brushed her cheeks.

The gentle morning skinship made Sugar’s cheeks turn red.

“Riley…”

Embarrassed by the man’s rare smile. The thoughts from last night began to surface. She averted her gaze.

“Sugar.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s school life been lately?”

“Of course, it’s good… But why are you asking all of a sudden?”

They were together every day. It was a strange question.

“We’ve wanted to come here since we were kids. I was just curious. Do you like it?”

“Ah…”

They had promised each other since they were young, to go to Steele together, to be together.

Looking back now, it was truly a heartwarming thing.

Her tense body relaxed. Filled with affection and warmth, the tension melted away, and she began to chatter.

“I love it so much. Eating meals with you like this. Attending classes together. Hanging out… I’m so happy. It’s like a dream.”

Riley quietly listened to Sugar’s words.

“…Do you like it too, Riley?”

“Of course.”

He answered readily while stroking her cheek. Sugar placed her hand on top of Riley’s and smiled brightly.

“Riley. Why are you being so kind today?”

“Because you’ve been sick lately. You said you haven’t been sleeping well.”

“I’m fine now. I slept pretty well yesterday.”

“If you keep having trouble sleeping, let me know. I’ll get you some tea that helps with sleep. Or maybe we should change your pillow or mattress. A good bed is the most important.”

“Ah. I’m fine, really.”

“Just let me know if it keeps happening. I can get you something like that.”

“How can I ask you to buy me something… If anything, I should be the one buying you things.”

“I already bought one. Have you tried the bed in my room? No matter how used to camping I am, I can’t sleep on just any mattress indoors.”

“Ah, it is really soft. It’s definitely different from the dorm beds…”

“…”

“…”

…

…

Silence fell.

Sugar had stopped mid-sentence. Only the sound of her swallowing could be heard.

In the strangely tense air, Riley tilted his head as if urging her to continue.

“That’s strange. When did you ever sleep in my bed?”

“Well, you know…”

“My pillow. Did you like it that much? It was full of your scent.”

“What? Scent? No, no, listen.”

“Hey. Sugar.”

The smile on Riley’s face faded, and his usual expression returned. Sugar immediately realized.

This was a trap from the beginning. And I fell right into it.

As she stood there dumbfounded, Riley leaned in closer.

The hand that had been stroking her cheek moved down to her neck, lightly tickling her before pulling away.

“Let’s talk after class.”