Chapter 3 - I Know You Like Me

Chapter 3: I Know You Like Me

Ten full years had passed since the pledge I’d made to myself.

“Get back up.” Camian lowered his body and leaned forward, his front facing me. He looked at me and said, “Liv.”

Each time he spoke, I feltl his voice echoing from the back of my mind.

“Yes?” I asked.

“You didn’t do your theology assignment, didn’t you?” He leaned more, cheek coolly pressed against my shoulder, then he suddenly raised his head. “You had an assignment, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask.”

His eyes widened. “H-how can I ask if I don’t know…?! Wow… that’s so cheap of you, Liv.”

Camian rubbed his forehead. He had been betrayed. He wrapped his arm around my neck and wept tearfully. I looked at him stupefied… what a sly man. I had thoughts of strangling him. I’m sure he knows of it but he smiled foolishly while seemingly unaware of my seething thoughts.

“Go and finish it, Liv.”

“Then let’s go!”

I kicked his thighs with my leg, and jumped on his back, my body drawing back in the process. At the same time, a cool breeze blew over me. I told him to go, but not this fast! I hurriedly clutched onto him as I was about to fall. The water streams flowing between the wild grass that had grown unruly whipped past me.

Camian had walked for an hour without break.

Not too far away, the academy building came to view, and only then did Camian stop and let me down.

“Count to 100,” Camian said.

After a slight nod, he turned away and walked opposite of me. I looked at him. His black hair glittered and I began counting.

‘1, 2, 3….’

Our reasoning for this was childish.

Camian once carried me to school everyday because I could not walk long distances. My weak body prevented me from doing so. When his classmates saw us, they joked in amusement, wondering if we were a couple. Camian blushed all over and stormed out.

That night, after dinner, Camian sneaked into my bedroom and said, “We’re going to school separately from now on.”

I looked at him. Was he shy?

‘You don’t need to be tsundere. I know you like me.’

I’ve read the novel. I know what went through his mind and I know his heart would beat erratically. And even if I was left unaware of the plot, I would know. Camian did not know how to hide his feelings. He was an open book. Well, regardless, I pretended to be ignorant to his feelings. But at times, I found it irritating. This Camian, he truly had trouble hiding his overflowing emotions. It leaked out badly at times.

According to the original version, in their 18th year, Camian and Liv confirmed their love for one another and became one. But I had a mission to prevent his blackening, so I had decided to ignore his growing affection.

One might wonder in stupidity, the readers most likely, how pretending to be unaware of Camian’s affection would prevent his blackening…? They’d tilt their heads in angst and rage. But they would never know that the key to prevent his blackening was to never fall for him.

If I die as “Liv”, Camian must never blacken. And I could not imagine the worst, but I had to be prepared… for my death.

So I came to the conclusion based on real-world experience that the death of a friend is less painful than the death of a lover. If Camian sees me no more than a friend, he’ll be sad, depressed even, but it won’t lead to his blackening.

So I kept my distance and maintained a friendly relation with Camian. But… even though Liv and I had nothing in common, from our tone to personality, he became more than a friend than I had originally planned.

Damn it all.

Can I not change the course of the plot?

There was no hope.

Though one fortunate thing did come out of this. Camian’s growing feelings never stopped, but unlike the novel, we remained friends even into our adulthood.

“That’s 100 seconds,” I muttered.

And then I walked to the academy, meeting familiar faces near the main gate, and greeting them with delight. Before the bell rang, I walked inside the classroom.

Camian, with his chin resting on his palms, turned his head slightly and stared at me. I stood at a standstill and looked back.

I needed to know how he felt. Why did he wish to go to school separately? I had to know. Clicking my tongue, I walked towards him. I needed to copy the assignment anyway.

“Can I sit down?”