Chapter 1944

‘I keep wondering whether you’d like me back, Xavia… But every time I bring myself to ask you, I always stop in the end… I can’t let my feelings affect your studies, especially when you’re still sixteen…’ ‘…I’ve decided. From today onward, I’ll only ever act like your protective brother that you can rely on! That is, until you’re eighteen… Once you’re of legal age, I hope you can give me the answer I so desperately need…’ ‘I’ve started distancing myself from you, stating that I’m busy with university… I even forced myself to tell you that I can’t pick you up from school anymore… and trust me, when I heard the disappointment in your tone, I felt much, much worse… In the end, I was unable to stop myself from meeting up with you a few times…’ ‘During such moments, I simultaneously felt blissful and tortured… After all, though I was glad to be able to be by your side, the fact that I’m not actually dating you makes me want to go insane!’ ‘I’m graduating today… If my friend is to be