I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 132

Panicked, Yeshion stood on his tiptoes and slapped a hand over Adelio’s mouth. There were ears everywhere. Was he out of his mind?!

Yeshion’s face burned red, his lips moving in stunned silence. Adelio only laughed mischievously.

Then, without warning, he opened his mouth… and licked Yeshion’s palm.

The sudden warmth and softness made Yeshion leap five steps back in shock. His eyes widened in alarm.

Adelio, folding his arms, looked at him like he was the one being unreasonable.

“Why’d you back off like that?”

“…Anyone would back off if you did something like that.”

“I doubt that.”

Adelio wore a face full of irritation, but he didn’t approach recklessly. Instead, he simply stared at Yeshion as if trying to figure out what he was thinking.

Just then, a passerby brushed lightly against Yeshion’s shoulder. Adelio let out a sigh and grabbed Yeshion’s arm, tugging him closer.

“Don’t drift off. Stay close. It’s dangerous.”

“…It’s not dangerous.”

“Oh, come on. What place isn’t dangerous for a priest walking around in full regalia?”

At that, Yeshion let out a small, belated, “Ah.”

He’d been wondering why people kept glancing at them from all directions, regardless of age or gender.

Apparently, it wasn’t because Adelio was handsome, but because he was walking around so confidently in priest robes.

‘Right… priests are rare.’

Especially those with healing powers. He had completely forgotten.

“So.”

“…?”

“That thing. Was it really so awful that the moment I brought it up again, you had to move away from me?”

Adelio, still holding his hand, asked the question in a near whisper.

Whether he was keeping his voice down for Yeshion’s sake or out of some quiet disappointment, it was hard to tell.

“Well, that day was…”

“I told you, didn’t I? I don’t want to do anything you hate.”

Yeshion’s lips parted slightly.

Truthfully, he’d chalked what happened that day up as an accident—for both of them.

Sure, Edward’s situation afterward had thrown him into chaos, but… it had felt like something beyond either of their control.

So he’d assumed they would just move on without bringing it up again.

“It’s not that I hated it, just…”

What kind of expression would Adelio make if he said he considered it an accident?

Even if Adelio didn’t want it to be reduced to that, it wasn’t like Yeshion had willingly or consciously chosen it.

So he couldn’t answer easily. Instead, he lowered his gaze.

Adelio let out a short sigh.

“You think too much. And you’re always wrong.”

“……”

“If you don’t say it out loud, I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

“…Even if what I say ends up hurting you?”

Without a moment of hesitation, Adelio nodded.

His hand reached out, gently brushing Yeshion’s cheek. As if every second of contact mattered. As if just having Yeshion in front of him was enough.

“Say it anyway. If it hurts, I’ll just hurt. That’s all.”

“……”

“And then maybe… you’ll look at me again.”

The words came with a soft smile, and Yeshion’s eyes widened. His heart pounded so loudly it felt like it echoed in his ears.

He swallowed hard and dropped his gaze again, his lips jutting out without thinking.

He was annoyed.

“…Even though you don’t like me.”

That time, Adelio had said clearly that he didn’t like Yeshion. That he wanted to keep him close, yes, but not because of feelings. So how could he say things like this now?

“Me?”

“You said you didn’t like me.”

At that, Adelio let out a dry laugh. He leaned in close, so close it felt like he might kiss him right then and there.

Yeshion tried to pull away, but Adelio caught his shoulders and held him there.

“I think you’re not remembering it well, I never said I didn’t like you. I said I didn’t know yet.”

“That’s the same as not liking me. And why are you so close to my face again? Go away.”

Something in his chest throbbed.

And maybe that’s why, without realizing it, Yeshion snapped a little.

But Adelio, still smiling, simply tilted his head and pressed a light kiss to Yeshion’s lips before pulling away.

“I think I know now.”

“…What?”

“I like you.”