n

n

nWith a flabbergasted expression, Cassidy only stood still and gaped.

nIt was as if fate was playing around with them. Just when she thought she would not be having any encounter like this after two whole years of separation, she was thrown in this situation before she even knew it - in this unexpected reunion, to be exact. Perhaps, the world is just that small.

nApparently, the companion that Aira is together with has turned out to be none other than her nephew.

n

"Damien?!

"

nMuch like Cassidy, Damien is stunned - maybe a little too much that he can't even make a response. But unlike her, his sort of surprise seems to be not that of someone who has never seen this coming. She even looks more shocked than him. He appears to be caught off guard not because he does not know that she will be around - but because he is not expecting he will get caught like this.

nAnd in all actuality, that is indeed the case - he has always been anticipating this reunion, but not this soon.

n

"Aunt... Cassidy...

" Damien started with a shaky breath, getting emotionally overwhelmed.

n

"I-It's been a long while, Aunt.

"

n

"Aunt...?!

" Aira gasped out loud, utterly astonished.

n

"W-Wait, what?! Did I hear it right?! B-Big sis is... She's your a-aunt?!

"

n

"Calm down, Aira. You're making a ruckus here...

" Cassidy told her and patted her head before looking back at him with a smile.

n

"Indeed, it's been a long while, Damien. I didn't know that you'd become friends with my sibling. How are you, by the way?

"

nAt that point, he could no longer further any utterance.

nWhen she smiles at him like that, he feels like he has missed her more than he has thought. Even after a couple of years, she did not change, and even after all the things that happened in their family, she did not treat him like a stranger. Of course, he knew that she would not - she was not that kind of person. But at the very least, he thought that she would be estranged.

nHowever, Cassidy is now smiling at Damien with the same warmth, gentleness and kindness like before - nothing changed at all.

n

"Oh, Damien...

" she breathed out and smiled wider after noticing that he was getting really emotional.

n

"You grew up a lot even though it had only been two years. Not to mention, you've become more mature. Seems like puberty hits you hard, huh?

"

n

"And you did not change at all, Aunt...

" he chuckled a little, grinning at last.

n

"I've missed you. Me, Joshua and Hugo - we all miss you.

"

nAt that, Cassidy doesn't know what to say.

nHearing that makes her feel guilty. She can tell that Damien really does miss her, but apart from that, she can also tell that he has been hurt. Her sudden departure probably affected him and his brothers much more than she imagined. Then again, the last time they talked properly was still all the way back when they had their family dinner at the hotel -

nWhen they had ice cream together, more particularly.

nThey only barely talked at the hospital where Adrian and Irish were admitted. Cassidy couldn't show herself up to the children because of her emotional state at that time. And with that, they never got to spend time with one another again.

n

"I've missed you too, Damien. You and your brothers...

" Cassidy trailed off with a downcast, guilt-ridden smile before reaching out to place her hand on top of his head.

n

"Thank you. I'm glad that you're doing fine despite everything.

"

nRight then, Damien suddenly rushed in and wrapped his arms around his aunt, pulling her in for an embrace.

nTaken aback, she can only stare down and blink at him. It's unusual of him to initiate physical contact with anyone. But after seeing how happy and relieved he seems, she can't help but grin to herself and return the gesture by caressing his head.

nThey only stayed that way for the next seconds to come until Cassidy asked something that made Damien snap out of it.

n

"By the way, since when did you know Aira?

"

nShe feels him stiffen up at that one. It seemed like she just brought out the elephant in the room. This will also explain why the two of them are in this kind of place - while all alone together, dressed casually, eating desserts, and looking like a couple having their date.

n'A d-d-date...? Could it really be... a date?' Cassidy then found herself wondering, struck dumbfounded by that assumption.

n

"No, big sis. We're not on a date or anything...

" Aira chimed in from the side and shot her a deadpan look, talking like she had read her mind.

n

"Come on, we barely knew each other. He just treated me to ice cream.

"

n

"I thought you're friends?

"

n

"Oh, yeah. We are, we are. Isn't that right... Damien?

"

nDamien was able to point out how Aira put an emphasis on his name - she sounds pissed.

nOf course, she would be. He kept refusing to tell her anything about himself in fear of busting himself out as a member of the Millicent family. What's more, he didn't tell her anything about Cassidy being his aunt. Still, even though he kept many secrets, she still called him as his friend - he didn't think she'd been seeing him as one all along.

nDamien finally pulls away from Cassidy, turning to look at Aira who only stares back at him -

nMenacingly, that is.

n

"Maybe I could use some explanation too... Damien?

"

nAnd again.

nThere's that emphasis again.

nAt this point, there is no use hiding things anymore. Besides, reuniting with Cassidy had been his main purpose here - and at first, he only chose to get close to Aira because she came from the same orphanage as her and they were currently living together. Now that he had what he wanted, it was probably time for him to reveal the truth.

n

"I apologize for not telling you anything, Aira. It's just that...

" Damien began with a sheepish look, looking away and scratching the back of his head.

n

"I'd been following Aunt Cassidy for some time now.

"

n