Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

"Caitlyn..." Leon suddenly called out.
"Huh?" She turned to him, startled, her cheeks still flushed pink.
"We're gonna be late."
She blinked and quickly pulled out her phone—only five minutes left before class started.
Without another thought, she jumped off the scooter, her mind too scrambled to process what had just happened between them or what might've happened if no one had interrupted.
"Let's go," she said in a low voice.
Leon raised the umbrella. His hand twitched a little, and for some reason, he didn't have the nerve to hold her by the waist like earlier. He just tilted the umbrella more toward her side in silence.
Caitlyn glanced at the other half of the umbrella. The angle meant his shoulder would definitely get wet. She pursed her lips and, without a word, slipped her hand around his umbrella arm and pressed in closer.
"If I get docked pay for being late, I'm blaming you," she muttered.
"Who at the academy would dare dock your pay?" Leon replied softly, though his eyes involuntarily drifted toward her. That soft warmth pressing against him was subtle, but it made his heart ripple with a silent storm.
As soon as they entered the building, Caitlyn suddenly let go and took a step away like a skittish bunny. It was as if she'd never held onto him in the first place.
"I just didn't want you to get wet," she tossed over her shoulder before disappearing into the classroom as the bell rang.
Leon stood frozen for a moment. Only after her voice quieted behind the classroom door did he finally step inside.
Their eyes met—then both quickly looked away.
He cleared his throat, took the attendance sheet, and began the roll call.
The entire lecture felt like a blur to Caitlyn.
The sharp sound of the bell echoed through the entire building, a bit too shrill and jarring.
Caitlyn glanced toward the rows of students, catching sight of Leon quietly watching her. She quickly averted her gaze, lips pressing together as a faint flush crept up her cheeks.
Her mind, however, betrayed her—flooded with the memory of sitting behind him on the scooter, the two of them locked in eye contact for what felt like forever.
That distance between them... every breath, every trace of warmth, even the scent in the air—it had all felt suddenly, overwhelmingly vivid.
And in that moment, Leon had slowly leaned in closer...
Was he... going to kiss her?
The thought made her lips tingle. She darted out of the classroom the moment the bell rang, her fingers brushing her mouth.
Her eyes were unfocused, her expression clouded with confusion.
Even this morning... when he came to wake her up...
Clutching her chest, she felt the erratic thump of her heart and tried to walk it off. The way she felt—offended? No. Angry? Not really. That was the problem.
"Caitlyn..." came that familiar voice again, stopping her in her tracks. She turned her head slightly but didn't look back.
"What?" she asked flatly.
"You dropped something..." Leon said in a soft voice.
She paused, then glanced at him. He looked kind of... pitiful.
Like when he first moved in. Her brows knit together. "What? I've got all my notes—"
"You dropped me."
Leon's voice cracked a little, and the mask of calm he usually wore fell away. He looked at her with wide, pleading eyes, trying his best not to pout but completely failing to hide the emotion swimming in his gaze.
"Professor Morrow... Are you dumping your assistant husband?" a nearby student whispered with concern.
Caitlyn's eye twitched. She let out a sigh and suddenly grabbed Leon by the wrist, dragging him away.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" she huffed. "When did I ever say I was dumping you?"
"You didn't wait for me today. You just walked off—fast."
"I didn't say anything! Just because I walked fast doesn't mean I was leaving you behind! You could've caught up."
"But it felt like you were avoiding me," Leon said quietly. "Like you didn't want to be near me."
"I..." Her voice caught. She turned to glance at him, unsure how to argue.
She'd spent the whole class spiraling through random thoughts, realizing how much more easily she was shaken by Leon lately.
The whirlwind of emotions from recent days had her feeling completely lost. Maybe that's why she'd instinctively tried to distance herself...
Standing just outside the lecture hall, Caitlyn stared into the grey curtain of rain. The wind bit through her coat, sharp and cold, but it also cooled the flush in her face.
Leon stepped forward without a word, subtly shielding her from the rain.
Caitlyn turned her head slightly, catching the solemn look on his face. Her frown deepened. Why did he look so... sad?
Then, she felt his hand brush against hers, slowly inching into her palm with an almost trembling hesitation.
Was he afraid she'd let go? Why? He never seemed afraid before...
She gave a half-hearted tug, and he gripped her hand tighter—his anxious eyes dimming just a little more.
She didn't resist again. Instead, she took a deep breath and kept her gaze on the rainy campus ahead.
"It's almost winter," she murmured. "Let's go back to the office."
"Okay." Leon's voice trembled as he nodded. After a pause, he opened the umbrella and then gently tightened his hold on her hand.
This time, she didn't pull away. She stayed quiet, lost in thought.
"You'll get wet if you don't stay close," he said softly.
Wordlessly, Caitlyn leaned in a little.
Leon awkwardly adjusted the umbrella, holding it between them while tightly gripping her hand. He didn't try to put an arm around her waist this time.
Maybe he'd pushed her too far. Maybe that's why she'd pulled away...
He glanced sideways. She was staring at the raindrops splashing at her feet, saying nothing. But she also didn't let go.
Leon let out a quiet breath, though his chest still felt heavy.
Of course he was scared.
Scared of being left behind. Scared she might actually start avoiding him. Scared that he mattered more to her yesterday than he would tomorrow.
This wasn't just shy Caitlyn being awkward again. This time, it felt real.
He'd rushed things, hadn't he?
Leon gazed at the washed-out campus, the dull grey buildings blurred behind the steady rain. His steps slowed to a stop.
Back in the office, the air hung heavy with unspoken tension.
Caitlyn sat at her desk, staring blankly at her notes, randomly circling words on her page.
Leon, wrapped in her oversized coat, sat silently on the couch, eyes fixed on her with quiet intensity.
The rain outside had softened, but it didn't look like it would be stopping anytime soon.