185 Ch. 184: Did You Miss Me?

Despite the welcome shade from the heat and the duration of time since my embarrassing fall, I can feel my cheeks start to warm up again at the sight of Elias.

Before anyone gets ahead of themselves, it's not due to a silly crush. As a matter of fact, watching him calmly drink his tea with his back to me has stirred up quite a bit of irritation in my gut. Shouldn't he be practically jumping out of his chair with excitement? I mean, between the two of us, he is the actual child. There's no need for him to cosplay as an adult.

I hastily walk up to Elias' side, briefly taking note of how his longer hair now frame cheeks that are less chubby than before, and I give him a good thwack on the arm. I cannot tell if his sandy-colored locks have actually darkened into a moderate brown color or if the diminished light is playing tricks on me, although his amethyst eyes shine bright as ever with amusement.

"Not even so much as a letter!" I scold. "Is this how you treat your friends?"