NOVEL WEB Chapter 254: You Call This A Hug?
Aisha's chest fluttered with a joy she couldn't quite name, the kind that seized her whole being and sent her heart careening like it hadn't in ages. She wasn't just smiling—she was floating, her senses brimming with a buoyant energy that made her ears twitch and her toes curl in delight. It felt like walking on air, a giddy, electric thrill that made her want to laugh and bury her face all at once.
Cassius's words—those unfiltered, sincere compliments, had struck her like lightning. No one else could've lit her up like this. If anyone else had said the same, she would've dismissed it, brushing off their praise as intrusive flattery or misguided affection.
But Cassius?...His voice had a way of weaving straight into her, every word carving a warm glow in her chest.
Maybe it was because she saw him as a rival, someone whose respect meant more than idle approval.
Or perhaps...he was something else entirely, someone whose opinion mattered far more than she was ready to admit. She wasn't sure.
All she knew was that his presence, his smile, the way he looked at her, it sparked something inside her she couldn't ignore. A soft, involuntary smile crept onto her lips, shy and radiant, catching the starlight in a way that made her look even more disarmingly beautiful.
But her joy didn't last untouched. Her mind, ever restless, latched onto her earlier words, her comparison to Skadi. She'd called herself a stray cat, bristling and aloof, while Skadi was the eager, affectionate puppy, warm, bright, and effortlessly loved.
The thought scraped against her heart like a splinter.
If Cassius had to choose, who would he pick?
The question festered, souring her mood with a pang she didn't want to name. It made her feel small and insecure, childish even, to weigh herself against Skadi's sunshine.
She knew it was foolish, Cassius wasn't the kind of man to be won over by sweetness alone. And still, the idea of being a second choice clawed at her pride.
Skadi was a walking smile, the kind people gravitated toward. Aisha? She was a bit of a storm, unpredictable and sharp. She shouldn't need to ask, but the words burned at the back of her throat, needing to be said even if the answer shattered something.
So, finally after being unable to hold back, her fingers curled tightly around his sleeve, her voice trembled, her gaze rising to meet his, vulnerable and searching. "Hey, Cassius." She said softly, her heart hammering, ears flicking nervously.
Cassius blinked, caught off guard as he leaned in, their faces so close now she could feel the warmth of his breath.
"What? What's with the 'hey, Cassius' all of a sudden? Everything I said was true, alright? I know I got carried away with the...details, but you asked for honesty!" He said in a defensive tone, his grip on the reins tightening slightly, unsettled by her sudden change in mood.
Aisha glanced away, voice hesitant and quiet, her fingers tugging at her sleeve.
"No, it's not that. I mean, yeah, all that stuff you said was...embarrassing, way too much detail, but it's fine. I'm over it." She inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself for a fall. "It's about what I said earlier, about me and Skadi. You know, how I'm like a stray cat, and she's...all puppy-like, happy and obedient." Her throat tightened, her fingers twitching beneath her robe. "I mean...What I'm trying to ask is if you had to choose between us, who'd you pick? Like, if you could only pick one, who's your first choice?"
Her voice came out barely audible, a fragile whisper that hung between them, her eyes locked onto his as if trying to read the truth before he even spoke.
She expected deflection, a laugh, maybe a dismissive joke, anything to soften the blow she feared. No guy would jump at a question like this. Most would squirm or run for cover.
But Cassius didn't hesitate. His smile returned, bright and sure.
"Oh, that? Easy, I know the answer to that one." He said in a casual tone, the weight of her question rolling off him like dew on metal.
Aisha's breath caught in her throat, her body tensing as emotions clashed in her chest. "Really? You...you know already?" She asked, voice lifting with urgency as she leaned in, closing the space between them. "Then tell me, Cassius! Who is it? Who'd you pick?" She said in a pressing tone, her whole body suspended in anticipation.
But then Cassius's expression twisted, a teasing frown replacing his smirk.
"Uh, well, see, just a second ago, I had it clear in my head, but...poof, it's gone now." He shivered theatrically, wrapping his arms around himself in exaggerated despair. "Must be the chill out here, Aisha. It's freezing, and my brain's not working right in this cold. Can't think straight when I'm shivering like this." His eyes sparkled, his suffering thinly veiled with playfulness as he watched her reaction, thoroughly enjoying the game.
"Y-You're full of it, Cassius! Don't give me that chilly nonsense! You're just dodging the question!" She snapped, throwing her arms up in exasperation, her cheeks puffed with frustration, ears twitching like warning flags.
"Now, hold on, Aisha. I'm serious." Cassius leaned in smoothly, voice dropping to a sly murmur, lips curving into a slow, knowing grin. "But you know what'd fix it?...A nice, tight hug, your body all pressed against mine, sharing that warmth. Get my blood flowing, warm up my brain, and bam, the answer'll come right back." He said in a teasing tone, spreading his arms a little, like he was inviting her into a trap he knew she'd fall into.
"What?! You want me to do what?!" Aisha turned crimson, voice bursting out as she flailed in panic. "No way, Cassius! I'm not hugging you! Especially not here, alone in the dark like this! That's...that's something lovers do, not us! It'd mean all kinds of things!" She looked at him, wide-eyed, her whole body flushed with heat, caught between outrage and something far more dangerous.
Cassius softened just a little, his smile playful but not unkind.
"Oh, come on, Aisha, I'm not twisting your arm. If you're not comfortable, we can drop it. No hug, no answer, and I'll just stay chilly, my brain all foggy." He turned his face away, rubbing his arms as though shivering, pretending the cold was winning as he dropped the bait with a grin.
"You're such a jerk, Cassius!" Aisha glared at him, her voice quivering with rising heat and humiliation. "I know you're messing with me, trying to trick me into getting all close!" She snapped, but her thoughts betrayed her, whispering things she didn't want to acknowledge.
The idea of hugging him wasn't...entirely unpleasant. It was the way he always stayed one step ahead, smug and cocky, that really burned her. Still, she wanted that answer, needed it.
Gritting her teeth, she muttered, "Fine. I'll do it. One hug, just for the answer, and that's it. Don't overthink it, got it? This doesn't mean anything!"
Cassius beamed like he'd just won a bet. "Of course, of course, just a hug, nothing more. Come on, Aisha, I'm freezing here. I need a cute little kitten like you to warm me up." He said in a teasing drawl, arms open as he awaited her surrender, clearly savoring every second.
Aisha's blush deepened until her ears practically glowed. She grumbled under her breath, scooting forward with visible reluctance, her limbs stiff and awkward.
"You're the worst, you know that?"
She said in a shy mutter, her arms hesitating before wrapping slowly around his waist. She buried her face against his chest, his warmth bleeding into her as the quiet night held them.
And the moment she did, Aisha's heart thundered in her chest, his solid form so unfamiliar yet oddly grounding.
This wasn't like hugging a friend or a girl, Cassius felt entirely different. His chest was firm, almost like armor beneath soft cloth, and his arms, even relaxed, were coiled with strength.
The sensation was startling, almost too much, but not unpleasant. It felt like shelter, like she'd stepped into a place nothing could touch her.
Her cheeks burned hotter, her body humming with nerves, her tail twitching behind her as she sank into his warmth, unsure how long she could hold on without melting.
But then all of a sudden, his voice came, low and amused, breaking the stillness like a playful jab.
"Aisha, what are you doing?" He asked, tone dripping with disapproval.
She looked up sharply, her face burning even redder and saw his eyes were twinkling, his expression not too pleased.
"W-What? I'm hugging you, like you asked!" She said in a flustered tone, her arms still awkwardly in place, unsure if she should pull away or press closer.
"This? You call this a hug?" Cassius's smirk deepened, his tone full of exaggerated scorn. "Aisha, this is an embarrassment to hugs everywhere. You're barely touching me, like I'm some stranger you're scared to get close to. Your hands are just...grazing me, like you're afraid I'll bite. This doesn't count, not even a little." He said in a teasing voice, eyes narrowed as if appraising a poor performance.
"I can't help it, Cassius! This is...this is my first time hugging a guy, okay?" Aisha jolted back, eyes wide, voice spiking with disbelief. "I don't know how to do it right!" She barked, arms flailing again as she tried to defend herself. Her ears drooped in embarrassment. "I-I'm trying, alright?"
Hearing this, Cassius paused, the teasing flickering into something softer. His brows lifted in surprise, voice curious.
"Wait, for real? You've never hugged a guy before? Not even when you were a kid, messing around on a playground or something?"
Aisha looked away, her voice small and shy.
"No, never...Even back then, the boys were too scared to come near me. I had a sharp tongue, you know, even as a kid so they would run off before I could get close." Her fingers fidgeted in the folds of her robe as she peeked up at him, eyes wide and shimmering. "This really is my first hug with a guy, Cassius. So...don't laugh, okay?"
Cassius blinked, then smiled again, this time warmer, more genuine.
"Well, damn, Aisha, I'm honored to be your first. Gotta make it count, then." He said in a light voice, though his heart swelled just a little. His arms flexed subtly around her, pulling her just an inch closer. "But this half-hearted graze you're doing? It's not a hug."
"...A real hug's gotta be close, intimate, like you mean it."