To Call Them Childhood Friends

Ten years as only childhood friends.
Damian stayed by Cecilia’s side, acting weak and innocent in front of her, putting on a coy front.

He thought that if he just suppressed his true nature and stayed beside her, she would naturally become his.

“Yeah, Damian, actually… I’m planning to get married.”
“…Married? You need my help?”
“I can’t. The person I’m marrying and a friend are different.”

Damian realized, belatedly, that friends and men are clearly different—more precisely, that for her, a friend could never become a man.
So…

“From now on, let’s keep some distance. This is how I’ll cheer for your marriage.”

He decided, at least, to throw a stone into the calm waters of their ‘friend’ relationship.