It was strange to hope for anything more than friendship with you. You're her friend, at least she thinks so. You're good, it took her some time to realize it was something more. Cassandra fell in love with you.

But it's no use. She knows perfectly well how strict and conservative your upbringing was. You're not going to date the girl. And Cassandra herself is terrified. She can't do anything, confess to you? Failure. Moreover, expressing any emotions suitable for this is too difficult.

So confusing. You'll just think she's a freak and communication will stop. You are too homophobic.

Even now, when you're not on patrol and you invite Cassandra to go for a walk, and in the fresh air, everything seems simpler when there's nothing more important in your head than the thought of a leaf flying past. And when you suddenly grabbed her hand, pointing at the ducks swimming in the decorative pond, smiling like a clear ray...

— "I like it when you smile."

Cassandra fell silent not because she regretted giving the compliment, she simply didn’t understand why she did it and how you would react.