“Don’t go.”
Mia stood stock-still in mute amazement. His previously weak gaze, glazed with unshed tears, had regained its manly intensity as he returned to himself. His golden hair shined like the sun, as if it were crafted from gold silk. Captivated by the grayish-blue eyes peeking out beneath his golden bangs, Mia held her breath. His eyes possessed the chilliness of a winter lake, with a thin, fragile layer of ice coated over it. Pain lightly misted his eyes. He bared such intense vulnerability, but it made him all the more beautiful.
Now that she had a better look at him, beneath his manly eyebrows were almond eyes, a straight nose, and generously curved lips. His facial features were absurdly chiseled to perfection.
Whoa. What is with this guy?! He’s so pretty!
Transformed from patient into handsome boy, the young man pleaded with Mia, “Don’t leave me. Please.”
She couldn’t pry her eyes off him. His hands still shook. He was so desperate, like a child clinging to his mother. Mia’s maternal instincts screamed at her to squeeze his hand. But she resisted. She wasn’t dealing with a little boy, but a new student like her—or so she thought, until she realized his uniform showed signs of wear. Kinked and loose in some areas, his uniform looked and felt different from the starched stiff uniforms of new students.
He’s an upperclassman then? Why’s he here?
Mia eyed him suspiciously, just as the student who had rushed off earlier came back with a teacher, announcing, “I’ve brought the school doctor so we’re good here. We don’t have enough hands yet. Go help the students over there.”
The moment she glimpsed the Magic Department’s red tie out of the corner of her eye, Mia realized the reason for her déjà vu. She jerked her head up to find the bearlike man who had stood beside her in line at the registration desks.
“All right. Please take care of him.” Mia left the boy to the man and turned around swiftly. She proceeded to efficiently finish treating the rest of the injured students before help arrived.
✦ ✦ ✦
“…I forgot to ask for her name,” Felix absently muttered to himself, as Mathias worriedly peered at him.
“Huh?” A dangerous glint flashed in Mathias’ eyes.
Fortunately for Felix, his panic attack had completely abated. The school doctor said he was fine now. So then why did his chest still hurt? Felix felt like a hole had opened in his chest the moment she’d left. The draft of cold air filling the gap between them chilled him. Was it because he’d learned the warmth and softness of human touch?
“What must I do to become better acquainted with her?” Felix desperately inquired of Mathias. Getting to know her would somehow calm the cold creeping in on him.
“…Her? You mean the girl who was just here?” Mathias clarified. Felix nodded.
Felix watched the girl. She had finished treating everyone and was in the middle of cleaning up. She removed her bloody gloves and stored away unused bandages. Undoing her ponytail had undone her commanding air with it, changing her image so drastically that even the people she had treated probably wouldn’t recognize her the next time they met.
Observing her calmly, she was just a normal girl without any unique characteristics or particularly noteworthy features. Or at least she should’ve been. But then why couldn’t Felix will himself to take his eyes off her?
“Are you saying you want to be her friend?”
“Yeah,” Felix nodded again. But it didn’t sit well with him right after. “…I think?” He cocked his head.
Friends?
Never having experienced a relationship of true friendship outside his childhood friends, Felix couldn’t tell if that was what he longed for. He tried comparing what he felt for her to his feelings for Mathias. There was a huge discrepancy between them.
Then what is this? As he searched himself for the answer, he became aware of a shadow obstructing his view. Mathias was waving his hand in front of Felix’s face. He’s in the way, he thought, but not wanting to lose sight of the girl, he seared her visage into his eyes.
“I have a horrible feeling this is gonna turn into somethin’ insanely annoying…”