Eira’s POV
After drinking the porridge, it didn’t take long for my body to react. My skin began to itch, a raw discomfort spreading across my chest. Breathing grew heavier with each passing second.
Despite the growing tightness in my lungs and the burning beneath my skin, a faint smile played on my lips.
’I’m going to et Alice.’
I curled up in the bed, ready for the end. Darkness began to cloud the edges of my mind, pulling gently toward the abyss. I was dying. Finally.
At the final mont of life, what does a person think about? Perhaps not of regrets or pain. Maybe they think of the mories they cherished the most.
My subconscious drifted six years back into the past, the day when Alice took to her ho for the first ti.
But I didn’t know that day would lead to him, the one who stole my heart the mont I saw him.
Alice and I stood in front of the cozy-looking cottage ho, surrounded by a beautiful greenery. The air was fresh, touched by the first chill of approaching winter.
"Eira, wait here," Alice had said, already walking toward the door. "I need to check if Fluffy is tied up. He’ll bark and jump all over you the mont he sees you."
Fluffy was her dog, golden retriever, who I had heard about from Alice.
I stayed outside, taking in the peaceful surroundings, and then I saw him.
My breath almost caught in my chest at the sight of him.
He was lounging in a chair set in the middle of the lawn, soaking in the sunlight beneath the wide blue sky. Clad in a crisp white shirt and light trousers, he glowed beneath the pale light of the day. His eyes were closed, face calm and untouched by worry. The breeze tugged gently at his shirt, and his short hair moved slightly with it. I almost had an urge to move my fingers through them.
He looked like sothing drawn from a dream.
I was never the kind of girl who looked at n so boldly. In truth, let alone take interest in anyone ever. But with him, I couldn’t seem to look away. He was, without a doubt, the most enchantingly handso man I had ever seen. And the pull I felt toward him, I couldn’t describe it, only feel it.
I was lost, not realizing that he had opened his eyes and turned his face to look at .
"Had enough of staring yet?" His voice was calm, slightly hoarse voice brought back to my senses.
It startled like a thief was caught red handed. Not knowing what to do, I looked toward the house entrance—but Alice was yet to return.
He stood up from the chair, graceful and unhurried, and walked toward . His face gave nothing away. No smile, no frown. Just quiet curiosity.
I swallowed hard, my instincts telling to run, but within seconds, he stood directly in front of . He bent slightly, lowering himself to et my height, his light green eyes scanning my face closely.
"And who might you be? A little rabbit sneaking into my garden?"
I took a step back, my gaze falling to the ground. I didn’t dare et his eyes again.
"I’m Alice’s friend," I murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
"Then why are you outside and staring at like you’ve never seen a man before?" he asked.
"I..." I stamred, at a complete loss for words. My mind blanked, and I shut my eyes like a frightened child, unsure what to do or say.
Just then, the door creaked open and Alice’s voice rang out, scolding her dog. "Fluffy, stay quiet, alright? Don’t scare my friend. You’ll like her."
Relief washed over . I opened my eyes but he was already gone.
Alice ca outside and took in, apologizing for keeping waiting. I looked around, but there was no sign of him. ’Who was he?’
"Today is my mother’s birthday," Alice said cheerfully. "We’re celebrating it with lunch and a few close people."
"Birthday?" I exclaid lightly. "Why didn’t you tell before? I didn’t even bring a gift."
"Your presence is already a gift," she said as we entered the ho. "It’s always my brother’s friends who are invited for als, but this ti, there’s my friend as well—you."
I watched a few people already present inside the ho—five n and one young woman. They looked at , and I felt like their gazes could pierce through my body. Or maybe it was just my nervous self that felt that way.And among them was him—the one who talked to outside.
He had a light smirk on his lips as he watched , making even more nervous.
Alice introduced to her two brothers, and then to the other three—friends of theirs—the young woman Sophia, and her own mother, Jennifer.
I greeted them with a silent nod, keeping my gaze lowered to the floor, not daring to look at them for long.
Jennifer greeted warmly. "You are just as beautiful as Alice told ."For the first ti, I saw what mothers are like—and I never had one.
Jennifer loved Alice and her two sons deeply.
We had lunch together. It was difficult for to eat the way he stared at while eating comfortably. Without even looking at him, I could feel his piercing gaze.
I felt like I should leave that place quickly—and I did by making an excuse just after we finished eating.
I escaped that day, but after that, it beca frequent that we ca across each other. The frequent encounters made us familiar with each other and without knowing we were already in love.
But we couldn’t let anyone know about it, especially my grandparents, who were already strict with —and I was a minor as well, just a few months apart from my adulthood.
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