Silence Sat Between Them

5.

Fukurodani didn't have practice this saturday. After her shift was done, Haela decided to head to the  bookstore. She was roaming in between the alleyways until she found the book she's been searching for. She picked it up and was about to make her way to the checkout when she noticed Akaashi walking a few meters away.

"Akaashi?"

He turned his head in the direction of the voice. Realizing that she's uttered his name aloud by accident, Haela faintly gasped before bringing her hand to her mouth.

"Haela?"

The girl stressfully fidgeted, looking everywhere except at him and ended up laying her eyes on the ground. Akaashi clearly noticed her uneasiness, but still felt delighted to see her.

He went forth to where Haela was standing.

"Are you also looking for books?" he asked

She stuttered, eyes still on the ground, "Y-yes!"

Akaashi noticed the book she was holding and took great interest in it.

"I know this book! This author is so great!"

Haela raised her head at those words. Looking at him with delight, she exclaimed, "I know right! They're one of my favorite authors, all of their books are so great!"

"Yes"

Both were excited at the thought of finally having something in common. Akaashi, who had just entered the bookstore, didn't find what he was looking for yet, so Haela took pleasure in accompanying him. They walked in-between alleys, discussing books of all sorts, exchanging thoughts, opinions and reviews.

After around 2 hours, they finally headed outside. January was almost over, causing the cold weather to still remain. It made Haela sneeze, as she wasn't prepared for the sudden change of temperature between the bookstore and outside.

Akaashi, who felt worried about her health, stopped in his tracks. He still felt bad for the incident that happened between them the other day, hence why he asked,

"Want to borrow my scarf...?"

Haela, who stopped after him, turned around and looked at him. She hesitated at first, but remembering Bokuto's word's - you need to change -  she gave him a proper answer.

"Sure, if it doesn't bother you"

Akaashi proceeded to take off the warm piece of clothing and enwrapped it around Haela. She was looking away as she thought about how to repay him. Akaashi, who looked down at her small frame, wondered why she could never keep eye contact with him.

She never looks at me, he thought, is it because she's too uncomfortable with me? Is it because she's forcing herself to hang out with me? Now that I think of it, I've never seen her hang out with other boys except Bokuto, she's usually always around girls...

As they both wondered, someone rushed over, running past them and accidentally knocked Haela over Akaashi. He looked over, angry and calling them out. The person in question turned around yelling some sort of apology to the both of them, while still running.

Haela landed on Akaashi's chest and heard it.

The sound of his heartbeat.

It was abnormally fast.

Her eyes widened. She repositioned herself, raised her head towards Akaashi, and looked at him in a dumbfounded way.

Worried, he asked her, "Are you alright?"

She didn't answer.

"Is there something wrong?"

Haela, still staring at him, seemed as though she was now seeing Akaashi in a new light.