Turning Page || Levi Ackerman

11: Proposal

Heyy,I'm a little late today ( 1 and a 1/2 hour to be exact) And I really didn't have the time to proofread this chapter properly. And I am really really sorry for that. If you do find any grammatical or spelling errors please do tell me about it.

The next few chapters are going to be a little intense, and I really want you to pay attention to the dates as well. This chapter takes place a month after chapter 10 and things aren't really happening as quickly as they seem to be. So keep the timeskips in mind please.

The song for this chapter is Euphor by Novo Amor

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Chatter hovers around the hallways. The curfew is just about to kick off, and the cadets gather outside, savoring these last moments before they go back to their room.

Mae and Ivan stroll side by side. He wears his coat as he walks, and she leads the way to the entrance, even though he already knows the way by now.

It's quiet but not uncomfortable. Ivan has been coming here much more often... and she has got habituated to his presence by now.

Mae's eyes rove around the corridor, heavy and drowsy with sleep. Uncharacteristically she stumbles over her feet and Ivan's hand reaches forward, just in case she falls down. But she gains her balance and somehow straightens herself.

"I'm okay... I'm okay," she mumbles as she blinks the exhaustion away. And Ivan throws a concerned look as he looks at her slouching figure.

The outer gates come to sight, getting bigger with every step. Ivan reaches his hands forward and pushes them open.

"I'll get going then." he says as he walks forward.

"Wait," Mae blurts without thinking, and Ivan swivels at her voice. "Are you planning to take up the nurse position?"

"Yeah I don't mind, father's clinic is sold, and I get so bored at home these days... might as well do something instead. And I like the Survey Corps so I wouldn't mind helping them out"

Mae stares at him, a little surprised at his answer. He is a well-renowned doctor in a city like Mitras, and yet he accepts the job of a nurse, with a meager salary at the Survey Corps. She never thought he'd accept the position.

"You'll be coming for dinner this Sunday, right?" he questions to keep the conversation going.

"Yeah, Mr. Mendes told me that he'll get some steak from the market... obviously I'll be there," Mae grins sheepishly. It's a change from the glum expression she usually sports these days.

"Great...." he pauses, and a frown traces his lips, hesitant to utter the words that run in his mind.

"Mae... I know this is a little rude... But you look really tired. Eye bags have formed on your face, and your eyes look so dull."

She lets out a sigh and then looks up at him. "I know... I have been busy with some work... But don't you worry, I'm going to crash into bed right after this." She flashes him a smile, and he smiles back in return.

"Okay great... bye." He waves and steps out. And she watches his figure get smaller and disappear into the thick tree trunks of the surrounding forest.

Ivan's still a little awkward, and by now Mae knows it's just his nature.

Moments with him are usually filled with silence, and his attempts at small talk are miserable. But once you find a common topic, then he speaks out whenever he thinks he has something to contribute.

The common topic between them being medicine.

It's been a month since the day Levi yelled at her, and a lot has changed.