LIVING | 하루토

6 - Names

"try to walk." he said, reaching his hand out. he seemed to be a bit out of breath... could it be from using excessive mana in a short amount of time?

as he reached his hand out, he gazed into my eyes with a look of..

hope.

for a while, he sounded as though he was actually concerned. the cold & stern tone from earlier had faded from his voice.

instead, it was more of a concerned tone. his words soft and gentle, unlike previously where his words were as sharp as knives.

i no longer felt like i was walking on eggshells around him.

what's with him? is he bipolar or something?

anyway, i hastily took his hand, straining to bring myself up. i inhaled sharply as i took a few steps forward; secretly hoping that the ache would be gone.

and it was.

my eyes gleamed as ecstasy took over my body. i felt my lips widening, smiling from ear to ear as i continued to leap and sprint without feeling the uncomfortable sensation of aches on my chest.

"it's only temporary," he said as he crossed his arms, settling down on the sofa as his eyebrows furrowed, watching me celebrate around his hut.

i cleared my throat as i finally realised how ridiculous i must have looked to him just now.

my face burnt of embarrassment as i fiddled with my fingers. for a while, we stayed there in silence as we both found anything else to look at rather than one another's eyes.

and so, to break the suffocating atmosphere between us, i figured i'd get to know him more.

and plus! without him, i'd... i'd technically be in an ogre's stomach right now.

i might as well show some gratitude, right?

"you're... a hybrid arent you?" i finally mustered enough courage to ask, taking a seat next to him on the sofa as i fiddled with my fingers.

"nature & defence," he nodded.

i nodded slowly, acknowledging his response.

"h-how did you find me? i mean, Cepil's p-pretty far from your land.." i asked. to be fair, i still have no idea what happened when i passed out after trying to collect water from the river.

another wave of awkward silence filled the room. it really felt as if i was becoming suffocated by such an awkward feeling.

then, he looked into my eyes.

i fluttered my eyes up at him, a tad bit confused. i-is he not going to answer...? did i... c-could i have offended him or something?

or perhaps, h-he's angry?

"since you clearly can't read the room," he started.

i shot my head up again to meet his eyes, taken aback by his statement. w-what does he mean 'cant read the room?!'

just when i thought he was starting to warm up to me...

"watanabe haruto," he said, crossing his arms as he leaned into the sofa.

??? what?

then, it finally clicked. h-his name! that's his name...!! though i hate to admit it, it was rude of me to not even introduce myself or ask for his name after his help.

w-where have my manners gone?!

"ah... r-right," i cleared my throat sheepishly as i looked away from haruto's gaze, looking at something, anything else!

god.. i'm about to die of embarrassment here.

"y-yena acoff," i muttered, still avoiding haruto's eyes. i felt like disappearing into a hole underground if i were to meet his eyes now... this is so embarrassing!

"you can relax, acoff. i'm not doing anything," he chuckled softly to himself as he reassured me that i didn't need to avoid his eyes.

"anyway, back to your question.."

"there were sightings of an ogre near our barrier, and i went to check it out just in case. but i noticed some red locks of hair on the ground and found it odd... it was something i'd never seen before," he explained slowly, providing details i didn't know i needed or even wanted to know.

he was talking as if i didn't just completely embarrass myself in front of him...!!

also, is.. is there something weird about my red hair?

"o-odd...?" i asked, subconsciously caressing my red locks as i finally met his eyes again.

"not bad odd. just intriguing, perhaps," haruto shrugged.

i-intriguing? is that good or bad? was that meant to be an insult...?? or a compliment?! does this man not know how words work?!

"anyway, i came closer out of curiosity and found you unconsciously lying on the ground. and of course, how could i have it in me to leave you in such a state?" he tilted his head at me slightly with a small smile on his face— a smile of empathy.

this was... the first time i had seen him in any other expression other than that stupid smug one.

his bunny teeth showed in his smile as his eyes squinted a little, resembling a cat if it were to smile.

i've only noticed this now, but he emitted some sort of endearing and attractive aura to him, that you can't help but stare at him in wonder a-and... well... admiration-

he's chivalrous and knows how to defend w-well.. his healing just makes him more-

..?

...??

..???!!!!!

WHAT?! W-WHAT AM I THINKING?

snap out of it yena. he saved you just like how any decent human being would. that's like.. the bare minimum!

cut it out!

"acoff? you all right?" he asked, leaning his head closer as he waved his hand around my face.

"h-huh?! i'm perfect..!!" i chuckled nervously, snapping out of my train of thought.

he furrowed his eyes brows a little, obviously not convinced but let it go anyway. he sighed as he dragged himself up and walked into his kitchen, preparing some sort of tea.

i-i... just need to get back to Cepil. people will start wondering where i am and the sun's about to set. if i'm not back by morning, i'm certain they'll start becoming suspicious.

i don't want to distress father either.

"haruto.." i muttered from the sofa. his back looking busy with the tea brewing.

"hm?" he hummed in his low voice that took me aback a little.

"a-as much as i appreciate y-your help... i need to return to Cepil. now," i reminded.

i couldn't waste another moment here. no one can know of this, absolutely no one!

all i need to do is return silently to my cottage and all will be well.

"acoff i-"

"ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS OF ALIN, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN OGRE SIGHTINGS TODAY & ALL HEALING HYBRIDS ARE TO REPORT TO TOWN HALL NOW. THIS IS NOT A DRILL."