Till The End Of The Moon [SEASON- 2]

10. Unwanted questions.

When Miang Tao slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Li Susu's face-so close, soft strands of her hair brushing his cheek.

Her eyes widened as their gaze met. For a moment, neither of them moved, suspended in a breathless silence.

But then Li Susu quickly pulled back, flustered. Her hands trembled slightly as she pushed herself away and lowered her eyes.

Miang Tao: "What are you doing here... so close?"

Li Susu: "I-hey, don't take it the wrong way, okay? You kicked your blanket off and it's cold. I just... I just covered you. That's all. I wasn't doing anything else, really. I'm sorry if it looked wrong."

She bit her lip, her cheeks turning red from embarrassment, or maybe the cold.

Miang Tao blinked, his heartbeat still a little too fast. He sat up slowly, brushing his fingers through his hair.

Miang Tao: "No... no, it's absolutely fine. I overreacted. I'm sorry. I just-waking up like that... it startled me."

Li Susu: (softly) "Hmm."

There was an awkward silence for a few moments as they avoided looking at each other. The morning light filtered through the wooden gaps in the small forest cabin, casting long, dappled shadows across the floor.

Miang Tao: "But... what are you doing awake so early? It's barely even dawn."

Li Susu: "I usually wake up early. It's just... a habit."

She tugged at the hem of her sleeve, avoiding his eyes. Then she glanced at him again, curiosity flickering in her expression.

Li Susu: "You said you live here alone. Why? Why so deep in the forest? Why not in the city, or the kingdom? Do you not have anyone?"

He let out a small, dry laugh. His voice was low, almost hollow.

Miang Tao: "So many questions. You sound like someone who's been waiting a long time to ask them."

Li Susu: (smiling faintly) "Maybe I have."

Miang Tao: (quietly) "I'm an orphan."

The words hung in the air like an echo. The smile dropped from her face.

Li Susu: "...What?"

Miang Tao: "You heard right. I don't know who my parents were. I grew up in silence, between trees and time. No family. No one to ask me where I've been or if I'm okay. Just... the forest, and me."

He tried to laugh again, but it cracked halfway through.

Miang Tao: "I've been alone for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's fate. Maybe I was never meant to belong anywhere."

Li Susu looked at him. Really looked. Not just at his face, but at the sadness in his eyes, the weight in his shoulders. Something inside her clenched. Her throat felt tight.

Li Susu: "That's not true. No one deserves to be alone forever."

Miang Tao: "Then why am I?"

Li Susu: "Because you chose this. Maybe not consciously... but somewhere along the way, you stopped believing you could have more."

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and tears shimmered in her eyes. She didn't even notice them fall. She crawled over to him, sitting beside him on the floor. They were so close now, their shoulders nearly touching.

Li Susu: "You're not alone anymore. Jiang adores you. And I... I-"

She stopped herself. Her hand brushed his arm-soft, tentative. Her fingers trembled, but she didn't pull away.

Li Susu (softly): "You don't have to carry everything alone."

For a moment, Miang Tao didn't say anything. Then, with a breath, he turned to face her. His eyes weren't unreadable anymore. They were full of chaos-questions he didn't know how to ask, feelings he didn't know how to hold.

Without thinking, his hand reached up and gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered at her jawline, just barely touching her skin. She froze, but didn't pull away.

Miang Tao: "You're different. You talk like you know me... like you've known me forever."

Her breath caught in her throat.

Li Susu: "Maybe I have."

He looked at her for a long moment. Then he leaned forward, close enough that their foreheads nearly touched. Close enough to feel the warmth of her breath. His fingers brushed her cheek, his thumb tracing a tear she hadn't realized was there.

Miang Tao (whispering): "Why do I feel like... I've held you before? Dream of your voice? Your eyes?"

She couldn't speak. Her heart beat so loud she was sure he could hear it.

Miang Tao: "Tell me... who are you really?"

Li Susu: "Someone who's been waiting for you. For a very long time."

They stayed like that, forehead to forehead, breaths mingling in the chilled air. Neither moved. Neither dared to ruin the fragile moment that wrapped around them like silk.

Then-

Tantai Jiang (half-asleep from the bed): "Mummaa...? Where are you?"

Both of them jumped apart like fire had burned them.

Li Susu (hurriedly): "Jiang! I-I'm here! Coming!"

She scrambled up, flustered and red-faced, rushing to her daughter's side.

Miang Tao sat there, still, heart pounding, hands tingling where he'd touched her. The quiet chaos of emotion lingered between them, like something unfinished. Like a question neither of them dared answer... yet.

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Chapter ended.
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