The veil of hearts

•dive in the direction of us•

A/N: Listen to the music while reading this chapter

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15
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Joshua's POV

As I watched Aina set off alone into the snowy Helsinki evening, a mix of concern and curiosity tugged at me. Before I could overthink it, I found myself following her, my feet crunching softly in the fresh snow.

"Professor?" Aina's surprised voice rang out as she turned, catching sight of me.

I felt a flush creep up my neck, suddenly aware of how this might look. "I thought why not roam around Helsinki today," I explained quickly. "Since tomorrow we start our camp. If you don't mind the company, that is."

A smile bloomed on Aina's face, bright enough to rival the twinkling lights of the city. "I'd love that," she said softly.

As we walked side by side through the charming streets, I couldn't help but notice how Aina's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder at every snowflake that drifted down. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and wisps of hair escaped her hijab, framing her face in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"Look, Professor!" she exclaimed suddenly, pointing at a group of children building a snowman. Without warning, she darted over to a nearby patch of untouched snow and flopped down, moving her arms and legs to create a snow angel.

I couldn't contain my laughter at the sight of my usually composed student giggling like a child. "Having fun?" I asked, offering her a hand up.

Aina's eyes met mine as she took my hand, her smile wide and unguarded. "I can't explain it," she said, brushing snow from her coat. "I just feel so... happy here."

As we stepped into Café Ekberg, the warmth enveloped us like a cozy blanket, a stark contrast to the crisp Helsinki air outside. The aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and coffee filled the air, mingling with the soft strains of music playing from hidden speakers.

I recognized the song immediately, its gentle melody wrapping around us:

Hello

I never was so sure to say it out

But maybe it's too much to hold it down

To look away the night sky

Aina's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "Oh, I love this song," she said softly, almost to herself.

We found a small table by the window, the falling snow outside creating a picturesque backdrop. As we settled in, the chorus of the song filled the air:

So would you say it back

Dive in the direction of us

And let the starlight out and shine

It's just you and me

There's nothing our faith can't do

So fight away to find our love

I couldn't help but feel the lyrics were speaking directly to us, to this unspoken thing growing between us. I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the way Aina's eyes widened as the waiter brought our cinnamon rolls and coffee.

"Oh my," she breathed, the steam from the freshly baked roll fogging her glasses slightly. The sight was so endearing I had to stifle a chuckle.

As Aina took her first bite, her eyes closed in bliss, a small "Mmm" escaping her lips. I found myself captivated by her unguarded enjoyment, the way she savored each morsel as if it were the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted.