The veil of hearts

•you are my favorite thing to do•

A/N : play the music above while reading

15

You are my favourite thing to do

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Joshua's POV

As we stood at the entrance of our lodging, the night air crisp around us, I felt a sudden reluctance to end our evening. Aina's eyes met mine, reflecting the soft glow of the nearby streetlamp, and I found myself speaking before I could think better of it.

"Aina," I said, my voice low and filled with an emotion I couldn't quite name, "there's a place... a place that's calling to me."

Her eyes widened with curiosity, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Oh? Where is it, Professor?"

I hesitated for a moment, knowing I was treading on dangerous ground, but unable to stop myself. "It's not far from here. A small overlook that offers a view of the entire city. Would you... would you like to see it?"

I held my breath, half expecting her to decline, to remember the boundaries that should exist between us. But to my surprise and secret delight, she nodded eagerly.

"I'd love to," she said softly, rewrapping my scarf more snugly around her neck.

We walked in comfortable silence, our breaths creating small clouds in the cold air. As we climbed the small hill to the overlook, I found myself hyper-aware of Aina's presence beside me, of the way her hand occasionally brushed against mine as we navigated the snowy path.

Finally, we reached the top, and I heard Aina's sharp intake of breath as she took in the view. Helsinki sprawled before us, a tapestry of twinkling lights against the dark sky. The stars above seemed to mirror the city below, creating a magical, otherworldly scene.

"It's beautiful," Aina whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes, it is," I agreed, though my gaze was fixed on her rather than the view.

We stood there for a moment, taking in the beauty of the night. Then, almost imperceptibly, Aina shifted closer to me, her shoulder brushing against my arm. I felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, my heart racing in my chest.

"Professor," she said softly, her eyes still on the city below, "why did you really bring me here?"

I swallowed hard, knowing that my answer could change everything between us. "I... I'm not sure," I admitted. "I just knew I wanted to share this with you. That somehow, it wouldn't be complete unless you were here to see it too."

Aina turned to me then, her eyes searching mine. In them, I saw a reflection of my own longing, my own confusion and hope.

"I'm glad you did," she whispered, her breath visible in the cold air between us.

For a moment, we stood there, teetering on the edge of something profound. The city lights twinkled below us, the stars shone above, and in that space between earth and sky, I felt as though anything was possible.

But then, reality intruded. The distant sound of a car horn broke the spell, reminding us of the world beyond this magical moment.

"We should head back," I said reluctantly, even as every fiber of my being screamed to stay, to prolong this perfect night.

Aina nodded, a mix of emotions flashing across her face. As we made our way back down the hill, I felt a shift in the air between us. Something had changed, some unspoken truth had been acknowledged.