The veil of hearts

•I'll remember you•

A/N: Listen to the music above

27
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Aina's POV

As I watched Joshua slump onto the bench, my heart raced with a mixture of concern and affection. His words, slurred but heartfelt, still echoed in my ears. I knew I couldn't leave him like this.

"I'll be right back," I whispered, though I doubted he could hear me in his state.

I hurried to the nearby supermarket, the fluorescent lights harsh after the dim street. My eyes scanned the aisles quickly, locating bottled water and a first aid kit. As I paid, my hands trembled slightly, my mind still reeling from Joshua's confession.

Returning to the bench, I found Joshua exactly where I'd left him, his head lolling to one side. In the harsh streetlight, I could see the small cut on his chin and the bruise forming at the corner of his mouth. My chest tightened at the sight.

"Joshua," I said softly, kneeling in front of him. "Can you hear me?"

His eyes fluttered open, unfocused but searching for my face. A lopsided smile spread across his lips, making my heart skip a beat.

"Aina," he mumbled. "You're still here. I thought... I thought you'd gone."

"Shh," I soothed, uncapping the water bottle. "Here, drink this."

I held the bottle to his lips, supporting his head with my other hand. As he drank, I felt the warmth of his skin against my palm, sending a shiver down my spine.

Next, I opened the first aid kit, my hands shaking slightly as I prepared to clean his wounds. I dabbed the antiseptic wipe gently on his chin, wincing as he hissed in pain.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, my face close to his as I worked. "I'm trying to be gentle."

Joshua's eyes, though glazed with alcohol, seemed to focus on me with startling clarity. "You're always gentle, Aina," he said softly. "So kind... so beautiful..."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, but I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand. As I cleaned the cut on his lip, my fingers brushed against his skin, and I felt him lean into my touch.

"There," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "All done."

But I didn't move away. Instead, I found myself lost in his gaze, my hand still cupping his cheek. The air between us seemed to crackle with unspoken emotions.

"Aina," Joshua breathed, his hand coming up to cover mine. "I meant what I said. Every word."

My heart raced, a mix of exhilaration and fear coursing through me. "Joshua, you're drunk," I reminded him gently. "You might not even remember this in the morning."

A look of determination crossed his face. "I'll remember," he insisted. "I'll remember you, Aina. Always."

As I helped him to his feet, supporting his weight against me, I couldn't help but hope that his words were true. That come morning, he would remember not just his confession, but this moment too - this quiet, intimate moment where I cared for him, where the lines between student and teacher blurred into something deeper, something profound.

"Let's get you home," I said softly, guiding him down the street. And as we walked, his arm around my shoulders and my arm around his waist, I allowed myself to imagine, just for a moment, what it might be like if we could always be this close, this connected.

But for now, I would take care of him, get him home safely, and cherish this memory, whatever the morning might bring.

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Mike's POV

I rounded the corner, my eyes scanning the street for any sign of Josh. When I finally spotted him, the scene before me stopped me in my tracks.

There was Josh, slumped on a bench, with Aina - his student - kneeling in front of him. The sight was so unexpected, so intimate, that for a moment I wondered if I was seeing things.

Aina was gently dabbing at a cut on Josh's chin, her face close to his, her movements tender and careful. Even from a distance, I could see the concern etched on her features, mixed with something else - something that looked a lot like affection.

Josh, for his part, was gazing at Aina with an intensity I'd never seen before. Even in his clearly inebriated state, there was a focus in his eyes, as if Aina was the only thing in the world that mattered.

I stood frozen, unsure whether to approach or retreat. This was clearly a private moment, one I felt almost guilty for witnessing. But as Josh's friend, and knowing the potential consequences of this situation, I knew I couldn't just walk away.

As I watched, Aina helped Josh to his feet. The way they moved together, her arm around his waist, his draped over her shoulders, spoke of a familiarity that went beyond a typical student-teacher relationship.

"Shit, Josh," I muttered under my breath. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I knew would be an awkward intervention. As much as I hated to break up this moment, I knew it was necessary - for both their sakes.

"Josh! There you are, buddy!" I called out, forcing a cheerful tone into my voice as I approached.

Both Josh and Aina's heads snapped up at the sound of my voice. I saw a flash of... was that disappointment? ...cross Aina's face before she quickly schooled her features into a neutral expression.

"Oh, thank goodness," Aina said, her voice steady despite the flicker of emotion I'd seen. "I was just about to call a cab for Professor Joshua."

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral even as my mind raced with questions and concerns. "Thanks for looking out for him, Aina. I can take it from here."

As I took Josh's weight from her, I couldn't help but notice the lingering look that passed between them. There was so much unspoken in that gaze, so much that I knew I'd have to address with Josh when he was sober.

"Get home safe, Aina," I said, giving her a small smile. "And... thanks again."

She nodded, her eyes darting to Josh one last time before she turned and walked away. I watched her go, noting the way Josh's eyes followed her until she disappeared from view.

"Alright, Romeo," I muttered, adjusting my grip on Josh. "Let's get you home. And when you're sober, you and I are going to have a long talk."

As we made our way to my car, I couldn't shake the image of Josh and Aina together. Whatever was going on between them, it was clear that it ran deep. And as Josh's friend, I knew I had to help him navigate this potentially dangerous situation - for both their sakes.

AUTHOR's NOTE
Do let me know how you all felt.
What's going on you guys?