Dedicated

Dedicated Chapter 20:

-LEVI-

Those eyes, they send waves of heat and breeze at the same time. That smile, it tingles my skin.

Hanji is standing a few meters away from me. Her hair is down and reaches past her shoulders. She is wearing an apple green blouse tucked under her pale yellow, high waisted skirt that reaches her knees. She is also wearing brown boots on her feet and maroon bandanna around her neck.

Countrylike vibe.

"Levi!" She waved at me.

"You took your time."

"Nanaba had to fix my hair." She yelled as she walk towards me.

I watched her walk. With the wind blowing gently, with the sun shining brightly.

I have never seen her so finely dressed as this. It suits her. It's just that there is something abnormal that I can't explain.

"Here's your coat. Thanks, again." She handed me a paper bag, which I took.

"No problem."

"Hey! Say something about my look!"

"Huh... Not bad." I said, looking up to the sky.

"Then look at me and say that I look pretty."

I sucked in some air and slowly turned to Hanji. I quickly darted a glance on her from head to toe, then looked into her eyes.

"Fine. You are pretty."

I started walking, without knowing where to go.

Levi, you're out of your mind!

Why am I walking away? I just said that she is pretty! It's true anyway! Why do I have to feel-

*sudden shudder

I felt a hand grab mine. Turning around, I saw Hanji smiling at me. I stared at her with wide eyes.

"I will lead the way. Now, don't feel embarrassed. I know you are quite foulmouthed, but I also know that you are sincere with what you said."

---

She dragged me by the hand until we got out of the school garden. We saw the sea of people rushing to a certain direction.

"So how is this?" I asked her.

"We will take the route that I took a while ago."

"Where?"

"There!" She pointed to her left with her thumb.

It's the narrow alley between the garden and the back of a building.

I remember it as my escape route whenever I want to ditch a subject and just stay in the garden.

"I guess I'll be going there again." I murmured to myself.

"Let's go." Hanji said and pushed me towards the alley.