"I... Gess... I... Survived... Ajan..."

My eyes widened, and unshed tears began to form. She... I am at a loss for words. I can’t put something like this into mere words.

That sentence, mixed with her broken smile, made it clear that she was thinking about me before herself.

She didn’t want me to feel bad.

Just why is she acting like this? Why can’t she just be angry or sad? She can just use me to relieve her frustration, which I wouldn’t mind. But no, she just has a soul that is too good to do that kind of thing.

’My heart...’

Suddenly, the ache in my heart that had eased a little intensified again. And no matter how much I blinked to keep my tears from falling, one drop still managed to escape and fall onto my lap.

’I can’t, I won’t, I will....’

I kept repeating those words in my mind. But seriously, even I wasn’t sure what I wanted.

What is it that I can’t, I won’t, and I will?

Is it normal for someone to be this conflicted? This kind of thing has never happened to me before. Back then, I was quick to make decisions.

If I wanted something, I would get it through hard work. If not, then I wouldn’t even look at it.

But now, I refused, then accepted, then declined, and then accepted again.

I don’t know what is happening to me. Why is it so difficult to stay on one side?

I may not have ever liked anyone or wanted someone before, but I didn’t know feelings could be this deadly.

"...Vo...gin..." Viora spoke up again. "...iz...samdin...rang...?"

Her words made me come out of my miserable state.

Her smile had disappeared, and now her expression had turned into something more worried and sad.

"No... Nothing is wrong."

Her expression gave an even stronger pull at my heart, and a sniff unexpectedly escaped from my mouth.

I quickly covered my mouth and closely monitored her face for any changes.

And there it was.

The widened eyes.

The slightly parted lips.

"R... O... Crin..."

She closed her eyes for a moment and turned away toward the ceiling.

"No. No. I am not crying. And certainly not for you."

I startled and said whatever came to mind to tell her that I wasn’t crying. Even if I was, it wasn’t because of her.

But those were the worst choice of words.

They only made things more clear.

"I... Ne..VR... Sid... Bkaz... Of... Me..."

Shit!

I cursed inwardly and opened my mouth to assure her and come clean, but no words were forming.

"U... Aso... Fel... Pity... Far... Me..."

She pulled the cover over part of her face, and I noticed her fingers tightly gripping the cloth.

"Just... Lyk.. ever...one..."

Those words made me realize that I wasn’t the only one being drawn toward her.

She too was being pulled toward me.

Because she thought I was different from others who only helped her out of pity.

She thought I was helping her because I actually cared for her.

And if I hadn’t tried to deny the fact that I was crying because of her, then this wouldn’t have happened.

If that had been the case, then she wouldn’t have mistaken my care for pity.

Since I denied it, it only made me look like those guys who feel pity but don’t want to admit it.

’What am I supposed to do with myself?’

I hate how I speak without thinking.

Now, I have made her feel bad, and maybe angry too.

I should do something about it.

"Hey, Viora. Listen. Okay, I admit it. I was kind of crying for you. But that was just a little bit. Just a little, not much."

Viora moved the cover away from her face.

"...a...litl...?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Ah... No... I mean much. I care for you very much. So don’t just take it as pity. I genuinely care for you."

I blurted it out.

I stood up and moved a bit closer to her bed.

"I am sorry if my actions made you feel bad."

She moved her hand and covered her mouth with it.

"H...mp... Dat... Iz...gud..."

Following those words, I heard a small giggle escape her.

"Yo...wyn’t... cry...nao..."

Wait, did she do all that pity act just to make me stop crying?

Is that what this was?

"Viora, was that all an act? You pretending to be angry?" I asked, but she didn’t give me the answer I was expecting.

"He...he... Yo... Ador...ybl..."

Saying that, she covered her face again, leaving me standing there dumbfounded.

What just happened?!

Yesterday I was cute.

Today I am adorable.

What will I be tomorrow?

Sweet?

Or lovely?

I raised an eyebrow at her remark. ’I really can’t understand her.’