infodatos Chapter 78: Those Mornings...(1)
Chapter 78: Those Mornings...(1)
Chapter 78: Those Mornings...(1)Fiona and Steve walked side by side down the academy hallway, their footsteps soft against the stone floor.
The corridor, long and quiet, was bathed in the golden remnants of the mounted torchs.
Neither of them said much. The silence between them wasn’t awkward—it was heavy, thoughtful, as if both were
’She feels it too.’
Fiona’s breath hitched. She blinked and looked away, cheeks flushing with color.
"You always... do things like that when I least expect it." she whispered.
Steve tilted his head.
"Do what?"
"You know." she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You look at me like I’m... something more. Like I matter."
His voice was gentle now.
"Because you do."
She turned her gaze back to him.
"You’ve been here long enough to see it yourself. Compared to the other girls at the academy, I’m just... I don’t know. Like a clumsy ogre in a sea of angels."
Steve blinked, genuinely taken aback.
"Is that what you tell yourself?"
She gave a weak shrug.
"It’s just the truth."
He looked at her for a long moment. Then he smiled softly.
"Do you want to hear my truth?"
Fiona glanced at him, a little hesitant, her voice barely audible.
"Okay..."
"I think you’re—" He stopped himself, looking down for a second. Then up again, eyes steady.
"Exceptionally beautiful. And even more than that... you’re kind. Immensely kind."
She looked stunned for a moment, her lips parting slightly.
"Kind?" she repeated.
"What do you mean?"
Steve let out a small breath.
"Those mornings... when you helped me. When you didn’t have to. When you just... showed up for me."
His voice trailed off. But the look in his eyes remained—soft, sincere, and unflinching.
Upon hearing this, Fiona’s thoughts instantly went racing.
’Oh no. He remembers. He’s talking about those mornings. The ones where I... when I...’ Her face turned crimson. Her breath caught in her throat.
Her gaze dropped, then slowly returned to his.
And just like that, the moment tightened between them.
Steve leaned in—not much, just a few inches. But it was enough. Enough to feel her breath brushing against his skin. Enough to make her eyes flutter, her body still.
"So..."
He stopped, just short of her lips. He was close enough, close enough to know this wasn’t some accident. This was real.
And when he spoke, his voice was soft. Grounded. Confident.
"Let me help you today."