Adrian finally turned back to Irene.
Only then did he notice it. The worry etched across her face, the unease in her eyes, the slight tremble in her body.
He couldn't tell if she was shaking because of her injured ankle…
or because of what she had just witnessed.
What have I done…
Adrian didn't dare step closer.
His gaze dropped to the ground, his body stiff, frozen where he stood.
"Did I scare you…?"
he asked quietly.
Just like back then.
Irene stood there for a moment, unable to answer.
She couldn't tell what she was feeling, everything tangled together.
But even without words, her body moved.
She took a step forward.
Adrian heard her footsteps closing the distance, yet he didn't move.
Maybe he wanted to be comforted after all
When she finally reached him, Irene slowly raised her hand and placed it against his cheek.
Her fingers were warm.
She lifted his face gently, forcing him to look at her.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
Even when both of them wanted to.
"…I'm not"
Irene whispered at last. Her voice was sincere.
Then she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a quiet hug.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
Adrian stood frozen at first, unsure what to do.
Then he let himself stay there
letting the warmth sink in,
letting her comfort him instead.
"…I'm sorry," he said softly.
"For what?"
"I didn't mean to scare you like that."
There was a brief pause. Irene pulled back just enough to look at him.
"It's okay."
She loosened her arms fully, stepping back to see his expression.
Adrian remained quiet, guilt and worry lingering faintly in his eyes, though most of it stayed hidden behind his composure.
Irene didn't fully understand what he was feeling.
But she smiled anyway.
"It's okay," she whispered again. "Thank you."
Something finally eased in Adrian's chest.
His shoulders relaxed.
And he smiled back at her.
Holding hands, the two children walked back toward the oak tree, returning to where they had left off.
They sat together again, the forest calm once more.
Adrian stared at Irene for a long while.
Thoughts came and went, one after another, crowding his mind until he could no longer hold them back.
"…Am I a good person to you?" he asked quietly.
Irene blinked, surprised by the sudden question.
"…Why the sudden question?" she answered after a moment, genuinely puzzled.
"You asked me back then why I came back. Why did you come to me"
Irene looked into Adrian's eyes for a long while.
In that silence, she realized something.
They were the same. Similar.
"I wanted a change" Irene said softly.
Adrian didn't interrupt.
He only listened.
"Life hasn't been kind to me," she continued. "I always told myself, it is what it is. But deep down… I wanted to escape."
Her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
"I wanted a friend"
Memories surfaced in her mind.
Moments where she hid around corners, watching other children laugh together.
All their smiles.
Their playful jokes.
The warmth.
It all looked so fun.
Why did she have to be born like this?
To be different?
Bound to rumors, curses, and whispers that followed her and her family wherever she went.
Then she looked back at him.
"But Aren't you the same?" she asked suddenly.
Adrian stiffened.
He couldn't deny it.
He knew. She knew.
That day, he was supposed to be at a noble's party. Surrounded by children his age. Laughing, talking, pretending to belong.
But with the curse in his blood, fitting in was impossible.
He didn't know how long he could stand among them,
or what expressions they would wear once they discovered what he truly was.
So he ran.
Ran from reality.
Ran from his fate.
Until hunger overtook him.
Until he lost himself completely.
"…It's… complicated," Adrian said at last.
"I know," Irene replied gently. "It's greed. It's luxury."
Then she added quietly,
"I would also be very sad."
"…What?" Adrian asked.
"I would also be very sad if you were to leave."
Adrian froze.
He hadn't expected those words.
"Don't change," Irene continued softly. "Don't ever do that. From the first time we met… until now, you were always perfect in my eyes."
Time stopped for Adrian, the world dissolved.
It felt like water rushed around his feet
rising to his chest
then swallowing him whole.
All the dull days.
All the cursed stares.
All the loneliness he thought defined him.
None of it mattered anymore.
Because in this moment
as long as they had each other
everything felt survivable.
Here. Adrian didn't feel like he was drowning alone.
Adrian wanted to say something.
No
he wanted to tell her everything.
It felt like he finally had enough comfort, enough courage, enough warmth… to open his mouth and let the truth spill out.
"Irene… actually, I, "
His words were cut short.
"Irene!"
A loud voice rang out from the direction of the shack.
Carlo had come back early.
After hearing that the bullies were searching for her again, he had rushed back as fast as he could, rush driving his steps as he searched for his sister.
Startled, Irene turned toward the sound and tried to stand.
"…Carlo." Irene muttered
Adrian closed his lips.
his heart.
He rose first, extending a hand toward her in silence.
Irene took it, steadying herself as she stood.
"I have to go," she said softly.
"I know,"
"We can talk more another time, about what you were about to say."
"…Don't worry," Adrian answered after a brief pause.
"It's nothing."
…
"Irene!"
Carlo's voice came again, this time louder, closer.
Irene turned toward the shack.
Then she looked back.
But Adrian was gone.
No footsteps. No movement. No trace.
As if he had never been there at all.
"Irene!"
Carlo finally burst into view, spotting her standing alone behind the shack. He rushed toward her, gripping her shoulders tightly, his voice flooding her with worry.
"Irene! Why are you outside? Your ankles, "
"Are you hurt anywhere?" he demanded, barely stopping to breathe.
Irene stood frozen for a moment.
Just seconds ago, it had been Adrian in front of her.
Now it was Carlo.
"…Carlo, I'm fine," she said gently.
She gave him a small smile, soft, reassuring, gesturing that everything was alright.
Even though Irene's heart was still lingering somewhere else,
with words left unspoken,
and a boy who vanished before she could stop him.