Chapter 322: A Perfect Afternoon
The afternoon sun was warm against my face as Sienna and I stepped out of the apartment building, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of blooming flowers from a nearby park. She walked beside me, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her turquoise dress. It was cute and Camille was the one who had insisted she wear it, claiming it brought out her eyes.
"You sure about this?" Sienna asked, her voice soft and filled with uncertainty. "I mean, going out in public... aren’t people going to stare at us?"
I glanced down at her, noting the way she kept her gaze fixed on the sidewalk ahead. Her shoulders were slightly hunched as if she was trying to make herself smaller. Even dressed up, she carried herself with that same quiet humility that had drawn me to her in the first place.
"Let them stare," I said, reaching out to gently take her hand. "I want to spend time with you. Just you."
Her fingers tightened around mine, and I felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Despite her shy nature, there was a strength in her grip that reminded me that she was an A-Rank Construction Worker. She might be gentle and soft-spoken, but she could probably beat me in a fight if I wasn’t taking it seriously.
There was a mall that was only a fifteen-minute walk from our apartment, but as we headed towards it, I could already see the familiar pattern starting. People on the street doing double-takes, whispered conversations, the occasional phone being raised to take a photo. It came with the territory of being in my position. Though I found myself wondering if they truly understood the weight that I was carrying.
"Rey," Sienna whispered, her steps faltering slightly. "There’s a lot of people looking."
"Hey," I said, stopping and turning to face her. "Look at me."
She raised her eyes to mine, and I saw the anxiety there, the way she was trying to shrink into herself.
"You’re with me," I said softly. "That means you’re safe. That means you belong here. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise."
A small smile tugged at her lips, and she nodded, straightening her shoulders just a fraction.