Chapter 37: Under the Moonlight
"You know..." he said suddenly, his gaze locking onto mine with a strange intensity that made my spine stiffen.
"Y-yes?" I chirped—far too high-pitched, too sharp. My nerves had clearly hijacked my vocal cords, and my eyes were spinning like pinwheels.
"...Y-your hands, they’re cold." His voice was soft, almost gentle. The way he smiled, just a little and just enough, held something unspoken. Like he had stopped himself from saying whatever had almost slipped out.
"Huh?" I tilted my head, confused.
’Is that all he wanted to tell me?’
My brain short-circuited. I stood there, completely blank. Like a fool who’d prepared for a test, only to realize it was the wrong subject. Was I expecting... something? Anything? I didn’t even know anymore.
"Oh uh, yeah," I mumbled.
Then, without a word, he let go of my hand. The sudden lack of warmth startled me a bit. He scratched the back of his neck instead, his fingers brushing the nape like he was trying to shake something off.
"...You wanna go in?" he asked quietly.
"No, I haven’t been here that long. You can go in first if you want."
"No, that’s not what I meant." His eyes dropped to the ground, his voice barely audible. The way his brows furrowed ever so slightly and the stiffness in his shoulders made it seem like something invisible was weighing on him.