"And that's how I basically got through this Academy, y'know? Though I must've been far too on edge on my first day here that I might've been far too impulsive and panicky… But that was because I felt quite scared of the new environment after living in a… comfortable place for months."
Inna purposely withheld the name of the manor as Solomon's disapproving face suddenly popped up in her mind. It made her end up giggling like a maniac before continuing.
"So, yeah, yeah.… I was panicking back then. It was a new situation and of course, the animosity of the students was a big surprise for me. It felt like there was a great divide between me and the rest of the students there. But then…"
Inna finally stopped her fiddling with his hand but instead, she gripped his thumb tightly as she sighed.
"You were there. Thanks. I was not that ready to face the animosity alone but fortunately, you were there to support me. You even somehow made it near unnoticeable. And fuck, thank you. Really. I know I don't usually say this but… Really, thank you. You never made me feel alone. Well, when I look back, you never gave me a chance to. We always talked, laughed, and goofed around almost every single day. Aside from my visits to Rhys and during specific lessons, I can even barely count the number of times you left my side."
Inna smiled at Raghnall and seeing such sincerity from her, he froze.
She was laying down her heart right now. She was telling him all her thoughts, her emotions, and her story honestly and completely without even minding the fact that he couldn't understand some of it.
But here he was… sharing only a single part with most details he purposely withdrew in fear of her hating him…
Should he really reveal himself? Who he really was?
But then again, keeping silent about something doesn't equate to lying.
And so, he decided to just smile sheepishly at Inna instead.
"I'm just being a… true friend... that's all there is to it. No need to thank me so much."
Inna smiled at him and she suddenly ruffled his head.
"Just… one request please…"
Raghnall looked at her with a chuckle as he tried to fix his hair.
"Hmm… What is it?"
Inna mockingly fluttered her lashes as she tried to prove her point.
"Can you tone your charm down a notch? It's really bad for my heart."
Raghnall raised his eyebrows in surprise as he smirked.
"When your drunk, you're really honest y'know? Well, this is loads better than your screaming crazy side or your violent side."
Inna raised an eyebrow.
"I'm drunk? No, I'm not. Something that small can't hit me."
Seeing her red half-lidded eyes and softly swaying torso, Raghnall didn't believe her at all.
"Hmm? Then, what do you think of me then? Am I handsome? Am I worthy of being an asshole?"
Despite her hazy mind, Inna began to contemplate before speaking.
"I… uhhh… your eyes are really pretty. Like really really really… I like your eyes."
Raghnall tried his hardest to hold down his laughter as he continued to question her.
"Well, this is fun... You're actually being honest for a change… So, what about my eyes, hm? What makes them pretty?"
Inna didn't seem to be thinking clearly as she immediately answered. She had no clue what Raghnall was planning at all. She simply had the urge to talk and answer whatever question came her way with whatever answer that would pop in her mind.
"Like… they're dishonest but genuine."
Raghnall froze for a moment as his smile faltered.
"Dishonest? How so? And how can you like something that's dishonest?"
Inna began to move closer to Raghnall as she started to observe his eyes more intently than ever.
"I… I dunno. It just feels like, your eyes are hiding something but at the same time, they're openly and genuinely expressing the emotions you currently feel. I don't know why but I kinda find the contradiction interesting. That's why I like them."
Then Inna gently caressed his face as she continued her observations.
"See? Like right now, I see… fear… Nervousness… Affection? And sadness… You really have expressive eyes so when you lie to me it's pretty obvious. But it's okay. We all have our own secrets. And just because I said mine doesn't mean you should as well. Because I gotta respect the fact that you might not be ready to say it."
Inna chuckled lightheartedly as she patted his cheek gently. Then, she involuntarily yawned, breaking the tension in the air.
Raghnall felt as though he could finally breathe once she stopped her intense stare. And he couldn't help but be in a small state of shock from what Inna just said.
This girl… was she just pretending to be.. stupid and crazy? Was she just pretending that everything was alright because she knew he wouldn't feel comfortable talking about his secrets?
He didn't know he was so obvious about him hiding his identity since Inna didn't seem to get suspicious of him. But who knew that she only pretended so that he wouldn't feel cornered to spill.
This girl... From the year he's been with her, he knew how she easily gets curious about the smallest things. And once curious, she'd always try to quench her curiosity no matter what.
But to think she would hold back for the sake of 'respecting him.'
Raghnall felt his heart squeeze deeply and he couldn't help but engulf her in a big hug.
Inna jumped at the sudden contact but when she felt his arms wrap around her snugly, she instinctively buried herself deeper in his arms.
Feeling his warmth envelop around her, Inna suddenly began to feel a series of different conflicting emotions. It was as though the warmth and comfort coming from Raghnall were melting away her emotional defenses, making her feel all the emotions she was trying hard to hide and ignore. She felt happy for a brief moment, then sad the next, then lonely, then comforted, then tired, then energized.
It was as though the dam that held those emotions back suddenly crumbled and with it came a surge of heavy emotions which resulted to her body getting confused on what to feel. But in a few moments, it was as though her mind zeroed in on the most abundant emotion present in her and her eyes watered as she started to sob uncontrollably. And hearing her sobs, although utterly confused once again, he just hugged her tighter as he cherished the feeling of her in his arms.