Rayan opened the door and stepped inside the hut. His eyes then fell on Aria and a deep frown marred his forehead instantly.
"Why are you crying?"
His voice had the tinge of concern that he himself didn't realize. In this concern, he seemed to forget that she didn't understand his language at all.
On the other hand, Aria was looking at him with wide eyes. She blinked and a fresh tear rolled down her cheek. Her lips slightly parted as she stared at him silently.
He didn't leave...
Then she suddenly took a step forward to walk to him but then suddenly remembered that he didn't like unnecessary touching and stepped back.
"Kewie Hon Lan." (Where were you)
Aria asked as she wiped her tears with one hand.
Rayan shook her head in reply indicating that he didn't understand what she was saying. But he did sense a hint of grievance in it ...as if she was blaming him.
Was it because of him she was crying?
He left...and she was scared about him.
Rayan pressed down that thought as it created a weird feeling inside his stomach and chest.
"I went outside."
He said very gently as he pointed towards the door.
He just wanted to see the surroundings so that he could know where exactly he was.
Aria's shoulders slumped slightly in relaxation and she turned around to go back inside her room.
Once inside her room, she locked the door and threw herself to her bed. Soon new tears rolled down her cheeks.
She was so silly to embarrass herself like this.
What was the need to cry just now!
.
.
.
Rayan panicked when she went inside the room so fast.
Was she angry?
He raised his foot to follow but then stopped just near the room. No! It wasn't decent to knock on a lady's room without any reason.
He sighed in frustration and then suddenly thought of something.
----------------------------
Inside the room, Aria didn't have any courage to step outside the room. She was standing near the door. After every few seconds she would raise her hand to open the latch and then put her hand down again.
And at this moment, a knock sounded on the door and Aria took a step back in fright. Wide eyed she stared at the door as if it was some sort of ghost and then looked around everywhere as if to hide herself.
With his body, he could easily knock it down if she didn't open.
However, when another knock sounded on the door, Aria bit her lips.
Until when she would hide...they lived in one hut in the end.
Aria twisted the hem of her dress and finally stepped forward to open the door.
Rayan sighed in relief when he heard the sound from the other side.
When the door opened, he lowered his eyes slightly and forwarded the plate in his hands.
Aria, who was the receiver of this treatment, looked at the plate silently.
Rayan had been waiting for her to take the plate but when she didn't, he had to raise her head and look at her to know the reason.
First of all, he noticed her red swollen eyes and his eyes were full of concern.
Was she alright?
But he remembered how she had run inside before so Rayan decided to postpone it.
"This is for you..."
Rayan said and signed her to take the plate.
She cooked for him yesterday and took care of him as well. Today he was better so he decided to go outside again and catch a pheasant to make a meal for her.
Aria however looked away from the plate and shook her head.
"Na Wuya...." (No eat)
Rayan had understood till now that Wuya means eat and the way she was shaking her head, he understood that she was refusing. But why?
He frowned in confusion but Aria interpreted it as dislike.
His face was very cold when he didn't smile and it made Aria feel as if she was upsetting him by refusing so she tried to explain herself.
"Na Howerie" (No animal)
Then she even took a step forward and Rayan made way for her so that she could step outside. He then saw her walking to the stove where nearby some vegetables were kept.
Aria picked one of them and showed it to him.
"Li...Wuya..." (I ...eat)
Aria said slowly so that he could understand.
"You don't eat animals or birds."
Rayan stated instead of asking. Though he didn't say anything, the frown on his forehead continued to stay.
No wonder, she was so delicate.
Rayan then walked to her and picked the basket of vegetables. When Aria saw him picking the knife and vegetables, her eyes widened and she held her hand.
Rayan halted completely and his eye went to her hand again which was on his.
Aria realized and took her hand back instantly in fear while Rayan coughed a little.
She took the basket of vegetables from his hand without touching him and then picked the second knife.
She could make her own meal.
Rayan didn't oppose her. He decided to see how she would cook.
Rayan had cooked only animals and birds on his own. He had never cooked vegetables and she made it quite well. He didn't wish for her to have disastrous food made by him.
So he could learn first and then make it for her later.
Rayan looked at the cooked pheasant and sighed as he served it for himself. Only he knew that he had put extra effort this time.
If his soldiers had seen him cooking that way for someone...they would have surely been shocked.
Though he served, Rayan waited for Aria to finish cooking.
When she was done, she raised her head to look towards it once. Her eyes lit up slightly when she saw that his plate was still full and he was looking at her.
Was he waiting for her?
Rayan sat on the nearby wooden chair and looked at her, gesturing if they could eat now.
Aria nodded her head immediately and they started eating.
There was a different peace inside the hut even though it was completely silent. Aria had never expected that she would have such peace after her grandmother left.