The confusion lingered throughout the day, and even after I returned home from work, it clung to me like a stubborn shadow. I found Lysander sitting in the cozy living room, and he immediately noticed my strange behavior.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
Eager for clarity, I quickly sat next to him. "Do you perform CPR even if you're not drowning?"
He looked at me, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. "What? C-P-R? What's that?"
In that moment, I realized my mistake—there wasn't a term for that here. "You know, when someone drowns, and you need to give air to them through the mouth?"
Lys's eyebrows knitted together as he tried to decipher my words. "And?"
"Well," I continued, feeling a bit flustered, "I saw a man doing that to a woman under a tree today. So, do people drown here even if they're on land?"
For a moment, he just stared at me, incredulity apparent in his expression. Then, suddenly, he burst out laughing, unable to contain himself.
"How old are you again?" he managed to ask between fits of laughter.
"Twenty-three, why?" I replied, genuinely confused by his amusement.
"Why are you so innocent?" he asked, shaking his head, still chuckling.
I blinked, utterly bewildered by what he found so funny. "What do you mean?"
Taking a deep breath, Lys tried to compose himself. "What you saw wasn't like that, or whatever word you described it, Nerina. That was a kiss."
"A kiss?" I echoed, still struggling to comprehend the meaning behind it.
"Yes, a kiss. It's something people do when they like each other... romantically," he explained, his smile now more gentle.
As my cheeks burned with embarrassment, realization slowly dawned on me. "Oh... I see," I mumbled, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
Lys chuckled again, shaking his head. "Don't worry about little things. It's late; you should get some sleep."
But my curiosity was piqued, and I couldn't resist asking more. "Before I go to my room, can you explain what 'like' is?" I looked up at him, earnestness shining in my eyes.
Lys hesitated, caught off guard by my question. His expression softened as he considered how best to respond. "Well, 'like' is when you feel something special for someone," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It's more than just thinking someone is nice or fun to be around. It's when you find yourself wanting to be close to them, to make them happy, and to share things with them. It's... a warm feeling, one that can make your heart beat faster when they're around."
I nodded slowly, struggling to absorb everything he was saying. "So, it's different from just being friends?"
"Yes, it's different," Lys confirmed, observing how intently I was listening. "When you like someone, it can lead to love, which is even stronger. It's when that person becomes really important to you, sometimes even the most important person in your life."
"Oh..." I murmured, my chest warming at his words. "That sounds... nice."
"It is," Lys agreed, his voice gentle. "But it can also be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you haven't felt it before. It's something that comes naturally over time."
I nodded again, feeling a little more enlightened yet overwhelmed by the revelations swirling in my mind. "Thank you for explaining, Lys."
"Anytime," he replied, his warm smile illuminating the room. "Now, off to bed with you. It's getting late."
"Goodnight, Lys," I said, turning to head to my room.
"Goodnight, Nerina," he answered, watching me with an affectionate look as I walked away.
Once in my room, I sat on my bed, my thoughts swirling around the concepts he had just explained. Kissing, liking someone—these were all new and intriguing ideas to me. Memories of my moments with Glenn played in my mind, from our light-hearted conversations to the way his eyes lit up when I prepared his lunch.
I found myself smiling, a warmth spreading through my chest. Perhaps what I felt for Glenn was more than just friendship. The thought both excited and frightened me. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake the sensation that my life in this new world was evolving in ways I had yet to fully understand.