Carrying a hastily packed suitcase, they walked outside to find a carriage waiting for them. The coachman, who had a serious expression on his face, as if he had received a strict order, started the carriage from its place even before the two passengers had completely closed the door.
Inside the fast-moving carriage, her body shook and rumbled with every impact.
- Fortunately, the academy is located not far from the station.
Inside the shaking and swaying carriage, Ilex managed to keep his balance as he stuffed various items into Tilia's bag.
- This is a map. It shows the address of the house where you will live in Ontario. The rent for the year has already been paid in full. Just tell them your name when you arrive and they will take care of everything.
- What!?
- If you don't like this place, go to the second house. If it doesn't fit, there is a third one. Just tell them your name there.
- W-wait...
- Here's the money. It's first class, so there will be guards, but there may still be pickpockets. Keep them in your purse.
Ilex held her in the violently shaking carriage, muttering quiet curses under his breath.
- I didn't have time to prepare. This may not be enough...
He grabbed Tilia's hand and placed it on the handle of the bag, and then quickly rummaged through his jacket and pulled out his wallet. Without hesitation, he slipped it into her purse.
- Use this too. There's not much here.
Tilia's gaze, trembling as violently as the frantically rumbling carriage, was fixed on him.
Why are you giving me money? Why are you finding me a place to live? Why are you...?
- Let's go.
Just as she was about to open her mouth, the carriage screeched to a stop, its wheels scraping against the stones.
Her body lurched forward and Ilex caught her, holding her hand tightly as they jumped out of the carriage together.
Their joined hands were damp with sweat.
His sweat, hers, or both? It was impossible to tell.
One thing was clear: they clung to each other like a life preserver, not wanting to let go.
Even when they were out of breath from running up the stairs, even when Tilia's confused steps almost made her fall...
Their intertwined hands, like vines woven together, refused to separate.
After rushing through the crowded station, they finally reached the platform of the train going to Ontario.
- It's okay, we're almost there.
Breathing heavily, he almost carried the gasping girl in his arms down the last flight of stairs.
The train to Ontario has already arrived. Through blurred vision, she saw him hurriedly hand the ticket to the station workers.
- Tilia, this is your train.
- Wait...
When was the last time she ran like that?
It felt like her lungs were being torn apart with every breath she took. My legs were trembling, ready to give way at any moment.
As she bent over, gasping for air, unable to move, the man lifted her up with ease. He carefully placed her on the shiny steel steps of the train.
Her worn shoes, which seemed to float in the air, landed softly on the metal steps, as if she were the heroine of a fairy tale, transported to another world by the touch of a wizard.
- The train is leaving soon!
The station employee's voice echoed loudly. Finally, having caught her breath, Tilia met the gaze of Ilex’s disheveled face, standing right under the steps.
- The necessary documents and your graduation certificate are in a folder on the front of your bag. A map with your home address is nearby. Remember this.
There was an inexplicable look of relief on his face as he tidied her hair, seemingly oblivious to his own messy state.
In contrast, Tilia's face was full of confusion and confusion.
Why?
Questions swirled through her head like waves washing over her feet. The polished toes of the shoes he had so carefully placed on the steps seemed to be touched by the sea foam of unresolved doubts.
- As soon as you get settled, write me a letter.
Looking at her as if saying goodbye to someone dear, he suddenly squinted and took the ring off his finger. It was an amethyst ring in the shape of a butterfly that always caught her attention.
- Take this. If you ever need money, sell it. It's very valuable, so don't settle for less than it's worth.
Tilia's eyes filled with confusion as he placed the ring in her hand.
- Isn't this... your engagement ring?
- What!?
He frowned as if he had heard something absurd.
- What are you talking about? I've never been engaged.
- So... it doesn't belong to Cecilia?
Frowning, he laughed dryly and replied:
- Cecilia Clayton!? Not even close.
At the sound of his indifferent tone, she felt as if a wave had broken. The mysterious sea that had soaked her shoes now rose to her calves. Questions wriggled like fish, tickling her thighs, urging her to speak.
It was a question that always tickled her throat. Although she carried it in her heart for a long time, she always found excuses not to ask it. But now, like a balloon inflated to its limit, unable to withstand the pressure of a swollen heart, it escaped from her lips.
At that moment, the loud voice of the station duty officer was heard.
- The train is leaving! Passengers, please come inside!
- Go, Tilia.
Ilex, in a soothing voice, gently nudged Tilia forward, who seemed to be on the verge of tears and kept trying to get closer.
- Don't worry about what's going on here. I won't let anything harm you. Parliament's influence will not reach the Ontario consulate.
- Why?
Finally, the words she had been holding in came out like an arrow, unable to resist his gentle yet insistent touch.
Her arms and legs shook as if they were broken, and her lips trembled uncontrollably, as if afraid of the weight of the question she finally dared to ask.
- Why are you so kind to me?
But the impulse driving her could not be stopped. The desire to know took over her body, forcing her to act. Grabbing the man who was trying to send her away, she asked again with tears in her eyes.
- Why are you doing all this for me?
She felt like the world would collapse if she asked. That the earth will turn over and the skies will fall.
- Answer me. Why?
But nothing happened. The world remained unshaken. The train did not stop and her strong legs did not give way.
Only she felt as if she had crumbled and broken into pieces. My heart was pounding wildly, echoing in my ears, as if someone had taken it out and was hitting an anvil with a hammer.
- I've always been curious. I always wanted to ask.
The prospect of hearing the answer terrified her. The chance to find out the truth she had been avoiding was even more frightening. But she couldn't stop. A strong conviction took over her body: she couldn't move forward without asking.
- Tell me why on earth...
When she clutched Ilex's jacket so tightly that deep folds formed in it, her frantic interrogation was interrupted.
Suddenly his lips met hers.
The touch of his lips, sensitive and warm, was even hotter than the hands or hugs she had once felt. The kiss seemed both fleeting and endless.
Her eyes remained wide in shock as his lips gently captured her bottom lip, exchanging soft warmth before pulling away.
While Tilia looked at him blankly, Ilex cupped her cheeks and, looking at her with a look full of longing, leaned down to kiss her again, as if he could no longer resist.
- Wait for me.
His voice whispered against her lips, his breath mingling with hers as he looked at her with almost otherworldly attention.
- You understand, right? Until I come to find you... you will have to wait.
It seemed as if time had stopped. The noise of the busy platform and the train whistle disappeared. Their circumstances and the worlds they belonged to seemed to disappear completely.
All that existed was their joined lips and the precariously intertwined forms of their bodies.
Trembling weakly, Tilia felt herself overcome with the desire to get closer. Without realizing it, she began to walk down the steps of the train.
- Hmm! The train must leave now!
The loud voice of the station attendant broke her out of her trance. Before she could fully recover, Ilex gently pulled away from her.
Like a child suddenly separated from its mother, Tilia stood motionless, not knowing what to do. Ilex smiled at her.
- You'll have to...
Before he could finish his sentence, the train doors closed.
She pressed herself against the window, trying to see his face one last time as he moved further and further away. But the words he didn't finish didn't reach her.
Further and further the man disappeared into the distance.
Ilex never answered the question she asked in a choked voice.
But words are not the only way to convey meaning.
In his eyes, in the remaining warmth on his fingertips and the vibrations of their shared heartbeat, everything was already said.
Even though the station had disappeared, Tilia pressed her face to the glass, her breath fogging the window as she looked out.
She looked for a long, long time. Until the familiar landscape of the capital, where she had lived all her life, completely disappeared from sight.