Herdin pulled Blair's chair out of the way with one hand.
Although it seemed heavy, the chair slid towards him very easily.
—If it seems too difficult, say so now.
Blair looked alternately at Herdin and the small candle in front of her, and finally nodded as if determined.
—I think I'll be fine.
Herdin deftly lit the lighter and lit the candle.
Blair, completely tense, looked at the candle.
As he looked at the fire, he was afraid that the candle would tip over and the flame would ignite the tablecloth.
A fear that that big fire would burn everything in the room.
—Ugh…
Although it was just his imagination, his hands were sweating and his breathing was quickening.
Like that time she was trapped in the fire without being able to breathe properly.
But he couldn't take his eyes off the flame.
Because she feared that if she looked away, the fire, which had grown without her seeing it, would swallow her.
At that moment, a large hand covered Blair's eyes.
At the same time, a deep voice calmed her.
—You have to blink.
Blair, as he said, slowly closed his eyes.
But even if he closed them, the memory remained like an afterimage, flickering.
He stretched out both trembling hands and grabbed the big hand that gently covered his face.
Then, the fear that seemed like it was going to devour her calmed down.
For the fact that, at this moment, she was not alone.
—Breathe slowly too.
Recovering her rapid breathing, Blair faithfully followed his voice.
—When you open your eyes, do the same.
Herdin removed the hand that covered his eyes.
Blair slowly opened her eyes and faced the flame.
When her breathing quickened again, Herdin, without covering her view this time, said:
—Eyes.
Blair, as he had said before, did the same step by step.
He blinked and inhaled deeply.
—Now let's roast a marshmallow.
He picked up a marshmallow skewered on a stick and held it to the small candle.
As I slowly rotated the marshmallow near the flame, the surface began to brown.
Blair felt anxious again, but remembering what Herdin had said before, she squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.
Herdin blew out the candle, let the well-roasted marshmallow cool a little, and offered it to Blair.
—Eat it.
Blair hesitated for a moment, but then put the marshmallow in her mouth.
The hot, sweet marshmallow melted in his mouth.
The regular marshmallows were good too, but the freshly roasted ones were much tastier.
In Blair's eyes, as she chewed the marshmallow, the expression of fear from before had faded and vitality had returned.
That face just for a simple roasted marshmallow.
Herdin's gaze, who was observing this scene, softened strangely.
At that moment, he met Blair's gaze, who was looking at him.
—It's soft and… sweet.
—Now try it yourself.
Herdin gave Blair a marshmallow and relit the candle.
Blair looked a little scared, but nodded without hesitation.
But as soon as he brought the marshmallow to the fire, his hands began to shake.
At the same time, his breathing began to speed up again.
At this moment, Herdin's hand grabbed Blair's hand.
His right hand overlapped hers, leaving her half embraced by him.
Over Blair's head, who had frozen with surprise, Herdin's voice fell.
-Alright.
As if by magic, as soon as he touched her, the shaking stopped.
Herdin, with Blair's hand, roasted the marshmallow.
Blair, after much difficulty, stared raptly at the marshmallow she had roasted herself.
-Well done.
Herdin raised his right arm, lightly caressed her head, and then let her go.
And he blew out the candle.
Blair offered Herdin the marshmallow in her hand and asked:
—Aren't you going to eat it?
But, as always, he shook his head.
—I don't like it very much.
So, this time too the roasted marshmallow went to Blair.
As he bit into it, a soft, sweet taste spread through his mouth.
As she savored the taste, she suddenly felt a gaze and turned her head, meeting his, who was staring at her.
She blinked, startled, and he smiled slightly.
—Is it that good?
His heart stirred at his gaze, which unlike usual, had a soft light.
It was an all too familiar emotion.
And at the same time, he realized.
Even if it disappoints me, even if I hate it, even if I push it away, even if I think about it a thousand times, in the end I fall in love again.
—…Ah.
The emotion he had recognized suddenly rose uncontrollably fast and fell drop by drop.
Seeing Blair's sudden tears, Herdin's face hardened.
—Do you want to stop?
-No no.
I'm fine.
Blair shook her head quickly.
But the tears, once they came, did not stop.
Like your own feelings.
Herdin, looking at Blair with stiff eyes, sighed softly, wiped away her tears, and asked:
"Then why are you crying?"
Blair, feeling her heart race at that touch, stared at him, stunned.
Crying in this situation would surely seem strange to you.
He had to answer something, but he couldn't think of any excuse to hide.
Blair, who was moving her lips, finally said a reason that was ridiculous, even to herself.
—Because it's...
so good.
-Hey?
Herdin, upon hearing that answer, let out an incredulous laugh.
Blair, so that he wouldn't suspect her true feelings, smiled openly.
—I want more.
Her heart, which beat towards him, ached with a searing pain.
Like a wound that didn't hurt when you didn't know it, but once you recognize its existence, it starts to hurt.
Despite that, he ignored that feeling and decided to just smile today.
Because the marshmallow that had entered his mouth was sweet enough to make him forget, at least for a moment, everything except this moment.
…To be continued