"It's been a while since I've last seen you smile."
Amanda approached me after I came out of the room. Her face was unusually serious.
I turned to look at her while cocking my head.
"You think so?"
I never really noticed myself if I had to be honest...but it wasn't as though I was surprised by this development. There wasn't much to smile about.
Also, having had another attack just a couple of minutes ago, I couldn't really bring myself to smile.
"Here."
Amanda placed her hands on the edges of my lips and pulled them upwards.
"Much better."
She returned a smile herself.
Her smile was stunning. Enough to make anyone fall into a daze with just a glance. Well, anyone but me. I was pretty much used to her smiles by now. Well, for the most part. I wasn't exactly totally immune.
"Wwwamhat are you doing?"
It was hard to speak when she had her hands on my lips, pulling them up.
"Helping you smile."
"...What dwoes that have anything to do with the situation?"
"It doesn't."
Amanda let go of my lips.
"It's just that you look a lot better if you smiled a little more often."
Cocking my head even further, I eventually nodded my head.
"Well, sure, I'll try to smile more."
This wasn't too hard of a request. Not like smiling was that hard.
I smiled.
"Happy?"
"For what?"
"I'm smiling, aren't I?"
Amanda's brows furrowed.
"...No?"
"Hm?"
Amanda's reaction took me back.
"What are you talking about?"
Was she playing a prank on me? I could clearly feel myself smiling.
"Are you playing around with me?"
Amanda asked, inching closer to me.
I shook my head.
"That was what I was about to ask you."
Amanda's face hardened.
Her reaction took me aback.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Here."
took out a pocket mirror
it from her hand
"...No way."
on it
there didn't seem to be anything wrong
At first glance, though.
closer inspection,
am I not
My expression...
It was stiff.
I did
'Just what in the...'
closed the pocket mirror and handed
"Thanks."
"Ren, what's going on?"
pocket mirror back and looked
my hand in
practicing
...That was a lie.
a result
better if I just play this off as something
"If you say so..."
and concern. Obviously, she didn't buy my excuse, but
"You hungry?"
my stomach and attempted to change
"A bit."
about we
"I wouldn't mind that."
"Great."
stretched my back a bit and
"Come, let's go eat."
"Mhm."
***
the blades
field as their feet left behind shallow footprints. They moved in such a
much longer do
Melissa. Her breathing had become labored as she
down! I'm going to die at the rate we're
Emma finally slowed down and
I'm about to die
the grass and supported her body with
to complain was
too fast. You were
were going to
her knees and she took deep breaths to try and steady herself. The two were moving at such a rapid pace that it was impossible for her to keep up with them. Despite the fact that she
them finally stopping,
never agreed to follow
onto her stomach and slumped
find the herb that she wanted. Following Jin and Emma seemed to be the best option, but that proved to be
her head to stare at both Emma and Jin, Melissa stared
two, I won't be able to move for at least ten minutes. You might as well
fine. Not
"Me too."
responded as they exchanged glances
out of
her hair
you sure we're
"Positive."
he
to the orcs, this is the direction of where the
Jin's speech halted.
his expression changed. He quickly turned around
"Hide, quick!"
"Wha-"
"No time for that."
away, Emma turned around and followed Jin from behind. They saw a large boulder off in the distance
ground, Melissa felt a slight fluctuation in the air. His sudden actions aroused her curiosity as she looked around,
the far distance. Her
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!