114 A Gift from Her Heart

A month went by where the two spent together doing the mundane things in life.

After Zetian comes by from school Tony would help her study and help her understand her way through math and other school lessons.

At first, she still has a huge stumbling block to understand the underlying principles though eventually with his help she's understanding it better than before.

Tony was simply sitting in one of the courtyards during a calming Sunday afternoon when he heard footsteps rushing to where he was.

"Zhidu I'm back!" Looking up from his writings he saw Zetian coming through the circular open stone entrance.

She has a flowing blue dress that seems to flutter lightly as she runs towards him.

Her black hair that's waving in the air as the wind seems to hold it in a levitating way as she runs.

She has a happy expression on her face as though bring back an exciting news to tell him. With a large smile like a child finding something truly delightful.

Stopping in front of him she took some time to regain her breath after that long run from school.

"Are you okay?" Tony smiled asking her, watching how she seems so much like an innocent child trying to share her new toys to an adult.

Taking in a deep breath Zetian straightened herself showing a piece of paper she has in her hand, "Look!"

Deciding to go along with her Tony examined the paper. He noticed the big 100% mark that rests on top.

"It's pretty good. It seems you're not a bad student after all," Tony said to her with a pacifying smile on his face.

Reaching his right hand, he touches the top of her head gently. Slowly he combs a string of her black hair to behind her ears.

Her cheeks turn slightly red, yet she didn't stop him or get annoyed. For some reason Zetian finds herself enjoying the attention he gives her.

With a yearning for it since it gives her a sweet feeling inside whenever she sees that calming smile that's just for her.

"So, it is only 'pretty good'?" She pouts her small cheek asking quietly while Tony continues to cuddle her head, "This is the first time your student got a 100 on the test."

Seeing how this girl seems to be asking to be complimented for her achievement made Tony feel happy.

"I admit. You did more than just a fantastic job," he said, "though I don't know what to reward you."

"Well…Can I ask you do for me a simple request," she has a crafty smile on her face that made him wonder what kind of plan she's got behind.

Tony thought for a moment but didn't feel like there's really anything wrong with accepting only a 'simple request' as a reward to her.

"Well alright. What is it?" He asked her curiously.

Her smile seems like that of an adorable cat as the edges of her lips turn upward with playfulness.

"I want you to close your eyes for me," she says to him.

Smiling on behalf of her request he closed away his eyes. Wondering in his heart what kind of things she might have planned for him.

When Tony closed his eyes Zetian admired that handsome face of his like it is a beautiful artwork.

Her heart seems to be beating loudly inside as she decides herself to take the leap of faith. Or should it be a leap of trust in herself?

She draws her body close watching the warm array of light shining so wonderfully on one side of his face.

In the next second Tony feels a pair of arms wrapping itself around his waist.

The feeling of her body holding tightly resting on his chest he could smell the rich flowery fragrance on her body now stronger.

Opening his eyes, he sees her small, adorable face simply resting itself on his chest as though listening to his every heartbeat.

Her eyelids with those long eyelashes are closed in its own world of joy.

She seems to be almost asleep this very second forgetting all the things that are trying to bear weight on her heart.

He didn't feel like disturbing the quiet meditative state she seems to be in as she hugs him.

With his large arms he also wraps them around her small and frail body.

In what seems like a long time she finally opened her large eyes. Looking up above on his face with an admiring gaze in those pupils.

"I don't know why. Though everyday just with you near I feel a lot safer," Zetian says almost in a whisper. "I think I'm beginning to like you a lot."

Words that only belong to the two of them alone in this world. Words that only makes sense between them. A secret. A promise.

She's waiting for him to speak though she noticed there's this solemn quietness that really disturbs her heart.

Waiting without an answer she spoke again, "You don't like me the same way?" Her eyes seem to become a little sad this moment.

"I got to be leaving soon. Since you are already improved so well in your studies," Tony said to her with a similar expression of downcast.

Hearing this news made her heart almost dropped to the brink of depression.

Her eyes seemed to be perplexed by this news for a minute. Without knowing exactly what to say.

"So are you really going," she is still in a state of disbelief grabbing hold of Tony's hand looking at him with cute puppy eyes, "can't you um stay for a little longer."

She never questioned the fact that this person he just knew was hired by his father the Duke as a tutor.

Although he always seemed to be shrouded in mist, she finds him always filled with exciting ideas and knowledge that she never learned at school.

Yet during this period of time, she had as much fun as she did during this month in a long long time.

The news of him leaving just when she almost felt herself belong to someone shatters her heart.