Who is this girl?

"..."

"..."

Both Ania and Eli stared at each other, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts.

They remained like that until a waiter arrived, snapping them back to reality.

"Here are your orders, Madam and Sir," the waiter said as he placed the dishes on the table.

"O-Oh! Right," Ania stammered, surprised, before blushing and averting her eyes from Eli.

Eli simply smiled and gave a pointed look at the waiter, who flinched slightly before quickly walking away.

Eli and Ania exchanged nods before they started eating.

This dinner was Ania's treat; she felt indebted to Eli for his help during break time, and even more, she promised that morning so this was her way of repaying him.

That's all!!

it was nothing more..... And yet, she couldn't ignore the rapid beating of her heart.

'Ba-Dump, Ba-dump'

Her heart raced as if she were running a marathon.

'Come on!! He is just a stranger to me!!' she screamed inwardly, trying to maintain a calm facade as she glanced at Eli, who was eating with an almost regal grace.

Feeling her gaze, Eli smirked and asked slyly, "I know I'm a handsome man, but if you stare at me like that.... I might not be able to handle my heart, Miss Cutie."

Stab

It felt like something heart-shaped stabbed her heart. Her face turned bright red, matching her pink hair and pink eyes, "W-Who's a handsome man? I've seen many people who are more handsome than you!"

Hearing that, Eli's face fell into a fake-gloomy expression, which stung Ania's heart.

She gritted her teeth and blushed even more as she said, "W-Well, you are handsome... I mean, one of the handsome people." Seeing Eli grinning at her, she bit her lip and added, "I said 'one of the handsome people.' Don't think you're the only handsome guy I know!"

"Yeah, yeah," Eli teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

Ania shut her mouth and continued to eat her food, fuming internally.

She couldn't believe she was being teased by a country bumpkin who probably didn't even know what sex meant! Yet, despite her irritation, she had to admit that Eli was the most handsome man she had ever seen.... at least in her eyes.

She wasn't sure why she felt this way. This was the first time she had ever invited a man to dinner.

The moment she saw him smile at her with his innocent face, something inside her tingled, a protective instinct she couldn't quite understand.

One could say it was Love at first sight!

He was the only one who had left a mark on her heart. She vividly remembered the kiss he had placed on her hand. Her cheeks burned as she recalled how she had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep because of that single, simple gesture.

'Doesn't this mean I am a simple woman?!' she thought, horrified at the realization. She had never considered herself someone who would be easily swayed by a man.

With her guard up, she glanced at Eli, who was eating hurriedly as if he hadn't had a meal in days. Noticing her gaze, Eli awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Sorry, I'm a little hungry."

"N-No, it's not that... You can eat as much as you want," Ania hurriedly replied.

Eli nodded with a smile, but then he asked, "'It's not that'? What else then?"

Ania's face turned a deeper shade of red as she continued eating, avoiding his gaze. Sensing her discomfort, Eli stopped eating and gently said, "You can tell me... I won't take it the wrong way."

Understanding that Eli had likely misunderstood her hesitation, Ania sighed and looked at him with a serious expression, "I-I am not an easy woman!.... Just so you know!!"

"Oh!" Eli nodded, confused, 'Easy what? What is she talking about?' he wondered.

But as he observed her blushing and trembling body, he began to understand. Smiling gently, his hand slowly reached across the table and took her hand in his.

"W-What are you doing?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

"!!" Ania jerked, instinctively pulling back her hand, but Eli gently intertwined their fingers and smiled warmly,

"I never thought of you as an easy woman, Miss Ania."

Hearing that, Ania sighed in relief.

She had been genuinely worried that Eli might think less of her if she showed too much emotion on their first...date.

'Date?... Come on!! It's not!' she screamed inwardly, blushing furiously. She nodded and was about to withdraw her hand when,

"Rather... I am an easy man," Eli said with a cheeky grin, causing her heart to skip a beat once more.

Her face grew even hotter as she shook his hand and said strictly, "No touching!!"

But Eli didn't let her he gripped even more tightly which made glare at him while blushing.

"Okay, my lord!" Eli bowed dramatically as if he were obeying a ruler.

"Hahaha..." Ania giggled at Eli's antics, while Eli smiled, feeling her genuine joy.

It had been a long... very long time since he had smiled like that.

Stab

Once again, something pierced Ania's heart as she blushed even deeper, 'H-He is gentle... cute...'

Soon, they left the restaurant, walking side by side in silence. Neither of them spoke, but their hands occasionally brushed against each other..... accidentally of course.

"If you don't pass the admission exam... we have an empty spot at work... Just so you know.." Ania said softly. Eli had shared most of his story with her, except for Rock's secret deal.

Eli smiled and said, "Then we might end up working together?"

Ania flinched, feeling as if he had read her hidden intentions.

"Hahaha..." Eli laughed heartily, making her heart skip a beat once again.

'His laugh is like a melody,' she thought with a slight chuckle. Soon, they reached the point where they had to part ways.

"Good night," Ania said with a smile, her eyes briefly glancing at his left-hand ring finger before she walked away.

Eli then headed to the place where he had rested the previous night....a playground.

Ania had asked where he was staying, and Eli had simply told her he was staying at an old hotel a few streets away, so she didn't worry too much.

Thud

He placed his backpack down and leaned on a table, looking up at the now-dark sky. He knew this would be the last night he spent outside.

From tomorrow onwards, 'The search will begin...' he thought to himself with a blank expression.

Crack

"SHIT!!" Eli shouted, startled. He looked down and saw a golden-haired girl wearing a black dress and a long black hat.

Seeing a teenage girl here, Eli frowned and asked, "Are you lost?" However, the girl did not answer, only stared at Eli with her deep sky-blue eyes.

Eli's frown deepened as he instinctively reached for his pitchfork, only to remember it had been destroyed.

Suddenly, the girl motioned her hand, drawing something in the air.

"9?" Eli frowned, trying to decipher her gesture. The girl's hand movements were precise and almost mystical, creating an eerie glow in the air.

Then, she touched his forehead, and in an instant, his entire body began to transform.

Eli's skin turned dark, hardening rapidly into a charred, coal-like substance.

Crrkkkkk

A dark, charcoal figure now sat where Eli had been.