Chapter 284
Theo recorded it as a smart choice, a safe space where they could sit side by side, share laughter without needing many words, and let warmth and togetherness grow within the comfort of the darkness.
And the final point, the perfect closing: the snack market.
Theo described it as a place of freedom.
A space where they could walk while eating, taste anything that looked strange, laugh at unexpected flavors, and most importantly, offer each other bites of food without caring about pride or distance.
It was the most organic and honest stage of intimacy.
At the bottom of the page, with a bold line, Theo formulated the sequence.
The amusement park, then the Arcade or Carnival, followed by the Cinema, and finally the Snack Market.
A narrative flow that formed naturally, from noisy excitement, to relaxed competition, to quiet familiarity, and ending in sweet, simple intimacy.
'A harmonious combination.'
The pen in Theo's hand stopped moving, hovering above the still-open yellow notebook.
His attention drifted momentarily from the itinerary to something more personal.
The physical appearance of his two targets.
From a distance, with eyes trained to observe, he scanned every element of Erietta's and Ilux's outfits, trying to read their personalities and intentions through today's fashion choices.
This was not mere curiosity, but part of data gathering, understanding his subjects from the most casual details.
Ilux presented a casual and functional impression.
His top was a plain cotton T-shirt or perhaps one with a simple graphic, chosen in bright yet soft colors such as light blue, mint green, or pale yellow.
Those colors radiated youthful energy and openness.
For the bottom, he wore slim jeans or relaxed chinos, a wise choice considering Ilux's active and constantly moving nature.
Theo imagined how those pants would follow his movements when he laughed broadly or even jumped reflexively in jest.
On his feet, lightweight white or gray sneakers completed the look, shoes that visually appeared "ready to run to the next ride," perfectly matching the adventurous spirit of an amusement park.
On the other hand, Erietta radiated a casual look that remained elegant and dynamic.
Her top might have been a casual blouse or a short-sleeved shirt with a clean, neat cut.
She may have paired it with a thin outer layer such as a light cardigan or a short jacket, a layer that would move with her body when she laughed, adding visual depth and a sense of liveliness to her appearance.
For the bottom, she chose a short skirt ending above the knee, a carefully calculated choice.
Free enough to allow easy movement, yet still neat and appropriate for moving from one location to another.
What caught Theo's attention the most was her footwear.
Erietta was also wearing sneakers.
Not sandals or high heels, but comfortable athletic shoes.
It was an important clue about her character.
Erietta was the type who would laugh while walking fast, chase moments, and refuse to be constrained by impractical clothing.
'Focus, Theo. Don't let your guard down.'
From afar, amid the colorful bustle of the amusement park and the busy crowd, a striking focal point drew Theo's attention with almost magnetic force.
It was Erietta's hair.
Its fresh, vibrant green color, like a stretch of morning grass free of any chemical blemish, fluttered in the gentle breeze flowing between the ride structures.
Each strand seemed to catch and reflect sunlight in its own way, creating the illusion of a small aurora that moved along the curve of her head and shoulders.
That organic beauty, so natural and full of life, became an unexpected distraction for a moment.
Theo's gaze, once focused and analytical, suddenly wavered.
His tightly maintained awareness, meant to observe every movement, was briefly pulled away by the visual dance of that green hair.
His thoughts drifted aimlessly, no longer about the mission or scenarios, but lulled by a simple beauty that felt foreign in a world filled with calculations and grand schemes.
He nearly drifted, lost in a dangerous blank reverie where precious seconds could pass unnoticed and a crucial moment between Erietta and Ilux could slip beyond his supervision.
However, his training instincts and ingrained sense of responsibility jolted him awake.
His head shook, a small, quick motion, as if swatting an annoying fly from his thoughts.
That movement was a physical command to himself, an attempt to restore his nearly faltering awareness.
He mustered all his resolve to pull his focus back, forcing his eyes away from that deceptive beauty and returning to reading body language, catching expressions, and monitoring the surroundings of both targets.
'She said she would arrive soon. That's what Aldraya said in the last transmission.
But time keeps passing, almost half an hour, and she still hasn't appeared.
Don't let it—'
Puuuuk!
"Hello."
Theo's fingers restlessly flipped through the pages of his yellow notebook, the thin sound of paper rubbing echoing loudly in his own ears.
His thoughts, which should have been focused on Erietta and Ilux as they began to move away, instead drifted toward an unfulfilled promise.
His memory of the last transmission, of Aldraya promising she would arrive shortly, gnawed at his concentration.
Every second that passed without any sign of the silver-haired girl caused his anxiety to crystallize into something almost physical.
His body grew visibly tenser, his shoulders drawing inward, and his eyes glanced around more often than they followed the targets.
That unease radiated from him like an invisible distress signal.
Then, suddenly, all the waves of anxiety raging inside him came to a halt.
Not because he saw an eruption in the distance, but because of an unexpected physical sensation.
A soft touch, almost like the flutter of a butterfly's wing, landed on his right shoulder.
The touch was so light, yet enough to sever the chaotic flow of thoughts and pull him out of his own spiral of worry.
His reflexes worked faster than his reasoning.
His head turned sharply to look behind him.
'Erietta is undeniably captivating.
But when faced with the beauty and gentleness of Aldraya—who shines even without luxury—Erietta's presence feels diminished.'
At that very moment, all of Theo's senses seemed to shut down except for his sight.
He stood frozen, time ceasing to move around him.
His gaze, just drawn back from the distance, now locked and solidified on the figure standing before him.
Not only on Aldraya's flat expression, but on every detail of the clothing she wore, attire that seemed designed to be anti-attention, yet drew Theo's full attention in the most intimate way.
The top Aldraya wore appeared loose, plain, and purely functional as a covering.
A thin long-sleeved shirt or a light sweater without a single motif or ornament.
Its color was bone white, a cold, lifeless shade that seemed to reject vitality, sharply contrasting with her silver hair that radiated light instead.
The cut of the fabric sagged slightly at the shoulder, giving the impression of deliberate casualness or perhaps indifference.
The long sleeves covered down to her wrists, a subtle signal as if she wished to "shrink" her physical presence, to withdraw from the world.
Yet the fabric that looked so soft appeared less gentle than Aldraya's skin visible at her neck and wrists, skin that was supple, pale, and flawless, as though the texture of the clothing were merely a rough layer unworthy of touching her.
To be continued…