Chapter 34 - Holding Hands

It was late afternoon when we stepped out of the Megamall. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a rich, golden-orange hue over everything around us, painting long shadows across the pavement. A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the faint scent of street food from nearby stalls.

On the sidewalk, I noticed a father and his young daughter. She was no older than a grade-schooler, clutching a fluffy pink cloud of cotton candy in her small hands. They walked hand-in-hand, the father’s gentle laughter mixing with the girl’s carefree giggles—a normal scene, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had unfolded just minutes earlier. It was true what they said: ignorance really was bliss.

“Zaft,” Myrrh's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to find her staring at me, her azure eyes shimmering with a resolve that hadn't dimmed, even after everything that had happened. There was a strength in them that made my breath hitch.

“W-what’s up?” I stuttered, feeling my own voice tremble.

“It’s getting cold. My hand is shivering,” she said, her voice soft but steady.

“Oh, yeah?” I forced a smile, trying to mask the unease that gripped me. I looked down at my own hand, noticing the slight tremor in my fingers and the way the hairs on my arm stood up. “I think my hand is cold, too.”

Myrrh’s eyebrows knitted together in a look of playful frustration, and then she pouted. “No wonder you never had a girlfriend. You’re completely hopeless at taking a hint.”

Before I could react, she reached over and grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers in one swift motion. Her touch was warm and soft—a delicate contrast to the chill in the air. My heart skipped a beat. It was a feeling I’d never experienced before. Her hand... it was so undeniably feminine.

“I-Isn’t this kind of lewd?” I stammered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

“Pfft! Hahaha!” Myrrh burst into laughter, doubling over as if the weight of my awkwardness had finally tipped her over the edge. She laughed so hard that tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, glistening like tiny diamonds. When I shot her a disapproving frown, she tried to pull herself together, wiping away those tears of joy and mockery with the back of her hand. “You... You really are innocent, aren’t you? Holding hands in public is never lewd, dummy!”

“B-but, aren’t couples supposed to do this? We’re not a couple, r-right?” I managed to stammer, my voice cracking as I struggled to find the right words.

Myrrh’s lips curved into a smug smile, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. “We’re on a date, so we should at least walk hand-in-hand until this is over,” she teased, her tone both playful and gentle. “This is just the standard procedure for dates... unless, of course, you want to kiss me or something.”

“F-fine, let’s settle with holding hands,” I muttered, feeling the heat creep up my neck as I looked away, the embarrassment burning my face. My ears felt like they were on fire. I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth—maybe I should wash my tongue with soap later.

“Oh, are you blushing?” Myrrh’s eyes lit up with mischief as she leaned closer, her grin widening. “You can’t resist my beauty, can you? Come on, admit it. Maybe you’ve developed a little crush on me?”

“S-shut up,” I grumbled, my voice barely above a whisper as I fought to keep my composure. I knew my cheeks were probably as red as the sunset above us, but there was no way I’d give her the satisfaction of admitting it.

“You should feel blessed that I’m letting your dirty fingers hold my hand,” Myrrh declared with a haughty tilt of her chin, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “But don’t let it go to your head. If you ever confess, I’ll shoot you down without a second thought. But,” she added, her smirk widening, “you’re free to admit that I’m your crush.”

A spark of irritation flared in my chest, and I tightened my grip around her hand. “I’ll crush your fingers if you keep that up!” I warned, feeling a surge of defiance.

“Ow! Aaah! Stop it!” Myrrh winced dramatically, her voice a mix of genuine pain and exaggerated whining. The way she squirmed made something strange twist in my stomach—a guilty pleasure. But before I pushed it too far, I loosened my grip, just enough for her to catch her breath.

“Jeez, you’re quite the sadist, you know that?” she said, giving me a look that was somewhere between exasperation and amusement.

“No. I just enjoy seeing you in pain,” I replied with a chuckle that came out darker than I intended.

“That’s the same thing!” she shot back, pouting as her cheeks puffed in a mock show of anger.

Our playful bickering faded as we both noticed the familiar wrought-iron gate of the university looming ahead. I couldn’t believe how fast the time had flown by, my focus consumed by Myrrh's banter and the warmth of her hand wrapped in mine.

“Escort me to the girl’s dormitory,” Myrrh said, switching to a prim and aristocratic tone, her nose turned up as if she were a noble lady giving a royal command. “That’s what a gentleman would do.”

“Wouldn’t that spread rumors about us dating?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing as I imagined the whispers that would follow us through campus.

“We’re already dating, silly—it’s just a friendly date,” Myrrh replied with a casual shrug. Then, with a sly grin, she continued, “Besides, it actually works in my favor if we’re seen together. I find new love letters stuffed in my locker every day, so if word gets out that I’m with a hooligan like you, maybe my admirers will back off. In a way, you’re the perfect pest repellent.”

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“I really can’t comprehend the audacity of a bitch like you,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I tried to match her casual arrogance.

“It’s a win-win situation for you, too,” Myrrh shot back, her lips curling into a confident smirk. “You get to date a beautiful, proper woman like me. Now, you’ve finally earned some bragging rights.” She gave a playful flick of her soft, wavy lime-blonde hair, the strands catching the fading sunlight and glowing like golden threads.

“Just how narcissistic are you?” I chuckled, shaking my head. I started walking again, pulling her along with me. “Fine, then. I’ll walk you all the way to the girl’s dormitory lobby.”

Her smile brightened, and she responded by tightening her grip on my hand, holding it as if she never wanted to let go. We strolled towards the girl’s dormitory building, our pace slowing to an almost leisurely crawl, as if neither of us was in any hurry to reach the end of our time together.

With every step, something gnawed at the back of my mind. The warmth of her hand contrasted sharply with the icy knot that still sat in my stomach—the unease that had never quite left me since that encounter with Ismail. Myrrh’s teasing, her banter, even her infuriating confidence… it was all beginning to make sense. I had to say something.

“Thank you, Myrrh,” I mumbled, the words tumbling out before I had a chance to second-guess them. My cheeks burned, and I knew my face was flushed.

“Hmm?” Myrrh tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent, like she had no idea what I meant. Her smile didn’t fade, but it softened around the edges.

“I know you’re doing this hand-holding thing and all the teasing just to calm my nerves,” I said, my voice low and steady. I glanced down at our intertwined fingers, then back up at her face. “You were worried about me—worried because of that mysterious Ismail guy who’s been breathing down my neck. You probably noticed how my hands were shaking even after that poker game. I don’t understand everything that’s going on, and I know it’s bigger than me... bigger than anything I can handle right now. So you’ve been flirting, taunting, and annoying me to distract me, to push the fear to the back of my mind.”

My words hung in the air, and I held my breath, waiting for her to respond, wondering if she would laugh it off or deny it. But in the fading light, with her hand still wrapped around mine, I saw the faintest hint of surprise in her eyes—followed by a knowing smile.

Myrrh let out a long, exhausted sigh, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. “Don’t overthink it. That Ismail guy has a way of getting under your skin, but honestly? He’s probably just another nutcase,” she said with a casual shrug, though her gaze remained serious. “We can always ask Agent Feena Arcaliburn about him. She’d probably know more.”

“Oh, good idea!” I said, snapping my fingers as if the solution had been right there all along. “You’ve got her contact info, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll set up a group chat with the three of us,” Myrrh replied, her expression brightening a bit. “But first, hand me that Red Meteor picture that weirdo left behind. We might need it.”

Reluctantly, I let go of her hand, feeling the absence of warmth as my fingers slipped away. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the faded photograph of the Red Meteor Frame Unit, the mysterious image Ismail had taunted us with. Myrrh took it and tucked it carefully into her shoulder bag, her movements precise and deliberate.

As we stood there, I suddenly noticed that we had reached the entrance of the girl’s dormitory. A few girls were gathered around the lobby, their curious eyes fixated on us. Some were whispering to each other, cheeks flushed with excitement; others simply stared, wide-eyed and blushing. The air felt charged, and I could feel the weight of their stares pressing against my back.

“I guess this is where I bow out,” I said with a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of my head in an attempt to appear casual. “Goodbye, Myrrh.”

“Okay! Keep in touch!” she called back, her voice light and cheerful. She waved, her smile so bright and genuine that it seemed to push back the shadows of the day.

At that moment, with the golden light of dusk framing her figure, I felt a pang of something deep and undeniable—a warmth that spread through my chest like wildfire. Myrrh looked so adorable, so genuinely happy, that I realized with a jolt of panic... I was afraid I had fallen in love.

Not. I refuse to admit that I have slight feelings for that bitch.

<><><>

Night had already settled in, casting deep shadows over the campus, the moonlight spilling in silvery beams through my dorm room window. After a quiet dinner in the cafeteria with Neil and Remuel, I felt drained. My legs ached, and my mind was too foggy to focus on anything serious, so I trudged back to my room and flopped face-first onto my bed, the mattress creaking under my weight. Tomorrow was Sunday, which meant a break from studying, but even gaming felt like too much effort tonight. Instead, I grabbed my phone and started aimlessly scrolling through social media, watching random videos to unwind.

Just as I was beginning to doze off, my phone vibrated sharply in my hand, jolting me awake. A new notification popped up on the screen, and I saw that I'd been added to a group chat. It was Myrrh and Agent Feena. I sat up a little straighter, curiosity piqued, and opened the chat.

I decided to play the silent observer, my thumb hovering over the screen as Myrrh took the lead in the conversation.

Myrrh: Agent Feena, we have an update about the Frame Unit you were after.

Myrrh: Apparently, it’s called the Red Meteor.

There was a moment of silence as Myrrh uploaded the picture—the one we’d gotten earlier. The grainy image of the Red Meteor Frame Unit appeared in the chat, and immediately, the typing indicator blinked. My eyes stayed glued to the screen.

Agent Feena: Where did you get that picture? And whose handwriting is that?

Myrrh: A person gave it to us earlier. His name is Ismail Arondight.

There was a pause, and then Agent Feena’s reply hit like a punch.

Agent Feena: (°ロ°) !

Agent Feena: This Ismail Arondight… Does he look like some middle-aged pale thin man, for instance?

I couldn’t help but let out a snort at the comparison. I can't believe Agent Feena is using text-style emojis. Myrrh’s reaction followed almost instantly.

Myrrh: (˚0˚)!!

Myrrh: You know him?

I could feel the atmosphere shift, the air around me growing colder as Agent Feena’s next messages poured in.

Agent Feena: He is one of the most wanted cyber criminals here in Xyraxis!

Agent Feena: Are you guys okay?

Agent Feena: Next time you meet this guy, call me immediately!

Agent Feena: He is a dangerous terrorist who is a part of the extremist group called the Neo Terrestrial Reich!

My grip on the phone tightened. I could feel my pulse quicken as I reread those lines. A cyber criminal—a terrorist, no less—had crossed our path today, and I had been completely unaware of just how deep this all went. The realization settled like a stone in my stomach, heavy and cold.