CHAPTER 106: AND YOUR BODY

Jae fell into step beside Elise as they walked through the winding corridors that led toward her dormitory. The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall, narrow windows, casting long slants of light across the polished stone floor.

He matched Elise’s pace, careful not to outstrip her, but his attention kept drifting. He watched the subtle way she carried herself: her shoulders relaxed, her head tilted slightly as if she were half-lost in thought.

Her steps were light, almost playful, as though her mind was elsewhere, floating in quiet daydreams, yet grounded enough to keep moving forward.

Jae found himself smiling quietly at the sight, a small amusement settling over him. There was a peculiar charm in observing her like this, the ease in her movements, the faint rhythm in the sway of her hips.

As they approached the point just before her dormitory entrance, Jae felt a sudden urge. He leaned in slightly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

His fingers lingered at the edge of her cheek for just a heartbeat before he pressed his lips to hers in a quick, firm kiss. It was fleeting, a spark of connection, but enough to make her startle.

His hand brushed against her backside, squeezing lightly, and she let out a sharp, surprised yelp. The sound made him chuckle quietly.

He stepped back just enough to watch her, noticing the subtle change in her gait as she walked forward. Her hips swayed a little differently now, a touch awkwardly, and he smirked inwardly at the effect.

There was a quiet satisfaction in watching her like this, in sharing a fleeting moment of closeness that no one else needed to witness.

Jae turned to leave, stepping away with measured calm, when he suddenly felt it: a presence, a gaze resting on him from somewhere above. He paused, instinctively tracing the movement with his eyes.

There she was, Yuna, peeking cautiously from her dormitory window. Her dark eyes, wide and shimmering in the fading afternoon light, were fixed on him. There was curiosity there, yes, but also a hint of something sharper: surprise, perhaps, or the quiet thrill of being caught.

A small, involuntary smile tugged at his lips. Without thinking, he raised his hand in a casual wave.

Yuna blinked, startled, her expression caught between embarrassment and amusement. After a brief pause, she lifted her hand in return, her movement hesitant, almost shy.

A faint pink rose across her cheeks, catching the golden light, making her look both innocent and endearingly self-conscious.

Jae’s eyes softened as he noted her hesitation and the careful way she glanced around, as though checking that no one else was watching.

After a moment, she began to climb down the side steps, each motion deliberate, fingers brushing against the railing to steady herself.

There was an elegance even in the carefulness of her movements, a quiet grace that belied the nervous energy rippling through her.

"Were you spying on me?" Jae asked, tilting his head slightly, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Yuna’s lips formed a small pout, a motion almost imperceptible yet undeniably endearing. She answered softly, almost hesitantly, "Is it a crime to care about you?"

Her voice carried the faintest tremor, and the cautious way she looked up at him made him laugh.

He shook his head, smiling, "No, it’s definitely not a crime." The tone was light, carrying no reprimand, only amusement. Leaning in just slightly, he added casually, "You could even come with me to my room if you wanted."

Yuna’s eyes widened at the suggestion. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the world had shrunk to only the two of them, the hallways and passing students fading into a blur.

"It’s late..." she murmured, glancing around as though the empty corridors themselves were judging her decision. She hesitated, biting her lower lip slightly before nodding. "Alright... I’ll come." Her voice was soft, careful, yet there was an undercurrent of excitement she could not completely mask.

As they began walking back toward Jae’s dormitory, their footsteps echoed softly against the polished stone. Yuna started talking, her words spilling into the space between them like sunlight warming the chill of a room.

She spoke of the royal courts, of politics and intrigue that seemed distant and abstract, yet her voice lent them life. She described a heated dispute where a chief had threatened to break an alliance, a reckless move that could have sparked open conflict if the king had not intervened at the last moment.

Her voice rose slightly in excitement, her eyes sparkling as she gestured with her hands, imagining the scene vividly.

Jae listened closely, nodding from time to time, letting her words paint the pictures in his mind. As she spoke, he found himself reflecting quietly on the king: how different he was from himself.

Jae could see how his own instincts would have led to a direct confrontation, crushing the opposing chief swiftly, ending the threat with sheer force rather than subtle strategy.

The thought lingered in the back of his mind, unspoken, a quiet contrast to the world Yuna inhabited.

By the time they reached his dorm, the golden light outside had begun to fade, leaving the hallways bathed in softer, muted tones.

Jae reached for his cloak, hanging neatly near the door, and handed it to Yuna. Her fingers brushed the fabric, tentative, and she murmured softly, "It feels... strange."

"Strange how?" Jae asked, raising an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

She pulled the cloak around herself, adjusting it carefully over her shoulders so it draped evenly. "It feels like I’m disconnected from the world when I wear it," she admitted, voice soft and reflective, almost intimate in its quietness.

She turned slightly, letting the fabric fall just right, and the movement carried a kind of elegance that made the simple act of wearing a cloak feel personal, almost ceremonial.

Jae opened the door wider, gesturing for her to step inside. She moved in carefully, her eyes scanning the room with measured curiosity.

Everything was neat, orderly, the bed perfectly made, the desk cleared of clutter, the furniture aligned with precision. She paused, a faint, appreciative smile touching her lips. Perhaps her earlier worries about Elise’s presence in the room had been unfounded. The relief made her cheeks flush softly.

Without thinking, Yuna stepped closer, throwing her arms around him in a sudden, warm hug.

Jae stiffened only briefly before returning the embrace, resting his hands lightly on her back. He felt her warmth against him, the gentle press of her body, the small, almost inaudible laugh she let out, a sound that made the space between them feel lighter, intimate, even suspended in time.

After a few moments, she pulled back slightly, stepping toward the bed with a shy glance at him. "I’ve missed you," she said softly, voice low but earnest, eyes shimmering in the dim light. Her next words came in a whisper, almost conspiratorial: "and... your body."

Jae let out a low, amused laugh at her candor, a teasing grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Ah, being honest this time, huh?"