2.6

Leon raised his hand hurriedly, as though startled. His gaze, directed downward, was filled with confusion. The composure he had shown earlier had completely vanished. His unusual behavior seemed unfamiliar.  

Could it be… that he’s conscious of me?  

Ellen reached out once more, trying to touch him again. Even the slight brush of her hand against the back of his caused him to flinch again.  

Ah.  

A smile slowly spread across Ellen’s lips.  

Should I delay telling him I want to part ways?  

Though she had failed to hold his hand, it felt like there was hope. It seemed as though there was a positive shift in his feelings, and it felt too soon to give up.  

In that moment, her resolve to let him go melted away like snow under the sun.  

Her heart pounded. The excitement made her breathless, her chest rising and falling irregularly.  

“Shall we rest for a moment?” 

“Yes….”  

Perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere between them, Leon was the first to suggest a pause.  

Since Ellen didn’t feel capable of walking against the strong wind in her current breathless state, she accepted his suggestion.  

They sat side by side on a bench, but the awkwardness between them lingered.  

The only sounds were the rustling of leaves blown by the wind and the sharp whistle of the gusts. Leon cleared his throat, seemingly trying to dispel the awkwardness.  

The sound of the wind slicing through the air lessened the tension, but its intensity continued to grow.  

What Ellen thought was a fleeting breeze turned out to be something else entirely. The wind grew stronger, and the darkening sky suggested that rain was imminent.  

Even though her silver hair was braided into a single plait, it fluttered wildly in the wind. When she turned to look at Leon, she saw his hair being tousled by the wind as well.  

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”  

Leon’s gaze awkwardly shifted toward the sky, as if deliberately avoiding her eyes.  

“Yes. I think we should leave… before the rain starts….”  

Though they had only just met, the thought of parting left Ellen feeling regretful. Her voice, expressing her reluctance, slowed down.  

“….”  

When no response came, Ellen raised her head to look at Leon, but her eyes landed on his lips before meeting his gaze.  

Suddenly, the memory of their previous passionate kiss surfaced in her mind.  

I kissed those lips…. I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did.  

Leon seemed to notice her gaze lingering on his lips. Momentarily startled, he silently studied Ellen’s face. Soon, his hand reached out to gently touch her hair. It was the first time she had felt his touch.  

Seeing Leon’s uncharacteristic behavior made Ellen’s heart race. His gesture felt like an unspoken signal.  

Could he… be about to kiss me?  

Ellen’s deep, blue eyes wavered slightly.  

Oh, whatever. If it’s going to happen anyway, why don’t I make the first move?  

The first time had been difficult, but the second time wasn’t as daunting. Boldly, Ellen pressed her lips against Leon’s. The soft, tender sensation spread through her.  

Leon’s eyes widened in shock. He clearly hadn’t anticipated it. His body seemed to freeze, stiff like a log.  

Huh? Wasn’t he about to kiss me?  

Ellen blinked repeatedly, hesitating. Should she pull away, or should she continue?  

Glancing at Leon, she noticed that he didn’t seem to be pushing her away. He appeared startled but not displeased.  

Maybe I should be more assertive?  

Ellen wrapped her arms around Leon’s neck, caressing him as she deepened the kiss. She savored the electrifying thrill of the moment.  

When his lips parted slightly, she took the opportunity to explore his mouth, tracing every corner.  

Fortunately, Leon still didn’t push her away. He simply allowed himself to be swept along by her movements.  

Gathering her courage, Ellen entwined her tongue with his. She tried to mimic the way Leon had kissed her before, but their tongues didn’t quite align as she had imagined.  

Ah….  

Leon was utterly bewildered. He had only intended to remove a small leaf tangled in Ellen’s hair, but now he found himself being kissed.  

Did I do something to give her the wrong idea?  

He had hesitated before removing the leaf. Ever since their last kiss, he had felt a strange sensation whenever he touched Ellen, so he had tried to avoid physical contact with her.  

But the moment their lips met, a tingling sensation coursed through him, and his body froze.  

He wanted to deny that he had intended to kiss her and push her away, but his body betrayed his rationality. He couldn’t bring himself to reject her.  

He hadn’t even wanted to meet her gaze today, as if he had somehow predicted this would happen.  

Strangely, the longer the kiss lasted, the more restless Leon felt.  

How could such clumsy movements be so stimulating?  

Ellen was still inexperienced at kissing. Her warm, soft tongue explored his mouth, licking every inch with earnest effort but lacking finesse.  

Though her attempt was endearing, Leon suppressed a chuckle.  

What struck him as odd was not her lack of skill, but how endearing—and oddly arousing—her earnestness was.  

A desperate desire to keep touching her overwhelmed him. His body burned with a feverish intensity, driving him to the brink of madness.  

A little more… just a little more.  

Though Ellen may have initiated the kiss, Leon soon found himself taking the lead. His hand cradled her head as he deepened the kiss, intertwining their tongues more fervently. He didn’t want to let her go.  

“Mmm… ah.”  

Leon’s hand trailed from her head to her nape, then down her back. Ellen let out a surprised whimper, but he swallowed the sound.  

As the kiss grew more passionate, Leon’s hands roamed over her body. Though separated by the fabric of her dress, her softness was palpable.  

How soft would her bare skin feel beneath the dress? The more he touched, the stronger his desire to delve deeper into her grew.  

Just as his hand reached the laces on her back, intending to undo them, the rain began to pour heavily, drenching them both.  

Their lips parted, a thin string of saliva connecting them.  

“Ah.”  

Ellen let out a soft gasp, her breath shaky as she shielded her forehead with her hand. The rain fell so heavily that her vision blurred.  

The downpour was so intense that no one else was in sight, and it was difficult to keep her eyes open.  

Though Leon, too, felt a lingering sense of regret, it wasn’t the right moment to act on his desires. He quickly scanned their surroundings for shelter.  

His eyes landed on a terrace. It was unoccupied and would provide adequate cover from the rain.  

“We should take shelter under the terrace for now.”  

Without waiting for Ellen’s response, Leon grabbed her hand and ran. Though he couldn’t run quickly to match her pace, their steps felt light despite the heavy rain.  

Soaked to the bone, neither of them felt particularly upset.  

“Haha. We’re completely drenched.”  

Once under the terrace, Ellen examined her state and laughed aloud. Though she often smiled brightly, this was the first time Leon had heard her laugh so openly.  

Can getting caught in the rain really make someone this happy?  

Leon found himself staring at Ellen’s laughing face. He froze.  

Her hair, damp and clinging to her, and the raindrops cascading from her forehead to her cheeks made her look more alluring than usual.