WARDV 39

CHAPTER 39

“Are you… crying?”

The child didn’t answer, but the sobs, filled with sorrow, grew louder as if she no longer cared to hide them.

Idris asked in alarm,
“Why are you crying?”

“I hate it when someone important to me is hurt…”

At Aria’s tearful words, Idris froze.

“I’m… someone important to her?”

Because of his pride, he had ended up hurting a child who only cared about him.

As soon as he realized that, a stinging pain pricked at his chest, like being jabbed with a needle.

At last, Idris understood the name of this unpleasant and suffocating feeling.

It was guilt.

I’m sorry. I was wrong…

But instead of the clumsy apology caught in his throat, what came out was a slightly gentler voice.

“…It can be treated.”

“Really?”

Despite the gruff tone, Aria’s reply came bright and hopeful, as though she hadn’t been crying at all.

Feeling awkward, Idris began rummaging through a drawer instead of replying.

There should’ve been some ointment left—something his mom had picked up near the hospital a while ago.

Aria, who had been watching him, suddenly jumped up and came over.

“I’ll do it! Let me help!”

She quickly found the ointment tucked away in the corner of the drawer.

Then, she fetched some water from the nearby well and began cleaning Idris’s wounds.

The first thing she examined was his split lip.

Her gentle fingers carefully wiped around it, and Idris flinched slightly at the ticklish touch.

Aria’s hand paused.

“Does it hurt?”

“…It’s not that.”

“You know, wounds aren’t something to be ashamed of. They’re proof that you stood your ground and didn’t run away.”

It wasn’t shameful—it was just ticklish…

Yes, definitely ticklish… So why did his face feel like it was getting hotter?

Still, because her touch wasn’t unpleasant, Idris chose to keep quiet instead of arguing.

“I got a scar behind my ear once. I got hit with a broken bottle while trying to protect my mom. She told me it’s a mark of courage—proof that I tried to protect her.”

As Aria’s voice gently encouraged him, Idris, without meaning to, started to feel annoyed.

“…Who said that to you?”

Her words came to a halt.

Should I not have asked? I haven’t even told her my name…

Feeling awkward himself, Idris hastily added,
“If you don’t want to answer—”

“My dad.”

Though her voice was calm, as if she were talking about someone else, the detachment made Idris’s heart sink.

He had never asked about Aria’s life. He had assumed she lived in a happy home.

And now, he felt guilty for all the times he had been jealous of her presumed happiness, and lashed out, fearing she might leave him.

As he struggled for a response, lips parting wordlessly, Aria removed her hand from his mouth.

“All done here! Now let’s look at your arm.”

With a cheerfulness that belied her earlier sadness, she began chattering away as usual.

Listening to her soft, soothing voice and feeling her gentle touch, Idris had a sudden thought:

This feels… peaceful.

It was the first time since his mother died.

No—this peace had been with him all summer, but he hadn’t noticed until now.

Since his mother passed away and he met Aria, Idris had never once taken a nap.

Unknowingly, his eyes drifted shut.

It was his first nap in a long time.

When Idris opened his eyes again, it was late afternoon, and the sunlight had turned a golden hue.

At first, he instinctively sought Aria’s presence—but then he realized he didn’t need to.

The weight on his shoulder, the sound of quiet breathing close by, the warm hand in his own—it all told him that she was still right there beside him.

Even though his vision wasn’t fully gone beneath the blindfold, Idris rarely needed help. But on the rough forest paths, Aria often held his hand.

And maybe because it became a habit, she sometimes held his hand even on flat ground—like now.

…It tickles.

As he fiddled with her soft hand, Aria murmured in her sleep.

“Mmm… Mom…”

Startled, Idris froze like a guilty child.

Then, seeing her head slump forward, he hurriedly supported her.

Seriously… she’s a handful.

If he left her like this, she’d topple right over.

With a resigned sigh, Idris gently shifted her so that her head rested on his lap.

As she moved, her hair brushed against him and loosened his blindfold.

And then—

“Ah.”

Their eyes met.

Under the golden sunlight, as her hair shimmered and her blue eyes sparkled like gemstones—

His heart dropped.
Time stopped.

Thump, thump…

Completely overwhelmed by an emotion he’d never felt before, Idris froze.

Then Aria murmured in a sleepy voice:

“Your eyes… they’re beautiful…”

Gazing into Idris’s golden eyes, she spoke softly and then drifted back to sleep.

Idris stared at her long lashes, then finally remembered to breathe.

Quickly, he retied the loosened blindfold.

But even with his eyes covered, Aria’s face—seen for the first time—kept floating before him. His heart continued to beat wildly.

Only then did he understand what his mother meant by “the curse.”

The curse…

Yes. This was definitely a curse.

To be forever bound by that fleeting moment—for the rest of his life.

Moments later.

As Idris finally came back to his senses, a wave of fear washed over him.

If this is a curse… what if something happens to her?

His mother had warned him: anyone who saw his eyes—or even he himself—would be cursed.

But while his heart raced and Aria’s image kept haunting him, there were no signs that she was in danger.

Her steady breathing suggested she was fine.

Still worried, Idris fought the urge to look at her again—what if something did happen?

But every nerve in his body was already tuned to her.

To her gentle breathing. Her warmth.

He wanted her to wake up so he could make sure she was okay—but at the same time, he wished this moment would last a little longer.

Caught between those two feelings, dusk slowly began to fall.

And finally, Aria stirred.

“Gasp!”

Her even breathing stopped, and she suddenly sat up.

“S-Sorry! Your legs must be sore!”

She quickly fussed over him—was his leg okay, were his wounds alright—then said they should head home.

She didn’t mention their eye contact. Maybe she didn’t remember. Maybe it didn’t matter to her.

“Let’s go to the forest again once you’re all healed!”

Already making plans for the days ahead, Aria walked over to the door.

Watching her go, Idris called out:

“Hey… don’t you remember… anything?”

“Remember? What do you mean?”

She looked genuinely confused.

If she doesn’t remember seeing my eyes… maybe the curse doesn’t work on her?

He was relieved she seemed unharmed—but somehow, the fact that only he remembered that moment stung.

“…Never mind. Just go home.”

“Goodnight! See you tomorrow!”

Idris barely acknowledged her farewell before closing the door.

But once he was alone, the silence—and the warmth that had disappeared from his hand—felt especially lonely.

It’s okay, he told himself.

We’ll see each other tomorrow.

But what he didn’t know was—

That would be the last day of the peaceful, ordinary life he thought would last forever.