Her mind tried to be stern, logical, sensible.
But her heart... her heart paid zero attention.
Because even as her brain scread warnings, her heartbeat kept pounding hard against her ribs, warm and electric, spilling tingling sensations through her entire body. It felt as though a warm current had wrapped around her, refusing to let go.
Her toes curled under the blanket. Her stomach felt as if tiny sparks were going off inside. A soft shiver ran down her arms as she pressed a trembling hand to her chest.
"Why... why am I like this..." she whispered helplessly.
But she knew the answer.
That smile.
That gentle tone.
That softness he only showed when speaking to her.
The way he held her hand through the portal.
The care in his eyes when he wrapped the shawl around her.
Every mory rose like a wave, flooding her with warmth she had never felt this strongly before.
Her heart beat faster.
Her breath hitched.
Her whole body felt light... tingly... alive.
And no matter how much she tried to push it down, the truth pulsed through her in a whisper she couldn’t unhear.
She liked him.
She liked him so much it was embarrassing.
She covered her red face with a pillow and let out a muffled squeal.
"Oh noooo..." she whispered into the fabric, her voice trembling. "I’m in trouble..."
Because for the first ti since she ca to this world, Alina felt sothing she couldn’t deny anymore.
She didn’t just admire Dante.
Her heart was beginning to fall for him deeply, helplessly, beautifully, and there was no stopping it now.
Early the next morning, Alina stood before her mirror with concentration. She brushed her hair a little slower, adjusted her collar a little more carefully, and checked her reflection one last ti before stepping back with a soft, excited breath. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, catching the morning light with a gentle shine, and her cheeks held the faintest warm glow she couldn’t quite stop.
She smiled at herself, small, shy, but undeniably brighter than usual.
When she finally left her house and made her way to the staffroom, her steps felt lighter, almost floating. But right before she entered, she paused in the hallway, pretending to adjust her bag while her eyes subtly drifted toward the direction of the main corridor.
Was Dante there already?
Her heart gave a tiny, hopeful flutter. She bit her bottom lip without realising it, a soft blush rising to her cheeks at the mory of his smile from yesterday, the way it felt like sothing warm settling deep inside her.
But the hallway was empty.
She inhaled quietly, then pushed the staffroom door open.
"Good morning," Professor Hobb greeted, sipping his tea.
"Morning, Alina," Miss Kelly added warmly.
Alina responded with a soft smile, "Good morning," and took her seat.
Before she could even pull out her folder, Gabriel turned around from his desk, blinking at her in surprise before giving her an easy smile.
"Well, soone looks extra beautiful today," he joked lightly. "Did you get more sleep than usual, or are you hiding sothing good?"
Alina felt her heartbeat skip, the blush creeping up her face again. "Just... a good day," she said, smiling down at her hands.
Gabriel tilted his head. "You seem very happy. Did sothing special happen?"
Alina’s fingers brushed her cheek, still warm from the mory. She shook her head quickly, trying to seem casual. "Nothing much... just..." she hesitated, her lips curving helplessly, "just a good day."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow playfully. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say soone made you smile."
Her breath hitched for a mont.
Soone did.
Soone very specific.
Soone who made her heart tremble just by looking at her.
She lowered her gaze, letting her hair fall slightly to hide her expression.
"I suppose... so days just feel a little brighter," she murmured softly, her heart fluttering again at the thought of Dante’s gentle, breathtaking smile from yesterday.
Gabriel watched her for another second, curiosity flickering in his eyes, but he didn’t tease further. Instead, he chuckled and returned to his work, leaving Alina to sit quietly with her warm cheeks and racing heart.
She sighed softly, her fingers brushing her chest as she whispered to herself.
"Just a good day..."
But deep down, she knew exactly why it felt so good.
Alina had barely opened her folder when Gabriel suddenly snapped his fingers as if rembering sothing important.
"Alina, have snacks!" he said, reaching into his bag with a grin. He pulled out a small, pretty pouch decorated in pastel colours and pushed it toward her. "Here, try this."
Alina blinked and peeked inside. Nestled within the soft paper were oval-shaped treats, dusted all over with a delicate white sugar powder. They looked almost like tiny clouds dipped in sweetness.
"For ?" she asked softly, surprised.
"Of course," Gabriel said, smiling as he leaned back in his seat. "I already ate my share. Professor Hobb and Miss Kelly didn’t like them, so I thought you might. Go ahead, taste it. It’s very popular in my Angel Domain."
Alina felt her heart flutter strangely at that. The idea of eating sothing that angels loved, sothing from a place she would probably never visit, felt incredibly special. Almost like she was being offered a tiny piece of heaven.
She picked up one of the treats and took a small, cautious bite.
The mont it touched her tongue, her eyes widened.
It was unbelievably soft, almost lting before she could even chew, and the sweetness was gentle, not overwhelming, just enough to bloom warmth across her taste buds. The flavour was so delicate and refreshing that the world seed to pause for a mont. Without thinking, she closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the soft, airy sweetness that felt like floating.
Gabriel watched her reaction, and the smile that spread across his face was genuine and warm.
"You like it?" he asked quietly.
Alina opened her eyes slowly, still dazzled. "Gabsss... this is delicious," she whispered, taking another small bite with a kind of reverence. "It tastes like... I don’t know... like a soft cloud sprinkled with sugar."
Gabriel laughed, delighted. "That is exactly why I love them. They are simple but perfect."
She nodded, savouring the treat bit by bit, feeling oddly honoured that she was eating sothing angels considered special. For a brief mont, it eased her nerves, softened her worries, and brought a sweet warmth to her otherwise fluttery morning.
And Gabriel just looked quietly pleased, watching her enjoy every bite of his favourite snack.
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