phainon in the early relationship is so cute. he gets flustered even at the thought of holdings hands with you. a pure hearted boy ♡(ӦｖӦ｡)
The late afternoon sun (you think it is, considering there's no true light in the holy city) bathed everything in a soft, golden glow. That warm, drowsy light that made everything feel a little more magical. You and Phainon were walking side by side, the air quiet except for the sound of your footsteps and the occasional brush of your sleeves.
He was talking about something—stars maybe, or the way he always loses track of time when he shares stories from his hometown but his voice faltered when your hand lightly looped around his arm.
You felt him tense, every muscle suddenly alert.
His words stumbled mid-sentence. “…a-and then the—uh… the gravitational, uh…”
You looked up at him, trying to hide your smile. “Gravitational what?”
He blinked rapidly, looking everywhere except at you. His ears were bright red. “N-Nothing! I mean—gravity! I just… forgot the word. You know how gravity works…”
You giggled. “You forgot gravity?”
The thought of a certain scholar hearing his student saying that will earn Phainon a demerit even if the man is already graduated.
That earned you a sheepish laugh from Phainon himself, the kind where he scratched the back of his neck and bit the inside of his cheek like he wanted to disappear and melt into the pavement. “I-I didn’t forget! You just—” He stopped himself, the words dying in his throat as he glanced at your hand still resting on his arm.
It was such a small thing, but to him, it looked like the most intimate gesture in the world.
“Sorry,” you whispered, pretending to pull your hand away.
He immediately shook his head, eyes wide. “No! I mean—don’t—uh, it’s fine! Really! I just—” He laughed, nervous and sweet, cheeks so pink you could practically see the warmth radiating from him. You feel your heart flutters when you feel his large hand covering yours to stay on his arm. “I’m just… not used to this yet.”
Your smile softened. “You’ll get used to me eventually.”
He looked down at you then, finally meeting your eyes, and his voice came out in the smallest, most earnest tone.
“I… hope not too much,” he said with a shy grin. “I kind of like having someone pressed next to me when it’s you.”
And just like that, your heart did that fluttery little flip he always seemed to cause—without even trying.
