WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Confession

Chapter 029: Confession

Anindira remained silent.

She did not respond to Halvir's words.

Halvir lifted Anindira in his arms, but he did not set her down. Instead, he shifted her position. Rather than carrying her like a father carrying a small child, he now seated her on his lap.

Halvir suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground. Dry leaves were scattered around them, rustling softly as his body moved.

Anindira instinctively lowered her head.

They were too close.

Too suddenly.

Halvir's face was now directly in front of hers.

"Dira!"

Halvir's voice was firm as he called her name.

"Look at me!"

Anindira flinched slightly at the command. Yet she kept her head lowered, trying to avoid his gaze.

"You aren't the only one who can get angry," Halvir said, his voice hardening when he received no response. "I can be angry too. You know that, don't you?!"

Anindira remained silent.

The silence made Halvir draw a long breath.

"Dira. You may not realize this... but there aren't many women who can speak to me as freely and honestly as you do. The way you simply say what you feel without wrapping it in endless complications—that is a part of your character that I admire. Even your courage to express your anger toward me is something I find charming."

THUMP

THUMP

THUMP

Anindira's heartbeat only grew faster. Her chest felt tight as she listened to Halvir's words that sounded...

too gentle.

Too different.

Why is he acting like this?

Is he flirting with me?

Or am I just being too full of myself?

"Am I talking to myself?!" Halvir asked.

He waited.

But there was still no answer.

His patience began to wear thin. Using two fingers, Halvir gently pinched Anindira's chin and slowly lifted it.

Anindira's face was raised before she could avoid him. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shimmered with nervousness.

"This is better. Now I can finally see those black eyes that always look at me whenever we talk. A sincere gaze, full of courage—a gaze that never hesitates to look directly into my eyes."

"Kak Halvir is just flirting with me..." Anindira muttered softly, sounding sulky.

"Eum."

Halvir nodded with a smile.

"I am flirting with you."

"What for?"

"Obviously, to persuade you."

"I know that! But why are you trying to persuade me?"

"Dira," Halvir called as he stroked her cheek with an incredibly gentle touch, "we're on our way to the Village Chief's house. I'll be leaving you in his care. My journey to the Lion Kingdom isn't as far as the *Forbidden Forest. But even a short journey will feel exhausting if I spend the whole time worrying."

Anindira swallowed.

"I'm sorry, Kak. I've become arrogant because you've been too kind to me. I'll try not to add more weight to your burdens..."

"You foolish Dira, that's not what I mean!" Halvir exclaimed, his voice rising instinctively.

"Kak, that's not it... I'm sorry. I messed up earlier. I've already caused you so much trouble. You've done so much for me. Really, I'll work harder so I won't become even more of a burden. I'll learn more so I can be more independent and not keep relying on you, I—"

Halvir cut her off.

Lowering his head, he pressed his forehead against hers—gentle, yet firm.

"Be quiet, or I'll kiss you again!"

Anindira immediately sealed her lips.

"What burden? You are not my burden at all. Your needs, everything you require, are my responsibility," Halvir said, never taking his eyes off her.

"Why are you so afraid of troubling me?! I don't know what your world is like, but no matter how well you come to understand this world—now or in the future—believe me, you still won't be able to live alone. Even I need help."

Anindira held her breath.

"Kak Halvir... your actions, your words... do you like me?"

"Do you still need to ask?!"

"Of course I do. I need to be sure that you're confessing... your love... to... me."

The last words came out in a stammer.

"You didn't realize it?!"

"Realize what?"

Halvir fell silent.

He stared at Anindira for a long moment, as if trying to confirm something. Yet doubt appeared on his face.

Could it be...

Is it because Dira comes from another world?

*Does Imprint not apply to her?

Or was I the one who misunderstood?

Yet his certainty soon returned.

Whatever.

No matter how Dira feels later...

my feelings are already clear.

Besides, if she had no feelings for me, then why would she be jealous of Zia?

"Yes. I love you. I want you. That's why, to prepare everything our household will need in the future—I'm doing this now."

This time, it was Anindira who fell silent.

She stared at Halvir with a flushed face. She heard every word clearly, yet her mind felt completely blank, unable to hold anything except the echo of the confession she had just received.

"I've said what you wanted me to confirm. But now you're the one staying silent and refusing to give me a clear answer," Halvir said in a calm yet demanding tone, staring into Anindira's eyes without blinking.

"Sorry..." Anindira murmured, startled by the reprimand.

Halvir remained silent.

His gaze never left her, as though urging her to reveal the feelings she had kept hidden all this time.

Anindira blinked, her face growing even redder. She seemed to understand the meaning behind that gaze, but embarrassment held her back, making her heart pound wildly.

Patient and calm, Halvir maintained their position. His powerful body, his steady lap, and the arms that gently enclosed her made escape impossible.

"Kak Halvir is being mean to me..." Anindira complained, her voice trembling yet resigned.

"How am I being mean to you?" Halvir asked, his tone now mixed with gentle teasing. "Explain it to me so I can fix it."

"I'm embarrassed by your confession just now... at least let me..."

"No. I don't want to... I'm afraid."

"Kak Halvir is afraid?!"

Halvir nodded, his expression melancholy.

"Why? What could I possibly do that would make Kak Halvir afraid?"

"You'll break my heart."

"That's impossible!"

"It isn't... after all, you still haven't answered me."

Anindira swallowed.

Her emotions clashed with the logic whispering in her mind, yet she still spoke hesitantly.

"It's not that... it's just... I'm not used to something like this. I understand what you mean, but it's still difficult for me to accept. In my world, girls my age wouldn't think about things like this... we might date, but not for something this serious. I know what you mean. In my world, what you're talking about is marriage. But teenagers like us wouldn't even think that far ahead."

"So you don't want to?"

"I don't know..." Anindira answered uncertainly, looking directly at Halvir while still feeling shy.

"Then was I wrong to interpret your jealousy toward Zia?"

Anindira jolted.

Halvir's bluntness caught her off guard.

She knew her feelings—her jealousy—had been obvious, but hearing Halvir say it so directly made her want to swallow her own words.

"Isn't that enough to show your feelings for me? Then why are you still trying to run away from them and refusing to admit them?!"

"Kak Halvir," Anindira replied, her voice firm yet trembling, her eyes meeting Halvir's with courage, "because of the way you acted earlier... any woman would have been upset."

Halvir lowered his head briefly and released a heavy sigh, trying to calm himself.

"I don't understand that... I've already told you, most women can't be as free and honest as you are," he said quietly but firmly.

"Eum..." Anindira nodded slowly, swallowing her embarrassment and nervousness. "That's exactly why, if this were my world, I would definitely reject you."

Halvir's eyes widened.

It felt as though a massive stone had slammed into his chest.

His breath caught.

His heart pounded violently.

Anindira stared at him, equally shocked by his reaction. From such a close distance, she could feel just how disappointed Halvir was, how deeply her words had pierced his heart.

Without realizing it, the air around them seemed warmer. Their breaths intertwined, and for a brief moment, the world itself seemed to stand still.