After sobbing for a long while, until Kai's arm grew numb from holding the tissue aloft yet not daring to lower it, Serein finally began to calm down. The ache of homesickness loosened its grip, and her breathing steadied.
She gently took the tissue from his hand, then reached for another brimming bowl of noodles. Her expression was composed, as if no trace of dampness had lingered on her lashes.
Kai hesitated before drawing his hand back, returning to his own meal. His gaze still strayed toward her from time to time, restless with concern, but he kept his silence. Everyone has a shadowed corner they cannot bear others to touch.
Before long, the feast that had filled the table was gone. Along with it, much of the heaviness in Serein's heart had lifted. She leaned back against her chair, let out a long sigh of satisfaction, and rubbed the curve of her now-full stomach. It had been so long since she last ate a meal that tasted this comforting.
