Aiden was looking around in the library with his right hand holding a math book. He kept going forth and back, then turning around again, just to find someone. When he spotted the someone he needed and wanted, his face lit up with a brilliant smile. Slowly, he approached that someone he was looking for.
“Hello, snuggle bug.” Aiden greets her with endearing words.
Mabella turned to him. When he saw Aiden’s face, a rosy hue gradually blooms on her face, starting from her cheeks and extending to her ears, as if her emotions are painting her skin with vivid colours.
“Sn-snuggle bug?” She echoed the word softly, her voice carrying a mix of hesitation and curiosity, as if trying to grasp its full meaning
“Yup, that means a darling.” Aiden winks to her, knowing so well that girl would blush non-stop.
“A darling…” she whispered slowly.
“Why? Is that wrong? We are a couple now, aren’t we?” Aiden pulled the chair next to Mabella. He then sit on the chair and put his math book on the table.
“Are you busy?” He stole a brief look at her open book, intrigued by the densely written notes and underlined passages.
“Not really… Why? Is-is there something you need from me?”
“Yeah. I don’t understand to do this part.” Aiden open his book, showing her the question that he did not understand.
Mabella take a look at the question before nodding her head. She closed her own book while her eyes fixed on Aiden’s book. That action caught Aiden’s attention. A fluttering sensation filled his stomach, as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight within him when the girl he likes gave him her full attention.
“This is quite… easy…”
Aiden raised his right brow. Oh? Get cocky, isn’t she?
Mabella look at the book before her eyes making their ways to Aiden’s face. “But-but.. why do you want to study? You have never bothered yourself with this kind of thing before,” She leaned in, her curiosity piqued as she notice this new side of Aiden.
Aiden rubbed his neck, trying to ease away the shyness. His fingers worked gently, like a soothing massage, helping him relax before answering his girl question. “Because… I want to become a better person.”
“A… better person?” Mabella repeated his words again.
“Yeah, for you. I need to start getting serious about study and planning my future so I can be a better match for you.” With a genuine smile, he responded to her, his eyes alight with warmth and sincerity. It was more than just the words he spoke, it was the way his smile reached his eyes, conveying his true feelings in that moment. It was a genuine exchange, filled with authenticity and goodwill, a moment shared between them that spoke volumes without the need for words.
As Mabella listened to the seriousness in his voice, a warm flush of flattery spread across her cheeks, making her feel both elated and self-conscious. Her heart raced, a blend of nervous excitement and profound gratitude swirling within her. The sincerity of his words touched her deeply, leaving her both thrilled and slightly anxious, unsure how to respond to such heartfelt emotions. She felt butterflies in her stomach, the nervous fluttering a testament to the impact of his earnest declaration about her.
“I-I see…,” she nodded her head and hid her smile.
“But, I need you to help me. I mean, I couldn’t possibly do it alone, right?” He chuckled softly.
“Ye-yeah…” Mabella agreed.
The library around them was quiet, with only the soft rustling of pages and the distant murmur of other students breaking the silence. Aiden’s presence brought a new energy to Mabella’s usually calm and focused study sessions. She found herself both eager and nervous to help him.
Aiden slid his math book closer to her, his fingers brushing against hers lightly. The touch sent a shiver up Mabella’s spine, her heart pounding in response. She looked down at the problem he had pointed out, her mind quickly shifting gears to tackle the equation.
“Alright, let’s see here,” she said, her voice steadying as she began to explain the steps involved. She leaned closer, their shoulders nearly touching, and started to walk him through the process.
Aiden watched her intently, his eyes following her hand as she wrote out each step. He tried to focus on the math, but it was difficult with Mabella so close. Her scent, a light floral fragrance, was intoxicating, and he found himself getting lost in her presence.
“So, you see… you just need to isolate the variable here and then solve for x,” Mabella concluded, looking up at him with a hopeful smile.
Aiden blinked, pulling himself out of his reverie. “Oh, right. That makes sense,” he said, though he wasn’t entirely sure he had followed everything she had said. He was more focused on how her eyes sparkled when she explained things and the way her lips moved when she talked.
“Do-do you get it?” Mabella asked, tilting her head slightly, her hair falling softly around her face.
“Yeah, I think so,” Aiden lied, not wanting to disappoint her. “Thanks, snuggle bug.”
Mabella’s blush deepened at the nickname, but she smiled brightly. “You’re welcome. Anytime you need help, just let me know.”
“I will,” Aiden promised, feeling a surge of determination. He really did want to improve, not just for himself, but for her. He wanted to be someone she could be proud of.
They spent the next hour working through more math problems. With each one, Aiden felt a little more confident. Mabella was patient and kind, explaining things in a way that made sense to him. Her encouragement gave him the boost he needed to keep going.
As they worked, they occasionally stole glances at each other, sharing shy smiles and quiet laughs. The library seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their little world.
Eventually, the librarian announced that the library would be closing soon. Aiden looked at the clock, surprised at how quickly the time had passed.
“We-we need to wrap up,” Mabella said, closing her books and stretching. “Did you get what you needed?”
“Yeah, thanks to you,” Aiden said, gathering his things. “I really appreciate it.”
Mabella smiled, her eyes softening. “I’m glad I could help.”
As they walked out of the library together, Aiden felt a sense of contentment. He had taken a step toward becoming a better person, and he had done it with the support of someone he cared about deeply.
“Hey, snuggle bug?” he said as they reached the entrance.
“Ye-yes?”
“Would you like to study together again sometime? Maybe we can make it a regular thing.”
Mabella’s eyes lit up with happiness. “S-sure.”
“Great,” Aiden said, feeling his heart swell with joy. “It’s a date then.”
They stood there for a moment, smiling at each other, before heading off in their separate directions. As Aiden walked away, he felt more motivated than ever. He knew that with Mabella by his side, he could accomplish anything.
And Mabella, watching him go, felt a warmth in her heart that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She knew that this was just the beginning of something special, something that would grow and flourish with time.
As they both looked forward to their next study session, they couldn’t help but feel excited about the future and the possibilities it held for them.