Stranger [5]

Noah and Eyolian entered a shop that wasn't much different from the first, except it catered to women. The shelves were filled with various designs and colors. Noah looked at Eyolian, who seemed just as astonished, perhaps even perplexed.

Eyolian looked at Noah, seemingly urging him to do something—but what was there for him to do? The idea of attempting to help vanished from his mind, and he decided he would merely give his opinion on her choice. So, the two stood where they were, looking around without doing anything.

It wasn’t long after they entered that a plump woman with brown hair and a round face approached them. She wasn’t ugly by any means, just a bit overweight. She smiled at the sight of the two and said, “Hello, I had some backlog work in the back and didn’t notice your entrance. Not many customers pass through our street in the morning; welcome nonetheless.”

Noah just nodded and stepped back. Eyolian gave him a sidelong glance and took the lead, “Thanks for the welcome. I’m wondering if your store has anything in my size? I don’t have the time for custom tailoring, so I'd like to first take a look at whatever you can show me. Preferably something in black.”

The woman opened her hands and said with a smile, “Of course, I’ll have something. On any given day, I’d urge you to tailor something to your liking, but during the festival, everyone has something in the back, everyone is prepared.”

Neither Eyolian nor Noah showed any reaction to her enthusiasm; they merely watched her, perhaps even judging her.

The woman cleared her throat in embarrassment and said in a more moderate tone, “I’ll get something ready for the esteemed customer.”

Eyolian remained silent, only nodding in agreement. The woman left and quickly returned, carrying about six dresses. Noah examined them in her hands, none of them particularly appealed to him, at least those in his line of sight—despite their blackness, they had too many garish colors.

The woman pointed them to a table where she laid the dresses for a better look. Noah maintained his opinion, none of them appealed to him, maybe except for the one that was entirely black, which was acceptable at best.

Noah didn’t say this aloud but watched Eyolian's choice. She didn’t seem very pleased with the options but maintained her composure.

Amidst the duo's silence, the shopkeeper started her spiel, “We have a range of black dresses that suit all tastes. This all-black dress is very classic and elegant, suitable for any occasion, simple and beautiful. But this is the annual festival; who wouldn’t prefer a bit of color? These five are adorned with attractive details, as you can see—if you were to ask me, I think this dress adorned with touches of shiny silver will suit you very well and match your beautiful eyes.”

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Eyolian seemed to consider the black dress with silver decorations. Then she suddenly turned to Noah, not saying anything but likely seeking his opinion.

Noah thought for a bit and honestly expressed his view, “The all-black dress is good enough.”

Eyolian returned her gaze to the plump woman and said without hesitation, “I'll try this one,” pointing to the all-black dress.

The woman gave Noah a sidelong look but quickly smiled, “Alright, see how it fits you first, and then make your decision.”

Eyolian took the dress carefully and headed to the changing room the woman indicated. Noah remained alone with the shopkeeper, turning his head to the side to avoid any conversation.

It wasn’t long before Eyolian peeked her head out of the wooden door of the changing room and motioned for him to come. Noah approached Eyolian, who then signaled him to enter. He found the request odd, but once he entered the changing room, he was astonished by its size. Unlike the small changing room Noah had used before, this one was several times larger. Suddenly, Eyolian's request made sense.

Eyolian cleared her throat to get his attention and asked, “Is this good enough?”

Noah focused on Eyolian, frowning slightly at her appearance. For some strange reason, his eyes focused on the girl as they hadn’t before. Eyolian noticed his frown and asked with curiosity and concern, “What’s wrong? Doesn’t it suit me?”

Noah frowned even more and decided to go ahead and speak the truth. "All I do is watch others. Their body language, their behavioral patterns, their emotional expressions, their way of interacting, their clothes, and their appearances—everything about anyone. And yet, it seems like I'm seeing you for the first time."

Eyolian frowned herself, but Noah continued without regard. "For my part, it's nearly impossible to ignore all these things about someone so close. It's very dangerous, even disappointing. Why do I feel like I'm seeing you for the first time, Eyolian?"

Noah waited for her response, which took longer than he liked, but it eventually came. "It might be a mistake on your part."

Noah smiled at that with regret, as he stated, "That would be very disappointing, extremely disappointing. But I'm a cautious person; I've learned the hard way to be cautious. So, I say, it's not a mistake on my part."

Silence settled in the room for a while; Noah never took his eyes off Eyolian's gray eyes, which he felt he was seeing for the first time. Noah noticed she wouldn't say anything or provide an answer to his curiosity, so he tried something. Or at least, he attempted to.

Somehow, Eyolian sensed the change, and before he knew it, Noah was lying on the ground, her knee on his back and her hand pinning his head firmly to the floor. “What are you doing with your soul?” she asked tensely, increasing the pressure on him, “Stop it now.”

Noah felt her seriousness and ceased his actions; she was earnest in her unspoken threat. She let him go as she warned, “If you do whatever that was again, I won't be nice.”

Noah got up from his place, meeting her eyes again; her expression held a dangerous look that planted some fear in him. Internally, Noah felt embarrassed; he thought everything was under his control, that he would get his answer one way or another, but she humbled him. She somehow sensed his actions.

And so, an awkward silence settled between the two.