Chapter 19

A few days later the doctor finally announced that Ayda was healing and told her to still take it slow and rest a lot just to make sure that it would continue on that road. He told her that he would continue checking on her every morning to make sure that she was fine. Ayda was excited. She thought that seeing her recover while still staying as clingy as ever, Nifsara would finally start getting bored of her and she decided to come on stronger than ever.

She decided that she would avoid the sparring topic like the plague, still remembering those three hours of hell. All she could think about was turning into a creepy fan and the next time she saw Nifsara, she immediately grabbed her arm. She grabbed her so many times that she was used to it at that point. Nifsara didn't flinch either and she covered Ayda's hand of her own.

Nifsara was very gentle with Ayda. She was so gentle that it was irritating. Ayda felt like an ill patient in Nifsara's hands and it was driving her crazy. She wasn't sick at all. Nifsara was the one that came up with it in the first place and Ayda hated feeling weak. Especially in front of Nifsara. The latter was always that untouchable hero and seeing her treat Ayda like a baby made her want to destroy her. Ayda always forgot that Nifsara had to hate her because of how much she was irritated by Nifsara. She wanted to wipe that gentle smile off her face.

"You look so gorgeous today... Your hair looks amazing in a ponytail. I just love your curls."

Ayda grabbed Nifsara's hair and started playing with it. She bent very close to Nifsara's face to make her uncomfortable but the latter didn't step back. Ayda frowned. Why wasn't she moving away? Their faces were very close and when Ayda looked up, she locked eyes with Nifsara. The latter didn't look away once and Ayda started feeling that it was a competition. She wouldn't be the first to look away. Who cared if she didn't look shy anymore? She was going to win this battle.

Nifsara suddenly laughed and looked away, hiding her face behind her hand. Seeing her turn her eyes away made Ayda feel incredible. She almost jumped in the air but froze when Nifsara looked back at her. She had never seen her smile so broadly and Ayda wondered what could have happened in her head.

Nifsara quickly got her composure back and cleared her throat:

"Excuse me, Lady Ayda. I am just glad to see you so energetic. It is very nice to see that you are feeling better."

Ayda felt her blood slowly heating up. She didn't even have time to feel happy for her victory that she was already being ticked off. It was good that Nifsara thought she was feeling better. That was what Ayda wanted. If she didn't pity her anymore, Nifsara would finally get bored of her. She had to continue clinging.

"I feel way better and it is all thanks to you."

Ayda needed a second to figure out what to compliment next:

"And your eyes are so pretty. I've never seen such beautiful blue eyes."

Nifsara listened to the compliments patiently. She didn't seem creeped out at all or angry but Ayda was only getting started. Seeing no reaction, she grabbed Nifsara's face and pulled her very close to hers. Now that she could have a better look at her eyes, she continued going on:

"I never noticed that you had yellow in the middle of your eyes. It's very pretty."

Feeling Nifsara freeze made Ayda smile. It seemed what she was doing was working.

"You are so lucky. I have never seen such a gorgeous human before."

It was the first time that Ayda ever complimented anyone and she was quickly running out of ideas. All she could do was continue talking about the different colors in Nifsara's eyes:

"Between the yellow and blue you have a tiny bit of green as well. It's so cool. Your eyes look like a rainbow."

Nifsara still didn't pull her head away and even stepped closer:

"I like your eyes better."

Ayda got so disgusted that she immediately let go of Nifsara. She stepped back and raised her hands high in the air. She got so surprised that she just stood there for a second, trying her best not to grimace. She wasn't a big fan of physical touch. She didn't remember once that someone touched her nicely in her entire life. It was passable as long as it was Ayda doing it but every time Nifsara returned her touch, Ayda's skin crawled.

That made her feel even worse. She couldn't let Nifsara see her uncomfortable and she quickly pretended that she was being shy. She brushed her hair behind her ear and bit her lip. She must have looked insufferable but that was better than looking weak:

"Sorry... You are just so pretty. I can't take being so close to you...."

Hearing no answer from Nifsara for a second made Ayda smile. When she looked up, Nifsara looked bewildered. Seeing her like that was encouraging and Ayda took a step closer to Nifsara. She didn't really want to be close to her but she ignored her stomach twisting and focused on looking shy:

"But I don't mind being close to you. I just can't help getting shy in front of someone as incredible as you."

Ayda tried grabbing Nifsara's hand but to her biggest surprise, Nifsara pulled her hand away. That had never happened before and Ayda froze. She needed a second to wake up. This was getting very good! Did Nifsara finally get bored of her touch? Ayda quickly grabbed Nifsara again and this time she succeeded:

"Nifsara? Did I make you uncomfortable by any chance? That was not my intention. I would never want to make someone like you uncomfortable. I want us to get along very well."

Ayda decided not to stop there and grabbed Nifsara's other hand. She thought that Nifsara's face would sunk even more but all she did was suddenly tilt her head:

"Lady Ayda? Your face is a bit red. Do you feel sick suddenly? It seems you have been standing for way too long."

Nifsara extended her arm towards Ayda:

"May I escort you back to your room?"

Ayda got so surprised that she just stood there.

"You should lay down for a bit.

-No!"

Ayda couldn't have Nifsara pitying her again. She finally started annoying her:

"I am not tired. I..."

Nifsara grabbed Ayda's hand and forced her to let her go gently:

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

Seeing Nifsara turn around made Ayda panic:

"I was just flustered!"

Nifsara immediately stopped. Seeing that it seemed to be working, Ayda quickly continued:

"I was just flustered because you were so close to me. I am not tired. I want to stay with you longer."

Seeing her frown looked like a good sign but the next second Nifsara asked:

"Could you please explain what you meant?"

Ayda had to do her best not to puke while saying:

"I mean what I said. I... I'm... In love with you."

Feeling her stomach churn helped in her act. It made it look as if Ayda was being shy again, her face turning red. She turned away, hiding her mouth behind her hand. Hearing no answer from Nifsara for a long time, Ayda looked back and what she saw was a completely calm Nifsara. That hurt Ayda's ego. She just told Nifsara that she loved her. Why was she so... Calm? She should feel flattered that Ayda would have feelings for someone as boring as her. Ayda was a catch. Something so incredible would never happen to Nifsara again in her life.

"Nifsara? Could you say something?"

Nifsara looked at Ayda a bit more before sighing:

"Lady Ayda... I think you are just confusing your love for gratefulness.

-Pardon?"

Ayda thought she was dreaming. How dare Nifsara say that she was stupid enough to confuse those two feelings? Despite never receiving love, she knew what it should feel like. She wasn't an idiot. Or was Nifsara referencing her mother? A hero would never say something so mean.

"What do you mean? I am really grateful to you but that has nothing to do with my feelings. I really love you, Nifsara."

The latter shook her head:

"I think you are mistaken. You should think more about what you are feeling.

-What?

-I'll take you back to your room."

Seeing Nifsara turn around made Ayda angry and she just yelled:

"I love you! What don't you understand?"

Nifsara didn't stop and Ayda started running after her:

"My feelings won't change! I love you!"

Hearing sudden gasps made Ayda turn around and she noticed Nifsara's knights. They were all watching what was going on with open mouths.