The wind whistled through the trees. Leaves scrunching under my sneakers. The strong scent of last night's rain premating the air. Puddles filled the dirt road I had discovered last week.

If Antieno hadn't drove me home, I'd still be none the wiser.

Humming softly, I skipped down the road. My camera hung around my neck, but I'm only exploring today. I'm not planning on taking any photographs, but some precious moments are too good to leave my camera behind for.

The main purpose I had my camera today was for comfort. For company without actual company.

The loud beep of a horn snapped me out of my thoughts.

My focus snapped forward, where an Audi R8 rolled to a stop in front of me. Blinking rapidly, I gasped at the car. Coming to terms with my almost accident.

It wasn't like anyone other than Antieno used the road. No one else other than me dared to enter the woods. Hence me not having been paying attention to where I was walking. I didn't expect him to be in the wood this early. It was 8:00 a.m.

"Good morning Dewdrop! What brings you here so early?" He called, head popping out the window from the drivers side. A wide boxy smile filling his lips, crinkling his eyes.

My heart did not skip a beat seeing that. Of course it didn't.

"Forgot my bike in the woods. Forgot it's existence until I wanted it this morning, so came here to look for it." I explained with a sheepish smile. Walking closer to the car so we won't have to keep shouting across the road.

My answer earned me a curious look from him.

"Do you remember where you last left it?" He asked.

"Last I saw it was before I climbed the tree I fell off of." I didn't have to think before answering. I'd been thinking of it all morning.

"The same place we met?"

"One and the same."

"Dewdrop..." he trailed off, looking unsure how to continue. "You do realise you're heading in the wrong direction for that, don't you? This road leads back to my place, the tree you fell off of is about two miles that way."

He pointed in the general direction of the wood over my shoulder. The right side of the road. Away from the direction was walking in.

Throwing a glance over my shoulder, I shook my head. A chuckle bubbling out as I turned back to face him.

"That was just an excuse to enter the woods so early in the morning. I'm horrible with directions, I know I won't find my bike." I explained. "In truth, I simply wanna explore where the road leads to and all. I still can't believe I've gone three years of my life not even knowing such an easy access to the woods existed. I feel so betrayed no one ever told me. I mean, I've been getting my socks or converse/sneakers wet trying to cross the stream for nothing, when I could've just avoided it altogether."

Antieno chuckled fondly at my rambling, getting out of the car.

Blinking at him in confusion, I stepped back, allowing him room to open the door. Then he was locking the car and reaching out, entwining our fingers together.

"Let's go." Was all he said, a boxy grin on his lips. (Did I mention how sweetly adorable that smile is? It would be a downright crime to never mention it.)

With a gentle tug on my hand, he started walking into the woods.

The most frustrating thing about what he did?

I fell right into step beside him. I was aware he was walking slow to keep a comfortable pace for me, but that's beside the point.

How could I have followed a perfect stranger I met not but just yesterday, lead me into the woods without even questioning his intentions? Sure, I spent about five and a half hours with him yesterday - four of those getting to know him - and I had already placed my full trust in his hands.

Too bad this never dawned on me until I was already tucked into bed, under the comfort of my duvet. Not until I was staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars scattering my ceiling, missing his touch.

"If your sense of direction is as horrible as you said it is, how do you navigate the woods without getting lost?" He asked when it didn't look like I was going to say anything.

Yes well, excuse me for being distracted. His touch was causing lava to slowly spread through my veins. Burning. Scorching. Hot. I'm surprised that I hadn't gasped at the intense feeling his touch lit over my body. My whole body.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I forced my eyes away from his side profile. From his flawless skin to look at where we were walking.

I started swinging our hands just for something to do. For something to distract from the burning feel of his palm against mine. It wasn't bad. Good Lord No! It felt good

Too good.

"I don't." I said with a shrug, trying to act nonchalant. As if his mere presence wasn't affecting my thought procession. As if wasn't aware of the comforting warmth his body heat radiated. "I just wander around aimlessly."

Antieno raised an eyebrow at me, prompting me to explain further.

"Well, I don't get lost because I use the sun's position to tell me in which direction the stream is in. The town is south of here, and I have to cross the stream to get to the woods. It's not flawless. I've ended up in the next town over more times than I can count. Then I have to get Hajun oppa to come pick me up."

I pouted as I told the last part.

Antieno laughed at my confession. The clear, loud sound ringing through the trees, drowning the sound of nature. It was, still, one of the most beautiful sounds I've had the pleasure of hearing.

"It is usually the other way around." He said, boxy grin widening, eyes crinkled as he looked down at me.

I sighed, slumping my shoulders.

"Well... the woods don't have confusing street after street after street. They are just filled with trees, trees and more trees. And the stream is always south. I can't have shadows or the sun telling me the general direction I need to walk in order to get somewhere. I have to memorise names of a million streets." I grumbled in my defense.

He scrunched his nose and ruffled my hair.

I huffed, continuing to pout.

Instead of commenting on what I had told, he said something that had me brightening up in an instant. Pointing in front of us, he went, "your bike?"

Whipping my head towards where he pointed, I gasped. Next instant I was untangling our hands, rushing towards my bike - that was pretty much exactly where I left it last, in the same condition, same angle, same position.

The next few minutes consisted of me crying over my bike and thanking him simultaneously.

He leaned against a tree, arms crossed as he watched me in silence. There was nothing creepy or even weird in the way he watched. Just observation. No judgement at the fact that I was talking to my bike as if it could understand anything I said.

Once I was finally ready to leave, he straightened up. Hands stuffed into his pockets. With my hands occupied sit pushing my bike, it wasn't like we could go back to holding hands.

Did I miss the warmth? Yes.

Did I want to hold his hand again? Yes.

Did I have the courage to take his hand in mine? No.

"Are you heading back to town?" He asked when I was stood in front of him. He made no move to start walking, and I felt glued to where I stood.

Furrowing my brows, I shook my head.

"I'm free today. No clients. No jobs. No projects." I answered in all honesty. My head cocked to the side, wondering why he wanted to know.

"Exploring?" He asked.

I nodded my head.

"I wanna explore the west side of the woods for today. I don't know why I never crossed the road in all my wonderings, then I remembered I never go west. I mostly stay on the east side of the woods."

I should have seen it. Should have noticed the alarm that flitted across his eyes. But it was gone the moment it appeared. Gone before I could catch hint of it.

He hummed and jerked his head or me to follow after him.

Our walk back to the road was silent. Unlike the chatter that had filled the silence when he took me to find my bike.

It wasn't that I minded the silence. It gave me a sense of comfort. Peace and quiet. Only broken by the sound of our footsteps and the occasional deep breath. The whistling wind and the chirping of the birds. The rustling of leaves as critters rushed to stay hidden, or just rushed in general.

The lack of chatter gave me a moment to bask in his presence. To feel him next to me.

No my eyes were not on him. My eyes roamed through the trees, with the critters that darted around the woods. The woodland creatures that made a dare appearance.

But I could feel him beside him. Even with the respectable distance between us, could feel the radiation of his body heat. Even without looking I was aware of every shift his body made. The slow inhale and exhale of his breath. My own falling into rhythm with his. My heart beating at a leisurely pace, than racing ahead of me.

It was exhilarating. At the same time it was the most calmest feeling in the world.

When the wind blew to hard, I could feel the scent of sandalwood and lemongrass wafting from him. Sometimes strong enough that I could taste it in my tongue.

When we reached the road again he exhaled sharply.

"Have you had breakfast?" He asked, eyes glued on the woods opposite us.

Taken off guard at the sudden question, I hummed.

"If you count a cookie and hot chocolate as breakfast, then yes." I told, grinning at him.

His kaleidoscope eyes trailed to me. Eyebrows raised in silent incredulousness. I couldn't help the giggle that broke free. Yes, I was aware that wasn't a proper breakfast, but I'd been in a rush.

Smiling softly, he shook his head, starting towards his car.

"How about a deal. I'm on my way to buy breakfast. If you eat with me, I'll personally take you on a tour to the west side of the woods?" He asked, unlocking the car. Opening the door, he leaned against it, looking at me in question.

Smiling widely, I didn't think twice before I was nodding my head in agreement. The thought of not only free food, but not having to worry about where I was going too tempting an offer to refuse.