ELEVEN – How He Sees Her
Why is she so beautiful?
It's been several days since Obi was questioned on his feelings for the apple-haired girl. Obi had responded in a way that others, and not even he, had expected himself to. But with this girl, it was like his brain gave him no control. When it came to her, honest words come out, but in a way that he didn't think he was able to put it.
Whatever this trance she had casted on him was stronger than anything he's ever encountered before. Maybe it was the way her red hair flowed in the wind, the way they shined in their thin state like spider web. Or maybe it had been the way her emerald eyes glow whenever one gave her news to be happy over. Or the voice she owned whenever she had recited her work regarding medicine to the servant who was always eager to listen. It didn't matter too much anyhow,
Obi wasn't mad that he was under said trance.
There was this one day—this one important day that made Obi's heart float right into the oblivion that was space. It was this one wondrous day, in which the Prince had left the Kingdom for an outing around the town with his fiancé. It would seem that Shirayuki felt more at ease when the castle lacked their beloved Prince. And, to his delight, she had been conducting herself much better.
"Smell this for me, Obi." It took him by a bit of surprise, having Obi shake his head from his distraction of her entity to see what she was requesting. She had been stood while Obi was sat on the stool of her desk, feet managing to touch the floor due to his tall being. "Hurry!"
"What is it?" Obi pondered, looking at her creamy hands hold an object to him very closely. It was a rose petal, Obi predicted, as he brought his face closer to the petal. His nostrils took several whiffs of it, receiving a strong scent of some sort of cinnamon. "It's pungent."
"Quite," Shirayuki gushed, having her gift Obi with one of her ecstatic smiles. She turned around, giving Obi her back as she tampered at Ryu's desk. "I'm making a perfume for Garak."
"Oh?" Obi asked in pure ponder, smiling at how enthusiastic Shirayuki had been behaving. She would lift the plant and several vials of transparent liquids in them towards the light. Hues of yellow and pinks danced in said vials, seeing how she stared at them in complete thought. The way she closed her eyes when bringing the vials back near her nose for a sniff.
"I made something for you as well, Obi," Shirayuki admitted, having Obi's heart skip a beat. Blood surged to his cheeks to form small smears of blush. She smiled shyly, putting the petal and vials down on their rack before going to her desk. He watched her stand to his right, reaching up for the cabinets to seek out what she was searching for.
Obi loved watching her wear his scarf. It was hung loosely around her neck while she was looking for whatever she was looking for. It makes Obi feel better than she feels safe when wearing it. So when Obi hadn't been around, Shirayuki would still have a part of him around. He never dared to admit it, but he was overly giddy to see the green entity protecting her neck. It had also become a routine for her, seeing as she never leaves her room without the scarf.
"Do you need any he—" Obi was prepared to offer but Shirayuki had managed to fish out what she wanted.
"Got it!" She cheered, getting back on her feet as she held a transparent, glass bottle. It evidently held a liquid, but it retained a hue of pink that made Obi question it silently. Her delicate hands wavered over the cork, tugging it with her soft fingers as she managed to remove it. The scent of flower and nature was extremely pungent and spread in the room almost immediately.
"What is it?" Obi whispered, not realizing how barely audible his voice became. Shirayuki winked before placing the cork on her desk and placing some of the liquid in the palm of her hand. Finding it suffice, she places the bottle on the desk as well and rubs her hands together. The liquid isn't thick; it owns the runniness of water, really. Shirayuki then stood right in front of the boy, smiling softly as he looked up at her curiously.
"Close your eyes please," Shirayuki asked kindly, having Obi quickly oblige. His vision of the beautiful herbalist was gone, and he was back in the darkness. Obi tries his very best not to remind himself of how he was in the past, but sometimes it's out of his control. Nothing made it easier, except for one thing.
Shirayuki.
Her moist hands lathered in the rose-scented water held Obi at his cheeks before massaging into them. Obi's eyelids stopped twitching and softened at her touch. She rubbed her soft hands up to his forehead, rubbing at the temples with her index and middle fingers. It felt so soothing. Her touch was gentle as she rubbed small circles on his face. Her hands then rubbed down to his jawline, the tips of her index and middle fingers stroked down until they met at his chin.
Her hands were immensely generous as they rubbed up to meet at his nose and stroke down the bridge of it. She used her thumbs to gently swipe his eyelids, being cautious not to allow any of the liquid to enter his eye. Obi could tell she was being ever so gentle with him, and that made his heart race even further than it already was.
God, her touch was addictive. Obi began to snake his hands to his knees before squeezing them tightly. The temptation to kiss her, or even just touch her, was high and that's become a dangerous thing. He found himself dozing off as Shirayuki unraveled his stress. If he had his eyes open, Obi would be able to see the soft, satisfied smile that Shirayuki was revealing because of his reaction. But the servant was practically falling asleep.
"You okay, Obi?" Shirayuki asked him quietly, having Obi's hearing enhance as he heard his name. He slowly opened his eyes, revealing his amber eyes to the apple-haired girl. Concern rose in those green eyes as she stared at Obi.
"No, actually," Obi began with a hoarse voice. He grabbed her wrists gently, removing her lovely touch from his face as he stared at her with intensity. "Because had I known you before and you done this for me, my sleeping would have improved without fail."
Shirayuki smiled down at the boy innocently. Wind bolted into the room, making her hair dance and the skirt of her dress to flow with it. But she kept her gaze on Obi, finding his mouth a little dry from it. It wasn't hard to admit to himself that he was obsessed with her, but he desperately yearned to someday be able to tell her.
"I take you liked my massage?" Shirayuki said hopefully, having Obi nod vigorously as he let go of her wrists.
"It was amazing, seriously," Obi chimed, praising the girl as she grabbed a nearby towel and dried her hands. "What is that stuff you used?"
"It's rose water with eucalyptus," Shirayuki informed, having Obi nod in approval.
"It's amazing. You're amazing." Obi breathed, causing Shirayuki to blush before returning to the perfume. Always the little things, Obi thought as he watched her adoringly.
