And speaking of Chung...
"There were traces of Granite in the ruins of Hamel, if I remember correctly."
"Granite typically contains silica. Silica is used for microelectronics."
Things were pretty calm and simple here. They had been here, together, researching endlessly into their little project on Ancient Nasods. When they weren't enjoying the other's company, that is. The whole relationship thing was a completely foreign concept, like the Ancient Nasods themselves, yet it was surprisingly pleasant.
Eve's desk was covered by a large sheet of parchment paper that was rolling up at the ends. On it were pencil scratches of different scientific formulas and whatnot, accompanied by calculated algebraic equations. A case of rock samples was placed above the paper for reference, right in front of Chung.
Eve reached over to the case and pulled out samples of granite, placing them on the paper and scribbling notes next to them with a dull pencil. As she sat down, she noticeably became closer to her companion to the point of touching shoulders.
"Alchemy could have caused a reaction to that compound," Eve tapped another note on the paper, "which enhanced conductivity of energy in the rock."
"It's..." Chung used that moment to yawn, stretch, and wrap his arm around Eve's petite waist, "It's possible. Alchemy could've stirred up something in it." He pulled her even closer to him.
...Freezing, Eve stared at the rock sample before her and the pencil in her hands with a blank expression. What bizarre thing was he doing, touching her so intimately without consent?
A look of concern came upon Chung at the sight of her, and his arm held her looser. "A-Are you alright Eve?" It was a cliche move, yawning and putting his arm around her, but he hadn't expect such a poor reaction! "Was that going too far?"
Leaving his arm completely by unwrapping it, she jumped up quickly from her seat and wiped her dress, though it was perfectly clean. That was definitely beyond his boundaries. Too far— such a mature act for someone so young.
Actually, now that the thought occurred to her, how old was he really?
"Chung, what is your age?"
The mentioned boy raised an eyebrow. That was out of the blue. "You want to know my age?" Too out of the blue. What was her reason, he wondered. "Why do you ask?"
"Just answer the question Chung!"
"Okay, okay!" Chung thought in his head for a moment to pull out the informations before holding up one finger and then seven. "Seventeen. May you answer my question now?"
"Just inquiring. I am one less than twenty, two years older." She looked calm, but Eve was awkwardly fingering the hem of her dress. "I was debating your age— your actions and appearance make it hard for me to tell."
Startled, the blonde's eyes went wide. "N-Nineteen...?!" A whole two years! Oh man. "So my first girlfriend... Is older?!"
A lot of people liked to be considered anywhere along the terms of "old", all the time, 24 hours a day and seven days a week; it is the most polite compliment one can give. Luckily, it Eve was too distracted herself to notice. "First girlfriend? Is that the case?"
"Hmm? Oh... yes. Does that strike you as strange?"
"Yes," she responded immediately, not even hesitating. Eve took a seat in her chair once again, pulling a lock of hair out of her face while she spoke. "You act rather knowledgable regarding these relationships. I'd just assumed you were... experienced in this. It's certainly amusing to discover that I'm your first girlfriend, especially with your traits." Really, she thought he'd at least have had one other lover before her— Chung was sincere, knowledgable, and peculiarly winsome while being himself.
The blood rushed to his face when Eve said the last sentence. "Ah, t-that's interesting..." Chung quietly drew a tiny heart on the edge of the paper. "I'm just as new to this as you are, though." He looked back at her.
And now, many questions were coursing throughout her brain. There was one question that caught her attention, however. Almost as if trying to solve a hard equation, The Minister placed a hand over her mouth and thought. "I'm genuinely, and suddenly, intrigued."
"About what?" The blonde tilted his head slightly, leaning forward.
"You knew of my position as Minister, yet you still continued to pursue me and then ask me out. It was seemingly impossible to be with me, but you did it anyways. Why is that?"
"Well for starters, you technically asked me out." He really didn't have the guts to do it— Chung was just where he was at the right time, and she so happened to ask. "As for my reason..." Chung scratched the back of his head before sheepishly smiling back at her.
"I love you." Honestly, that was awkward to say.
Love? Why would an emotion drive him that far? Why would he let it drive him that far?
Chung brushed a hand against Eve's hair, tucking it behind her ears— or rather, her sound amplifiers. "I'm not entirely sure how I gained the courage to befriend you even when you were cold, but I felt like... if I didn't do something to somehow get closer to you, I'd explode on the inside." In a nutshell, that's how he wanted to put it. Chung couldn't quite take the idea of her not liking him at all— at least being friends was something. Even though he was actually in love with her, he felt like he needed more than that. Like he needed to know who Eve, The Minister of Mechanics, really was. Perhaps that was his hidden motive all this time?
Stopping the movement of his hand through her silky hair, he serenely looked into her eyes. "I guess, to me, love is when you'd be willing to do anything to be with a person and know them, even if it means to risk everything."
"That... I don't quite see the point of that." If a person made you do anything, wouldn't that not be love, but instead exploiting the relationship between people? Eve didn't comprehend that. But then again, it seemed as though there was a grander meaning to the statement.
... He was the more experienced one, apparently.
"Don't worry about it Eve. For now, just do what makes you happy."
How could she not worry? This was clearly another subject Chung understood more about than she did, and for him to say such a quizzical thing about love, it must have suggested significance!
Chung brought his arm around Eve once again in a sort of half-embrace.
"We should probably get working," Eve pointed out, still contemplating his words.
"Alright." He completely removed his arm from her. "So, back to those Ancient Nasods..."
A trivial thing Chung had mentioned. Eve would definitely have to evaluate his words carefully.