Lili is too headstrong and resilient for girly feelings and shyness or bashfulness or at least that is what she'd tell herself, along with her ambitions to one day be strong and to perhaps be General of the Water Tribe after her father, until she met Guen-Tae.
He's strong and rough around the edges in that real way, and beautifully honest, flawed and somehow incredible way. And then, she clams up, hides behind whatever's available as her face goes red and she stares.
Somehow fine clothes aren't fine enough and beautiful perfume isn't scented enough. And along the way she forgot whatever eloquence she once had.
She becomes bashful and shy and nervous. And he acts like everything's normal, completely unaffected.
Lili feels girlish and young whenever she spots the Earth Tribe's General, and she isn't quite sure how to be more confident around him or if it would really matter.
He is after all married and much older than her, but she still feels her heart flutter when she sees him and that bubble of excited nervousness regardless.
Even thinking of him, she smiles wistfully.