Page 169 of DATE
"Wait…" Leonardo paused mid-sentence, suddenly noticing thathis friend’s eyes were slightly red, as though she was also controlling some emotions.
He instinctively forced a smile and, with a lighter tone, added, "Don’t look so sad. I’m still being taken care of, alright?"
Hedy furrowed her brow as she looked at him, letting out a long sigh after a moment.
"For example, my uncle Francesco," Leonardo’s tone softened considerably. "Although my father calls him 'good-for-nothing,' he’s very kind to me. When my stomach hurt, he would even try to make me feel better. He’s a kind person."
No... that wasn't a gift to you; those were things you should have had.
Hedy couldn’t think of comforting words, but she could feel, deeply and sincerely, everything he had faced in his childhood.
The absence of parents, the brokenness of the family, the remarriage and new families...
For a child to grow up without guidance or companionship, and still come this far, was nothing short of remarkable.
"All of that is in the past now. You don’t need to be upset about it," Leonardo said, patting her shoulder as if discussing someone else’s story. "Relax."
The next moment, he was unexpectedly embraced, completely frozen in place.
Da Vinci didn’t dance with anyone, and he rarely had close interactions with women.
Even when noble ladies would speak to him, he remained polite and restrained, in stark contrast to the eager men who sought to engage in conversation.
As a result, he was always praised as a gentleman, maintaining the perfect balance of propriety at all times.
But in this moment, this embrace, warm and intense, made him feel both unfamiliar and somewhat awkward.
His hands instinctively rose, unsure where to place them.
At that instant, he could smell the camellia scent in her hair, and feel the delicate, fair hands wrapped around his waist.
Even more strange was the warmth she conveyed to him.
Their necks intertwined, and their chests pressed together like beasts seeking comfort, exchanging warmth.
Though it was a hot summer’s day, holding her felt strangely comfortable, as though there was no discomfort, only a desire to sigh deeply in relaxation.
Was this warmth coming from the closeness of their skin, or was it something his heart had longed for, something he couldn't quite analyze in these few seconds?
He froze, not daring to move, and gently patted her back, signaling that she could let go.
"I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me like this."
But the girl held him tighter, her voice muffled as she spoke. "Actually, you have the right to say when something’s wrong."
"Leonardo, you don’t have to live like this, carrying all the weight."
Whether it’s being hurt or sick, or even upset about trivial matters, you have the right to complain.
"In the past years, everyone has praised how perfect and composed you are, how kind and considerate you are toward everyone."
"But actually, you can just be yourself—at least, you can be yourself in front of me."
She slowly loosened her arms, her light blue eyes looking at him with a mixture of helplessness and tenderness.
"Even if you’re not perfect, even if you're not always obedient, this world won’t hurt you."
He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but inside, he felt a sense of grievance.
