Free Web NovelChapter 21: Why...?
The library where Liam’s study group usually met was unusually quiet today.
Rain poured relentlessly outside, its steady rhythm drumming against the tall windows and filling the room with a soothing, almost hypnotic melody.
Only Liam and Silvia had made it.
The other two members of their study group, Darren and Meggy, had been forced to cancel because of the heavy rain. Instead, they’d sent a photo of themselves studying together at a café as proof that they were still fulfilling their study group responsibilities.
Liam rubbed his cold palms together before letting out a quiet sigh.
He’d been stuck on the same thermodynamics problem for the last ten minutes.
"Here."
A slender finger suddenly pointed at the equation on his worksheet.
"You need to distinguish whether the problem is describing an isochoric or an isobaric process."
At some point, Silvia had quietly walked over to his side without him even noticing.
She leaned down slightly beside him, and every now and then a few strands of her hair brushed lightly against his cheek.
There was also a faint scent clinging to her.
Not perfume.
It reminded him of old books.
Liam blinked before looking back at the problem.
A moment later...
His eyes widened. freёweɓnovel.com
"...I see."
He let out a frustrated laugh.
"I was being careless."
"It’s not that you were careless," Silvia corrected gently as she returned to her own chair and straightened her posture. "You just haven’t fully understood the concept yet."
She lowered her head and began scribbling something into her notebook.
After writing for a while, she tore out the page and handed it to Liam.
The sheet contained a concise summary of several common thermodynamics problem types.
Each solving step had its own annotation, and she’d even highlighted the mistakes students frequently made using different colored pens.
"I summarized most of these during our first year," Silvia explained. "If you need them... I can lend you all of my notes."
Liam studied the page carefully.
Her handwriting was immaculate.
The explanations were clear.
Honestly...
It was incredibly useful.
Then something caught his eye.
Tiny doodles.
Scattered beside almost every explanation were expressive little emojis that immediately made him fight back a laugh.
"You can draw too?"
Liam looked genuinely excited.
"Did you draw all of these?"
"Wow... honestly, if you wanted to, you could probably turn these into commercial stickers."
He looked over them again.
A round yellow face yawning dramatically with tiny hands trying—and completely failing—to cover its mouth.
A goofy chibi face winking with a little star bursting from one eye while its tongue stuck out in encouragement.
Every drawing had its own ridiculous personality.
...Wait.
Why hasn’t Silvia said anything?
Completely absorbed in admiring the doodles, Liam finally turned toward her.
Silvia was clutching the hem of her skirt.
Her head remained lowered.
A deep crimson blush had spread all the way across her cheeks.
"...Silvia?"
He called her name again.
She immediately snapped out of her daze, frantically waving both hands.
"I-It’s just a habit!"
"I mean... y-yeah, they probably look childish!"
"But..."
She stumbled over her words.
"I just... can’t spend all my time studying without drawing something every now and then..."
Liam could only smile awkwardly.
"What are you talking about?"
"I never said they were childish."
He held up the page again.
"Seriously, these are great."
"The drawings are simple, but they’re full of personality."
"You don’t find people who can make expressions this lively very often."
Truthfully...
Liam admired them for more than just their quality.
The tiny sketches reminded him of himself when he was younger.
Back then, he’d often draw little expressive faces to show his parents how he’d felt that day whenever he couldn’t find the words.
Silvia quietly pressed her lips together.
She genuinely didn’t know how to respond.
People had complimented her grades.
Her discipline.
Her intelligence.
But no one had ever praised something so... personal.
Especially not something she’d drawn simply because she enjoyed it.
And especially...
Not when the compliment came from Liam.
Seeing Silvia remain completely silent, Liam’s thoughts immediately went in the worst possible direction.
Oh, crap.
Did I overdo it?
Did that sound way too exaggerated?
Does she think I’m trying to butter her up?
...Yeah. That definitely sounded kind of sycophantic.
Silvia remained quiet for a few more seconds before slowly reaching into her school bag.
A small navy-blue box emerged.
Its lid was decorated with a starry night sky.
"...This is for you."
She gently slid the box across the table until it rested beside Liam’s textbook.
It was only about the size of his palm, neatly wrapped with a white ribbon.
Liam blinked.
"...This is..."
"My thank-you gift."
Silvia’s voice grew softer with every word, embarrassment becoming increasingly obvious.
"Thank you... for helping me carry those boxes of books last week."
Last week, the library had received a shipment of new reference books.
Silvia had been struggling to move the heavy boxes by herself.
Liam had simply happened to walk by.
Having been raised with basic manners, he’d naturally lent a hand.
Anyone would’ve done the same.
At least...
That’s what Liam believed.
So why...
Why did Silvia always seem so deeply moved by such ordinary acts of kindness?
Helping her carry a few boxes.
Finding her lost notebook.
To Liam...
They’d all been tiny, insignificant things.
Unable to keep wondering any longer, he finally voiced the question that had been sitting in the back of his mind for days.
"...Why are you always so kind to me?"
