Both Were Shy

Valentina's throat was so dry that it hurt to speak. William eased her discomfort by giving her a sip of water. Valentina's senses were unusually keen. She could feel every discomfort in her body vividly as if her brain was wired to pinpoint them all. She sensed something different with her body. She asked him, "Did you bathe me?" "Yes." Valentina's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her facial expression unreadable. "What's wrong?" Her complexion seemed a bit off. She didn't speak for a moment, then finally managed to ask, "Are you sure you cleaned me thoroughly?" She asked this as casually as she could, but William heard an unusual hesitation in her tone. Noticing her somewhat stiff and awkward demeanor, William also felt a sense of unease. Avoiding her gaze, he stuttered, "Yes, you're clean… and I applied medicine to you." He stared at her. Valentina silently turned her face towards the balcony. Her ears, exposed under William's gaze, turned red. The unprecedented awkwardness between them