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was too caught up in his own thoughts to notice her expression.
“I an,” he went on, “how do you even begin to know how to talk to a won, let alone be rried to one?” For the first ti since they had t, Honghui seed unsure of hielf. Mulan’s heart, which had already begun to thaw toward the handso conscript, grew warr still.
Taking a chance, Mulan answered, “Just talk to her like you’re talking to now.”
“I wish it was that easy,” Honghui said. He paused, and his expression grew re uncertain. “What??.??.??. what if she doesn’t like ?”
Once again, his response surprised Mulan. She turned and, for the first ti, really took the ti to look at hi His eyes were focused on the barrack ceiling, his chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. But Mulan could see that he was genuinely worried. In being honest, he was allowing hielf to be vulnerable.
“She will,” Mulan said, the words softer than she had intended.
Slowly, Honghui looked over. Their eyes t and for a hushed nt, neither said anything, the air growing heavy with unspoken etion.
Shaking it off, Mulan cleared her throat. She had no idea what had just happened, but she knew she needed to lighten things up. “I an, I think she will,” she said, this ti king sure to keep any etion out of her voice. “You never know with won??.??.??.” she added with a shrug and a conspiratorial look.
Honghui didn’t say anything, though he did sit up. Swinging his legs over the side of the sleeping platfor he inched closer. Mulan instinctively backed up. What was he doing? Why was he getting closer? Was he??.??.??. could he be? He ca closer still. He breathed in, and for a nt, Mulan was convinced he was going to kiss her.
And then he recoiled. “You should really consider skipping guard duty and take a shower,” he said. “You stink, n.” Then, standing up, he slapped her on the shoulder and left.
Mulan groaned. That had taken a turn toward the rtifying. Lifting her ar she took a quick whiff. Then she let out a louder groan. Honghui was right. She did sll. She slled exactly like a n.
Sothing had shifted. It had started in the dining area and had continued to grow as they spoke in the sleeping tent. A friendship had begun to fornbsp; between Mulan and Honghui. A friendship laced with sothing else Mulan wasn’t sure she could na, but it was undeniable. She no longer feared Honghui, and ti spent in the dining area and the sleeping barracks was easier knowing she had an ally.
On the training ground, the
“I an,” he went on, “how do you even begin to know how to talk to a won, let alone be rried to one?” For the first ti since they had t, Honghui seed unsure of hielf. Mulan’s heart, which had already begun to thaw toward the handso conscript, grew warr still.
Taking a chance, Mulan answered, “Just talk to her like you’re talking to now.”
“I wish it was that easy,” Honghui said. He paused, and his expression grew re uncertain. “What??.??.??. what if she doesn’t like ?”
Once again, his response surprised Mulan. She turned and, for the first ti, really took the ti to look at hi His eyes were focused on the barrack ceiling, his chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. But Mulan could see that he was genuinely worried. In being honest, he was allowing hielf to be vulnerable.
“She will,” Mulan said, the words softer than she had intended.
Slowly, Honghui looked over. Their eyes t and for a hushed nt, neither said anything, the air growing heavy with unspoken etion.
Shaking it off, Mulan cleared her throat. She had no idea what had just happened, but she knew she needed to lighten things up. “I an, I think she will,” she said, this ti king sure to keep any etion out of her voice. “You never know with won??.??.??.” she added with a shrug and a conspiratorial look.
Honghui didn’t say anything, though he did sit up. Swinging his legs over the side of the sleeping platfor he inched closer. Mulan instinctively backed up. What was he doing? Why was he getting closer? Was he??.??.??. could he be? He ca closer still. He breathed in, and for a nt, Mulan was convinced he was going to kiss her.
And then he recoiled. “You should really consider skipping guard duty and take a shower,” he said. “You stink, n.” Then, standing up, he slapped her on the shoulder and left.
Mulan groaned. That had taken a turn toward the rtifying. Lifting her ar she took a quick whiff. Then she let out a louder groan. Honghui was right. She did sll. She slled exactly like a n.
Sothing had shifted. It had started in the dining area and had continued to grow as they spoke in the sleeping tent. A friendship had begun to fornbsp; between Mulan and Honghui. A friendship laced with sothing else Mulan wasn’t sure she could na, but it was undeniable. She no longer feared Honghui, and ti spent in the dining area and the sleeping barracks was easier knowing she had an ally.
On the training ground, the